Finding subjects and verbs

Finding Subjects
and Verbs
http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerb.asp
NOTE: We will use the convention of a thin underline for subjects and
a thick underline for verbs.
Being able to find the right subject and verb will help you correct
errors of agreement.
Example:
The list of items is/are on the desk.
Being able to identify the subject and verb correctly will also help you
with commas and semicolons as you will see later.
Definition. A Verb is a word that shows action (runs, hits, slides) or
state of being (is, are, was, were, am, and so on).
Examples:
He ran around the block.
You are my friend.
Rule
1.
If a verb follows to, it is called an infinitive phrase and is
not the main verb. You will find the main verb either before
or after the infinitive phrase.
Examples
:
I like to walk.
The efforts to get her elected succeeded.
Definition. A Subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the
verb.
Example: The woman hurried.
Woman is the subject.

Rule
2.
A subject will come before a phrase beginning with of.
Example
:
A bouquet of yellow roses will lend color and
fragrance to the room.
Rule
3.
To find the subject and verb, always find the verb first.
Then ask who or what performed the verb.
Examples
:
The jet engine passed inspection. Passed is
the verb. Who or what passed? The engine,
so engine is the subject. If you included the
word jet as the subject, lightning will not
strike you. Technically, jet is an adjective here
and is part of what is known as the complete
subject.
From the ceiling hung the chandelier. The verb
is hung. Now, if you think ceiling is the
subject, slow down. Ask whoor what hung.
The answer is chandelier, not ceiling.
Therefore, chandelier is the subject.
Rule
4.
Any request or command such as "Stop!" or "Walk quickly."
has the understood subject you because if we ask who is to
stop or walk quickly, the answer must be you.
Example
:
(You) Please bring me some coffee.
Bring is the verb. Who is to do the
bringing? You understood.
Rule
5.
Sentences often have more than one subject, more than
one verb, or pairs of subjects and verbs.
Examples
:
I like cake and he likes ice cream.
Two pairs of subjects and verbs
He and I like cake.
Two subjects and one verb
She lifts weights and jogs daily.
One subject and two verbs
Are you ready for the quiz?

Subject and Verb
Agreement
post a response to the video
BasicRule. The basic rule states that a singular subject takes a
singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural
verb.
NOTE: The trick is in knowing whether the subject is
singular or plural. The next trick is recognizing a
singular or plural verb.
Hint: Verbs do not form their plurals by adding an s
as nouns do. In order to determine which verb is
singular and which one is plural, think of which verb
you would use with he or she and which verb you
would use with they.
Example
:
talks, talk
Which one is the singular form? Which
word would you use with he? We say,
"He talks." Therefore, talks is singular.
We say, "They talk." Therefore, talk is
plural.
Rule
1.
Two singular subjects connected by or or nor require a
singular verb.
Example
:
My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today.
Rule
2.
Two singular subjects connected
by either/or or neither/nor require a singular verb as in
Rule 1.
Examples
:
Neither Juan nor Carmen is available.
Either Kiana or Casey is helping today with

stage decorations.
Rule
3.
When I is one of the two subjects connected
by either/or or neither/nor, put it second and follow it with
the singular verb am.
Example
:
Neither she nor I am going to the festival.
Rule
4.
When a singular subject is connected by or or nor to a
plural subject, put the plural subject last and use a plural
verb.
Example
:
The serving bowl or the plates go on that
shelf.
Rule
5.
When a singular and plural subject are connected
by either/or orneither/nor, put the plural subject last and
use a plural verb.
Example
:
Neither Jenny nor the others are available.
Rule
6.
As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more
subjects when they are connected by and.
Example
:
A car and a bike are my means of
transportation.
Rule
7.
Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by
words such as along with, as well as, besides, or not.
Ignore these expressions when determining whether to use
a singular or plural verb.
Examples
:
The politician, along with the newsmen, is
expected shortly.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the
cause
of her shaking.
Rule The pronouns each, everyone, every one, everybody,

