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Grammar
of Subject-Verb Agreement
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Here's the basic rule
again. What does it imply? What grammar does a student have
to be able to handle to carry out this process?
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Basic SVA Rule
If the subject is a
singular noun or s/he or it, a present tense verb adds -s. The -s
form of have is has. Be has present tense forms
am, is, are: I am; s/he it it; you, we are. Be also has
past tense forms: was and were: I, s/he, it was; we, you,
they were. |
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| 1.
noun types |
Count
and noncount, plural forms, irregular plurals |
| 2.
pronoun forms |
I,
you, me, he, she, it, we, you, they |
| 3.
forms of be |
the
most irregular noun of all--and sva happens with past tense as well as
present tense forms |
| 4.
present tense forms |
but
not just simple present tense--also, present perfect and present progressive
and present perfect progressive |
| 5.forms
of have |
has
as well as have |
| 6.
strange cases |
Collective
nouns, titles, compounds of various sorts, none and other abstract
pronouns |
| 7. noun replacement units |
infinitives, gerunds,
noun clauses |
| 8. spelling and pronunciation |
adding the final -s
spelling isn't nearly as difficult as getting the pronunciation right with
3 choices: smiles, buzzes, laughs
also students are not
going to hear these endings easily since they are often blended right into
the following word--or dropped. And the be forms are often contracted,
especially when used with the present progressive |
| 10. recognizing the subject
of a sentence |
For many students,
sva is difficult because they do not understand which words and phrases
make up the subject of the sentence. For example, if the sentence
begins with an adverbial, these students can be confused. Or, if
the subject is a long one with a prepositional phrase or a relative clause
as a post-modifier. |
| what did I forget? |
Please
email me your questions and comments. |
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