Sentence of the Week Presentation

English 11

Week #1What did you notice?This week’s focus is subject-verb

agreementParts of speech build sentencesWhat is a sentence?ClausePhrase

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENTTHE BASICS

A SINGULAR SUBJECT NEEDS A SINGULAR VERB

THE GIRL (SINGULAR SUBJECT) READS (SINGULAR VERB) MYSTERY STORIES.

A PLURAL SUBJECT NEEDS A PLURAL VERB

THE GIRLS (PLURAL SUBJECT) READ (PLURAL VERB) MYSTERY STORIES.

HE/THEY TRICK

LET’S BEGINDo a basic diagramThe simple subject must match the

simple verbSingular subjects require singular verbsPlural subjects require plural verbsThe dog is black. The dogs are black.Simple, right?

IF ONLY LIFE WERE THAT SIMPLE

DON’T BE CONFUSED BY PLURAL WORDS THAT COME AFTER THE VERB

MY BIGGEST PROBLEM (IS/ARE) THE MANY INCOMPLETE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS I NEED TO FINISH.

MORE ISSUESDON’T BE CONFUSED BY PLURAL

WORDS THAT COME BETWEEN A SINGULAR SUBJECT AND THE VERB

THE TOPIC OF THESE FOUR BOOKS (IS/ARE) HORSES.

EACH OF THE BIKES (HAS/HAVE) NEW TIRES.

MORE ISSUESDON’T BE CONFUSED BY SUBJECTS

THAT COME AT THE END OF THE SENTENCE.

STANDING AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM (WAS/WERE) MY PARENTS.

AT THE END OF MOST OF OUR TEAM’S GAMES (COME/COMES) VICTORY’S SWEETNESS.

MORE ISSUESDON’T BE CONFUSED BY PHRASES

SUCH AS “ALONG WITH”, “TOGETHER WITH”, “ACCOMPANIED BY”, “AS WELL AS”, “INCLUDING”, AND “IN ADDITION TO”

TENITA, AS WELL AS MIKE, (PLAY/PLAYS) BASKETBALL WELL.

MORE ISSUESDON’T BE CONFUSED BY A “NOT”

PHRASE. I, NOT YOU, (AM/ARE) LATE.

MORE ISSUES DON’T BE CONFUSED BY COLLECTIVE

NOUNS FAMILY, ORCHESTRA, GROUP,

COMMITTEE, JURY, CROWD, HERD, AUDIENCE, PAIR, SQUAD

WHETHER THE NOUN IS PLURAL OR SINGULAR DEPENDS ON WHETHER THE SENTENCE REFERS TO THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OR THE GROUP AS A WHOLE.

MORE ISSUES DON’T BE CONFUSED BY NOUNS OF

AMOUNT THESE ARE LIKE COLLECTIVE NOUNS –

ARE THEY INDIVIDUAL OR THE WHOLE FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS IS A LOT OF

MONEY. WE HAVE A PROBLEM: FIVE HUNDRED-

DOLLAR BILLS ARE MISSING.

Let’s PracticeThe family (live/lives) on Elm Street.The orchestra (tune/tunes) its instruments.My pair of scissors (is/are) lost.Eight pounds of grapes (is/are) a lot of grapes.One of the Martin twins (is/are) absent today. (Do/Does) either of the Joneses live here?

Recap Week #1Find the simple subject and the simple verb no

matter where they are in the sentence – do a simple diagram

Nothing else in the sentence is relevantReread the sentence to be sure you understand

the intent in collective nouns or nouns of amountMatch the subject (singular or plural) with the

verb (singular or plural)Practice

Week #2 and #3MORE ISSUES

DON’T BE CONFUSED BY INDEFINITE PRONOUNS.

“I” AND “YOU” REFER TO SPECIFIC PEOPLE. SOME OTHER PRONOUNS POINT TO NON-SPECIFIC PEOPLE—SOMEONE, ANYONE, NOBODY, EVERYBODY(INDEFINITE PRONOUNS)

MORE ISSUES PRONOUNS BEGINNING WITH “ANY”,

“NO”, “EVERY”, AND “SOME” ARE ALWAYS SINGULAR.

