Subject /Verb Agreement

Objectives:

·        To investigate and practice Subject /Verb Agreement

Outcomes: 

·        To demonstrate more effective writing through the use of correct subject -verb agreement

Warm-Up:

·        To assess your current skill level, click here to complete a subject-verb agreement Pretest.

·        To create a paragraph example of your current writing style and subject-verb agreement skills, click on the following exercise:

o       Your Writing: Classifying Things or People   http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/sensen/part2/twelve/pre_writing.html

New Instruction:

Complete the following activities related to various aspects of subject-verb agreement.  Each activity includes informative tips, examples, and related application exercises.  Be sure to review your answers and pay close attention to scoring feedback.

1.    Subject-Verb Agreement in the Present Tenses

http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/sensen/part2/twelve/present.html

2.    Subject-Verb Agreement with Was and Were

http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/sensen/part2/twelve/was.html

3.    There is, There are, and There Were

http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/sensen/part2/twelve/there.html

4.    Modifying Phrases or Clauses between Subject and Verb

http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/sensen/part2/twelve/modifying.html

5.    Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects

http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/sensen/part2/twelve/pronouns.html

6.    Who, Which, and That as Subjects

http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/sensen/part2/twelve/who.html

7.    Compound Subjects

http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/sensen/part2/twelve/compound.html

If possible, view this PowerPoint presentation on subject-verb agreement, http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/sv_agr.htm .  Note specific items you find most challenging.   For additional practice, you may choose to complete all three quizzes on this page.  Be sure to review your answers!

Feedback and Review:

·        Complete and score these following subject-verb agreement review and practice exercises.  Review specific usage rules if necessary.

o       Part 1    http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/cgi-shl/par2_quiz.pl/agreement_review.html

o       Part 2    http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/sensen/part2/twelve/agreement_review2.html

·        Complete this humorous activity for further practice: 

o       Fun with Grammar    http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/sensen/part2/twelve/fun.html

·        Using your warm-up paragraph, complete this exercise to review and practice your new skills.

o       Return to Your Writing   http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/sensen/part2/twelve/return.html

Transfer of Knowledge or Skills:

·        Apply accurate subject-verb agreement to all future writings.  Be sure to proofread your works specifically for errors of this type. 

·        How does being more careful about subject-verb agreement affect the quality of your writing?

Note:  If you are a student in an Adult Education class, your instructor can request a password for you to complete a Mastery Test on Subject-Verb Agreement  by using the following form:  "Getting in Touch with Sentence Sense."