Term
| In an _______ sentence, the subject is doing the action |
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Definition
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Term
Steve loves Amy.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
active
Steve is the subject, and he is doing the action: he loves Amy, the object of the sentence. |
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Term
I Heard It through the Grapevine.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
active
"I" is the subject, the one who is doing the action. "I" is hearing "it," the object of the sentence. |
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Term
| In _____ voice, the target of the action gets promoted to the subject position. |
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Definition
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Term
Amy is loved by Steve.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
passive
The subject of the sentence becomes Amy, but she isn't doing anything. Rather, she is just the recipient of Steve's love. The focus of the sentence has changed from Steve to Amy. |
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Term
The sound was heard by me through the grapevine.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
I am holding a pen.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
The pen is being held by me.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
| One clue that your sentence is _____ is that the subject isn't taking a direct action. |
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Definition
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Term
Mistakes were made
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
Bombs were dropped
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
Shots were fired
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
Your electricity will be shut off
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
The store was robbed
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
We, the electric company, will be shutting off your power.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
The cookies were stolen.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
Somebody stole the cookies.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
The cookies were stolen.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
passive
the focus is on the cookies |
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Term
Somebody stole the cookies.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
Active
the focus would be on the unknown somebody. |
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Term
The electricians test the fire alarm.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
My friend bought a new car.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
The girls can play handball.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
The fire alarm is tested.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
A new car was bought.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
Handball can be played.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
The bag was packed by his mother.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
Football is played by the children.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
His mother packed the bag.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
The children play football.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
| ______ voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action. |
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Definition
Passive
Example: My bike was stolen.
the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen |
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Term
Rita writes a letter.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
A letter is written by Rita.
(Active/Passive) |
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Definition
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Term
| Define Subject-Verb Agreement |
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Definition
| Singular subjects need singular verbs; plural subjects need plural verbs. |
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Term
| The indefinite pronouns anyone, everyone, someone, no one, nobody are always singular and, therefore, require _____ verbs. |
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Definition
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Term
| Everyone ____ done his or her homework. |
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Definition
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Term
| Somebody ____ ____ her purse. |
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Definition
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Term
Some indefinite pronouns — such as ALL, SOME — are singular or plural depending on what they're referring to.
(What do you have to ask?) |
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Definition
| Is the thing referred to countable or not? |
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Term
| Some of the beads ____ missing. |
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Definition
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Term
| Some of the water ____ gone. |
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Definition
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Term
| EACH - EVERYONE - EVERYBODY certainly feel like more than one person ... |
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Definition
| but they are ALWAYS singular and requires a singular verb. |
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Term
| Everyone ____ finished his or her homework. |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| Each of the students ___ responsible for doing his or her work in the library. |
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Definition
is
Don't let the word "students" confuse you; the subject is each and each is always singular — Each is responsible. |
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Term
Phrases such as :
together with
as well as
along with
are DIFFERENT from the word "and"
Explain why. |
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Definition
The phrase introduced by "as well as" or "along with" will modify the word before it, but it DOES NOT compound the subjects (as the word "and" would do).
Thus keeping it singular. |
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Term
| The mayor as well as his brothers ___ going to prison. |
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Definition
is
The phrase "as well as" DOES NOT compound the subjects. The subjects are singular. |
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Term
| The mayor and his brothers ___ going to jail. |
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Definition
are
The phrase "and" COMPOUNDS the subjects and makes them plural. |
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Term
| The pronouns "neither" and "either" are singular and require _______ verbs even though they seem to be referring, in a sense, to two things. |
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Definition
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Term
| Neither of the two traffic lights ____ working. |
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Definition
is
The pronouns neither and either are singular and require singular verbs even though they seem to be referring, in a sense, to two things. |
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Term
Which shirt do you want for Christmas?
Either __ fine with me. |
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Definition
is
The pronouns neither and either are singular and require singular verbs even though they seem to be referring, in a sense, to two things. |
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Term
| neither and either sometimes take a plural verb when these pronouns are followed by a prepositional phrase beginning with ____ |
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Definition
of
"Have either of you two clowns read the assignment?" "Are either of you taking this seriously?" |
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Term
| Either my father or my brothers ___ going to sell the house. |
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Definition
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Term
| Neither my brothers nor my father ___ going to sell the house |
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Definition
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Term
| _____ either my brothers or my father responsible? |
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Definition
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Term
| ____ either my father or my brothers responsible? |
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Definition
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Term
| Words such as glasses, pants, pliers, and scissors are regarded as plural (and require plural verbs) unless... |
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Definition
| they're preceded the phrase pair of (in which case the word pair becomes the subject). |
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Term
| My glasses ___ on the bed. |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| A pair of plaid trousers ___ in the closet. |
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Definition
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Term
Either the physicians in this hospital or the chief administrator ____ going to have to make a decision.