8. anyone, anybody, someone, and somebody are singular and
require singular verbs. Do not be misled by what follows of.
Examples
:
Each of the girls sings well.
Every one of the cakes is gone.
NOTE: Everyone is one word when it
means everybody.Every one is two words
when the meaning is each one.
Rule
9. With words that indicate portions—percent, fraction, part,
majority, some, all, none, remainder, and so forth —look at
the noun in your of phrase (object of the preposition) to
determine whether to use a singular or plural verb. If the
object of the preposition is singular, use a singular verb. If
the object of the preposition is plural, use a plural verb.
Examples
:
Fifty percent of the pie has disappeared.
Pie is the object of the preposition of.
Fifty percent of the pies have disappeared.
Pies is the object of the preposition.
One-third of the city is unemployed.
One-third of the people are unemployed.
NOTE: Hyphenate all spelled-out fractions.
All of the pie is gone.
All of the pies are gone.
Some of the pie is missing.
Some of the pies are missing.
None of the garbage was picked up.
None of the sentences were
punctuated correctly.
Of all her books, none have sold as well as
the first one.
NOTE: Apparently, the SAT testing service considers none as a

singular word only. However, according to Merriam Webster's
Dictionary of English Usage, "Clearly none has been both singular and
plural since Old English and still is. The notion that it is singular only
is a myth of unknown origin that appears to have arisen in the 19th
century. If in context it seems like a singular to you, use a singular
verb; if it seems like a plural, use a plural verb. Both are acceptable
beyond serious criticism" (p. 664). When none is clearly intended to
mean not one or not any, it is followed by a singular verb.
Rule 10. When either and neither are subjects, they always take
singular verbs.
Examples
:
Neither of them is available to speak right
now.
Either of us is capable of doing the job.
Rule
11.
The words here and there have generally been labeled as
adverbs even though they indicate place. In sentences
beginning with here or there, the subject follows the verb.
Examples: There are four hurdles to jump.
There is a high hurdle to jump.
Rule 12. Use a singular verb with sums of money or periods of
time.
Examples
:
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
Five years is the maximum sentence for
that offense.
Rule 13. Sometimes the pronoun who, that, or which is the
subject of a verb in the middle of the sentence. The
pronouns who, that, and which become singular or
plural according to the noun directly in front of them.
So, if that noun is singular, use a singular verb. If it is
plural, use a plural verb.
Examples
:
Salma is the scientist who writes/write the
reports.
The word in front of who is scientist, which
is singular. Therefore, use the singular

verb writes.
He is one of the men who does/do the
work.
The word in front of who is men, which is
plural. Therefore, use the plural verb do.
Rule 14. Collective nouns such as team and staff may be either
singular or plural depending on their use in the
sentence.
Examples
:
The staff is in a meeting.
Staff is acting as a unit here.
The staff are in disagreement about the
findings.
The staff are acting as separate
individuals in this example.
The sentence would read even better as:
The staff members are in disagreement
about the findings.
Pronouns

Definition. - A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun.
Pronouns can be in one of three cases: Subject, Object, or
Possessive.
Rule
1.
Subject pronouns are used when the pronoun is the subject
of the sentence. You can remember subject pronouns
easily by filling in the blank subject space for a simple
sentence.
Example
:
______ did the job.
I, you, he, she, it, we, and they all fit into the
blank and are, therefore, subject pronouns.
Rule
2.
Subject pronouns are also used if they rename the subject.
They follow to be verbs such as is, are, was, were, am,
and will be.
Examples
:
It is he.
This is she speaking.
It is we who are responsible for the decision
to downsize.
NOTE: In spoken English, most people tend to follow to
be verbs with object pronouns. Many English teachers
support (or at least have given in to) this distinction
between written and spoken English.
Example: It could have been them.
Better: It could have been they.
Example: It is just me at the door.
Better: It is just I at the door.
Rule
3.
Object pronouns are used everywhere else (direct object,
indirect object, object of the preposition). Object pronouns
are me, you, him, her, it, us, and them.
Examples
:
Jean talked to him.
Are you talking to me?

