1. Subject—Verb Agreement
We has to know it or we sounds like fools…

2. Number
Refers to the form a word takes to tell whether it is singular or plural
Verbs MUST agree in number with their subjects
Plural subjects get plural verbs
Singular subjects get singular verbs
Incidentally, it is the singular verbs that usually end in an “s”…who knew?

3. Practice People (walk, walks) You (is, are)
House (have stood, has stood)
We (talk, talks)
Crews (sail, sails)
Women (seem, seems)
Lauren and Sierra (laugh, laughs)
To whisper (is, are)

4. IMPORTANT!!
WORDS BETWEEN THE SUBJECT AND THE VERB DO NOT AFFECT THE NUMBER OF THE VERB!!!
Take out any clauses, phrases, adjectives and adverbs that might be in the way
Ex: The tent by that group of trees is mine.
Ex: All the books, including Pride and Prejudice, belong to the library.

5. Practice Makes Perfect
Page , Ex 3
Write the subject and the correct verb

6. Indefinite Pronouns
Are tricky because both singular and plural forms of the verb will often sound correct…bummer
Some indefinite pronouns are always singular, some are always plural, but some can work either way depending on the sentence.

7. Indefinite Pronouns SINGULAR Anybody - Anyone Anything - Each
One - Somebody
Something
Someone
Either - Everybody
Everyone - Everything
Neither - Nobody
No one - Nothing
PLURAL
Both - Few
Many - Several
EITHER
All - Most
Any - None
More - Some

8. Indefinite Pronouns All I want for Christmas is my one front tooth.
All of my friends are going to the movies.
Most of the lecture was interesting.
Most of the books were still for sale.

9. Backwards Sentences
Even if sentences are backwards (i.e. the verb comes before the subject), the same agreement rules apply
Ex: Here are your assignments.
Ex: Quiet! Here comes the teacher!

10. Practice Makes Perfect
Page , Ex 4 and 5
Page 519, Rev B (if needed)

11. Compound Subjects Subjects joined by “and” take plural verbs
Basil and thyme are the only spices I use in my spaghetti sauce.
Mike and Joe answer the phone at the office.
If a compound subject names ONE thing, use a singular verb
Spaghetti and meat sauce is my favorite dinner.
However, I’m tired tonight, so peanut butter and jelly is for dinner.

12. Compound Subjects Subjects joined by “or” or “nor” take singular verbs
Either Mike or Joe answers the phone at the office.
If a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by “or” or “nor”, the verb agrees with the closest subject.
Neither the teacher nor the students want to have homework today.
Neither the students nor the teacher wants to have homework today.

13. Practice Makes Perfect
Page 521, ex 6

14. Collective Nouns
Collective nouns, like some indefinite pronouns, can be either singular or plural depending on the sentence.
Singular forms of collective nouns name a group AS A UNIT
Plural forms of collective nouns name INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS of the group

15. Common Collective Nouns
Army
Assembly
Audience
Band
Club
Congregation
Fleet
Flock
Ex: A number of students are taking the AP English test.
Family
Group
Herd
Number
Squadron
Staff
Team
Troop
Ex: The number of students enrolling in AP English is rising.

16. Practice Makes Perfect
Singular = it
Plural = they
Page , Ex 7 and Rev C

17. Expressions of Amount
Expressions of amount (percentages, measurements, fractions, etc) may be singular or plural depending on how they are used.
Singular when:
The amount is thought of as a unit
Refers to a singular word
Plural when:
The amount is thought of as separate parts
Refers to a plural word

18. Expressions of Amount Singular Plural
Ten pencils is plenty and should last English 11B students through the trimester.
Twenty minutes is enough time to finish the assignment.
Plural
Five of my ten pencils are gone!
Twenty computers are required to complete the assignment.

