WEBVTT 00:00:03.336 --> 00:00:05.676 A:middle >> OK everyone, good morning. 00:00:05.956 --> 00:00:07.706 A:middle So my name is Julie Guzman. 00:00:07.776 --> 00:00:09.686 A:middle I am from the Writing Center. 00:00:10.146 --> 00:00:13.876 A:middle And we are doing a workshop today on subject verb agreement. 00:00:14.676 --> 00:00:18.866 A:middle So, we have a presentation here on subject verb agreement. 00:00:19.646 --> 00:00:23.736 A:middle And subject verb agreement is just an area 00:00:24.056 --> 00:00:26.036 A:middle of grammar in English. 00:00:26.536 --> 00:00:30.976 A:middle The idea is that in every sentence, we have a verb, 00:00:31.466 --> 00:00:35.676 A:middle which is the action word in a sentence, and the subject, 00:00:35.676 --> 00:00:39.756 A:middle which is the person or thing that is performing the action. 00:00:40.206 --> 00:00:42.996 A:middle And with subject verb agreement, we just need to make sure 00:00:42.996 --> 00:00:46.836 A:middle that the subject and the verb always agree with each other, 00:00:46.836 --> 00:00:48.956 A:middle they always go together. 00:00:49.546 --> 00:00:54.326 A:middle So in this workshop, we're going to talk about the basic rules 00:00:54.326 --> 00:00:57.546 A:middle for subject verb agreement and how to make sure 00:00:57.546 --> 00:01:02.356 A:middle that our subjects and our verbs always go together according 00:01:02.356 --> 00:01:03.726 A:middle to the rule, OK? 00:01:04.516 --> 00:01:06.776 A:middle One thing to note with subject verb agreement, 00:01:06.906 --> 00:01:11.786 A:middle this rule basically applies to present tenses in English. 00:01:11.786 --> 00:01:14.726 A:middle So like your simple present tenses, 00:01:15.026 --> 00:01:18.276 A:middle present progressive, present perfect. 00:01:18.356 --> 00:01:23.036 A:middle There are sometimes exceptions like perhaps with the past tense 00:01:23.036 --> 00:01:26.026 A:middle but for the most part, subject verb agreement applies 00:01:26.066 --> 00:01:27.996 A:middle to your present tenses, OK? 00:01:28.616 --> 00:01:32.786 A:middle So, we're going to start looking at the rules for this. 00:01:33.496 --> 00:01:36.856 A:middle Basically, every verb must agree with its subject. 00:01:37.346 --> 00:01:39.416 A:middle So, if you have a singular subject, 00:01:39.416 --> 00:01:41.866 A:middle you need to match it with a singular verb. 00:01:42.336 --> 00:01:44.456 A:middle If you have a plural subject, 00:01:44.736 --> 00:01:47.946 A:middle it needs to have a plural verb, right? 00:01:48.856 --> 00:01:52.486 A:middle So, we're going to next look at an example 00:01:52.486 --> 00:01:55.446 A:middle of a verb with some subjects. 00:01:57.146 --> 00:02:02.496 A:middle OK. So with this example, we need to watch the verb endings. 00:02:03.206 --> 00:02:07.806 A:middle We're going to look at the verb walk, walk. 00:02:08.456 --> 00:02:12.106 A:middle And the subjects we're going to look at first are pronouns, 00:02:12.206 --> 00:02:18.216 A:middle your basic subject pronouns such as I, you, he, she, 00:02:18.476 --> 00:02:23.776 A:middle it, we, you and they, OK? 00:02:24.126 --> 00:02:28.726 A:middle So the basic rule for subject verb agreement with pronouns, 00:02:28.726 --> 00:02:35.226 A:middle subject pronouns is, I walk, you walk, he, she, it walks, 00:02:35.956 --> 00:02:39.166 A:middle we walk, you walk and they walk. 00:02:39.426 --> 00:02:41.386 A:middle The important thing to note here is 00:02:41.386 --> 00:02:47.836 A:middle that with the third person singular subject, he, she, it, 00:02:48.226 --> 00:02:51.186 A:middle the verb takes an s. So that's the important thing to remember. 00:02:51.636 --> 00:02:53.486 A:middle With your subject pronoun subjects, 00:02:53.976 --> 00:02:58.756 A:middle when you have the third person singular subject, he, she or it, 00:02:59.166 --> 00:03:03.786 A:middle make sure that the verb takes an s at the end, OK? 00:03:05.146 --> 00:03:09.786 A:middle And you can contrast that with the other verb endings. 00:03:09.786 --> 00:03:13.736 A:middle Notice there is no s for all the other subject pronouns, 00:03:14.346 --> 00:03:16.196 A:middle we, they, I, you. 00:03:16.856 --> 00:03:21.956 A:middle OK. Now, let's say, we want to be more specific 00:03:22.346 --> 00:03:26.096 A:middle with the third person singular subject. 00:03:26.406 --> 00:03:29.446 A:middle Let's say, we want to be more specific than he. 00:03:29.516 --> 00:03:32.396 A:middle So instead of saying he, we might say Joe. 00:03:32.886 --> 00:03:34.196 A:middle OK, Joe walks. 00:03:34.786 --> 00:03:37.616 A:middle Joe is still a third person singular subject. 00:03:37.896 --> 00:03:40.286 A:middle The verb needs to have an s at the end, walks. 00:03:40.986 --> 00:03:45.056 A:middle Let's say, we want to be more specific than she, OK? 00:03:45.336 --> 00:03:48.446 A:middle The girl, so instead of saying she, we say the girl. 00:03:48.806 --> 00:03:52.916 A:middle Again, we still need that s at the end, the girl walks, 00:03:53.036 --> 00:03:57.296 A:middle because it's still a third person singular subject, OK? 00:03:57.616 --> 00:04:00.406 A:middle When I say third person, I'm always referring to something 00:04:00.406 --> 00:04:02.146 A:middle like he or she or it, OK? 00:04:02.146 --> 00:04:03.586 A:middle First person is I. 00:04:03.846 --> 00:04:05.046 A:middle Second person is you. 00:04:05.046 --> 00:04:07.286 A:middle Third person is he, she or it, OK? 00:04:07.446 --> 00:04:08.386 A:middle All right. 00:04:08.426 --> 00:04:13.836 A:middle Now, let's contrast these verb endings here, Joe walks, 00:04:13.886 --> 00:04:18.516 A:middle the girl walks, these are all singular, singular subjects, OK? 00:04:18.946 --> 00:04:25.726 A:middle Let's contrast that with plural subjects, they, they, plural, 00:04:25.816 --> 00:04:27.616 A:middle more than one, OK, two or more. 00:04:28.416 --> 00:04:31.056 A:middle Let's say, you want to be more specific than they. 00:04:31.796 --> 00:04:34.486 A:middle Well, instead of saying they, you might say Joe and Maria. 00:04:34.586 --> 00:04:35.746 A:middle OK, that's two people. 00:04:35.746 --> 00:04:36.386 A:middle It's plural. 00:04:37.036 --> 00:04:40.816 A:middle Joe and Maria walk, right, no s at the end. 00:04:41.166 --> 00:04:44.046 A:middle It's a plural subject, therefore, plural verb, 00:04:44.166 --> 00:04:45.516 A:middle no s at the end of walk. 00:04:46.086 --> 00:04:48.756 A:middle Again, if you want to be more specific than they, let's say, 00:04:48.756 --> 00:04:52.806 A:middle you say, the girls, the girls, OK, two or more girls, again, 00:04:53.046 --> 00:04:54.556 A:middle plural subject, right? 00:04:54.806 --> 00:04:57.756 A:middle Therefore, the verb also has to be a plural verb, 00:04:58.016 --> 00:05:00.616 A:middle again, no s at the end, OK? 00:05:01.046 --> 00:05:02.886 A:middle So the important thing to note is the difference 00:05:02.886 --> 00:05:06.686 A:middle between third person singular subjects and plural subjects. 00:05:07.066 --> 00:05:10.276 A:middle Make sure your third person singular subjects always have a 00:05:10.276 --> 00:05:11.486 A:middle verb with an s at the end. 00:05:11.486 --> 00:05:17.016 A:middle And the plural subjects take a verb that don't have an s, OK? 00:05:17.316 --> 00:05:20.546 A:middle OK, so that's a basic overview. 00:05:20.836 --> 00:05:24.796 A:middle We're going to start looking at some more examples here. 00:05:27.366 --> 00:05:32.266 A:middle OK. Let's look at three irregular verbs, 00:05:32.446 --> 00:05:33.996 A:middle all right, irregular verbs. 00:05:33.996 --> 00:05:35.786 A:middle And these are just irregular verbs 00:05:35.786 --> 00:05:37.306 A:middle that you should simply be aware 00:05:37.306 --> 00:05:41.616 A:middle of because the spelling is actually a little different 00:05:41.616 --> 00:05:44.306 A:middle compared to regular verbs, all right. 00:05:44.306 --> 00:05:45.986 A:middle So it's something you just need to memorize. 00:05:46.656 --> 00:05:51.336 A:middle The three irregular verbs are do, have and be. 00:05:52.086 --> 00:05:55.396 A:middle OK, let's say, we're going to use the verb do. 00:05:55.396 --> 00:05:57.486 A:middle If you have a singular subject, again, 00:05:57.486 --> 00:06:01.686 A:middle a third person singular subject like he or the boy, OK, 00:06:02.176 --> 00:06:06.066 A:middle then the verb is going to be does. 00:06:06.066 --> 00:06:08.666 A:middle Now, notice it has an s at the end, OK, 00:06:08.666 --> 00:06:09.956 A:middle but just notice the spelling. 00:06:09.956 --> 00:06:13.246 A:middle It's D-O-E-S, OK, so just notice the spelling, does. 00:06:13.516 --> 00:06:15.336 A:middle It still has an s at the end of the verb. 00:06:15.906 --> 00:06:20.466 A:middle Contrast that with plural subjects, they or the boys, 00:06:20.896 --> 00:06:24.616 A:middle they do, no s at the end of the verb, OK? 00:06:24.896 --> 00:06:26.736 A:middle Let's take a look at another verb, 00:06:26.736 --> 00:06:29.856 A:middle another irregular verb, have, have. 00:06:29.856 --> 00:06:35.576 A:middle OK. If you have a third person singular subject like she has, 00:06:36.186 --> 00:06:37.846 A:middle again, there is an s at the end 00:06:37.846 --> 00:06:40.876 A:middle but just notice the spelling H-A-S, all right? 00:06:41.286 --> 00:06:47.026 A:middle Contrast that with the plural subject they have, no s. OK. 00:06:47.026 --> 00:06:48.656 A:middle And then finally, the verb be. 00:06:48.656 --> 00:06:52.256 A:middle The verb be has a different spelling 00:06:52.256 --> 00:06:54.316 A:middle for a lot of its subjects. 