EVERYBODY IS COMING. “EACH”, “ANOTHER”, “EITHER”, “NEITHER”,

“LITTLE”, “MUCH” ARE ALWAYS SINGULAR.

LITTLE IS HAPPENING BECAUSE NEITHER OF MY FRIENDS IS HERE.

MORE ISSUES “BOTH”, “SEVERAL”, “FEW”, “MANY”,

“MOST”, “OTHERS” ARE PLURAL “ANY”, “MORE”, “SOME”, “ENOUGH”,

“ALL”, “MOST”, “WHO”, “HALF”, “NONE” ARE EITHER SINGULAR OR PLURAL.

EITHER/ORNEITHER/NOR

THESE DEPEND UPON THE REST OF THE SENTENCE FOR DETERMINATION.

IF BOTH PARTS ARE SINGULAR – USE A SINGULAR VERB (EITHER RYAN OR WESLEY IS HERE.)

IF BOTH PARTS ARE PLURAL- USE A PLURAL VERB (NEITHER THE BOYS NOR THE GIRLS ARE HERE.)

EITHER AND NEITHER IF ONE PART IS SINGULAR AND ONE

IS PLURAL TAKE THE NOUN CLOSEST TO THE VERB AND MAKE THE VERB AGREE.

NEITHER THE BOYS NOR THEIR MOTHER (IS/ARE) HERE.

NEITHER THE MOTHER NOR HER SONS (IS/ARE) HERE.

MORE ISSUESDON’T BE CONFUSED BY NOUN

PHRASES REFERRING TO A SINGLE UNIT.

SINGULAR PHRASE = SINGULAR VERB

SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS (IS/ARE) MY FAVORITE DINNER.

MORE ISSUESDON’T BE CONFUSED BY NOUNS

THAT LOOK PLURAL BUT ARE ACTUALLY SINGULAR.

THE NEWS (IS/ARE) BAD.MEASLES (IS/ARE) CONTAGIOUS.MATHEMATICS (IS/ARE) MY EASIEST

CLASS.

MORE ISSUESDON’T BE CONFUSED BY SOME

“-ICS” NOUNS THAT CAN BE EITHER SINGULAR OR PLURAL.

POLITICS (IS/ARE) AN INTERESTING CAREER.

THE POLITICS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN (WAS/WERE) MIGHTY DIRTY.

MORE ISSUESDON’T BE CONFUSED BY THE

PLURAL FORMS OF FOREIGN WORDS.

THE DATA (SHOW/SHOWS) THAT BOYS WATCH MORE SPORTS ON TV THAN GIRLS WATCH.

DATUM IS SINGULAR – DATA IS PLURAL

MORE ISSUESDON’T BE CONFUSED BY

MATHEMATICAL PHRASES.ONE AND ONE (IS/ARE) TWO.FIVE TIMES SIX (IS/ARE) THIRTY.

Recap Week #2 And #3

Memorize the “inconsistent” rulesSimple subject singular (at least in

meaning) = singular verbPlural subject (at least in meaning) = plural

verbMultiple nouns – work with the one closest

to the verbAny-, every-, no-, some- always singular

Practice Week #2Macaroni and Cheese are Emily’s favorite

do-it-yourself dinner.The only problem we 500 campers have are

the hundreds of wasps swarming around our ten campsites.

Standing there looking happy was Wesley and Austin.

Only one out of four kids in America eat a healthy diet.

Practice Week #2 I can’t find my catcher’s glove; I hope

either David or the Joneses has it.The company Video Games Galore are

holding their annual picnic on Thursday.

Practice Week #3There has been many child prodigies in

music.Few, however, has been able to sustain a

career as Midori has done.Concerts and recitals seems to leaver her

little time for other activities.Nevertheless, neither practice nor a busy

professional calendar has kept her from fulfilling other commitments.