19. Nitty Gritty
The titles of creative works, names of countries and cities, and names of organizations generally take singular verbs
Subjects preceded by “every” take singular verbs
Every freshman and sophomore takes the PLAN test.
The contractions “don’t” and “doesn’t” should agree with their subjects
When the relative pronoun that, which, or who is the subject of an adjective clause, the verb within the clause agrees with the word to which the pronoun refers.
Ex: Billy and Jenny, who are class clowns, never do their homework.
Ex: Michael, who is very studious, always does his homework.

20. Practice Makes Perfect
Page , Ex 8 and Rev D
Page 527, Ex 9
Page 528, Ex 10

21. Pronoun—Antecedent Agreement
A student must apply his/herself to learn about pronouns and antecedents, and must study his/her notes in order to be successful on his/her quiz.

22. Pronouns and Antecedents
A pronoun usually refers to another noun or pronoun, called the pronoun’s antecedent.
A pronoun must agree number, gender, and person with its antecedent
Number: That student aced his/her test!
Gender: That student was Mary; she aced her test!
Person: (1st ) I hope I ace my test!
Person: (2nd ) I hope you ace your test!
Person: (3rd ) I hope they ace their tests!

23. Indefinite pronouns, being indefinite, can be either singular OR plural
Use singular pronouns with:
Anybody - Anyone
Anything - Each
One - Somebody
Something - Someone
Either - Everybody
Everyone - Everything
Neither - Nobody
No one - Nothing
Use plural pronouns with:
Both - Few
Many - Several
Determine usage with:
All - Most
Any - None
More - Some
These groupings should look familiar…

24. Practice Makes Perfect
Page 534, ex 12

25. Compound Antecedents
Use a plural pronoun (their, them, they, etc) to refer to two or more antecedents joined by “AND”
Ex: When Jack and Jill get here, tell them I went up the hill to fetch a pail of water.
Use a singular pronoun (him, her, it, etc) to refer to two or more antecedents joined by “OR” or “NOR”
Ex: Neither Jack nor Jill was able to meet me, as he fell down and broke his crown, requiring Jill to care for him.

26. Compound Antecedents
Be clear when using a pronoun to refer to antecedents of different number or gender
Ex: Either Paul or Mary will sing his or her part with Peter.
Ex: Neither Ms. VanderMeer nor the students want their test on Friday.
Ex: Neither the students nor Ms. VanderMeer wants her test on Friday.
It’s best to simply re-write the sentence to avoid confusion and awkwardness!

27. Collective Nouns and Antecedents
A collective noun takes a singular form when the noun refers to the group as a UNIT. it
A collective noun take a plural form when then noun refers to the INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS or PARTS of the group.
they

28. Common Collective Nouns
That take singular pronouns
Civics - Gymnastics
Mumps - Economics
Mathematics
News
Electronics
Measles
Physics
Genetics
Molasses
Summons
That take plural pronouns
Binoculars
Pants
Shears
Eyeglasses
Pliers
Shorts
Olympics
Slacks
Scissors

29. Common Collective Nouns
That could be either singular or plural are words that end in –ics (athletics, acoustics, ethics, etc)
“-ics” are singular when an –ics names a science, system, or skill
“-ics” are plural when naming a quality, operation, activity, or individual item
Ex: Ethics is the study of moral principles of the individual and the collective, and it is my favorite subject to study.
Ex: Your ethics are questionable, and you should re-evaluate them.

30. Nitty Gritty
Even when plural, titles of creative works and names of cities or countries take singular pronouns
Ex: Los Angeles is a beautiful city; it has many beautiful parks.
The gender and number of a relative pronoun (who, which, that) is determined by the antecedent
Ex: My pot roast, which gets its flavor from my secret spice, won the cooking contest.
An expression of amount can be either singular or plural depending on the sentence
Ex: You have twenty minutes to complete the assignment; it is plenty of time.
Ex: The ten pencils are apparently a hot commodity; they have disappeared!

31. Practice Makes Perfect!
Page
Ex 13, Rev H

32. More Practice Makes More Perfect
Page 541 Rev I, Rev J, Rev K

33. Test Review
Chapter Review pg
Rev A, B, C