00:06:55.136 --> 00:06:59.736 A:middle Third person singular subject, he, is, there's an s at the end. 00:06:59.776 --> 00:07:03.836 A:middle Contrast that with plural subjects, they are, OK, 00:07:04.176 --> 00:07:06.436 A:middle different spelling, just have to memorize it. 00:07:06.706 --> 00:07:10.576 A:middle This is actually past tense so this is an example 00:07:10.576 --> 00:07:14.446 A:middle of an exception where it actually applies 00:07:14.506 --> 00:07:20.136 A:middle to a past tense, she was, there is an s at the end, OK? 00:07:20.386 --> 00:07:23.646 A:middle Contrast that with plural subject they were. 00:07:24.146 --> 00:07:27.076 A:middle OK. But the important thing to note is that even 00:07:27.076 --> 00:07:31.086 A:middle with these irregular verbs, you still have an s at the end 00:07:31.216 --> 00:07:37.256 A:middle of the verb if you have a third person singular subject, OK? 00:07:37.706 --> 00:07:39.666 A:middle OK, so those are just the irregular verbs. 00:07:39.716 --> 00:07:40.906 A:middle Just keep those in mind. 00:07:41.866 --> 00:07:43.246 A:middle OK. So moving on. 00:07:43.556 --> 00:07:47.686 A:middle So let's start looking at tips, some helpful hints 00:07:47.686 --> 00:07:49.446 A:middle for subject verb agreement. 00:07:50.026 --> 00:07:54.166 A:middle OK. So, generally, generally, 00:07:54.346 --> 00:07:58.416 A:middle if the subject doesn't end in s, the verb will. 00:07:58.806 --> 00:08:04.666 A:middle So that means, if the subject is singular, OK, and doesn't end 00:08:04.666 --> 00:08:10.586 A:middle in s, so for example, the boy, OK, and not the boys. 00:08:11.386 --> 00:08:15.066 A:middle If the subject doesn't end in s, the verb will. 00:08:15.116 --> 00:08:19.396 A:middle The verb will most likely end in s. OK. 00:08:19.396 --> 00:08:21.746 A:middle And we'll look at an example of that, OK? 00:08:22.546 --> 00:08:25.886 A:middle If the subject does end in s, so in other words, 00:08:25.886 --> 00:08:28.676 A:middle if the subject is plural, so for example, 00:08:28.916 --> 00:08:31.826 A:middle the boys, the verb won't. 00:08:31.826 --> 00:08:36.116 A:middle The verb probably won't end in s. Now keep in mind this tip, 00:08:36.506 --> 00:08:43.546 A:middle this helpful hint is applicable to regular subjects, OK? 00:08:43.606 --> 00:08:46.906 A:middle So it's not going to be for irregular nouns. 00:08:47.176 --> 00:08:48.506 A:middle It's going to be pretty much 00:08:48.506 --> 00:08:52.276 A:middle for regular noun subjects, all right? 00:08:52.576 --> 00:08:55.146 A:middle OK. Now let's take a look at an example, 00:08:55.246 --> 00:08:57.546 A:middle first for this rule here. 00:08:57.546 --> 00:08:59.906 A:middle Generally, if the subject doesn't end in s, 00:09:00.166 --> 00:09:02.596 A:middle in other words, if it's singular, their verb will end 00:09:02.596 --> 00:09:04.456 A:middle in s. So let's take a look at that. 00:09:05.046 --> 00:09:07.066 A:middle The girl, the girl, OK. 00:09:07.726 --> 00:09:11.106 A:middle So this is singular or plural? 00:09:11.516 --> 00:09:14.196 A:middle This is singular, OK? 00:09:14.196 --> 00:09:16.166 A:middle It doesn't end in s, it's one girl. 00:09:16.746 --> 00:09:25.386 A:middle But notice dances, the verb ends in s. So in general, 00:09:25.386 --> 00:09:28.656 A:middle if the subject does not end in s, it's singular, 00:09:28.976 --> 00:09:33.356 A:middle the verb will end in s. The girl dances, OK? 00:09:34.366 --> 00:09:39.486 A:middle OK. If we look back at that other rule over here, 00:09:40.566 --> 00:09:43.196 A:middle if the subject does end in s, the verb won't. 00:09:43.196 --> 00:09:48.586 A:middle So the idea if the subject is plural and it ends in s, 00:09:49.146 --> 00:09:52.376 A:middle the verb won't end in s. So let's take a look 00:09:52.376 --> 00:09:55.386 A:middle at an example of that. 00:09:56.646 --> 00:09:58.896 A:middle OK. The girls, the girls, 00:09:58.926 --> 00:10:00.976 A:middle this is a plural subject because it ends in s. 00:10:01.376 --> 00:10:02.506 A:middle It's two or more girls. 00:10:04.076 --> 00:10:05.756 A:middle There is an s on the subject. 00:10:06.166 --> 00:10:07.316 A:middle Take a look at the verb. 00:10:08.726 --> 00:10:10.916 A:middle There is no s on the verb, OK? 00:10:10.916 --> 00:10:11.846 A:middle The girls dance. 00:10:12.746 --> 00:10:15.626 A:middle So this is a general rule that you can follow. 00:10:15.626 --> 00:10:17.456 A:middle But again, it's mainly 00:10:17.536 --> 00:10:22.086 A:middle for regular nouns, not irregular nouns. 00:10:22.386 --> 00:10:25.066 A:middle So it can be a helpful tip. 00:10:28.106 --> 00:10:33.696 A:middle OK so now, we're going to look at some more specific situations 00:10:33.696 --> 00:10:36.016 A:middle that you might have in your sentences. 00:10:36.696 --> 00:10:40.506 A:middle And we want to make sure we understand how 00:10:40.506 --> 00:10:42.266 A:middle to have correct subject verb agreement 00:10:42.266 --> 00:10:44.486 A:middle when we have these specific situations. 00:10:44.486 --> 00:10:47.856 A:middle So let's look at this particular situation. 00:10:48.556 --> 00:10:50.776 A:middle Compound subjects joined by and. 00:10:50.866 --> 00:10:52.646 A:middle OK, compound, that means two. 00:10:52.646 --> 00:10:57.206 A:middle So, you have two subjects joined together by the word and. 00:10:57.676 --> 00:10:58.816 A:middle OK, so what do we do? 00:10:58.816 --> 00:11:00.176 A:middle What do we do in that situation? 00:11:01.216 --> 00:11:04.736 A:middle If there are two or more subjects joined by and, 00:11:05.526 --> 00:11:09.506 A:middle the subject must be plural because we have two or more 00:11:09.956 --> 00:11:12.596 A:middle so the verb will not end in s. OK. 00:11:12.596 --> 00:11:14.606 A:middle So if you have two or more subjects joined by and, 00:11:14.606 --> 00:11:17.926 A:middle the subject is automatically plural, the verb will not end 00:11:17.926 --> 00:11:19.736 A:middle in s. Let's take a look an example. 00:11:20.586 --> 00:11:22.186 A:middle The boy and the girl dance. 00:11:23.276 --> 00:11:27.596 A:middle We have the boy, subject number one, and the girl, 00:11:27.596 --> 00:11:31.086 A:middle subject number two, there are two together, it's plural, 00:11:31.406 --> 00:11:33.866 A:middle therefore, the verb has to be a plural verb, 00:11:34.146 --> 00:11:37.646 A:middle no s at the end of dance. 00:11:37.796 --> 00:11:40.456 A:middle It's like saying they dance, OK? 00:11:46.326 --> 00:11:50.866 A:middle OK. Compound subjects joined by or. 00:11:50.866 --> 00:11:54.566 A:middle Here is another situation, another situation. 00:11:54.566 --> 00:11:58.446 A:middle What if you have two subjects joined by the word or? 00:11:59.046 --> 00:12:00.946 A:middle What do we do? 00:12:01.206 --> 00:12:04.136 A:middle If there are two or more subjects joined by or, 00:12:04.636 --> 00:12:07.946 A:middle the verb agrees with the part of the subject closest to it. 00:12:08.336 --> 00:12:10.546 A:middle OK. So now we have to look at the location. 00:12:10.546 --> 00:12:13.406 A:middle We have to look at the location of the two subjects. 00:12:13.696 --> 00:12:18.086 A:middle Whichever subject is closest to the verb then the verb has 00:12:18.086 --> 00:12:19.326 A:middle to agree with that subject. 00:12:19.326 --> 00:12:21.516 A:middle So let's look at a couple of examples. 00:12:21.866 --> 00:12:24.046 A:middle All right, here we go. 00:12:24.266 --> 00:12:27.736 A:middle The professor or the students walk the halls. 00:12:28.986 --> 00:12:31.156 A:middle The professor or the students walk the halls. 00:12:31.396 --> 00:12:32.496 A:middle We have two subjects. 00:12:32.576 --> 00:12:34.586 A:middle The first subject is the professor. 00:12:35.296 --> 00:12:37.446 A:middle Is the professor singular or plural? 00:12:38.356 --> 00:12:44.536 A:middle Singular. Or the students, here is the next subject, students. 00:12:44.916 --> 00:12:46.436 A:middle Is that singular or plural? 00:12:47.446 --> 00:12:48.186 A:middle It's plural. 00:12:48.666 --> 00:12:51.006 A:middle What's the verb? 00:12:51.576 --> 00:12:59.546 A:middle Walk. Walk is a plural verb because it's closest 00:12:59.546 --> 00:13:01.566 A:middle to the subject students, which is plural. 00:13:02.516 --> 00:13:05.566 A:middle So we can't say, the professor or the students walks the halls. 00:13:05.566 --> 00:13:09.876 A:middle We can't do that because the students, which is plural, 00:13:09.876 --> 00:13:11.356 A:middle is closest to the verb. 00:13:11.666 --> 00:13:16.866 A:middle Therefore, the verb has to agree with this plural subject. 00:13:17.766 --> 00:13:21.876 A:middle Now, let's switch the subjects and see what happens. 00:13:23.446 --> 00:13:27.216 A:middle The students or the professor walks the halls. 00:13:27.556 --> 00:13:30.876 A:middle Mm-hmm, look what happened to the verb. 00:13:31.466 --> 00:13:33.136 A:middle Look what happened to the verb here. 00:13:34.316 --> 00:13:37.556 A:middle So, the students, that's the first subject, is plural, 00:13:38.116 --> 00:13:43.956 A:middle or the professor, which is singular, walks. 00:13:44.156 --> 00:13:47.156 A:middle Walks has an s. It's a singular verb because it's closest 00:13:47.156 --> 00:13:50.816 A:middle to the subject that is singular, all right? 00:13:52.186 --> 00:13:55.986 A:middle So, keep that basic rule in mind. 00:13:55.986 --> 00:13:59.396 A:middle If you have compound subjects joined by the word or, 00:13:59.896 --> 00:14:01.586 A:middle just keep that in mind. 00:14:01.586 --> 00:14:03.676 A:middle All you have to do is pay attention to the order, 00:14:04.246 --> 00:14:07.516 A:middle in whichever subject is closest to the verb, the verb has 00:14:07.516 --> 00:14:08.686 A:middle to agree with that subject. 00:14:09.216 --> 00:14:12.636 A:middle OK. So that's another situation you might have 00:14:12.636 --> 00:14:15.756 A:middle in your sentences, all right? 00:14:15.756 --> 00:14:17.576 A:middle All right, let's look at another situation. 00:14:17.936 --> 00:14:19.466 A:middle What about indefinite pronouns? 