PUG Review

Question 1

1. Subject-Verb Agreement

Answer 1

Subjects and Verbs must agree in number.

Singular subjects require singular verbs
Plural subjects require plural verbs

Examples:
“The cats are…”
“A cat is…”

Question 2

1. Subject Verb Agreement

a) Indefinite Pronouns

Answer 2

Most indefinite pronouns are singular and require singular verbs (even though the sentence may sound odd).

Some indefinite pronouns may be singular or plural.

Examples:
“Each of the boys is home.”
“All he asks is a chance.”
“All of the people are gone.”

Question 3

1. Subject-Verb Agreement
   b) When words (often
   prepositional phrases)
   separate the subject from
   the verb

Answer 3

When words (often the prepositional phrases) separate the subject from the verb, ignore them or cross them out.

Examples:
“One of the problems that plague American society in the United States, as well as the rest of the world, is poverty.”

“The moon, as well as Venus, is visible in the night sky.”

Question 4

1. Subject-Verb Agreement
   c) Two or more subjects
   joined by “and”

Answer 4

Two or more subjects joined by “and” require a plural verb.

Example:
“The Dalmatian and the Terrier are destroying my flowerbed.”

Question 5

1. Subject-Verb Agreement
   d) Subjects joined with “or,”
   “nor,” “neither/nor,” “either/
   or” and “not only/but also”

Answer 5

With subjects joined with “or,” “nor,” “neither/nor,” “either/or” and “not only/but also,” The verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

Examples:
“Neither the crabs nor the lobster tempts my appetite.”
“Neither the lobster nor the crabs tempt my appetite.”

Question 6

1. Subject-Verb Agreement

e) Questions

Answer 6

With questions: Reverse the sentence to determine the true subject and verb.

Example:
“Do/Does one of the planets have a life-sustaining atmosphere?”
Reverse the question
“One of the planets does have a life-sustaining atmosphere.”

Question 7

1. Subject-Verb Agreement
   f) Some nouns may refer to a
   group of individuals or
   things

Answer 7

Some nouns may refer to a group of individuals or things, but are singular if the group refers to ONE unit.

Examples:
“The •team• •controls• the ball.”
“•Humanities• •was• my favorite area of study.”

However, these nouns are plural if they are referring to separate individuals.

Examples:
“The •jury• •reports• its verdict.” (One unit)
“The jury still disagree on a number of counts.” (The members)

Question 8

2. Sentence Fragment

Answer 8

A complete sentence must have a subject (can be implied) and a verb, and it must convey a complete thought. Without even one of these items, you have a fragment.

Tip: With fragments, your voice DOES NOT fall at the end.

Example:
“Because the actress could not locate a lawyer who would be willing to handle her lawsuit against the production company.”
Correction: omit •because•