To be able to choose pronouns correctly, you must learn to identify
clauses. A clause is a group of words containing a verb and subject.
Rule
4a.
A strong clause can stand on its own.
Examples
:
She is hungry.
I am feeling well today.
Rule
4b.
A weak clause begins with words such as although, since,
if, when, andbecause. Weak clauses cannot stand on their
own.
Examples
:
Although she is hungry...
If she is hungry...
Since I am feeling well...
Rule
4c.
If a sentence contains more than one clause, isolate the
clauses so that you can decide which pronoun is correct.
Examples
:
Weak Strong
[Although she is hungry,] [she will
give him some
of her food.]
[Although this gift is for
him,]
[I would like you
to have it too.]
Rule
5.
To decide whether to use the subject or object pronoun
after the wordsthan or as, mentally complete the sentence.
Examples
:
Tranh is as smart as she/her.
If we mentally complete the sentence, we
would say, "Tranh is as smart as she is."
Therefore, she is the correct answer.
Zoe is taller than I/me.
Mentally completing the sentence, we have,
"Zoe is taller than I am."

Daniel would rather talk to her than I/me.
We can mentally complete this sentence in
two ways: "Daniel would rather talk to her
than to me." OR "Daniel would rather talk to
her than I would." As you can see, the
meaning will change depending on the
pronoun you choose.
Rule
6.
Possessive pronouns show ownership and never need
apostrophes.
Possessive pronouns: mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours,
theirs
NOTE The only time it's has an apostrophe is when
it is a contraction for it is or it has.
Examples
:
It's a cold morning.
The thermometer reached its highest reading.
Rule
7.
Reflexive pronouns - myself, himself, herself, itself,
themselves, ourselves, yourself, yourselves- should be
used only when they refer back to another word in the
sentence.
Correct: I worked myself to the bone.
Incorrect
:
My brother and myself did it.
The word myself does not refer back to
another word.
Correct: My brother and I did it.
Incorrect
:
Please give it to John or myself.
Correct: Please give it to John or me.
Who vs. Whom

Rule. Use the he/him method to decide which word is correct.
he = who
him = whom
Examples
:
Who/Whom wrote the letter?
He wrote the letter. Therefore, who is correct.
For who/whom should I vote?
Should I vote for him? Therefore, whom is
correct.
We all know who/whom pulled that prank.
This sentence contains two clauses: We all
know andwho/whom pulled that prank. We
are interested in the second clause because it
contains the who/whom. He pulled that
prank. Therefore, who is correct. (Are you
starting to sound like a hooting owl yet?)
We want to know on who/whom the prank
was pulled.
This sentence contains two clauses: We want
to know andthe prank was pulled on
who/whom. Again, we are interested in the
second clause because it contains
thewho/whom. The prank was pulled on
him. Therefore, whomis correct.
Whoever vs.
Whomever
Rule
1.
To determine whether to use whoever or whomever, here is
the rule:
him + he = whoever
him + him = whomever
Examples: Give it to whoever/whomever asks for it first.
Give it to him. He asks for it first.
Therefore, Give it to whoever asks for it
first.

We will hire whoever/whomever you
recommend.
We will hire him. You recommend him.
him + him = whomever
We will hire whoever/whomever is most
qualified.
We will hire him. He is most qualified.
him + he = whoever
Rule
2.
When the entire whoever/whomever clause is the subject of
the verb that follows the clause, look inside the clause to
determine whether to usewhoever or whomever.
Examples: Whoever is elected will serve a four-
year term.
Whoever is elected is the subject of will
serve.
Whoever is the subject of is.
Whomever you elect will serve a four-
year term.
Whomever you elect is the subject of will
serve.
Whomever is the object of you elect.
That vs. Which
Rule
1.
Who refers to people. That and which refer to groups or
things.
Examples
:
Anya is the one who rescued the bird.
Lokua is on the team that won first place.
She belongs to an
organization that specializes in saving
endangered species.