00:14:20.296 --> 00:14:21.416 A:middle Indefinite pronouns. 00:14:22.316 --> 00:14:25.246 A:middle OK. Well let's define what an indefinite pronoun is. 00:14:25.246 --> 00:14:27.916 A:middle An indefinite pronoun does not refer 00:14:28.236 --> 00:14:31.736 A:middle to a specific person, place or idea. 00:14:31.976 --> 00:14:33.036 A:middle That's why it's indefinite 00:14:33.206 --> 00:14:36.346 A:middle because we really don't know what person, 00:14:36.346 --> 00:14:40.606 A:middle place or idea is being talked about, OK? 00:14:41.266 --> 00:14:43.856 A:middle All right, let's look at some examples of indefinite pronouns, 00:14:44.826 --> 00:14:51.126 A:middle someone, anything, many, several. 00:14:51.866 --> 00:14:52.916 A:middle OK, all right. 00:14:53.066 --> 00:14:55.536 A:middle So those are some examples of indefinite pronouns. 00:14:56.516 --> 00:14:59.006 A:middle OK. Now how do we use indefinite pronouns 00:14:59.006 --> 00:15:00.056 A:middle in subject verb agreement? 00:15:00.646 --> 00:15:04.986 A:middle A few indefinite pronouns are plural. 00:15:04.986 --> 00:15:06.496 A:middle All right. 00:15:06.996 --> 00:15:12.326 A:middle So, these indefinite pronouns here will all take plural verbs 00:15:12.376 --> 00:15:16.776 A:middle because these are plural subjects, many, 00:15:17.106 --> 00:15:21.046 A:middle several, few, both, some. 00:15:21.616 --> 00:15:26.436 A:middle All of those mean more than one thing or person. 00:15:27.016 --> 00:15:30.236 A:middle OK. Therefore, they're plural, therefore, 00:15:30.446 --> 00:15:31.736 A:middle their verbs have to be plural. 00:15:32.016 --> 00:15:33.756 A:middle Let's look at a couple of examples. 00:15:34.026 --> 00:15:36.916 A:middle Many, many of the students have A's. 00:15:36.916 --> 00:15:39.206 A:middle Notice the verb, have is a plural verb. 00:15:39.206 --> 00:15:41.826 A:middle We don't say many of the students has A's. 00:15:42.176 --> 00:15:44.276 A:middle It's many of the students have A's. 00:15:44.706 --> 00:15:46.046 A:middle OK? Plural verb. 00:15:47.216 --> 00:15:50.256 A:middle Few of the students are discouraged. 00:15:50.366 --> 00:15:52.136 A:middle Notice the verb are. 00:15:52.606 --> 00:15:53.506 A:middle It's a plural verb. 00:15:53.506 --> 00:15:55.826 A:middle We don't say, few of the students is discouraged. 00:15:56.096 --> 00:15:58.706 A:middle It's few of the students are discouraged. 00:15:58.886 --> 00:16:00.806 A:middle OK. Because few, it's more than one. 00:16:00.806 --> 00:16:01.406 A:middle It's plural. 00:16:01.926 --> 00:16:06.056 A:middle OK? So keep these indefinite pronouns in mind 00:16:06.056 --> 00:16:08.896 A:middle and just understand, they're plural subjects, therefore, 00:16:08.896 --> 00:16:10.306 A:middle their verbs have to be plural. 00:16:11.026 --> 00:16:14.306 A:middle Let's take a look at some more indefinite pronouns. 00:16:15.436 --> 00:16:17.956 A:middle Most indefinite pronouns are singular. 00:16:18.996 --> 00:16:22.076 A:middle They're actually singular, most of them, OK? 00:16:22.306 --> 00:16:26.266 A:middle Most indefinite-- Most singular indefinite pronouns begin 00:16:26.266 --> 00:16:32.396 A:middle with some, any, every, no, 00:16:32.866 --> 00:16:38.406 A:middle and end with body, one and thing, OK? 00:16:38.856 --> 00:16:43.946 A:middle So you might say, somebody, someone, something, anybody, 00:16:43.946 --> 00:16:47.146 A:middle anyone, anything, everybody, everyone, everything, 00:16:47.226 --> 00:16:48.726 A:middle nobody, no one, nothing. 00:16:49.616 --> 00:16:51.866 A:middle Those are all singular subjects. 00:16:52.086 --> 00:16:54.366 A:middle Therefore, their verbs have to be singular. 00:16:55.156 --> 00:16:58.186 A:middle So let's take a look at an example. 00:16:59.486 --> 00:17:01.976 A:middle Examples of singular indefinite pronouns. 00:17:02.866 --> 00:17:05.096 A:middle Does anybody here like grammar? 00:17:05.526 --> 00:17:07.056 A:middle Does anybody here like grammar? 00:17:07.056 --> 00:17:09.186 A:middle OK, this is in the form of a question, OK, 00:17:09.186 --> 00:17:10.126 A:middle rather than a sentence. 00:17:10.126 --> 00:17:12.106 A:middle But even in a question, you still have 00:17:12.106 --> 00:17:13.656 A:middle to practice subject verb agreement. 00:17:14.656 --> 00:17:16.336 A:middle The subject is anybody. 00:17:16.606 --> 00:17:19.556 A:middle Remember, it's singular, therefore, the verb, 00:17:20.276 --> 00:17:22.766 A:middle does, has to be singular. 00:17:23.166 --> 00:17:26.596 A:middle It ends in s, does anybody here like grammar? 00:17:27.156 --> 00:17:29.396 A:middle OK? Let's take a look at another example. 00:17:29.656 --> 00:17:32.776 A:middle Everybody loves grammar. 00:17:32.856 --> 00:17:35.566 A:middle OK. Everybody is singular. 00:17:35.756 --> 00:17:38.606 A:middle Now this is confusing for some people. 00:17:40.566 --> 00:17:43.306 A:middle Everybody is actually a singular subject. 00:17:43.456 --> 00:17:48.626 A:middle OK. And just think of it as every, each body, person. 00:17:48.626 --> 00:17:51.756 A:middle Think of it as each person, each one, 00:17:52.906 --> 00:17:54.696 A:middle singular verb, loves grammar. 00:17:55.476 --> 00:17:58.696 A:middle OK? OK. Is anybody lying? 00:17:58.736 --> 00:18:02.676 A:middle OK? Anybody is singular, therefore, 00:18:02.676 --> 00:18:04.826 A:middle the verb is-- must be singular. 00:18:05.536 --> 00:18:06.906 A:middle No one is lying. 00:18:07.156 --> 00:18:11.146 A:middle OK. No one is singular, the verb has to be singular, is. 00:18:12.426 --> 00:18:17.056 A:middle OK? And well someone, that's singular, 00:18:17.206 --> 00:18:22.026 A:middle is stretching the truth, OK, singular, singular. 00:18:23.306 --> 00:18:28.176 A:middle And then finally, each, OK, each, if you have the word each, 00:18:28.436 --> 00:18:30.326 A:middle immediately each is singular. 00:18:30.386 --> 00:18:33.576 A:middle Each of the students, it's like saying one 00:18:33.576 --> 00:18:37.446 A:middle of the students denies that, OK? 00:18:37.446 --> 00:18:41.176 A:middle Denies is singular because of the s. OK. 00:18:41.326 --> 00:18:44.606 A:middle So these are just some examples of singular indefinite pronouns. 00:18:44.606 --> 00:18:46.656 A:middle So if you have these in your writing, 00:18:46.656 --> 00:18:49.026 A:middle just make sure you have a singular verb 00:18:49.026 --> 00:18:51.536 A:middle that goes with them. 00:18:53.406 --> 00:18:55.606 A:middle OK? OK, possible pitfalls, in other words, 00:18:55.606 --> 00:19:00.796 A:middle possible problems you might encounter in your sentences. 00:19:00.946 --> 00:19:03.936 A:middle OK. So here is the first possible problem. 00:19:04.476 --> 00:19:06.136 A:middle Sometimes several words come 00:19:06.136 --> 00:19:07.656 A:middle between the subject and the verb. 00:19:08.266 --> 00:19:09.706 A:middle Sometimes several words come 00:19:09.706 --> 00:19:11.346 A:middle between the subject and the verb. 00:19:11.616 --> 00:19:13.356 A:middle OK. So in other words, the subject 00:19:13.356 --> 00:19:16.236 A:middle and the verb are not right next to each other, OK? 00:19:16.346 --> 00:19:19.496 A:middle There is something in between them, all right. 00:19:19.496 --> 00:19:20.596 A:middle Let's look at an example. 00:19:21.466 --> 00:19:26.796 A:middle The student, though she had lots of problems in other schools, 00:19:28.336 --> 00:19:32.256 A:middle finds or find her new class easy? 00:19:33.246 --> 00:19:34.676 A:middle So which verb is it? 00:19:34.726 --> 00:19:37.786 A:middle Is it finds or find? 00:19:37.786 --> 00:19:40.126 A:middle Well the first thing we have 00:19:40.126 --> 00:19:42.246 A:middle to ask ourselves is what is the subject. 00:19:43.046 --> 00:19:45.276 A:middle Who or what are we talking about? 00:19:46.576 --> 00:19:48.896 A:middle We are talking about the student. 00:19:49.676 --> 00:19:51.376 A:middle The student is singular. 00:19:51.506 --> 00:19:52.866 A:middle It's one student. 00:19:53.406 --> 00:19:56.076 A:middle OK. Now we know what our subject is. 00:19:56.336 --> 00:19:57.536 A:middle Let's look at the verb. 00:19:58.326 --> 00:20:05.366 A:middle The verb needs to be singular, so it's going to be finds 00:20:05.486 --> 00:20:08.716 A:middle with an s, singular verb because we have a singular subject. 00:20:09.396 --> 00:20:12.206 A:middle Now, let's look at it in a different way. 00:20:12.706 --> 00:20:16.726 A:middle The student is the subject, 00:20:16.726 --> 00:20:19.886 A:middle it matches the singular verb finds here in blue. 00:20:21.076 --> 00:20:26.026 A:middle Now, look at the words in red. 00:20:27.216 --> 00:20:30.596 A:middle Though she had lots of problems in other schools, 00:20:31.866 --> 00:20:37.666 A:middle these words in red are simply extra information, 00:20:38.266 --> 00:20:40.416 A:middle extra information about the student. 00:20:40.416 --> 00:20:41.346 A:middle That's all they are. 00:20:41.806 --> 00:20:46.056 A:middle So you really don't want to get distracted by the words in red. 00:20:46.716 --> 00:20:50.716 A:middle They're separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. 00:20:50.806 --> 00:20:53.116 A:middle It's just extra information about the student. 00:20:54.526 --> 00:20:57.426 A:middle You could take out the words in red 00:20:57.426 --> 00:21:00.296 A:middle and simply simplify the sentence and say, 00:21:00.296 --> 00:21:04.316 A:middle the student finds her new class easy, right? 00:21:04.796 --> 00:21:07.996 A:middle But you need to keep this situation in mind, 00:21:08.126 --> 00:21:10.496 A:middle this second bullet, in mind, 00:21:10.826 --> 00:21:13.886 A:middle because there are times we read sentences like this. 00:21:13.886 --> 00:21:16.286 A:middle There are times you might write sentences like this. 00:21:17.036 --> 00:21:19.326 A:middle It's a longer, more sophisticated sentence, 00:21:19.326 --> 00:21:21.216 A:middle it's a fine sentence, OK? 00:21:21.506 --> 00:21:25.286 A:middle Just don't get distracted by extra information 00:21:25.286 --> 00:21:26.506 A:middle that describes the subject. 