Practice Week #3To expose children to classical music

are one of her important goals.Her foundation, Midori and Friends,

concentrate on bringing music to schools all over New York City.

Her group travel all over the city, delighting students with the beauty of her classical tradition.

Practice Week #3Works by composers of many

nationalities and from several centuries makes her concerts interesting.

The arts boasts of few individuals who have contributed more in so short a time.

Here, indeed, are an amazing artist and individual.

Week #4 Verb Tenses three simple tenses three perfect tenses Demonstrate sequence of events; help to understand

cause/effect Present tense I talk, you talk, he talks, we talk Use to describe an action or state of being, one

regularly occurring, future if modifying adverb/adverbial phrase

Week #4 Past tense Add –ed to present (regular verbs only) I talked, you talked, he talked, we talked Use when action or being began and ended in past Future tense Add “will” or “shall” to the present I will/shall talk, you will/shall talk, we will/shall talk Use when action or being will take place after present

moment

Week #4Present perfect tenseAdd “has” or “have” to past participle I have talked, we have talkedUse to express an action or being

completed at an indefinite time in the past or one that started in the past and continues into the present

Week #4Past perfect tenseAdd “had” to the past participle I had talked, we had talkedUse to express a past action or being that

occurred before another in the pastGandhi had embraced the principles of

nonviolent protest long before he organized a demonstration against an unfair tax.

Week #4 Future perfect tense Add “will have” or “shall have” to past

participle I will/shall have talked; we will/shall have

talked Use to express a future action or being that

will take place before another in the future By the year 2010, Gandhi’s reforms will have

been in practice for more than 60 years.

Week #4When Graham swimmed in Amsterdam, he

rammed into a dam.Past tenseWellington has recently sang a bouncy song

about Ping-Pong.Past participle (completed action)Last night Otis dreamt about croaking toads.Past

Week #4 Instead of eating his tomatoes for supper, Tupper drunk a bottle of ketchup.Past Cousin Nell, who always pretends she’s a pail, has fell into the well.Perfect present Hank’s bloated goldfish has sank to the bottom of the tank.Past participle

Cousin Nell, who always pretends she’s a pail, has fell into the well.Hank’s bloated goldfish has sank to the bottom of the tank.

Week #5 Phrases Verbal phrases Participial Phrases Verb that functions as an adjective Present participle - -ing The falling prices were good news for would-be

buyers. Past participle - -ed or –d The improved designs made the automobile cheaper

and more reliable.

Week #5 Participial Phrases as Adjectives Launching the first moving assembly line, Henry

Ford revolutionized the automobile industry. Absolute Phrase No grammatical connection to the rest of the

sentence. Usually relates by providing details about circumstances or time.

Its popularity waning, the Model T was retired from production in 1927.

Week #5GerundsVerbal that ends in –ing and functions as a

noun. Skiing is a winter sport.Gerunds and present participles end in –ing.

Look for function to determine type.What does a blinking cursor mean?Blinking can be a sign of eye strain.

Week #5 Infinitive Phrases Usually begins with the word “to” and functions as a

noun, adjective, or adverb In 1995, Eileen Collins became the first female pilot

to command a space mission. Try not to split infinitives. Astronauts need to rigorously train for space

missions. Astronauts need to train rigorously for space

missions.

Week #6Review of phrases, quiz issuesActive and Passive Voice THE BALL WAS HIT. (BY WHOM) PASSIVE TUCKER HIT THE BALL. ACTIVE CIGARETTE TAXES WILL BE RAISED. PASSIVE CONGRESS WILL RAISE TAXES ON CIGARETTES. ACTIVE

Week #6 Practice

Identify as active or passive voiceWar was declared because of the

terrorist attack on 9-11.Your request for a promotion was

approved.George W. Bush’s tax cuts were not

renewed.

