Assignment 4.3: Evaluate and Defend

6. Grammar Check Up

Subject and Verb Agreement

When you are speaking or writing to convey a message or strong feeling, mistakes in your grammar can weaken your influence upon your audience.

Subject-verb agreement shows balance and clarity for your reader.

Verbs

Verbs must agree with their subjects, even when they are separated by several other words or when their order is reversed.
- The entire cosmetic industry (subject) has (verb) been created to prevent aging.
- I have (verb) many activities (subject) planned for this afternoon.
Collective nouns (birds) take on singular verbs (sing)
- Is (singular verb) anyone (collective noun) ready for lunch?
- The team (collective noun) likes (singular verb) the restaurant.
When sentences include either...or or neither...nor, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
- Neither Megan nor her family (collective noun) are (collective verb) fond of broccoli.
- Either the team members or the captain (singular) is (singular) going to have to make the decision.

Pronouns

* Pronouns replace a noun
* Antecedents replace the pronoun
* Indefinite pronoun antecedents include broad or undetermined number

anyone each everyone no one someone one
anybody either everybody nothing somebody other
anything neither everything nobody something

A pronoun must agree with its antecedent which is the word that the pronoun refers to or replaces.
- Front wheel drive cars (antecedent) are the best for their (pronoun) good handling.
Indefinite pronouns are usually singular, even though some may seem plural.
- Anyone (indefinite pronoun antecedent) who is finished may hand in his or her (singular pronoun) essay.
Be consistent in your pronoun use.
- I take pride in my car; it is great to have your (incorrect: should be "my") own transportation.

Now you try. Open the following worksheet and rewrite each sentence to correct the subject-verb or pronoun agreement error.

*DO NOT submit this practice for marks