00:21:26.986 --> 00:21:30.426 A:middle OK. Know what your subject is, find the verb, 00:21:30.596 --> 00:21:32.696 A:middle make sure the two match, OK? 00:21:33.476 --> 00:21:34.916 A:middle So keep that in mind. 00:21:34.916 --> 00:21:37.256 A:middle Keep that in mind. 00:21:37.426 --> 00:21:39.706 A:middle OK, let's look at another possible pitfall, 00:21:39.706 --> 00:21:40.796 A:middle a possible problem. 00:21:41.886 --> 00:21:45.266 A:middle Sometimes people think the subject is one of the words 00:21:45.266 --> 00:21:46.916 A:middle in a prepositional phrase. 00:21:47.626 --> 00:21:51.026 A:middle It's not. The subject can never be part 00:21:51.026 --> 00:21:52.236 A:middle of a prepositional phrase. 00:21:52.546 --> 00:21:58.236 A:middle OK the first thing we need to do is define prepositional phrase. 00:21:58.746 --> 00:22:00.686 A:middle OK. So I'm actually going to switch 00:22:00.686 --> 00:22:05.346 A:middle to the document camera here and let's talk 00:22:05.346 --> 00:22:10.546 A:middle about what a preposition is, first of all. 00:22:10.626 --> 00:22:16.256 A:middle We need to know what a preposition is. 00:22:16.486 --> 00:22:19.626 A:middle OK. So what are some possible prepositions? 00:22:21.196 --> 00:22:31.876 A:middle In, on, at, with, these are just a few examples of prepositions. 00:22:31.876 --> 00:22:35.526 A:middle There are many, many prepositions in English, OK? 00:22:36.256 --> 00:22:38.716 A:middle OK, so these are some examples of prepositions. 00:22:38.716 --> 00:22:40.686 A:middle Now what is a prepositional phrase? 00:22:40.796 --> 00:22:46.796 A:middle A prepositional phrase is a group of words 00:22:47.386 --> 00:22:48.856 A:middle that begin with a preposition. 00:22:49.286 --> 00:22:51.216 A:middle OK, a prepositional phrase is a group of words 00:22:51.216 --> 00:22:52.366 A:middle that begin with a preposition. 00:22:52.666 --> 00:22:55.106 A:middle So let's go back to the document camera and look 00:22:55.106 --> 00:22:57.106 A:middle at how we can make a prepositional phrase 00:22:57.106 --> 00:22:59.286 A:middle out of these four prepositions. 00:22:59.286 --> 00:23:03.046 A:middle So for example, in the room. 00:23:04.676 --> 00:23:07.386 A:middle OK. This is an example of a prepositional phrase, 00:23:07.386 --> 00:23:10.806 A:middle we have some words here and they begin with a preposition, 00:23:10.876 --> 00:23:18.016 A:middle in the room, on the table, OK same idea, 00:23:18.766 --> 00:23:25.396 A:middle at the office, with my son, OK? 00:23:26.316 --> 00:23:30.906 A:middle These are all examples 00:23:31.166 --> 00:23:33.976 A:middle of prepositional phrases, all of this. 00:23:41.516 --> 00:23:42.856 A:middle OK. So-- 00:23:42.856 --> 00:23:45.276 A:middle >> Do they have to be singular? 00:23:45.336 --> 00:23:45.856 A:middle >> Oh, I'm sorry. 00:23:45.856 --> 00:23:48.346 A:middle Can you use the-- 00:23:48.346 --> 00:23:52.146 A:middle >> Do they have to be singular 00:23:52.346 --> 00:23:55.856 A:middle to start a prepositional phrase in that pretense? 00:23:56.006 --> 00:24:00.546 A:middle >> OK. So do the words here have to be singular? 00:24:00.796 --> 00:24:02.426 A:middle No. They could be plural. 00:24:02.946 --> 00:24:07.806 A:middle So for example, in the rooms, on the tables, at the offices, 00:24:07.806 --> 00:24:11.456 A:middle with my sons, it doesn't matter. 00:24:11.456 --> 00:24:12.276 A:middle >> It doesn't matter. 00:24:12.356 --> 00:24:15.356 A:middle >> It doesn't matter. 00:24:15.356 --> 00:24:15.766 A:middle Yeah. So-- 00:24:15.816 --> 00:24:19.106 A:middle >> So they can either be plural or singular? 00:24:19.446 --> 00:24:20.266 A:middle >> Exactly. 00:24:20.266 --> 00:24:22.186 A:middle >> How about in the third term? 00:24:22.376 --> 00:24:22.496 A:middle The-- 00:24:23.626 --> 00:24:24.666 A:middle >> The third person? 00:24:24.666 --> 00:24:27.476 A:middle >> The third person. 00:24:27.626 --> 00:24:31.136 A:middle >> Well, you would have 00:24:31.256 --> 00:24:34.206 A:middle to change the sentence a little, OK? 00:24:34.206 --> 00:24:39.996 A:middle You can't use a third person singular subject pronoun. 00:24:39.996 --> 00:24:47.356 A:middle So you can't say, he or she or it, OK? 00:24:47.726 --> 00:24:51.876 A:middle You could use some possessive adjectives, 00:24:52.256 --> 00:24:53.916 A:middle which are like possessive pronouns. 00:24:53.916 --> 00:25:06.946 A:middle For example, in his rooms, right, or on her tables, 00:25:08.006 --> 00:25:16.686 A:middle at his offices, OK, with her sons, 00:25:17.696 --> 00:25:21.306 A:middle but that's really what you could do. 00:25:21.306 --> 00:25:24.786 A:middle You couldn't use the subject pronouns like he, OK? 00:25:25.756 --> 00:25:28.766 A:middle But let's take a look at subject verb agreement 00:25:28.766 --> 00:25:32.786 A:middle with prepositional phrases because sometimes, 00:25:32.786 --> 00:25:35.826 A:middle people get a little confused and they think 00:25:35.826 --> 00:25:40.946 A:middle that the subject is somewhere inside the prepositional phrase 00:25:40.986 --> 00:25:45.316 A:middle here and it's usually not, OK? 00:25:45.316 --> 00:25:48.466 A:middle So I'm going to go back to the PowerPoint presentation 00:25:48.706 --> 00:25:50.206 A:middle and let's look at some examples. 00:25:51.216 --> 00:25:53.066 A:middle So let's look at the rule again. 00:25:53.066 --> 00:25:57.726 A:middle The subject can never be part of a prepositional phrase, never. 00:25:57.816 --> 00:25:59.686 A:middle OK. So let's take a look at an example. 00:26:01.026 --> 00:26:07.366 A:middle The students in my class study or studies hard? 00:26:08.006 --> 00:26:10.826 A:middle The students in my class study or studies hard? 00:26:11.036 --> 00:26:14.846 A:middle Well first of all, let's isolate the prepositional phrase. 00:26:15.146 --> 00:26:19.426 A:middle Let's take it out a little bit here. 00:26:20.026 --> 00:26:24.466 A:middle The prepositional phrase in this sentence is in my class, 00:26:24.666 --> 00:26:27.896 A:middle the preposition is in, here is the rest of the phrase, 00:26:27.896 --> 00:26:29.566 A:middle my class, OK, in my class. 00:26:30.176 --> 00:26:34.666 A:middle OK. So, isolate that a little bit, OK? 00:26:34.986 --> 00:26:38.496 A:middle Now go back to the sentence and we need to find the subject. 00:26:38.496 --> 00:26:40.366 A:middle Who or what are we talking about? 00:26:41.646 --> 00:26:44.136 A:middle We're really talking about the students. 00:26:45.226 --> 00:26:48.576 A:middle The students, is it singular or plural? 00:26:49.276 --> 00:26:52.866 A:middle It's plural because students with an s. OK, 00:26:52.866 --> 00:26:54.506 A:middle so now we know the subject is plural. 00:26:55.206 --> 00:26:57.666 A:middle Now we need to decide which verb we're going 00:26:57.666 --> 00:26:59.266 A:middle to use, study or studies? 00:27:00.026 --> 00:27:04.896 A:middle Well, if we have a plural subject, we need a plural verb. 00:27:05.426 --> 00:27:08.046 A:middle So we're going to say study. 00:27:08.046 --> 00:27:10.016 A:middle The students in my class study hard. 00:27:11.076 --> 00:27:17.406 A:middle OK. So the important thing to note here is, don't get confused 00:27:17.406 --> 00:27:19.186 A:middle or distracted by the prepositional phrase. 00:27:19.186 --> 00:27:23.506 A:middle You don't want to think that my class is the subject and say, 00:27:23.506 --> 00:27:25.256 A:middle the students in my class studies hard. 00:27:25.256 --> 00:27:25.966 A:middle You don't want to do that. 00:27:26.646 --> 00:27:29.216 A:middle You want to focus on who we're talking about. 00:27:29.216 --> 00:27:31.116 A:middle We're actually talking about the students, 00:27:31.116 --> 00:27:33.206 A:middle in my class is just extra information. 00:27:33.206 --> 00:27:35.886 A:middle It's just extra description about the students, OK? 00:27:36.146 --> 00:27:38.086 A:middle We're still just focusing on the students, 00:27:38.336 --> 00:27:40.006 A:middle the students, plural, study, OK? 00:27:40.536 --> 00:27:43.076 A:middle So keep that in mind. 00:27:43.296 --> 00:27:47.376 A:middle Keep that in mind. 00:27:47.556 --> 00:27:50.356 A:middle OK. We're going to look at another possible pitfall here. 00:27:50.746 --> 00:27:56.616 A:middle Sometimes the subject comes after the verb, particularly 00:27:56.616 --> 00:27:58.736 A:middle in questions or when the sentence begins with there. 00:27:59.046 --> 00:28:01.076 A:middle So we've already looked at situations 00:28:01.076 --> 00:28:05.486 A:middle where the subject comes before the verb, before the verb. 00:28:05.746 --> 00:28:08.166 A:middle But sometimes there are situations like questions 00:28:08.166 --> 00:28:14.446 A:middle or there is, there are, when the sentence has the subject coming 00:28:14.636 --> 00:28:15.256 A:middle after the verb. 00:28:15.256 --> 00:28:16.546 A:middle So let's look at some examples. 00:28:17.786 --> 00:28:20.126 A:middle Why are they falling asleep? 00:28:20.126 --> 00:28:21.596 A:middle Why are they falling asleep? 00:28:21.596 --> 00:28:22.776 A:middle OK, this is a question. 00:28:23.506 --> 00:28:25.236 A:middle OK. Who are we talking about? 00:28:25.606 --> 00:28:27.616 A:middle They. They is plural. 00:28:28.816 --> 00:28:32.046 A:middle Therefore, the verb, which in this situation 00:28:32.046 --> 00:28:34.496 A:middle because it's a question, OK, so it's part 00:28:34.496 --> 00:28:37.536 A:middle of the grammar order rule for questions, 00:28:37.976 --> 00:28:41.806 A:middle the verb here is before the subject. 