Rule
2.
That introduces essential clauses while which introduces
nonessential clauses.
Examples
:
I do not trust products that claim "all natural
ingredients" because this phrase can mean
almost anything.
We would not know which products were
being discussed without the that clause.
The product claiming "all natural
ingredients," whichappeared in the Sunday
newspaper, is on sale.
The product is already identified.
Therefore, which begins a nonessential clause.
NOTE: Essential clauses do not have commas
surrounding them while nonessential clauses
are surrounded by commas.
Rule
3.
If this, that, these, or those has already introduced an
essential clause, you may use which to introduce the next
clause, whether it is essential or nonessential.
Examples
:
That is a decision which you must live with
for the rest of your life.
Those ideas, which we've discussed
thoroughly enough, do not need to be
addressed again.
NOTE: Often, you can streamline your sentence by
leaving outwhich.
Example: That is a decision which you must live with
for the rest of your life.
Better:
That is a decision you must live with for the
rest of your life.
Adjectives and Adverbs

Definition - Adjectives are words that describe nouns or pronouns.
They may come before the word they describe (That is a cute puppy.)
or they may follow the word they describe (That puppy is cute.).
Definition - Adverbs are words that modify everything but nouns
and pronouns. They modify adjectives, verbs, and other adverbs. A
word is an adverb if it answers how, when, or where.
The only adverbs that cause grammatical problems are those that
answer the questionhow, so focus on these.
Examples
:
He speaks slowly.
Answers the question how.
He speaks very slowly.
Answers the question how slowly.
Rule
1.
Generally, if a word answers the question how, it is an
adverb. If it can have an -ly added to it, place it there.
Examples
:
She thinks slow/slowly.
She thinks how? slowly.
She is a slow/slowly thinker.
Slow does not answer how, so no -ly is
attached. Slow is an adjective here.
She thinks fast/fastly.
Fast answers the question how, so it is an
adverb. But fastnever has an -ly attached to
it.
We performed bad/badly.
Badly describes how we performed.
Rule
2.
A special -ly rule applies when four of the senses
- taste, smell, look, feel- are the verbs. Do not ask if these
senses answer the question how to determine if -ly should
be attached. Instead, ask if the sense verb is being used
actively. If so, use the -ly.
Examples
:
Roses smell sweet/sweetly.
Do the roses actively smell with noses? No, so
no -ly.

The woman looked angry/angrily.
Did the woman actively look with eyes or are
we describing her appearance? We are only
describing appearance, so no-ly.
The woman looked angry/angrily at the paint
splotches.
Here the woman did actively look with eyes,
so the -ly is added.
She feels bad/badly about the news.
She is not feeling with fingers, so no -ly.
Good vs. Well
Rule
3.
The word good is an adjective, while well is an adverb.
Examples
:
You did a good job.
Good describes the job.
You did the job well.
Well answers how.
You smell good today.
Describes your odor, not how you smell with
your nose, so follow with the adjective.
You smell well for someone with a cold.
You are actively smelling with a nose here, so
follow with the adverb.
Rule
4.
When referring to health, use well rather than good.
Examples
:
I do not feel well.
You do not look well today.
NOTE: You may use good with feel when you are not
referring to health.
Example: I feel good about my decision to learn
Spanish.

Rule
5.
A common error in using adjectives and adverbs arises
from using the wrong form for comparison. For instance,
to describe one thing we would say poor, as in, "She
is poor." To compare two things, we should saypoorer, as
in, "She is the poorer of the two women." To compare
more than two things, we should say poorest, as in, "She
is the poorest of them all."
Examples: One Two Three or
More
sweet sweeter sweetest
bad worse worst
efficient* more
efficient*
most efficient*
*Usually with words of three or more syllables, don't add -er or -
est. Use more or mostin front of the words.
Rule
6.
Never drop the -ly from an adverb when using the
comparison form.
Correct: She spoke quickly.
She spoke more quickly than he did.
Incorrect
:
She spoke quicker than he did.
Correct: Talk quietly.
Talk more quietly.
Incorrect
:
Talk quieter.
Rule
7.
When this, that, these, and those are followed by nouns,
they are adjectives. When they appear without a noun
following them, they are pronouns.
Examples
:
This house is for sale.
This is an adjective here.
This is for sale.

