Verbs

2 Verb tensesO Present Tense

O Use an –s or –es ending on the verb only when the subject is he, she, or it.

O Past TenseO For most verbs add –d or –edO If a verb ends, in e, just add d.O If it ends in a consonant + y, change

the y to i and add -ed.O Try = tried

Practice

Chapter 10, Exercises

1-8 (pages

113-119)

4 Main Forms of a Verb

1. Present TenseOUse the present form

OTALK

2. Past TenseOUse the past form

OTALKED

4 Main Forms of a VerbOPresent Participle

O Use present participle or –ing form w/ helping verbsOTALKING (Were Talking,

Should Be Talking)

OPast ParticipleO Use the past participle w/ helping

verbs have, has, or hadOTALKED (Have Talked, Has

Talked, Had Talked)

Practice

Chapter 10Exercise 9 (page 120)

Subject-Verb Agreement

O Basically, a singular subject must have a singular verb; and a plural subject must have a plural verb.O Examples

O Sue Ellen works in a grocery store during the summer months.

O My brothers go fishing every Saturday.

O Problems occur when you have special situations such as those that follow.

Subject and Verb Separated by a Word Group

O Sometimes one or more words may come between the subject and verb. When this situation occurs, find your “true” subject and ignore the words between it and your verb.

O ExamplesO The box of books is missing from the

work room.O Mr. Garrett, along with his sons, runs

the dairy.

Two Singular VerbsO Two singular subjects joined by and

need a plural verb.O Examples

O My cat and my dog are going to the vet this afternoon.

O Sandra and Francis shop at Publix.

Subjects with each and every

O When each or every precedes a subject, the subject is singular and requires a singular verb.

O ExamplesO Every plate and glass in the cupboard

is broken.O Each of the plants needs water to

survive.

Indefinite PronounsO Examples: anyone, everyone,

nobody, anybody, something, everything (see page 162 for complete list)

O Memorize these words! Some seem plural, so common sense won’t cut it!O Tip: they’re the -one, -thing, and -body words + each, either, neither

O Always take a singular verb

Subjects with or, either-or, neither-nor

O Singular subjects joined by or, either-or, or neither-nor take singular verbs.

O ExamplesO Neither Betty nor Wilma understands

the problem.O An orange or a grapefruit is a healthy

snack.

One singular subject and one plural subject

O When or, either-or, or neither-nor is used, then the verb must agree with the subject closer to it.

O ExamplesO Either Mike or the Greens go to the

church on the corner.O Either the Greens or Mike goes to the

church on the corner.

One singular subject and one plural subject, cont.

O HINT: The sentence has a much smoother flow if the plural subject is the one closer to the verb.

Collective nouns as subjects

O A collective noun is singular in form but stands for groups or collections of people or things.O My English class is

taking a test.O Our family is

going on vacation.

Collective nouns, cont.O Sometimes a collective noun is

referring to the individual members within a group. In this case, then a plural noun may be used.O The jury are undecided about the

verdict.O Since this format is often awkward,

you may want to change the sentence for better flow.O The jury members are undecided

about the verdict.

Verbs preceding subjects

O Usually, sentences that fall into this category will begin with here, there, how, what, and where. With such sentences, the verb must agree with the subject that follows it.O Here is the house I told you about.O Where are the children going in such

a hurry?

Practice

Chapter 13All Exercises