00:28:42.546 --> 00:28:43.306 A:middle It doesn't matter. 00:28:43.306 --> 00:28:45.896 A:middle It doesn't matter that the verb is before the subject here. 00:28:45.896 --> 00:28:47.986 A:middle It still has to agree with the subject. 00:28:48.246 --> 00:28:50.296 A:middle It still has to be a plural verb. 00:28:50.536 --> 00:28:52.686 A:middle Why are they falling asleep? 00:28:53.396 --> 00:28:58.696 A:middle OK. So, let's take a look at an example with there are, OK. 00:28:59.146 --> 00:29:02.746 A:middle There are no excuses for such behavior. 00:29:03.176 --> 00:29:04.806 A:middle The subject is no excuses. 00:29:05.116 --> 00:29:09.806 A:middle It's plural, we have an s at the end, excuses, OK? 00:29:10.276 --> 00:29:14.366 A:middle The verb is are and again, it's plural, it has to agree 00:29:14.366 --> 00:29:17.026 A:middle with the plural subject no excuses. 00:29:17.946 --> 00:29:22.176 A:middle OK? So don't let the order of the subject or the verb 00:29:22.176 --> 00:29:24.346 A:middle in the sentence or question confuse you. 00:29:24.766 --> 00:29:26.626 A:middle Just make sure you know what the subject is. 00:29:26.756 --> 00:29:27.406 A:middle Find the verb. 00:29:27.406 --> 00:29:29.206 A:middle Make sure the two of them agree with each other. 00:29:29.426 --> 00:29:33.086 A:middle It doesn't matter, the order in the sentence. 00:29:33.086 --> 00:29:35.926 A:middle OK, OK. So tip, OK, helpful hint. 00:29:36.006 --> 00:29:37.796 A:middle The subject can come anywhere at a sentence. 00:29:38.056 --> 00:29:40.846 A:middle Identify the subject correctly and you'll be OK. 00:29:40.936 --> 00:29:43.476 A:middle First, locate the verb and then just ask yourself who 00:29:43.476 --> 00:29:45.276 A:middle or what is doing it, OK? 00:29:45.506 --> 00:29:48.016 A:middle Or if you can find the subject first, that's fine. 00:29:48.016 --> 00:29:49.656 A:middle You can then locate the verb, OK, 00:29:49.656 --> 00:29:52.426 A:middle whichever one you're able to do, OK? 00:29:53.656 --> 00:29:57.296 A:middle OK. All right, let's take a look at another possible pitfall, 00:29:57.296 --> 00:29:59.976 A:middle another possible situation you might have. 00:30:00.046 --> 00:30:01.226 A:middle Relative pronouns. 00:30:01.226 --> 00:30:03.676 A:middle OK. What if you have a relative pronoun, 00:30:04.186 --> 00:30:07.956 A:middle such as who, which, that? 00:30:08.686 --> 00:30:12.236 A:middle Relative pronouns can be either singular or plural, 00:30:12.236 --> 00:30:14.476 A:middle depending on the word they refer to. 00:30:15.016 --> 00:30:18.776 A:middle OK. So, if you use the words who, which or that, 00:30:19.056 --> 00:30:20.866 A:middle they can be singular or plural. 00:30:21.226 --> 00:30:22.456 A:middle It's fine, OK? 00:30:23.206 --> 00:30:27.326 A:middle You still just need to identify the subject in your sentence 00:30:28.006 --> 00:30:30.376 A:middle and make sure that subject agrees with the verb. 00:30:30.376 --> 00:30:32.196 A:middle That's all you have to do. 00:30:32.376 --> 00:30:35.666 A:middle You don't have to worry about changing who, which or that. 00:30:35.666 --> 00:30:36.336 A:middle It's fine. 00:30:36.776 --> 00:30:38.266 A:middle So let's look at two examples. 00:30:38.706 --> 00:30:42.386 A:middle The student who works hard will succeed. 00:30:42.846 --> 00:30:45.206 A:middle OK, so in this situation, we have the student. 00:30:45.606 --> 00:30:46.896 A:middle Singular or plural? 00:30:47.836 --> 00:30:49.366 A:middle It's singular, OK? 00:30:49.366 --> 00:30:54.626 A:middle Therefore, the verb works has to be singular, it has an s, OK? 00:30:55.466 --> 00:30:59.856 A:middle We have who, OK, who refers to that student, but again, 00:31:00.336 --> 00:31:03.866 A:middle the verb is works, it's a singular verb. 00:31:04.066 --> 00:31:07.596 A:middle Let's say, we want to make the subject plural, 00:31:07.596 --> 00:31:10.486 A:middle students, OK, so two or more. 00:31:10.846 --> 00:31:13.536 A:middle Students who work hard will succeed. 00:31:14.106 --> 00:31:18.726 A:middle OK. Who refers to students, it's fine, who can be singular 00:31:18.726 --> 00:31:19.816 A:middle or plural, doesn't matter. 00:31:19.816 --> 00:31:21.816 A:middle You don't have to worry about the word who. 00:31:22.366 --> 00:31:26.446 A:middle The important thing to note is, this is the subject, students, 00:31:26.446 --> 00:31:29.506 A:middle it's plural, this is the verb, work, 00:31:29.576 --> 00:31:31.936 A:middle it's a plural verb, no s at the end. 00:31:32.216 --> 00:31:35.746 A:middle So again, just make sure your subject agrees with the verb. 00:31:36.196 --> 00:31:37.046 A:middle That's all you need to do. 00:31:37.046 --> 00:31:42.106 A:middle And don't get distracted by relative pronouns, OK? 00:31:42.106 --> 00:31:46.776 A:middle All right, how do I get this right? 00:31:46.776 --> 00:31:49.946 A:middle OK. OK, we're now getting 00:31:49.946 --> 00:31:52.786 A:middle into the review mode here of our presentation. 00:31:52.786 --> 00:31:57.346 A:middle So we are coming close to an end on this presentation. 00:31:57.346 --> 00:31:59.596 A:middle First, identify whether or not you have problems 00:31:59.596 --> 00:32:00.676 A:middle with subject verb agreement. 00:32:01.076 --> 00:32:03.116 A:middle OK. So if you feel you have problems, 00:32:03.116 --> 00:32:05.346 A:middle then you want to study this. 00:32:06.026 --> 00:32:07.796 A:middle If you don't have any problems, don't worry about it. 00:32:07.796 --> 00:32:11.256 A:middle If you do have problems, identify the verb. 00:32:11.256 --> 00:32:12.456 A:middle OK, we've talked about that. 00:32:12.546 --> 00:32:13.626 A:middle Identify the verb. 00:32:14.116 --> 00:32:16.196 A:middle Ask who or what is doing the verb. 00:32:16.196 --> 00:32:17.646 A:middle This will identify the subject. 00:32:17.886 --> 00:32:18.616 A:middle Find the verb. 00:32:18.686 --> 00:32:19.496 A:middle Find the subject. 00:32:20.296 --> 00:32:21.896 A:middle Read the subject and verb together. 00:32:21.896 --> 00:32:22.896 A:middle Do they sound right? 00:32:22.896 --> 00:32:26.876 A:middle See if the subject and verb match in number. 00:32:26.876 --> 00:32:28.786 A:middle This part is the important part. 00:32:28.786 --> 00:32:32.376 A:middle If you have a singular subject, make sure the verb is singular. 00:32:32.376 --> 00:32:35.386 A:middle The verb has to have an s. If the subject is plural, 00:32:35.686 --> 00:32:38.466 A:middle make sure the verb is also plural 00:32:38.466 --> 00:32:42.656 A:middle and does not have an s. The biggest problems 00:32:42.656 --> 00:32:46.546 A:middle that people have, forgetting about word endings altogether, 00:32:47.336 --> 00:32:52.016 A:middle that means, sometimes people simply forget the s 00:32:52.586 --> 00:32:53.506 A:middle at the end of the verb. 00:32:53.506 --> 00:32:56.176 A:middle They just ignore the s whenever they have a third person 00:32:56.226 --> 00:32:57.086 A:middle singular subject. 00:32:57.086 --> 00:33:01.336 A:middle OK. So that's one of the biggest problems that people have. 00:33:01.406 --> 00:33:04.416 A:middle Or confusing the subject with another noun in the sentence. 00:33:04.416 --> 00:33:08.186 A:middle So remember, we talked about sentences that have a group 00:33:08.186 --> 00:33:10.396 A:middle of words in between the subject and the verb. 00:33:10.756 --> 00:33:13.706 A:middle So in that situation, sometimes people get confused 00:33:13.706 --> 00:33:14.976 A:middle and think the subject is somewhere 00:33:14.976 --> 00:33:15.946 A:middle in the middle when it's not. 00:33:16.536 --> 00:33:20.336 A:middle Or we talked about prepositional phrases, OK, 00:33:20.696 --> 00:33:23.846 A:middle and how you might accidentally get confused and think 00:33:23.846 --> 00:33:25.796 A:middle that the subject is in the prepositional phrase 00:33:25.796 --> 00:33:27.606 A:middle and it's never in the prepositional phrase. 00:33:28.256 --> 00:33:32.216 A:middle So these are a couple of the biggest problems people have. 00:33:32.216 --> 00:33:35.696 A:middle OK. So just some review, identify the real subject, 00:33:35.766 --> 00:33:37.426 A:middle find the verb and then ask yourself 00:33:37.426 --> 00:33:39.766 A:middle who is what is performing that action. 00:33:40.636 --> 00:33:43.896 A:middle The subject is never part of a prepositional phrase. 00:33:45.156 --> 00:33:50.496 A:middle The verb is always plural when subjects are joined by and, OK? 00:33:51.316 --> 00:33:55.366 A:middle The verb agrees with the part of the subject closest to it 00:33:55.366 --> 00:33:57.436 A:middle when subjects are joined by or. 00:33:58.956 --> 00:34:02.206 A:middle Most indefinite pronouns are singular, so for example, 00:34:02.256 --> 00:34:07.016 A:middle someone, anybody, everyone, everybody. 00:34:08.136 --> 00:34:13.116 A:middle Relative pronouns can be either singular or plural, who, which, 00:34:13.236 --> 00:34:14.526 A:middle that, it doesn't matter. 00:34:14.526 --> 00:34:15.816 A:middle They can be singular or plural. 00:34:16.076 --> 00:34:17.176 A:middle Just check the subject. 00:34:17.676 --> 00:34:21.716 A:middle The subject and verb form the skeleton of every sentence. 00:34:21.716 --> 00:34:24.216 A:middle Make sure you fit the parts together correctly. 00:34:24.716 --> 00:34:27.896 A:middle And if you do so, you'll be just fine. 00:34:28.896 --> 00:34:33.296 A:middle OK. So this concludes the PowerPoint presentation. 00:34:33.436 --> 00:34:36.926 A:middle I think we have-- yes, we do have some extra time. 00:34:36.926 --> 00:34:40.206 A:middle I have an online exercise that we can do 00:34:40.206 --> 00:34:41.696 A:middle to make sure we understand it. 00:34:41.996 --> 00:34:44.806 A:middle But before we go to the online exercise, 00:34:45.296 --> 00:34:48.346 A:middle do you have any questions for me, any questions 00:34:48.346 --> 00:34:51.096 A:middle about the presentation that we just talked about? 