Sentence Fragments, Verb Agreement, and Pronoun Agreement Chapters 7, 9, 10 & 11

Chapter 7 Sentence Fragments Couple of ways in which a sentence could be a fragment Could be lacking either a subject or a predicate It could have a subordinating element and clearly indicates that the thought is incomplete

Sentence Fragments – examples What kind of fragments are these sentences? A tall, distinguished-looking gentleman standing on the corner in the pouring rain. Because I had heard all that I wanted to hear and did not intend to be bored any longer Standing in the pouring rain and shielding himself from the deluge with a large umbrella Although she had been well recommended by her former employers

Permissible Fragments Some of the acceptable fragments include The sooner, the better. Anything by that. Same as before Ouch! Yes. Tickets, please! Not so! No!

Chapter 9 – Subject Verb Agreement The verb in any clause must agree with its subject in person and number By person, we mean first person (I), second person (you) and third person (s/he). By number we mean singular (s/he) or plural (they)

Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement What is the subject in this sentence? The evidence that they submitted to the judges was convincing. the evidence Watch for intervening expressions, or really anything that modifies the subject. What is the subject in this sentence? What is the correct verb? A list of eligible candidates [was/were] posted on the bulletin board.

Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement What is the subject in this sentence? There is in many countries much unrest today. Unrest “there,” “where” can not ever be the subject of a sentence What for the verb preceding the subject. What is the subject in this sentence? What is the correct verb? Where [are/is] Bob and his friends going?

Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement – Indefinite Pronouns The following indefinite pronouns, adjectives are singular Either Neither Each Every Everybody Anybody Everyone Anyone None may be either singular or plural, although plural is more common

Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement – compound subjects If a subject is joined by and, it requires a plural verb. UNLESS the joined subject is actually the same person or thing. If a subject is joined by or or nor, then the verb agrees in number and person with the nearest one.

Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement – compound subjects What is the subject and correct verb in these sentences? Where [are/is] the bracelets and beads? Either the coach or the player [was/were] at fault. My friend and coworker Mr Klausner [plays/play] soccer. Neither my sisters nor I [am/are] going. Neither the cat nor the kittens [have/has] been fed. Neither the kittens nor the cat [have/has] been fed.

Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement – Nouns plural and singular in meaning News Gymnastics Ethics Tactics Economics Trousers Physics Scissors Mathematics Athletics Gallows Tidings Mumps, Measles Acoustics Shambles Riches Whereabouts Barracks Plural nouns denoting a mass, a quantity, or a number as a unit (ex. dollars, bushels) Phrases involving addition, multiplication, subtraction and division

Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement – Determining Modifiers All, some, and percentage are determined by the number of the noun in the prepositional phrase Some of the pie is missing Some of the pies are missing Number is determined by its article. A number of students were at the art exhibit The number of students was small.

Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement To be verbs: The verb agrees with the subject and not the predicate nominative The only fruit now [is/are] peaches Peaches [are/is] the only fruit now.

Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement – Relative Pronouns If a relative pronoun (who, which or that) is the subject, the verb agrees with the antecedent of the pronoun (the word it refers to). This is the student who [is/are] to be promoted These are the students who [are/is] to be promoted.

Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement Collective Nouns: these nouns are singular in form but plural in meaning. They include team, class, committee, crowd, and crew.

Chapt 9 Subject Verb Agreement Nouns with foreign plurals: some nouns retain their forms from their languages. Singular Plural Alumnus Alumni Medium Media Crisis Crises Aquarium Aquariums/Aquaria Criterion Criterions/Criteria Datum Data Radius Radii Stimulus Stimuli Syllabus Syllabi

Chapt 10 Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Singular in form Plural in form Each Either Every Neither Anyone Anybody Everyone Everybody Someone Somebody No one Nobody Collective Nouns singular in meaning Collective Nouns plural in meaning

Chapt 10 Pronoun Antecedent Agreement Each of the girls has [her/their] own car. The team has elected Ian as [its/their] captain. Does everyone have [his/their] ticket? The team quickly took [their/its] position on the field. Neither of the boys remembered [his/their] poncho.