Freshman – Notes and Activities
8-14-14
Subject Verb Agreement
Grammar Mini-Lesson
Correct your own pre-test!
*Put the total correct next to the questions.
Grammar Pretest
THE NECKLACE READING QUIZ
When you’re done, turn the quiz in on your
cabinet and then begin the SUBJECT-VERB
AGREEMENT warm-up practice on the same
paper as your grammar pre-test from yesterday.
Practice 1
Homely: unattractive
Equilateral: equal
DEFINITIONS FOR QUIZ
Patriarchal: male/masculine Matriarchal: female/feminine
Monarchial: royal
Faux: fake
Subject Verb Agreement
The key to subject-verb agreement is
to correctly identify the subject of the
sentence and determine if it is
singular or plural. Then, match the
verb to the subject.
Subject Verb Agreement
Singular Subject
verb stem plus S: it fits, he sits
Plural Subject
verb stem without S: they sit,
they work
*The plural S on the end of noun/subject has nothing to
do with the s on the end of the verb.
Subject Verb Agreement
Let’s watch a video for a quick
introduction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=DvgRefx4qag
Subject Verb Agreement
A singular subject takes a verb that ends in
s or es in the present tense.
The study shows that people laugh an average
of fifteen times per day.
Subject Verb Agreement
A plural subject takes a verb that does not
end in s or es in the present tense.
People enjoy many health benefits from
frequent laughter, including an improved
immune system.
Compound Subjects
A subject is plural when two or more nouns
or pronouns are linked with the word and.
Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter were
both peanut farmers before becoming
President of the United States.
Compound Subjects
Exception: If the nouns joined by the word and
are a single unit, it is treated as a singular
subject.
Peanut butter and jelly is the
most popular sandwich among
school children.
Compound Subjects
A subject is singular when two or
more singular nouns or pronouns are
linked with the words or or nor.
A cat or a fish is a more popular pet
than a dog in the United States.
Compound Subjects
If there is a combination of singular
and plural subjects, the verb agrees
with the closest subject.
One green pepper or eleven
strawberries provide a day’s worth of
vitamin C .
Collective Nouns
When the subject is a group that is
acting as a single unit, use a singular
verb.
A flock of geese flies up to three
thousand miles during migration.
Collective Nouns
When the subject is a group that is acting
as a single unit, use a singular verb.
The world’s population gets 60 percent of
its energy from corn, wheat, and rice,
although there are 50,000 edible plants.
Collective Nouns
When the subject is a group with members
acting independently, use a plural verb.
The jury are casting votes to see where they
stand before beginning discussions.
The faculty are preparing their lesson plans.
Collective Nouns
The indefinite pronouns: (anybody, anyone,
each, either, everybody, everyone, neither,
no one, nobody, somebody, and someone)
are singular.
No one knows the year
Shakespeare was born.
Amounts
Money, distance, and time can be
singular collective nouns when
they function as a single unit.
Sixty cents is the average price of a
pound of bananas in the United
States.
Amounts
Money, distance, and time can be
singular collective nouns when
they function as a single unit.
One hundred and thirty five miles is the
length of the Badwater Marathon, which
many consider the toughest footrace in
the world.
Amounts
Money, distance, and time can be
singular collective nouns when
they function as a single unit.
Two weeks is how long a cockroach
can live without its head.
Amounts
If the amount that is plural does
not function as a single unit, it
takes a plural verb.
Over 2.6 billion dollar bills are destroyed
by the federal government each year.
Practice 1 Continued
THE NECKLACE: Discussion
• Why is Madame Loisel discontented at the beginning of the story?
• What causes the change in the Loisel’s financial situation?
• How much do you think Madame Loisel changes by the end of the
story?
• What is ironic about the ending of “The Necklace”? What type of
irony is it?
• What is the difference between Monsieur Loisel and his wife? Quote
the text to explain.
• Explain the motivation behind the following actions:
Mme. Loisel weeps when she receives the invitation (line 60).
Mme. Loisel borrows jewelry rather than wear flowers (line 109).
Monsieur Loisel advises his wife not to tell her friend about the
lost necklace (lines 166-167).
• What point of view is this story told in? Does the point of view affect
your opinion of any of the characters?
• Does Mme Loisel show heroism in paying off her debt? Why or why
not?
Define a character by completing the map.
“Quote” spoken by or
about the character
that reveals personality.
Include a page
number.
What change would
this character have
made if he/she had the
power to do so?
List several
characteristics that
define this
character.
If asked “What was
most important
event in this story?
What would this
character say?
What is one thing you
will always remember
about this character?
Select a major choice that a character has made and explain
his motivations/reasons for making this decision. .
In the frame, CITE TEXT EVIDENCE for each reason you give.
Reason/Motivation
Reason/Motivation
Reason/Motivation
Reason/Motivation
Major Action
or Choice
made by the
character
Select a major choice that a character has made and explain
the effects that decision has created.
In the frame, CITE TEXT EVIDENCE for each reason you give.
Effect
Major Action
or Choice
made by the
character
Effect
Effect
Effect
Select a the major conflict with which the main character
must deal.
In the frame, CITE TEXT EVIDENCE for two causes and two effects.
Cause
Cause
Effect
Major
Conflict
Effect
Cause
Effect
Cause
Effect