Anker Susan. Real Essays with Readings with 2009 MLA Update
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EDITING ESSAYS
Chapter 25 • Problems with Subject-Verb Agreement 437
Forms of the Verb Be
PRESENT TENSE SINGULAR PLURAL
First person I am we are
Second person you are you are
Third person she/he/it is they are
the student/Joe is the students are
PAST TENSE
First person I was we were
Second person you were you were
Third person she/he/it was they were
the student/Joe was the students were
Forms of the Verb Have, Present Tense
SINGULAR PLURAL
First person I have we have
Second person you have you have
Third person she/he/it has they have
the student/Joe has the students have
Forms of the Verb Do, Present Tense
SINGULAR PLURAL
First person I do we do
Second person you do you do
Third person she/he/it does they do
the student/Joe does the students do
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EDITING ESSAYS
438 Part Four • The Four Most Serious Errors
PRACTICE 2 CHOOSING THE CORRECT FORM
OF BE, HAVE, OR DO
In each sentence, underline the subject of the verb be, have, or do, and circle
the correct form of the verb.
EXAMPLE: The microwave oven ( am / is / are ) a common fi xture in
most American homes.
1. Yet many people ( has / have ) concerns about the safety of this standard
appliance.
2. They ( am / is / are ) worried that standing close to an operating micro-
wave oven can expose them to harmful radiation.
3. Some microwave ovens ( does / do ) in fact leak radiation, but the levels
that might be released are quite small.
4. The Center for Devices and Radiological Health, a unit of the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration, ( has / have ) responsibility for regulating
microwave oven safety.
5. According to the Center, the allowed amount of leakage from each mi-
crowave oven that reaches the market ( am / is / are ) far below the level
of radiation that is harmful to humans.
6. Manufacturers of microwave ovens ( does / do ) even more to assure the
safety of their products.
7. All microwave ovens ( has / have ) a type of door latch that prevents the
production of microwaves whenever the latch is released.
8. Also, the doors of microwave ovens ( am / is / are ) lined with a metal
mesh that stops microwaves from escaping.
9. Furthermore, the radiation level from a microwave oven ( am / is / are )
extremely low at a distance of even a foot from the oven.
10. Therefore, the radiation from an operating microwave oven ( do / does )
not pose a threat to anyone.
■ For answers to
odd-numbered
practice exercises,
see pages A-1–A-19 at
the back of the book.
■ For more practice
with subject-verb
agreement, visit
Exercise Central at
bedfordstmartins
.com/realessays.
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EDITING ESSAYS
Chapter 25 • Problems with Subject-Verb Agreement 439
PRACTICE 3 USING THE CORRECT FORM
OF BE, HAVE, OR DO
In each sentence, underline the subject and fi ll in the correct form of the verb
(be, have, or do) indicated in parentheses.
EXAMPLE: Our professor
has
(have) forty papers to grade this
weekend.
1. Most students (be) used to the idea that computers sometimes
grade tests.
2. You (have) probably taken standardized tests and fi lled in small
ovals with a pencil.
3. A computer (do) not have to be sophisticated to read the results
of such tests.
4. Surprisingly, a new software program (be) designed to grade student
essays.
5. The program (have) the ability to sort words in an essay and
compare the essay to others in its database.
6. The software (do) not check grammar or spelling.
7. Teachers (be) still needed to supplement the computer grade,
according to the software manufacturer.
8. If a computer grades your essay, you (have) to write about one
of fi ve hundred specifi ed topics.
9. A computer (do) check the organization, clarity, and style of your
writing.
10. Some teachers (be) excited about their new computerized assistant,
but I (do) not like the idea of a computer grading my essays.
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EDITING ESSAYS
440 Part Four • The Four Most Serious Errors
Words Come between the Subject and the Verb
When the subject and the verb aren’t right next to each other, it can be
diffi cult to make sure that they agree. Most often, what comes between
the subject and the verb is either a prepositional phrase or a dependent
clause.