This is a pronoun here.
Rule
8.
This and that are singular, whether they are being used as
adjectives or as pronouns. This points to something nearby
while that points to something "over there."
Examples
:
This dog is mine.
That dog is hers.
This is mine.
That is hers.
Rule
9.
These and those are plural, whether they are being used as
adjectives or as pronouns. These points to something
nearby while those points to something "over there."
Examples
:
These babies have been smiling for a long
time.
These are mine.
Those babies have been crying for hours.
Those are yours.
Rule
10.
Use than to show comparison. Use then to answer the
question when.
Examples
:
I would rather go skiing than rock climbing.
First we went skiing; then we went rock
climbing.
Problems with
Prepositions

Rule
1.
You may end a sentence with a preposition. Just do not use
extra prepositions when the meaning is clear without them.
Examples:
Correct: That is something I cannot agree with.
That is something with which I cannot agree.
Correct: How many of you can I count on?
Correct: Where did he go?
Incorrect
:
Where did he go to?
Correct: Where did you get this?
Incorrect
:
Where did you get this at?
Correct: I will go later.
Incorrect
:
I will go later on.
Correct: Take your shoes off the bed.
Incorrect
:
Take your shoes off of the bed.
Correct: You may look out the window.
Incorrect
:
You may look out of the window.
Correct: Cut it into small pieces.
Incorrect
:
Cut it up into small pieces.
Rule
2.
Use on with expressions that indicate the time of an
occurrence.
Examples
:
He was born on December 23.
We will arrive on the fourth.

Rule
3.
0f should never be used in place of have.
Correct: I should have done it.
Incorrect
:
I should of done it.
Rule
4.
Between refers to two. Among is used for three or more.
Examples
:
Divide the candy between the two of you.
Divide the candy among the three of you.
Rule
5.
The word like, when used to show comparison, is a
preposition, meaning that it should be followed by an
object of the preposition but not by a subject and verb. Use
the connectors (also called conjunctions) as or as ifwhen
following a comparison with a subject and verb.
Examples
:
You look so much like your mother.
Mother is the object of the preposition like.
You look as if you are angry.
As if is connecting two pairs of subjects and
verbs.
Effective Writing

Rule 1. Use concrete rather than vague language.
Examples
:
Vague: The weather was of an extreme nature
on the west coast.
Concrete
:
California had very cold weather last
week.
Rule 2. Use active voice whenever possible. Active voice
means the subject is performing the verb.
Examples
:
Active: Barry hit the ball.
Passive
:
The ball was hit.
Notice that the responsible party may not
even appear when using passive voice.
Rule
3.
Avoid overusing there is, there are, it is, it was, and so on.
Example: There is a case of meningitis that was
reported in the newspaper.
Correction: A case of meningitis was reported in the
newspaper.
Even
Better:
The newspaper reported a case of
meningitis. (Active voice)
Example: It is important to signal before making a left
turn.
Correction: Signaling before making a left turn is
important.
OR
Signaling before a left turn is important.
OR
You should signal before making a left
turn. (Active voice)
Example: There are some revisions which must be
made.
Correction: Some revisions must be made.

Even
Better:
Please make some revisions. (Active voice)
Rule
4.
To avoid confusion, don't use two negatives to make a
positive.
Incorrect
:
He is not unwilling to help.
Correct: He is willing to help.
Rule
5.
Use similar grammatical form when offering several ideas.
This is called parallel construction.
Correct: You should check your spelling, grammar,
and punctuation.
Incorrect
:
You should check your spelling, grammar,
and punctuating.
Rule
6.
If you start a sentence with an action, place the actor
immediately after or you will have created the infamous
dangling modifier.
Incorrect
:
While walking across the street, the bus hit
her.
Correct: While walking across the street, she was hit
by a bus.
OR
She was hit by a bus while walking across the
street.
Rule
7.
Place modifiers near the words they modify.
Incorrect
:
I have some pound cake Mollie baked in my
lunch bag.
Correct: In my lunch bag, I have some pound cake
that Mollie baked.

Rule
8.
A sentence fragment occurs when you have only a phrase
or weak clause but are missing a strong clause.
Example of
Sentence
Fragment:
After the show ended.
Example of
Sentence:
After the show ended, we had
coffee.

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