00:34:51.766 --> 00:34:53.166 A:middle We're OK? We're sure? 00:34:53.366 --> 00:34:59.936 A:middle OK. So I'm going to leave this presentation here and go 00:34:59.936 --> 00:35:02.026 A:middle to an online exercise. 00:35:02.886 --> 00:35:04.756 A:middle And we're just going to make sure 00:35:04.756 --> 00:35:11.586 A:middle that we understand our subject verb agreement rules, OK? 00:35:12.576 --> 00:35:17.636 A:middle OK. So, at this point, we want to look at the website, OK. 00:35:17.636 --> 00:35:19.436 A:middle This is Purdue Online Writing Lab. 00:35:19.726 --> 00:35:22.016 A:middle Actually, people, if you go 00:35:22.016 --> 00:35:25.066 A:middle on to the Sacramento City College website, 00:35:25.906 --> 00:35:30.396 A:middle and if you click the dropdown menu in the middle 00:35:30.466 --> 00:35:33.766 A:middle and choose Writing Center, it will take you 00:35:33.766 --> 00:35:35.976 A:middle to the Writing Center website. 00:35:36.686 --> 00:35:41.736 A:middle And if you click on a link called Resources for Students 00:35:41.736 --> 00:35:47.536 A:middle or For Students, you will find this Purdue Online Writing Lab 00:35:48.036 --> 00:35:52.036 A:middle website there and it's a really great website to use 00:35:52.036 --> 00:35:54.786 A:middle to practice grammar and writing, OK? 00:35:55.386 --> 00:35:57.916 A:middle So let's take a look at this exercise, 00:35:58.506 --> 00:36:00.716 A:middle subject verb agreement exercise. 00:36:00.716 --> 00:36:05.566 A:middle So, the directions here say, choose the correct form 00:36:05.566 --> 00:36:07.376 A:middle of the verb that agrees with the subject. 00:36:07.566 --> 00:36:09.436 A:middle OK. Can you read that OK? 00:36:09.436 --> 00:36:10.656 A:middle Is it too small? 00:36:10.766 --> 00:36:12.116 A:middle Do you want me to make it bigger? 00:36:12.366 --> 00:36:13.076 A:middle You're OK? 00:36:13.366 --> 00:36:16.736 A:middle OK. OK. Let's look at number one, OK, number one. 00:36:16.986 --> 00:36:23.486 A:middle Annie and her brothers is, are at school. 00:36:23.486 --> 00:36:26.076 A:middle So what do you think is the correct answer, 00:36:26.186 --> 00:36:29.276 A:middle is, are at school? 00:36:30.526 --> 00:36:31.396 A:middle Yeah, it's are. 00:36:31.496 --> 00:36:34.126 A:middle Annie and her brothers are at school. 00:36:34.546 --> 00:36:38.226 A:middle And the reason is, if we think about the rules we just learned 00:36:38.226 --> 00:36:44.246 A:middle from the presentation, we have a compound subject joined by and. 00:36:45.126 --> 00:36:48.776 A:middle OK, therefore, the verb has to be plural 00:36:48.826 --> 00:36:52.046 A:middle because the subject we are talking about is plural, OK? 00:36:52.166 --> 00:36:53.656 A:middle All right. 00:36:54.096 --> 00:36:56.536 A:middle Just stop me if you have any questions on any of these. 00:36:57.216 --> 00:36:59.876 A:middle Let's look at number two. 00:36:59.876 --> 00:37:05.596 A:middle Either my mother or my father is, are coming to the meeting. 00:37:06.616 --> 00:37:12.256 A:middle Either my mother or my father is, are coming to the meeting. 00:37:12.706 --> 00:37:14.596 A:middle So what do you think? 00:37:14.596 --> 00:37:16.196 A:middle Is, yeah. OK. 00:37:16.266 --> 00:37:20.486 A:middle Is. So remember, when you have a compound subject joined by or, 00:37:20.916 --> 00:37:25.396 A:middle you want to look at the subject that is closest to the verb. 00:37:26.356 --> 00:37:28.496 A:middle OK? So the subject that is closest 00:37:28.496 --> 00:37:31.306 A:middle to the verb is my father, it's singular, is. 00:37:33.036 --> 00:37:40.206 A:middle OK? OK. Let's take a look at number three. 00:37:41.196 --> 00:37:47.686 A:middle OK. The dog or the cats is, are outside. 00:37:48.356 --> 00:37:52.096 A:middle The dog or the cats is, are outside. 00:37:52.096 --> 00:37:58.496 A:middle Uh-huh, and the reason is-- exactly. 00:37:58.496 --> 00:38:02.786 A:middle We have a compound subject joined by or, therefore, 00:38:02.786 --> 00:38:06.096 A:middle we need to look at the subject that is closest to the verb, 00:38:06.096 --> 00:38:10.316 A:middle cats, it's plural because it has an s at the end, therefore, 00:38:10.316 --> 00:38:11.666 A:middle the verb must be plural. 00:38:12.296 --> 00:38:14.496 A:middle The dog or the cats are outside. 00:38:16.246 --> 00:38:18.286 A:middle OK. Let's look at number four. 00:38:18.606 --> 00:38:23.406 A:middle Either my shoes your coat is, are always on the floor. 00:38:24.056 --> 00:38:28.106 A:middle Either my shoes or your coat is, are always on the floor. 00:38:28.676 --> 00:38:36.326 A:middle Mm-hmm, because again, we have a compound subject joined by or, 00:38:36.426 --> 00:38:38.316 A:middle therefore, you have to look at the subject 00:38:38.316 --> 00:38:39.776 A:middle that is closest to the verb. 00:38:40.206 --> 00:38:44.106 A:middle Coat is singular, therefore, the verb has 00:38:44.316 --> 00:38:46.216 A:middle to be singular as well, is. 00:38:47.036 --> 00:38:49.526 A:middle Either my shoes or your coat is always on the floor. 00:38:49.946 --> 00:38:53.666 A:middle Let's take a look at number five. 00:38:53.666 --> 00:38:59.976 A:middle George and Tamara doesn't, don't want to see that movie. 00:39:01.176 --> 00:39:05.756 A:middle George and Tamara doesn't, don't want to see that movie. 00:39:06.426 --> 00:39:10.946 A:middle OK, George and Tamara don't want to see that movie. 00:39:10.946 --> 00:39:11.376 A:middle That's correct. 00:39:11.546 --> 00:39:13.366 A:middle That's correct because George and Tamara, 00:39:13.866 --> 00:39:16.896 A:middle these are two people, two subjects joined by 00:39:16.896 --> 00:39:20.056 A:middle and so remember the rule, you have two subjects joined 00:39:20.056 --> 00:39:22.576 A:middle by the word and, it's automatically plural, right? 00:39:22.896 --> 00:39:25.786 A:middle Therefore, we can't say doesn't, OK? 00:39:25.786 --> 00:39:26.656 A:middle That's singular. 00:39:26.656 --> 00:39:29.996 A:middle That's a negative singular verb. 00:39:30.356 --> 00:39:33.336 A:middle We need to make it a plural, a negative plural verb, 00:39:33.526 --> 00:39:36.706 A:middle don't want to see that movie. 00:39:36.826 --> 00:39:38.356 A:middle OK. Let's take a look at number six. 00:39:38.706 --> 00:39:42.116 A:middle Benito doesn't, don't know the answer. 00:39:43.326 --> 00:39:45.856 A:middle Benito doesn't, don't know the answer. 00:39:46.696 --> 00:39:51.266 A:middle Doesn't, because Benito is one person, it's a singular subject, 00:39:51.266 --> 00:39:53.556 A:middle therefore, the verb must be singular. 00:39:54.596 --> 00:39:56.966 A:middle OK? Benito doesn't know the answer. 00:39:57.906 --> 00:39:59.686 A:middle All right, let's take a look at number seven. 00:40:00.976 --> 00:40:06.606 A:middle One of my sisters is, are going on a trip to France. 00:40:07.386 --> 00:40:11.056 A:middle One of my sisters is, are going on a trip to France. 00:40:12.436 --> 00:40:12.536 A:middle >> Is. 00:40:12.746 --> 00:40:14.936 A:middle >> Is. OK. 00:40:14.936 --> 00:40:20.026 A:middle And the reason is one, one. 00:40:20.026 --> 00:40:22.786 A:middle It's like saying each or it has to be singular, 00:40:22.786 --> 00:40:26.226 A:middle it's one of my sisters, not all of them, just one, 00:40:27.136 --> 00:40:29.516 A:middle is going on a trip to France. 00:40:29.516 --> 00:40:31.626 A:middle Therefore, the verb has to be singular. 00:40:33.796 --> 00:40:36.556 A:middle All right, let's try number eight. 00:40:36.756 --> 00:40:42.026 A:middle The man with all the birds live, lives on my street. 00:40:42.876 --> 00:40:46.726 A:middle The man with all the birds live, lives on my street. 00:40:46.956 --> 00:40:47.246 A:middle >> Lives. 00:40:47.856 --> 00:40:48.876 A:middle >> Uh-huh. 00:40:49.416 --> 00:40:54.286 A:middle OK. So, do you see a prepositional phrase 00:40:54.286 --> 00:40:55.746 A:middle in this sentence? 00:40:56.236 --> 00:40:59.226 A:middle There are actually two 00:40:59.626 --> 00:41:01.986 A:middle but do you see a prepositional phrase that's closest 00:41:01.986 --> 00:41:02.686 A:middle to the subject? 00:41:03.396 --> 00:41:03.796 A:middle >> Yeah. 00:41:04.336 --> 00:41:07.076 A:middle >> Yeah, you've got it, you've got it, with all the birds. 00:41:07.236 --> 00:41:09.286 A:middle So, with is the preposition, 00:41:09.286 --> 00:41:11.576 A:middle with all the birds is the prepositional phrase, right? 00:41:11.876 --> 00:41:15.086 A:middle So, you don't ever want to put the subject 00:41:15.086 --> 00:41:16.216 A:middle in the prepositional phrase. 00:41:16.216 --> 00:41:17.446 A:middle So birds, that's plural. 00:41:17.446 --> 00:41:19.716 A:middle You don't want to say live, you want to say lives 00:41:19.716 --> 00:41:22.926 A:middle because we're talking about the man, OK? 00:41:23.256 --> 00:41:26.156 A:middle With all the birds simply is extra information, 00:41:26.196 --> 00:41:27.476 A:middle description about the man. 00:41:27.636 --> 00:41:29.346 A:middle The man is still singular, therefore, 00:41:29.346 --> 00:41:31.396 A:middle the verb lives must be singular. 00:41:32.086 --> 00:41:35.186 A:middle OK. So we're good, we're good with that. 00:41:35.186 --> 00:41:39.856 A:middle Number nine, the movie, including all the previews, 00:41:41.006 --> 00:41:44.556 A:middle take, takes about two hours to watch. 00:41:45.766 --> 00:41:50.136 A:middle The movie, including all the previews, take, 00:41:50.366 --> 00:41:52.526 A:middle takes about two hours to watch. 00:41:53.026 --> 00:41:53.306 A:middle >> Takes. 00:41:53.836 --> 00:41:58.496 A:middle >> Uh-huh, it's takes because the movie is the subject. 00:41:58.786 --> 00:42:00.896 A:middle The movie is what we are talking about. 