Hello!
I'm a week behind in posting this, but life is very, very hectic right now. Juggling nine classes, even temporarily, certainly keeps me on my toes! I'm reminded, though, how many people have forgotten (or never learned?) some of the basics of English composition. Thus, I continue to write this blog!
Today, we're going to look at a concept that should be relatively simple ... and it can be. However, I still see issues with this in some of my students' writing.
The concept is: Subjects and verbs must agree in "number." This means that singular forms of the noun or pronoun in the subject must agree with the singular form of the verb; plural forms of the noun or pronoun in the subject must agree with the plural form of the verb.
Please note I said the singular form of the verb or the plural form of the verb. Some students get hung up on the fact that plural forms of nouns have an s on the end, so they think that the plural form of the verb also means an s at the end.
What I recommend to students is looking at the verb and conjugating it using pronouns:
I think ...So, if you're writing
He thinks ...
She thinks ...
We think ...
They think ...
Who thinks ...
One thinks ...
John _______ in the morning,you'd use the third person singular form of the verb:
John walks in the morning.If you're writing
The students ________ for each test the night before.you'd use the third person plural form of the verb:
The students cram for each test the night before.Simple, right?
The issues arise when other elements come between the subject and the verb:
Finally, you need to be aware indefinite pronouns (both singular and plural) and collective nouns:
My next blog (hopefully next week?) will be on writing thesis statements and outlines. I hope to "see" you then!
Keep pen to paper!
Prof. Rinehart
