grammar in context - agreement

8/3/2019 Grammar in Context - Agreement

1/8

Every sentence is divided into two parts : the

SUBJECT and the PREDICATE

SUBJECT : person, place or thing about

which something is said.

PREDICATE : what is said about the subject,

always contains the principal verb.

Example: Koalas live in Australia

(S) (P)


2/8

Complete subject To determine the complete subject, ask who or what

question. The answer will be the complete subject.

Example :

a) The man on the train reminded Penny of her father.

Who reminded Penny of her father? The man on the train.(complete subject)

b) The increasing extinction of plant and animal species is

alarming.What is alarming? The increasing extinction of plant andanimal species.(complete subject)


3/8

Main(Simple) Subject Main subject : word in the complete subject that controls

the verb in the sentence.

The main subject is never located in a prepositionalphrase(a phrase beginning with a preposition and ending

with a noun or pronoun, for example, on the table) Example: main subject is circled, prepositional phrases are

underlined, arrow drawn between main subject and verb.

One of my friends has nine credit cards.

Either of the plans is worthwhile.


4/8

There There is linked to a word later in the sentence that

controls the verb.

In the following sentences, an arrow connects theword there and the noun it is linked to.

Example :

There are numerous animals on the Endangered Species

List.

There is a large, fierce dog guarding the house.


5/8

Compound Subjects Compound subjects : subject which is composed of more than

one item. The item is often connected by and.

Example :

Ron and Laurie are going to health club.

( Two subjects : Ron, Laurie)Sometimes word appear to be compound subjects, but they are

actually a single phrase made up of two or more items acting as aunit. These take a singular verb.

Example : Bacon and eggs is a high cholesterol but nourishing

meal.(Bacon and eggs is a single dish.)


6/8

Pronoun-antecedent is similar to subject-verbagreement. Pronouns agree in person, number, andgender with their antecedents(words they refer to).

Example :

Jack ate his lunch quickly.(His agrees withJack.)

Martha stopped by to see her mother afterclass.(Heragrees withMartha)

Each ofus needs to bring our own ideas to themeeting.(Ouragrees with us)


7/8

Formal and Informal Usage of

PronounsFormal (writing and

formal speech)

Everyone drove his or herown car to the picnic.

If you see anyone fromour office, tell him or her

to see me. Everybody may leave

when he or she wishes.

Informal (only forconversation)

Everyone drove theirown car to the picnic.

If you see anyone fromour office, tell them to

see me. Everybody may leave

when they wish.


8/8

Either/or & Neither/nor Either the president or his cabinet members are

responsible for this environmental policy. (members iscloser to the verb and requires the plural are)

Neither the members of the city nor the mayor supportsmore real estate development.(mayoris closer to the verband requires the singular verb supports)

Reversing the above sentences

Either the cabinet members or the presidentisresponsible for this environmental policy.

Neither the mayor nor the members of the city councilsupport more real estate development.

grammar in context - agreement

Documents