March 29, 2010

Housekeeping

• Textbooks

• Good Friday/Easter Monday school will be closed.

• Hand in your work on Narrative Writing Assignment #1. Please hand in all the work you did (freewriting, topic sentences, and list)

Subject-Verb Agreement, p. 463

• Singular subjects must take a singular verb.

– I walk fast, you walk fast, and he/she walks faster.

• Plural subjects must take a plural verb.

– We walk fast, and they walk fast too.

Mistakes in Subject-Verb Agreement. . .

. . . usually occur in the following situations:

1. When words come between the subject and verb

2. When a verb comes before a subject

3. With compound subjects

4. With indefinite pronouns

When words come between the subject and verb . . .

. . . subject-verb agreement does not change.

Ex: The noisy dogs in my neighbourhood get on my nerves.

(plural subject) (plural verb)

The words “in my neighbourhood” form a prepositional phrase that does not affect s-v agreement.

Reminder: Prepositional phrases

• Prepositions are words that usually indicate time and space relationships.

Ex: before, under, with, behind, in, of, etc.

• Prepositional phrases are word groups that begin with prepositions (they usually include an object and adjectives or adverbs)

Ex: during class, behind the old bridge

• When trying to find the subject of a sentence, it can help to cross out the prepositional phrases:

Nell, with her three dogs close behind, runs around the park every day.

The seams in my new coat have split after only two years.

When words come between the subject and verb (Cont’d.)

Activity, p. 464

• Do the number I assign you, and as many others as you can finish in 5-10 minutes.

1. decisions (of the judge) seem2. flakes (in this cereal) taste3. woman (with the dark sunglasses) is 4. People (in Europe) speak5. hamburger (with a large order of french fries)

is

When a verb comes before a subject . . .

. . . it must still agree with the subject!

Ex: On Bill’s doorstep were two police officers.Ex: There are many pizza places in town.

To try to find the subject, ask yourself who or what does the verb refer to.

Ex: Q: Who were on the doorstep? A: The police officers.

Activity, p. 465

• Do the number I assign you, and as many others as you can finish in 5-10 minutes.

1. What is your middle name.2. Among the guests was a private detective.3. Where do you go when you want to be alone?4. There are many hungry people. . . 5. In that grave rest the bones of my great-

grandfather.

With compound subjects

Situation 1: When two subjects are joined by and they take a plural verb:

Ex: Maple syrup and sweet butter taste delicious on pancakes.

Ex: Mike and Sharon have a lot of work to do.

With compound subjects

Situation 2: In contrast, when subjects are joined by either . . . or, neither . . . nor, not only . . . but also, the verb agrees with the subject closest to the verb:

(plural) (singular) (singular)Ex: Either the students or the teacher takes a day off every month.

(singular) (plural) (plural)Ex: Either the teacher or the students take a day off every month.

Activity, p. 466.

• Do the number I assign you, and as many others as you can finish in 5-10 minutes.

1. Our cats and dog stay 2. Are the birthday cake and ice cream ready . . .3. Staples and Scotch tape hold . . . 4. Rent and car insurance were my 5. Neither the students nor the instructor wants

to postponte. . . .

With indefinite pronouns

• These words always take singular verbs:

• However: “both” always takes a plural verb!

“-one” words “-body” words

“-thing” words

OneAnyoneEveryoneSomeone

NobodyAnybodyEverybodySomebody

NothingAnythingEverythingSomething

EachEitherNeither

Activity, p. 467

• Do the number I assign you, and as many others as you can finish in 5-10 minutes.

1. Everybody at my new school is friendly.2. Neither of those mattresses feels comfortable.3. Nobody in my family knows how to swim.4. Each of the children needs some attention.5. Something about Robbie’s story sounds

suspicious.

Break?

Freewriting – 5 minutes non-stop

• stormy weather

The Writing Process

• Pre-write to explore and define your topic:– brainstorm and select your topic– write a topic sentence– brainstorm and select your supporting ideas

• Write a rough draft• Revise to improve unity, support, and coherence• Edit for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage• Proofread for typing or handwriting errors

Writing Assignment 3, p. 294-295

Follow the steps A and B from the last assignment using one of these topics:

• A time you lost your temper• A moment of great hapiness or sadness• Your best or worst date• A time you took a foolish risk• An inicident that changed your life• A time when you did or did not do the right thing• Your best or worst holiday or birthday• A time you learned a lesson or taught a lesson to someone else• An occasion of triumph in sports or some other area.

Writing Assignment Process for Today

1. Title your paper A. Prewriting, Assignment 3 (or whatever # it is)

A. Prewriting – 15-20 minutes• Write freely and continually without worrying about grammar, spelling

and punctuation

2. Take a new sheet of paper. Title it B. Plan and Organize, Assignment 3 (or whatever # . . .)

B. Plan and Organize• Write at least two possible topic sentences• list all the details involved in the experience• number them in the order in which they occurred

Staple all your work together and hand it in to me.

Topics vs. Topic Sentence

• Remember that–a topic = the general subject

and–a topic sentence = what you have to

say about the subject

Example Topic Sentences

Topic: My first day of school Possible Topic Sentences x I will tell you about my first day of school. My first day of school was a nerve-wracking experience. I will never forget the excitement of my first day of

school.

Homework

• Review tests, p. 468-469. AK are available in the green box.