Bell Ringer 10

Write each sentence, choosing the correct verb. 1. Most of the students (comes, come) to every session. 2. Some of the tourists (doesnt, dont) speak English. TURN IN BELL RINGERS 6-10 TODAY!!!

Exit Slip
Choose the sentence that is written with the correct subject-verb agreement. A. Everything on the racks were on sale. B. Neither the radio nor the television are working. C. A few of the nails in that can are rusted. D. Your term paper on the importance of insects were very interesting.

Plural Indefinite Pronouns

Both Few Many Several

Singular or Plural
All Any More Most None Some

Quick Check-Write your answers on your

notes and Ill go over them when I get back.

1. Each of the comedians (tries, try) to outdo the other. 2. Somebody on the bus (was, were) whistling. 3. (Is, Are) all of the apples spoiled? 4. Neither of these books (has, have) an index. 5. Few of these jobs (sound, sounds) challenging.

Compound Subjects
Two or more singular subjects joined by or or nor must have a singular verb.
Sam or Beth is going to win.

Compound Subjects
Two or more plural subjects joined by or or nor must have a plural verb.
The girls or the boys are going to win.

Compound Subjects
If one or more singular subjects are joined to one or more plural subjects by or or nor the subject closest to the verb determines agreement.
Beth, Sam, or the twins are going to win. Either the twins or Sam is going to win.

Compound Subjects
A compound subject joined by and is generally plural and must have a plural verb.
Penny and Rose are going to lose. The boys and girls are going to have a rematch.

Quick Check-Write your answers on your

notes and Ill go over them when I get back.

1. The coach and the player (was, were) surprised by the referees call. 2. (Is, Are) Drew or Virgil going out for the pass? 3. Neither the quarterback nor the wide receiver (hear, hears) the referees whistle. 4. The drum major and student council president (is, are) my older sister Janet.

Other Problems
Use dont with all plural subjects and with the pronouns I and you.
I dont know. They dont give up.

Other Problems
Use doesnt with all singular subjects except the pronouns I and you.
She doesnt like tacos.

 Complete the practice in your notes.

Other Problems
A collective noun may be either singular or plural, depending on its meaning in a sentence.
The class have completed their projects. (Class is thought of as individuals.) The class has elected its officers. (class is thought of as a unit.)

Other Problems
An expression of an amount ( a measurement, a percentage, or a fraction, for example) may be singular or plural, depending on how it is used. A word or phrase stating an amount is singular when the amount is thought of as a unit.

Other Problems
A fraction or a percentage is singular when it refers to a singular word and plural when it refers to a plural word.

Other Problems
Even when plural in form, the title of a creative work (such as a book, song, film, or painting), the name of an organization, or the name of a country or city generally takes a singular verb.

Other Problems
Subjects preceded by every or many a take singular verbs.
Every homeowner and storekeeper has joined the cleanup drive sponsored by the town council. Many a litterbug was surprised by the stiff fines.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
A pronoun should agree in gender and number with its antecedent.
Gender-Male and female Number-Singular and plural

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
A pronoun that refers to a singular antecedent is singular in number.
Daniel Defoe wrote his first book at the age of fifty-nine.

A pronoun that refers to a plural antecedent is plural in number.

Reliable cars make their owners happy.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Not only should pronouns and antecedents agree in number, but they should also agree in gender.

Quick Check
1. Phillip and Carla were proud of ___ new kitchen. 2. Each boy on the soccer team had ___ own special memories of the game. 3. Either Bob or Jim is bringing ___ guitar to the picnic. 4. The people in the park all seemed to have smiles on ___ faces.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
When a singular antecedent may be either masculine or feminine, use both the masculine and the feminine forms, connected by or.
Each passenger will be shown where he or she can check in. A person should choose his or her college carefully.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
All of the water has melted; it is pooling in the valley. All of the streams are full; they are rushing torrents.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Most of her cooking tastes good. In fact, it is delicious. Most of the dishes she cooks taste good. They contain unusual spices.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Use a singular pronoun to refer to two or more singular antecedents joined by or or nor.
Neither Richard nor Bob distinguished himself in the finals. Paula or Janet will present her views on the subject.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Use a plural pronoun to refer to two or more antecedents joined by and.
Mona and Janet left early because they had to be home before ten oclock. Mom and Dad celebrated their twentieth wedding anniversary yesterday.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
The number of a relative pronoun (such as who, whom, whose, which, or that) is determined by its antecedent.
Aretha is one friend who always keeps her word.

Guided Practice
Pages 509-510 Review E

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
An expression of an amount (a measurement, a percentage, or a fraction) may be singular or plural depending on how it is used.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
A word or phrase stating an amount is singular when the amount is thought of as a unit.
Ten minutes isnt long; it will go by quickly. Here is five dollars. Is it enough?

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
Sometimes, however, the amount is thought of as individual pieces or parts. If so, a plural verb is used.
Ten of the twenty minutes were wasted; we spent them arguing. Five dollars were counterfeit, werent they?