00:42:01.346 --> 00:42:03.026 A:middle Therefore, it's singular. 00:42:03.616 --> 00:42:05.846 A:middle You don't want to get confused 00:42:06.226 --> 00:42:09.896 A:middle by all this extra information about the movie. 00:42:09.896 --> 00:42:11.846 A:middle We don't care, OK? 00:42:12.136 --> 00:42:15.656 A:middle We care about the movie, which is singular, therefore, 00:42:15.656 --> 00:42:18.996 A:middle the verb has to be singular, OK? 00:42:19.356 --> 00:42:22.426 A:middle So, we want to watch out for that. 00:42:23.486 --> 00:42:27.166 A:middle Number 10, the players, as well 00:42:27.166 --> 00:42:31.046 A:middle as the captain, want, wants to win. 00:42:31.496 --> 00:42:37.356 A:middle The players, as well as the captain, want or wants to win. 00:42:37.776 --> 00:42:37.906 A:middle >> Want. 00:42:39.346 --> 00:42:46.516 A:middle >> OK, in this situation, want, because careful, 00:42:47.276 --> 00:42:50.066 A:middle there is extra information. 00:42:50.066 --> 00:42:55.586 A:middle There are words in between the subject, which is players, 00:42:56.136 --> 00:43:00.386 A:middle players is plural, OK. 00:43:00.916 --> 00:43:04.366 A:middle The players want to win. 00:43:04.366 --> 00:43:08.356 A:middle We're mainly talking about the players want to win. 00:43:08.776 --> 00:43:12.176 A:middle So all this information in here, as well as the captain, 00:43:13.236 --> 00:43:15.526 A:middle that's just extra information. 00:43:16.036 --> 00:43:21.286 A:middle So, remember that from the PowerPoint presentation, OK? 00:43:21.286 --> 00:43:24.246 A:middle So you want to be really careful with that. 00:43:24.246 --> 00:43:28.916 A:middle Separate that extra information from the rest of the sentence 00:43:28.916 --> 00:43:31.216 A:middle and then look at the sentence again. 00:43:31.216 --> 00:43:33.986 A:middle It's like saying the players want to win. 00:43:34.456 --> 00:43:35.386 A:middle Think of it that way. 00:43:35.386 --> 00:43:38.006 A:middle The players want to win. 00:43:38.456 --> 00:43:42.986 A:middle OK. OK. Let's take a look at 11. 00:43:44.216 --> 00:43:48.186 A:middle Either answer is, are acceptable. 00:43:49.496 --> 00:43:52.406 A:middle Either answer is, are acceptable. 00:43:56.536 --> 00:43:57.026 A:middle >> Is. 00:43:57.566 --> 00:44:00.256 A:middle >> Is, right because either, either. 00:44:00.256 --> 00:44:01.606 A:middle Either answer, we're talking 00:44:01.606 --> 00:44:06.216 A:middle about one answer or the other answer. 00:44:06.216 --> 00:44:07.066 A:middle It doesn't matter. 00:44:07.206 --> 00:44:11.506 A:middle But both of them, you know, either answer is acceptable. 00:44:16.376 --> 00:44:24.236 A:middle Number 12, every one of those books is, are fiction. 00:44:24.276 --> 00:44:28.926 A:middle Every one of those books is, are fiction. 00:44:29.336 --> 00:44:29.426 A:middle >> Is. 00:44:31.996 --> 00:44:32.876 A:middle >> Uh-huh. 00:44:32.876 --> 00:44:35.226 A:middle Yeah, we're talking about an indefinite pronoun here. 00:44:35.296 --> 00:44:39.926 A:middle Every one, every one of those books is fiction, 00:44:39.926 --> 00:44:41.996 A:middle because we're talking about each one. 00:44:43.316 --> 00:44:45.456 A:middle So therefore, it has to be singular. 00:44:47.486 --> 00:44:52.426 A:middle Nobody know, knows the trouble I've seen. 00:44:52.656 --> 00:44:56.046 A:middle No-- It is. 00:44:56.706 --> 00:44:57.886 A:middle Yeah, it is a song. 00:44:58.226 --> 00:45:00.716 A:middle Nobody know, knows the trouble I've seen. 00:45:00.716 --> 00:45:02.856 A:middle So, what do we think here? 00:45:03.546 --> 00:45:04.216 A:middle >> Knows. 00:45:04.216 --> 00:45:07.696 A:middle >> Yeah. Because this is an indefinite pronoun so remember, 00:45:07.696 --> 00:45:11.476 A:middle we talked about nobody, no one, nobody knows, 00:45:11.476 --> 00:45:13.356 A:middle it's a singular subject. 00:45:13.686 --> 00:45:16.046 A:middle Therefore, the verb has to be singular as well. 00:45:18.146 --> 00:45:20.646 A:middle OK. Let's take a look at number 14. 00:45:20.646 --> 00:45:24.076 A:middle This one is a little confusing here. 00:45:24.676 --> 00:45:26.516 A:middle And it's something a little different. 00:45:26.696 --> 00:45:31.006 A:middle Is, are the news on at 5:00 or 6:00? 00:45:32.336 --> 00:45:32.486 A:middle >> Is. 00:45:32.656 --> 00:45:33.526 A:middle >> It is-- Right. 00:45:33.526 --> 00:45:37.006 A:middle So, yeah, well actually, it's-- 00:45:37.006 --> 00:45:40.696 A:middle the word news, even though it has an s on it, 00:45:40.696 --> 00:45:42.876 A:middle it's considered a singular noun. 00:45:43.146 --> 00:45:46.266 A:middle Therefore, we're talking about the news, it's a-- 00:45:46.376 --> 00:45:49.546 A:middle it actually is a singular noun, a singular subject. 00:45:49.546 --> 00:45:51.756 A:middle Therefore, you have to use a singular verb. 00:45:51.826 --> 00:45:55.086 A:middle Is the news on at 5:00 or 6:00? 00:45:55.086 --> 00:45:56.706 A:middle Yeah. OK, let's look at number 15. 00:45:56.706 --> 00:45:58.826 A:middle This is also a little different, OK? 00:45:58.826 --> 00:46:02.376 A:middle Mathematics is, are John's favorite subject. 00:46:03.786 --> 00:46:05.636 A:middle OK. Let's do the first part first 00:46:05.636 --> 00:46:07.536 A:middle and then we'll finish the rest of the sentence. 00:46:07.766 --> 00:46:10.536 A:middle Mathematics is, are John's favorite subject. 00:46:10.536 --> 00:46:11.826 A:middle So, what do we think? 00:46:11.826 --> 00:46:13.276 A:middle Is, are? 00:46:13.576 --> 00:46:14.136 A:middle >> Is. 00:46:14.136 --> 00:46:16.746 A:middle >> Right. So even though mathematics ends with an s, 00:46:16.746 --> 00:46:19.306 A:middle mathematics is a subject 00:46:19.716 --> 00:46:24.116 A:middle and we always make school subjects singular. 00:46:25.316 --> 00:46:29.806 A:middle Mathematics is John's favorite subject while civics is, 00:46:29.806 --> 00:46:32.826 A:middle are Andrea's favorite subject. 00:46:32.906 --> 00:46:35.896 A:middle Civics is, are Andrea's favorite subject. 00:46:36.016 --> 00:46:36.256 A:middle >> Is. 00:46:36.376 --> 00:46:38.866 A:middle >> Yeah. So civics, even though civics ends 00:46:38.866 --> 00:46:40.326 A:middle with an s, it doesn't matter. 00:46:40.326 --> 00:46:44.356 A:middle Anytime we talk about school subjects, even if they end 00:46:44.356 --> 00:46:46.716 A:middle with an s, they're considered singular. 00:46:47.256 --> 00:46:54.866 A:middle OK. Number 16, $8 is, are the price of a movie these days. 00:46:56.056 --> 00:47:00.966 A:middle $8 is, are the price of a movie these days, is yeah so, 00:47:01.256 --> 00:47:05.346 A:middle even though it's dollars, $8, more than $1. 00:47:05.546 --> 00:47:10.036 A:middle Whenever we're talking about price, price is always singular. 00:47:10.656 --> 00:47:11.426 A:middle >> Price is always-- 00:47:11.426 --> 00:47:14.566 A:middle >> Price is always-- so yeah, $100 is a lot of money to spend. 00:47:15.706 --> 00:47:20.276 A:middle So just keep that in mind. 00:47:20.346 --> 00:47:24.476 A:middle It's one of those special subject verb agreement rules 00:47:24.476 --> 00:47:25.086 A:middle in English. 00:47:26.276 --> 00:47:27.446 A:middle OK, number 17. 00:47:27.446 --> 00:47:29.986 A:middle Is, are the tweezers in this drawer? 00:47:30.226 --> 00:47:32.476 A:middle Is, are the tweezers in this drawer? 00:47:32.476 --> 00:47:35.986 A:middle >> Are the tweezers in this-- 00:47:35.986 --> 00:47:37.746 A:middle >> OK. Are the tweezers in this drawer? 00:47:37.746 --> 00:47:41.136 A:middle Yeah. So, this is just your basic subject verb agreement 00:47:41.136 --> 00:47:43.206 A:middle rule in the form of a question. 00:47:43.636 --> 00:47:47.866 A:middle OK, tweezers, tweezers are plural. 00:47:47.866 --> 00:47:49.856 A:middle Therefore, the verb has to be plural. 00:47:51.126 --> 00:47:53.486 A:middle OK. Number 18. 00:47:53.926 --> 00:47:56.506 A:middle Your pants is, are at the cleaners. 00:47:57.416 --> 00:47:59.266 A:middle Your pants is, are at the cleaners. 00:47:59.876 --> 00:48:00.116 A:middle >> Are. 00:48:00.306 --> 00:48:02.046 A:middle >> Yeah, your pants are at the cleaners. 00:48:02.046 --> 00:48:03.806 A:middle So your pants, a piece of clothing, 00:48:03.806 --> 00:48:05.246 A:middle those are considered plural. 00:48:05.726 --> 00:48:07.336 A:middle Your pants are at the cleaners. 00:48:08.346 --> 00:48:10.486 A:middle So basic subject verb agreement rule. 00:48:11.916 --> 00:48:14.106 A:middle OK. Let's look at this, number 19. 00:48:14.106 --> 00:48:19.666 A:middle There was, were 15 candies in that bag. 00:48:19.716 --> 00:48:24.396 A:middle OK. So this is an example of the sentence that starts with there. 00:48:24.786 --> 00:48:31.726 A:middle There was, were 15 candies in that bag. 00:48:31.926 --> 00:48:33.056 A:middle Well what's the subject? 00:48:33.686 --> 00:48:37.926 A:middle The subject is candies and is it singular or plural? 00:48:38.716 --> 00:48:42.486 A:middle It's plural, therefore, we have to say were. 00:48:42.486 --> 00:48:44.756 A:middle There were 15 candies in that bag. 00:48:45.886 --> 00:48:50.086 A:middle Now, there is, are only one left. 00:48:51.456 --> 00:48:53.956 A:middle There is, are only one left. 00:48:54.566 --> 00:48:54.836 A:middle >> Is. 00:48:55.386 --> 00:48:57.166 A:middle >> Exactly, OK? 00:48:57.166 --> 00:48:58.446 A:middle There is only one. 00:48:58.446 --> 00:48:59.906 A:middle Because what's the subject? 00:49:00.236 --> 00:49:05.756 A:middle One, one candy, is, we have to have a singular subject. 00:49:06.136 --> 00:49:12.286 A:middle OK. All right, we're getting down to the end here. 00:49:12.706 --> 00:49:16.286 A:middle All right, number 20 and 21 are a little confusing. 00:49:17.666 --> 00:49:24.106 A:middle The committee debates, debate these questions carefully. 