Transcript Common Grammatical Errors Let’s all agree to agree, shall we?

Common Grammatical
Errors
Let’s all agree to agree,
shall we?
Subject-Verb Agreement (pg 578)
One of the most common types of subjectverb disagreement has to do with the noun’s
number—whether the noun is singular or
plural. For example:
The student loves grammar.
The students love grammar.
You wouldn’t SAY “The students loves
grammar.” This is the sort of mistake people
make when they’re in a hurry. PROOFREAD.
Intervening Phrases and
Clauses
When an extra phrase is between the subject
and verb, the verb will still agree with the
main subject. For example:
The homework assignment copied by my
friends was wrong.
The verb is “was.” The noun closest to that
verb is plural—but “friends” is not the subject
of the sentence. “Assignment” is the
subject—and it’s singular.
Find a partner!
Turn to Exercise 1 on page 580. Identify
the correct verbs for these ten
sentences.
You have three minutes.
GO!
Indefinite Pronouns (pg 581)
Some indefinite pronouns (everyone,
one, somebody, neither, etc.) are
always singular.
Some pronouns (both, few, many, etc.)
are plural.
Some can be either. Once again, it
depends on how they’re used. (Are you
sensing a theme here?)
Indefinite Pronouns,
cont.
To see if an indefinite pronoun like all,
none, or most is singular or plural, look
at the antecedent.
All of the papers received A’s.
“All” refers to “papers,” which is plural.
Most of the work is done.
“Most” refers to “work,” which is singular.
Compound Subjects
A compound subject is two or more subjects
that are joined by a conjunction and have the
same verb.
If the conjunction combines the ideas, the
verb usually becomes plural.
Nathan and Zach are having Reese’s Pieces
Blizzards.
Because Nathan and Zach are added together
by “and,” the verb is plural.
Compound Subjects, cont.
Single subjects joined by “or” or “nor”
take a singular verb, because they are
still distinct from each other and not
functioning as a unit.
Neither Jenny nor Meghan is likely to
blow off her homework.
“Nor” leaves Jenny and Meghan as
separate individuals, so they are
SINGULAR.
More Compound Subjects!
When the compound subject using “or” or
“nor” mixes a singular with a plural, the verb
agrees with the noun closest to it.
Neither Mrs. Gillespie nor her yearbook classes
plan to order Chinese food.
If it the word order switches, so does the verb.
Neither her yearbook classes nor Mrs. Gillespie
plans to order Chinese food.
Partner up!
Review A on page 153 asks you to
evaluate the subject-verb agreement of
ten sentences. If the verb doesn’t agree,
write down the correct verb on your
paper.
Hint: only ONE sentence is correct.
You have three minutes.
GO!
Special Circumstances
Inverted syntax: We are used to the
subject coming before the verb. When it
comes after the verb, you still have to
check for agreement.
Where’s the coats?
NOOOOOO!!!!!! Coats are plural.
Where are the coats?
More Special Circumstances
Collective nouns: Look at the sentence.
If the sentence is referring to the group
a whole, it’s singular. If it’s referring to
the group in terms of the individuals,
then it’s plural.
An enthusiastic audience is the best kind.
The audience are taking their seats.
Still More Special Circumstances
Number, fraction, and amount nouns: Once
again, look at how it’s used. If it’s a single
unit, it’s singular. If they’re discrete parts, it’s
plural.
Five pages is a long assignment!
Five pages are required for your essay.
In the first sentence, “assignment” makes the
five pages one unit. In the second, they are
individual little measures of torment.
Partners!
Exercise 3 on page 586 asks you to first
identify the subject of the verb in
parentheses and then choose the verb
that agrees with the number of the
subject.
GO!
Antecedent-Pronoun Agreement
A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in:
Number (singular or plural)
Gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter)
Person (1st, 2nd, or 3rd)
Compound Antecedents
If the antecedent is joined by “and,” the
pronoun will be plural.
John and Chris washed their jerseys after
practice.
If the antecedent is joined by “or” or “nor,” the
pronoun will be singular.
Neither John nor Chris washed his jersey after
practice.
Does this sound familiar? It should…
Partners Again!
Exercise 5 on page 596 asks you to
choose the correct pronoun to match
these antecedents.
GO!
Special Circumstances…
…apply to pronouns in EXACTLY the
same way that they apply to verbs!
You’ve already learned this! Let’s review:
Collectives can be singular or plural
Plural nouns functioning as a unit take
singular pronouns, but if the sections are
being considered individually, a plural
pronoun is used.
Don’t worry. We have examples.
An enthusiastic audience is the best kind.
It really helps the performers to do their
best.
The audience are turning their cell phones
and pagers completely off before the
show.
Five pages is a long assignment! I’m not
sure I’ll be able to do that!
Five pages are required for my essay. I
have no idea how I’m going to fill them!
This one’s on your own…
Review E on page 600 asks you to write
sentences with specific guidelines.
Make sure to keep everything in
agreement!
Good luck!
GO!