Wednesday, Sept. 21 ~ Celebrity Look Alike Day

Roots

• vert, vers - turn
• vic, vicis -change, substitute

Grammar

Notes:  Subject Verb Agreement

1. Make the verb agree with its subject, not with a word that comes between. 

• The samples on the tray in the lab (need/needs) testing.

2. Treat most compound subjects (joined with and) as plural.

• Jill's natural ability and her desire to help others (has/have) led to a career in ministry.
• Exception to the rule: when those two things form a single unit.
• Macaroni and cheese (is/are) good.

3. For either/or and neither/nor compound subjects, use the verb that matches the item closest to the verb. 

• Neither the lab assistant nor the students (was/were) able to download the information.
• Note: When you are writing, make the plural one last to avoid awkie phrasing.

4. Treat most indefinite pronouns as singular.

• Everyone who signed up for snowboarding lessons (was/were) paying at the window.

• Tricky... the ones in the last box depend on the noun/pronoun they refer to.
• None of his advice (make/makes) sense.
• None of the eggs (was/were) broken.

5. Treat collective nouns as singular unless the meaning is clearly plural. 

• The class (respect/respects) the teacher.
• The class (is/are) debating among themselves. 
• The young couple (was/were) arguing about politics.
• Note: the number = singular; a number = plural
• A number of children (is/are) attending the wedding. 

6. Make the verb agree with its subject even when the subject follows the verb.

Click here for practice with SVA.

HW: Complete the SVA notes & practice  AND don't forget that tomorrow is Beach vs. Country Day!