00:49:24.226 --> 00:49:28.986 A:middle The committee debates, debate these questions carefully. 00:49:29.156 --> 00:49:29.376 A:middle >> Debates. 00:49:29.376 --> 00:49:31.046 A:middle >> Yeah, it's debates. 00:49:31.046 --> 00:49:36.726 A:middle Now, the word committee is an example of a collective noun. 00:49:37.206 --> 00:49:41.386 A:middle And a collective noun is a unit. 00:49:41.386 --> 00:49:45.396 A:middle Think of it as a unit that has many people 00:49:45.396 --> 00:49:46.836 A:middle or things inside that unit. 00:49:47.106 --> 00:49:53.526 A:middle So when you're talking about a noun that's a unit, as one unit, 00:49:53.696 --> 00:49:55.606 A:middle it has to be singular, OK? 00:49:55.896 --> 00:50:00.036 A:middle So in this situation, the committee debates, it's singular 00:50:00.146 --> 00:50:03.996 A:middle because we're talking about the committee as a unit, OK, 00:50:03.996 --> 00:50:05.976 A:middle even though there are many people inside that unit, OK? 00:50:07.756 --> 00:50:12.816 A:middle Now, let's contrast number 20 with number 21, OK, 00:50:12.816 --> 00:50:16.156 A:middle because a collective noun can sometimes be singular 00:50:16.636 --> 00:50:18.426 A:middle and sometimes be plural. 00:50:18.536 --> 00:50:22.586 A:middle It just depends on whether you're talking about the unit 00:50:22.586 --> 00:50:26.296 A:middle which is singular or all the people inside the unit. 00:50:26.296 --> 00:50:28.726 A:middle OK. So let's look at number 21. 00:50:28.936 --> 00:50:32.766 A:middle The committee leads, lead very different lives in private. 00:50:33.526 --> 00:50:38.026 A:middle The committee leads, lead very different lives in private. 00:50:38.026 --> 00:50:40.586 A:middle So in this situation, what do you think? 00:50:40.846 --> 00:50:40.936 A:middle >> Lead. 00:50:41.606 --> 00:50:43.976 A:middle >> OK, in this situation, it's actually lead. 00:50:44.186 --> 00:50:48.896 A:middle OK. So-- And the reason we know it's plural is 00:50:48.896 --> 00:50:50.796 A:middle because of the rest of the sentence, 00:50:51.026 --> 00:50:55.266 A:middle very different lives in private. 00:50:56.246 --> 00:51:00.626 A:middle So, in this situation, the collective noun, committee, 00:51:01.466 --> 00:51:04.796 A:middle is now plural because now we are suddenly talking 00:51:04.796 --> 00:51:08.286 A:middle about all the people inside that unit. 00:51:08.376 --> 00:51:11.186 A:middle So when we talk about all the people inside that unit, 00:51:11.416 --> 00:51:15.036 A:middle suddenly the committee becomes a plural subject, therefore, 00:51:15.036 --> 00:51:18.006 A:middle it has to take a plural verb, lead. 00:51:18.346 --> 00:51:20.226 A:middle So, how do you get this right? 00:51:20.226 --> 00:51:20.656 A:middle How do you know? 00:51:20.746 --> 00:51:23.336 A:middle You simply have to read the whole sentence and try 00:51:23.336 --> 00:51:26.596 A:middle to figure out, is the writer talking about the unit 00:51:26.596 --> 00:51:30.926 A:middle which is singular, OK, or is the writer talking all the people 00:51:30.926 --> 00:51:33.136 A:middle inside that unit which becomes plural, OK. 00:51:33.136 --> 00:51:36.776 A:middle And there are other examples of collective nouns, team, 00:51:37.046 --> 00:51:40.236 A:middle team is another example, like a football team, OK? 00:51:41.226 --> 00:51:43.376 A:middle Well, are you talking about the unit or are you talking 00:51:43.376 --> 00:51:45.876 A:middle about all the team members, OK, the players? 00:51:46.326 --> 00:51:48.676 A:middle OK. Let's take a look at-- We have about five minutes left 00:51:48.676 --> 00:51:49.576 A:middle so we have two more here. 00:51:49.576 --> 00:51:50.766 A:middle Let's take a look at these two. 00:51:51.216 --> 00:51:56.306 A:middle The prime minister, together with his wife, greets, 00:51:56.426 --> 00:51:58.176 A:middle greet the press cordially. 00:51:58.916 --> 00:52:02.436 A:middle The prime minister, together with his wife, greets, 00:52:02.556 --> 00:52:04.046 A:middle greet the press cordially. 00:52:04.486 --> 00:52:04.636 A:middle >> Greets. 00:52:05.566 --> 00:52:07.876 A:middle >> OK, it's actually greets. 00:52:08.146 --> 00:52:13.106 A:middle OK. Because who are we really talking about? 00:52:13.936 --> 00:52:15.286 A:middle Who are we really talking about? 00:52:15.916 --> 00:52:19.646 A:middle We're-- And well-- But we're really focused 00:52:19.646 --> 00:52:20.886 A:middle on the prime minister. 00:52:21.166 --> 00:52:23.366 A:middle And the prime minister is one minister, 00:52:23.366 --> 00:52:25.006 A:middle therefore, he is singular. 00:52:26.866 --> 00:52:32.566 A:middle Remember to not get distracted by extra words 00:52:32.646 --> 00:52:34.916 A:middle in between the subject and the verb. 00:52:34.976 --> 00:52:38.366 A:middle Together with his wife is just extra information. 00:52:38.876 --> 00:52:41.146 A:middle It's just extra information about the minister. 00:52:41.496 --> 00:52:46.656 A:middle But we're not really interested in that extra information 00:52:46.656 --> 00:52:48.046 A:middle for this subject verb agreement. 00:52:48.196 --> 00:52:51.386 A:middle We're really interested in what the prime minister does. 00:52:51.696 --> 00:52:54.466 A:middle He's singular, therefore, the verb has to be singular. 00:52:54.466 --> 00:52:56.186 A:middle The prime minister, together with his wife, 00:52:56.186 --> 00:52:57.536 A:middle greets the press cordially. 00:52:58.556 --> 00:53:00.866 A:middle So I know that might seem a little confusing. 00:53:00.866 --> 00:53:03.966 A:middle It may seem like it doesn't make any sense, logically, 00:53:04.796 --> 00:53:08.356 A:middle but we want to focus on the main subject we're talking about. 00:53:08.976 --> 00:53:10.056 A:middle And then find the verb. 00:53:10.056 --> 00:53:14.676 A:middle All of the CDs, even the scratched one, 00:53:15.026 --> 00:53:16.926 A:middle is, are in this case. 00:53:17.686 --> 00:53:20.546 A:middle All of the CDs, even the scratched one, 00:53:20.886 --> 00:53:22.516 A:middle is, are in this case. 00:53:22.806 --> 00:53:23.026 A:middle >> Are. 00:53:23.686 --> 00:53:24.496 A:middle >> OK, right. 00:53:24.586 --> 00:53:30.036 A:middle Because we're mainly focused on all of the CDs, it's plural, 00:53:30.036 --> 00:53:32.696 A:middle all of the CDs with an s, it's plural. 00:53:33.056 --> 00:53:35.236 A:middle Therefore, the verb has to be plural. 00:53:35.556 --> 00:53:39.996 A:middle Don't get distracted by the extra words 00:53:40.116 --> 00:53:43.096 A:middle in between the subject and the verb, even the scratched one, 00:53:43.946 --> 00:53:45.676 A:middle it's just extra information. 00:53:45.676 --> 00:53:48.696 A:middle But we're not focused on that, we're focused on all 00:53:48.696 --> 00:53:52.356 A:middle of the CDs, plural, plural, OK? 00:53:54.046 --> 00:54:00.306 A:middle OK. All right, so, we have about three minutes left 00:54:00.576 --> 00:54:03.766 A:middle so do you have any questions for me, any questions 00:54:03.766 --> 00:54:06.776 A:middle about the exercise, the presentation 00:54:06.946 --> 00:54:09.156 A:middle about subject verb agreement in general? 00:54:09.676 --> 00:54:10.676 A:middle >> We're good. 00:54:10.866 --> 00:54:11.966 A:middle >> OK, we're OK? 00:54:11.966 --> 00:54:14.116 A:middle Do you have a better understanding of it? 00:54:14.536 --> 00:54:17.076 A:middle OK, good. Just review these rules. 00:54:17.076 --> 00:54:18.146 A:middle Keep these in mind. 00:54:18.146 --> 00:54:23.026 A:middle I would encourage you to practice more online exercise 00:54:23.026 --> 00:54:25.016 A:middle such as this one from this Purdue, 00:54:25.206 --> 00:54:27.756 A:middle from this Purdue Online Writing Lab website. 00:54:27.756 --> 00:54:30.366 A:middle If you do a Google search 00:54:30.436 --> 00:54:32.966 A:middle on subject verb agreement exercises, 00:54:33.276 --> 00:54:35.926 A:middle you could find other grammar websites 00:54:36.096 --> 00:54:38.326 A:middle that will give you practice with subject verb agreement. 00:54:38.326 --> 00:54:41.856 A:middle You can type in the answers and then they'll tell you 00:54:41.856 --> 00:54:42.946 A:middle if you're right or wrong. 00:54:43.346 --> 00:54:45.636 A:middle They'll give you some more information 00:54:45.636 --> 00:54:47.756 A:middle and examples of these sentences. 00:54:48.166 --> 00:54:50.476 A:middle So try that-- If you have a grammar book, I don't know 00:54:50.566 --> 00:54:53.446 A:middle if any of you are taking ESL grammar classes or anything 00:54:53.446 --> 00:54:55.716 A:middle like that but if you have your grammar book, 00:54:55.756 --> 00:54:58.176 A:middle your grammar book should have a chapter 00:54:58.226 --> 00:55:01.666 A:middle with exercises and information. 00:55:01.986 --> 00:55:04.596 A:middle So I would encourage you, just practice, practice and read. 00:55:04.986 --> 00:55:07.326 A:middle The more you read, if you just read books, magazines, 00:55:07.326 --> 00:55:08.456 A:middle articles, it doesn't matter. 00:55:08.746 --> 00:55:12.406 A:middle Just read, as you're reading, just notice all of the sentences 00:55:12.406 --> 00:55:14.136 A:middle and how they do subject verb agreement, 00:55:14.346 --> 00:55:18.036 A:middle because you will find these long sophisticated sentences. 00:55:18.786 --> 00:55:21.696 A:middle And it's helpful to see examples of that 00:55:21.696 --> 00:55:24.816 A:middle and notice how they made sure the subject and the verb agreed 00:55:24.816 --> 00:55:27.826 A:middle with each other, even in these long sophisticated sentences, 00:55:28.056 --> 00:55:28.436 A:middle OK? 00:55:28.876 --> 00:55:32.016 A:middle OK. So that concludes our presentation. 00:55:32.016 --> 00:55:34.076 A:middle Thank you for coming, everyone. 00:55:34.326 --> 00:55:38.146 A:middle >> Thank you for giving it.