Lesson 2 Problems with Locating the Subject

Objective: (What You Will Learn) To recognize and avoid common agreement problems in your sentences.

Here’s the Idea: Some sentences can be tricky. Subjects in unusual order, predicate nouns, prep phrases.

Subjects in Unusual Positions A subject can follow a verb or part of a verb phrase in a question, a sentence beginning with here or there, or a sentence in which an adjective, an adverb, or a phrase is placed first.

Questions Does the puppy run down the street?

Begins with a prep phrase From years of study come our ideas about children.

Begins with here or there Here are some famous people with successful careers.

Tips to find the subject (Is, Are) boys more rebellious than girls?

Tips to find the subject 1. Turn the sentence around, putting the subject before the verb.

Tips to find the subject Boys (is, are) more rebellious than girls.

Tips to find the subject 2. Determine whether the subject is singular or plural.

Tips to find the subject boys (plural)

Tips to find the subject 3. Make sure the subject and verb agree.

Tips to find the subject Boys are more rebellious than girls.

Prepositional Phrases The subject of a verb is never found in a prepositional phrase.

Prepositional Phrases Don’t be fooled by words that come between a subject and a verb.

Prepositional Phrases Mentally block out those words. Then it will be easy to tell whether the subject is singular or plural.

Prepositional Phrases This book by two doctors describes health problems.

Prepositional Phrases Some theories of personality development are complex.

So What? Writers often use prep phrases to show location and paint a visual picture.

So What? Make sure the verb agrees with the subject of the sentence, not the object of the preposition.

1. Studies of animal behavior suggest differences in temperament.

1. Correct

2. There is many cats and dogs with distinctive traits.

2. There are many cats and dogs with distinctive traits.

3. Pit bulls for example is an aggressive breed of terrier.

3. Pit bulls for example are an aggressive breed of terrier.

4. A chihuahua on the other hand is a very timid dog.

4. Correct

5. There is some pets with serious behavioral problems.

5. There are some pets with serious behavioral problems.

1.Our hike in the mountains (was, were) fun. 2.The hands on my watch (glow, glows) in the dark. 3.The peaches from your garden (is, are) delicious. 4.(Was, were) the players tired? 5.(Has, Have) she opened her present yet?

6. There (is, are) many plants to see on our hike. 7. Here (is, are) the jacket that I have been looking for all day. 8.(Do, Does) your plants grow in the spring? 9.Before the storm (arrive, arrives), we (need, needs) to take cover.

10.The beads on my necklace (has, have) fallen off. 11.The clothes in the store (is, are) new. 12.Cell phones with a charger (is, are) more expensive than other phones. 13.There (is, are) many ways to recycle paper.

14.(Do, Does) Molly and Jake like to hang out?

Closure Today you learned to recognize and avoid common agreement problems in sentences.

Imagine if your mom or dad became the new teacher of your class? Describe what that would be like. Write at least a page.