Subject-Verb Agreement Special Victims Unit

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Subject-Verb Agreement Special Victims Unit
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Directions for Language Detectives Subject-Verb
Agreement Special Victims Unit
You have a case file consisting of examples of
sentences having having subject-verb agreement
and a few clues. Your job is to write a rule that
explains the subject-verb agreement for the case
that you have been given. Suggestion for
rule-writing If_______________________,
then______________________. You will be asked to
explain your rule to the class.
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Subject-Verb Agreement Special Victims Unit
Case 1A The case of the intervening
prepositional phrase
Exhibit A A box was on the table. Exhibit B
Candy was on the table. Exhibit C Boxes were on
the table. Exhibit D Candies were on the
table. Exhibit E A box of candy was on the
table. Exhibit F A box of candies was on the
table.
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Subject-Verb Agreement Special Victims Unit
Case 1B The case of the intervening
prepositional phrase
Exhibit A Some of the pizza was eaten. Exhibit
B Some of the pizzas were eaten. Exhibit C
None of the pizza was eaten. Exhibit D None of
the pizzas were eaten. Exhibit E All of the
pizza was eaten. Exhibit F All of the pizzas
were eaten. Exhibit G Was any of the pizza
eaten? Exhibit H Were any of the pizzas eaten?
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Subject-Verb Agreement Special Victims Unit
Case 2 The case of the compound subject
Exhibit A The teacher and the students are
planning a field trip. The
students and the teachers are planning a field
trip. Exhibit B Either the teacher or the
students enjoy field trips.
Either the students or the teacher enjoys field
trips. Either the students or
the teachers enjoy field trips.
Either the student or the teacher enjoys field
trips. Exhibit C Neither the students nor the
administration appreciates vandalism.
Neither the administration nor the students
appreciate vandalism.
Exhibit D The students, but not their teacher,
need to rest after lunch. The
teacher, but not the students, needs to rest
after lunch.
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Subject-Verb Agreement Special Victims Unit
Case 3 The case of there is/ there are there
was/there were
Exhibit A There are three reasons for my
decision. Exhibit B I dont know how many
reasons there are. Exhibit C There were no more
excuses to consider. Exhibit D There is
something we can do about this. Exhibit E
Theres something we can do about this. Exhibit
F There are several requirements for this job.
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Subject-Verb Agreement Special Victims Unit
Case 4 The case of the adjective clause (that,
which, who)
Exhibit A New voters are one of those groups
that concern local politicians. Exhibit B New
voters are a group that concerns local
politicians.
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Subject-Verb Agreement Special Victims Unit
Case 5 A few singulars that look like
plurals Exhibit A At this school, academics is
stressed, but athletics is important as well.
Exhibit B Mathematics is fun. Exhibit C
Physics is her favorite subject.
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Subject-Verb Agreement Special Victims Unit
Case 1 The case of the intervening prepositional
phrase
Exhibit A Our principal, along with the
teachers, has agreed to letting the
students vote on a new mascot. Exibit B One
of my friends is graduating early. Exibit C
The coach, along with the cheerleaders, likes
practice to end at dusk. Exibit D Voters
enthusiasm for this years candidates was
responsible for the record-high
turnout. Exibit E Numerous reasons for the
decline in consumer spending need to
be explained.