Week #7Sentence Structure

CLAUSES AND PHRASES PUT TOGETHER LOGICALLY

INDEPENDENT CLAUSES VERSUS DEPENDENT CLAUSES

SINGLE WORDS CAN MAKE DEPENDENT CLAUSES, INDEPENDENT

AS HE RAN ACROSS THE ROOM (LOSE THE “AS”)

Sentence Structure Punctuation

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE (PERIOD) INDEPENDENT CLAUSE (PERIOD)

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE (COMMA) AND, BUT, OR, SO, INDEPENDENT CLAUSE (PERIOD)

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE (SEMICOLON) INDEPENDENT CLAUSE (PERIOD)

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE (COMMA) DEPENDENT CLAUSE (PERIOD)

DEPENDENT CLAUSE (COMMA) INDEPENDENT CLAUSE (PERIOD)

SENTENCE STRUCTURE EXAMPLES

Week 7 examplesMimic the examples

SOW #7 ExamplesBrutus missed his bus he had to ride a

drooling mule to school.Darlene needs dental work she eats ice

she also chews on broomsticks and marbles.

Some self-conscious warthogs get nose jobs they think that good looks will gain them more friends.

#7 Comma RulesComma in a Series

IN A SERIES OF THREE OR MORE ITEMS, USE A COMMA AFTER EVERY ITEM (LAST ONE OPTIONAL)

ROCKS, SNAGS, AND SHOALS CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO BOATS.

NO COMMAS ARE NEEDED IF THE ITEMS IN A SERIES ARE JOINED BY AND, OR, OR NOR.

SEMI-COLONS AND COMMA SERIES

#7 ExamplesAunt Tallulah talks to her tulips she also

puts party hats on her petunias.My bus driver who acts like she’s crazy.

Such as when she playfully drives towards pedestrians.

Trace thinks that space aliens hide in many places. For example, inside of the small intestines of hamsters.

#8Comma Rules

USE A COMMA AFTER AN INTRODUCTORY WORD OR MILD INTERJECTION AT THE BEGINNING OF A SENTENCE: (NO, OUR CREW WAS UNABLE TO CALL FOR HELP.)

USE A COMMA AFTER AN INTRODUCTORY PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE THAT CONTAINS ONE OR MORE ADDITIONAL PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES: (IN THE SPRING OF 1930, MARINE SCIENCE TOOK A GIANT STEP FORWARD.)

#8 Comma Rules USE A COMMA AFTER A VERBAL PHRASE

AT THE BEGINNING OF A SENTENCE. (TO MAKE THE HALF-MILE DIVE, SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS DESIGNED A DEEP-SEA VEHICLE.)

USE A COMMA AFTER AN INTRODUCTORY ADVERB OR ADVERB CLAUSE AT THE BEGINNING UNLESS IT IS THE SUBJECT. (FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE WORKED WELL.)

#8 Comma RulesUSE COMMAS TO SET OFF A

PARENTHETICAL EXPRESSION. (BEEBE DID, OF COURSE, KEEP A JOURNAL.)

USE COMMAS TO SET OFF WORDS OF DIRECT ADDRESS. (THANK YOU, CAPTAIN LOWRY, FOR A JOB WELL DONE.)

#8 Comma RulesUSE COMMAS TO SET OFF

NONESSENTIAL PARTS OF THE SENTENCE. (ADVANCED LIFESAVING, WHICH IS AN EXCELLENT COURSE, PREPARES STUDENTS TO BE LIFEGUARDS. SCIENTISTS TRANSFORMED THE H.M.S. CHALLENGER, A BRITISH WARSHIP, INTO A FLOATING LAB.

ColonsUSED AFTER A COMPLETE STATEMENT

TO INTRODUCE A LIST OF RELATED DETAILS

MARIA JUST PURCHASED ALL THE CAMPING SUPPLIES FOR OUR TRIP: A BACKPACK, A SLEEPING BAG, AND A PAIR OF HIKING BOOTS.

IT MUST BE AFTER AN INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

SemicolonsPUT TWO OR MORE INDEPENDENT

CLAUSES TOGETHER TO FORM ONE BIG SENTENCE

THE CLAUSES MUST BE RELATEDON ACT YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO

CHOOSE BETWEEN A SEMICOLON AND PERIOD