Usage

Warriner’s Chapter 5

Number

• When a word refers to one person or thing, it is singular in number. When a word refers to more than one, it is plural in number.

Singular or plural?

• Identify whether each word is singular or plural:

• Lawyer bag my woman

• Books item oursweeks

• Sound those feet mine• Them meter that

tooth• Pennies hoof motor bills

Subject-Verb Agreement

• In order to speak and write in Standard English you must make verbs agree with their subjects.

• *Standard English* is the English generally used in well-edited newspapers, magazines and books, and by well educated people throughout the English speaking community.

• *Non-Standard English* is the term used to describe variations in usage that are limited to a particular region, group or situation. – Dialects; colloquialism; slang

• Singular subjects take singular verbs:

• “My friend likes algebra.”

• Plural subjects take plural verbs:

• “My friends like algebra.”

• Nouns ending in –s=plural• Verbs ending in –s=singular

• First person:– I help -We Help

• Second Person:– You help -you help

• Third Person:– He she or it helps -they help

Practice

• Write the verb in parentheses that agrees with the subject (pg 161, EX 2)

S-V Agreement

The number of the subject is not changed by a phrase following the subject

Ex:The sign near the glass doors explains the exhibit.

The paintings of Emilio Sanchez were hanging in the gallery.

S-V Agreement

• Compound prepositions such as together with, in addition to, along with following the subject do not affect the number of the subject.

• Ex: • Anne, along with her cousins, is backpacking

in Nevada this summer.

Practice

• Ex. 3 pg, 161; find a partner and work on Ex. 3 together. Read the directions carefully.

• Write 5 sentences about what you noticed from the Oral Drill on page 161.

Pronouns

• The following pronouns are singular:• Each either

neither• One everyone

everybody• No one nobody

anyone• Anybody someone

somebody

Pronouns

• The following pronouns are plural:• Few both many• Several

Pronouns

• These pronouns may be singular or plural, depending on their reference.

• Some all most• Any none

Ex: Some of the show is funny. [some referring to singular “show”]Some of the entertainers are funny. [some referring to plural “entertainers]

Practice

• All of the cast (look, looks) young.• Most of his routine (sounds, sound) familiar.• Somebody on the bus (was, were) whistling.• Neither of these books (has, have) an index.• Few of these jobs (sounds, sound) challenging.• No one in the office (leaves, leave) early.• Most of those songs (is, are) from the 60’s.

Practice

• Some of the news photos of the event are potential prize winners.

• Most of us disagree with the final report.• A bowl of ripe plums are on the table.• Some of the hay has already been cut.• Neither of the paintings look finished.• Each of the contestants has a chance at

winning.

Compound Subjects

• RULE:• Subjects joined by and take a plural verb.– Compound subjects joined by and name more than

one person or thing and must take plural verbs.• Leslie Silko and Mary Evans are poets. • Cleaning and vaccuming help me clear my

mind. – Two separate people or things help or are.

Compound Subjects

• My pen pal and best friend is my cousin.• Pumpkin seeds and raisins makes a tasty

snack.– In the sentences above, the compound subjects

are thought of as units (one person, one snack) and are therefore singular.

Compound Subjects

• RULE:• Singular subjects joined by or or nor take a

singular verb.• Neither the coach nor the principal is happy.– [neither one is happy]

• After dinner either Anne or Tony loads the dishwasher.– [Either Anne or Tony, not both]

Compound Subjects

• RULE: • When a singular subject and a plural subject

are joined by or or nor the verb agrees with the subject nearer the verb.

• Neither the winners nor the loser was happy.• Neither the loser nor the winners were happy.

Practice

• Flora or Estella have already seen that movie.• My grandparents, as well as my mother, is

working on the quilt.• Neither the aides nor the librarian have found

the missing card.• One of my classmates take the bus to school.• Neither of the reporters’ questions were

answered in detail.

Don’t/Doesn’t

• RULE:• Don’t and Doesn’t must agree with their

subjects.

• They don’t know.

• He/she/it=doesn’t