is
are |
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Definition
is
When subjects are connected by or, the subject closer to the verb (which is, in this case, singular) determines the number of the verb. |
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Term
______ my boss or my sisters in the union going to win this grievance?
Is
Are |
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Definition
Is
the subject closer to the verb (my boss) determines the number of the verb. |
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Term
Some of the votes __________ to have been miscounted.
seem
seems |
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Definition
seem
Some is the subject in this sentence; it is plural because the word votes makes it a countable indefinite pronoun. |
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Term
The tornadoes that tear through this county every spring _____ more than just a nuisance.
are
is |
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Definition
are
The subject is tornadoes. You were not confused by the words and phrases that came between the subject and its verb. |
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Term
Everyone selected to serve on this jury _____ to be willing to give up a lot of time.
have
has |
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Definition
has
Everyone! seems to be a plural word, but it is always singular. |
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Term
Kara Wolters, together with her teammates, _________ a formidable opponent on the basketball court.
presents
present |
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Definition
presents
The subject is not compounded by phrases such as along with, together with, and as well as. |
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Term
He seems to forget that there __________ things to be done before he can graduate.
are
is |
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Definition
are
The subject (things, in this case) comes after the verb in constructions that begin with here or there. |
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Term
There _______ to be some people left in that town after yesterday's flood.
have
has |
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Definition
have
The subject is people, which is plural, and that determines the verb (not the word there). |
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Term
Some of the grain __________ to be contaminated.
appear
appears |
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Definition
appears
Some is the subject of this sentence and, since it is not really countable (you can't count the grain), it is singular. |
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Term
Three-quarters of the students __________ against the tuition hike.
is
are |
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Definition
are
Three quarters of the students represents a countable number. |
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Term
Three-quarters of the student body __________ against the tuition hike.
is
are |
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Definition
is
Three quarters of the student body represents a lump sum, a singular entity. |
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Term
A high percentage of the population _________ voting for the new school.
is
are |
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Definition
is
"Percentage" is a mathematical proportion, expressing here a singular lump sum. |
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Term
A high percentage of the people _________ voting for the new school.
was
were |
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Definition
were
"Percentage" is a mathematical proportion, but here it reflects a countable, therefore plural, quantity. |
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Term
Carlos is the only one of those students who __________ lived up to the potential described in the yearbook.
has
have |
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Definition
has
The 'who' refers, in this case, to 'the only one,' which is singular. |
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Term
The International Club, as well as the Choral Society and the Rowing Club, __________ to submit a new constitution.
need
needs |
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Definition
needs
The subject here is 'The International Club,' which is singular. The modifying phrase that comes after 'as well as' modifies the subject but does not compound it as the word 'and' would do. |
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Term
One of my best friends _____________ an extra on Seinfeld this week.
are
is |
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Definition
is
The subject of this sentence is 'one,' which is, of course, singular. Don't let the intervening prepositional phrase (with its plural 'friends') fool you. |
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Term
Not only the students but also their instructor ________ been called to the principal's office.
have
has |
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Definition
has
With paired conjunctions such as either ... or and not only ... but also, the subject closer to the verb -- in this case, the singular 'instructor' -- determines whether the verb will be singular or plural. |
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Term
Most of the milk _____ gone bad. Six gallons of milk _______ still in the refrigerator.
has ---- are
have ---- is |
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Definition
has ---- are
'Most' is not a countable noun here (you can't count 'the milk' in the first sentence), so the verb must be singular. You can count the gallons of milk, though, so the subject in the second sentence is plural. |
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Term
Each and every student and instructor in this building __________ for a new facility by next year.
hope
hopes |
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Definition
hopes
The subject of the verb is 'each and every,' which is singular: the correct verb choice, then, is 'hopes.' |
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Term
The students and instructors each ________for a new facility by next year.
hopes
hope |
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Definition
hope
When 'each' or 'every' comes after the compound subject, a plural verb -- 'hope' -- is appropriate. |
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Term
Rice and beans, my favorite dish, __________ me of my native Puerto Rico.
remind
reminds |
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Definition
reminds
'Rice and beans' is one dish, so we need a singular verb to agree with it. |
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Term
. A large number of voters still ___________ along straight-party lines.
votes
vote |
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Definition
vote
'Number' is a collective noun, but the elements within the collective noun, the voters, are acting separately in this case (we hope!), so the verb should be plural: 'vote.' |
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Term
Four years _______ a long time to spend away from your friends and family.
are
is |
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Definition
is
The quantity of 'four years' here is meant to be taken as a whole, as one quantity, so the verb should be singular. |
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Term
Politics __________ sometimes a dirty business.
are
is |
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Definition
is
'Politics,' in this case, is one thing, so we need a singular verb. |
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Term
. To an outsider, the economics of this country ________ to be in disarray.
seem
seems |
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Definition
seem
'Economics,' in this case, means any number of aspects of or facts about the country's financial health, so we need a plural verb. When the word 'economics' refers to the course or the discipline, it is singular. |
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