Prepositional Phrase between the Subject and the Verb
A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition and ends with a noun
or pronoun: The line for the movie went around the corner.
Remember, the subject of a sentence is never in a prepositional phrase.
When you are looking for the subject, you can cross out any prepositional
phrases. This strategy should help you fi nd the real subject and decide
whether it agrees with the verb.
Prepositional phrase Prepositional phrase
The representative of the fi fteen towns and districts voted on the proposal.
Subject Verb
Prepositional phrase Prepositional phrase
The athletes from the world’s Olympic teams paraded into the arena.
Subject Verb
PRACTICE 4 MAKING SUBJECTS AND VERBS AGREE
WHEN THEY ARE SEPARATED BY A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
In each of the following sentences, fi rst cross out the prepositional phrase
between the subject and the verb, and then circle the correct form of the verb.
Remember, the subject of a sentence is never in a prepositional phrase.
EXAMPLE: Twenty-eight million people in the United States ( am / is /
are ) deaf or hard of hearing.
1. Most parents with hearing loss ( has / have ) children who can hear.
2. Many of these children ( learns / learn ) sign language as a fi rst language.
3. Communication with words ( comes / come ) later.
■ For a list of
common prepositions,
see page 390.
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EDITING ESSAYS
Chapter 25 • Problems with Subject-Verb Agreement 441
4. Few people in the hearing world ( understands / understand ) the lives of
deaf people completely.
5. Many deaf people in this country ( feels / feel ) closer to deaf people from
other parts of the world than to hearing Americans.
6. The hearing children of deaf parents ( comes / come ) closer to under-
standing deaf culture than most hearing people.
7. A hearing child in a deaf household ( resembles / resemble ) a child of
immigrant parents in many ways.
8. Adapting to two different cultures ( makes / make ) fi tting in diffi cult for
some young people.
9. Sometimes, ties to the hearing world and the deaf world ( pulls / pull ) in
opposite directions.
10. Bridges between cultures ( am / is / are ) more easily built by people who
understand both sides.
Dependent Clause between the Subject and the Verb
A dependent clause has a subject and a verb, but it does not express a
complete thought. When a dependent clause comes between the subject and
the verb, it usually starts with the word who, whose, whom, that, or which.
The subject of a sentence is never in the dependent clause. When you
are looking for the subject, you can cross out any dependent clauses.
Dependent clause
The FBI agent who conducted the investigation interviewed Rosa Martin.
Subject Verb
Dependent clause
The house that slid off the cliff was designed by a local architect.
Subject Verb
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EDITING ESSAYS
442 Part Four • The Four Most Serious Errors
PRACTICE 5 MAKING SUBJECTS AND VERBS AGREE
WHEN THEY ARE SEPARATED BY A DEPENDENT CLAUSE
In each of the following sentences, cross out any dependent clauses. Then,
correct any problems with subject-verb agreement. If a sentence has no
problem, write “OK” next to it.
is
EXAMPLE: A person who lies in job applications are likely to get caught.
1. A résumé, which is a job applicant’s fi rst contact with many prospective
employers, contain details about past work experience and education.
2. Many people who write résumés are tempted to exaggerate.
3. Perhaps an applicant who held a previous job for two months claim to
have spent a year there.
4. A job title that sounds impressive look good on a résumé, whether or not
it is accurate.
5. Often, a person who never received a college degree wants to add it to a
résumé anyway.
6. A person who is considering untrue résumé additions need to think twice.
7. Employers who like a résumé checks the information provided by the
applicant.
8. A résumé that contains false information goes in the reject pile.
9. In addition, many people who invent material on a résumé forgets the
inventions when they face a prospective employer in an interview.
10. Even a company that does not check all of the information on résumés
pays attention when interviewees seem to forget some of their qualifi ca-
tions.
^
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EDITING ESSAYS
Chapter 25 • Problems with Subject-Verb Agreement 443
The Sentence Has a Compound Subject
A compound subject consists of two (or more) subjects connected by
and, or, or nor (as in neither/nor expressions). If two subjects are joined by
and, they combine to become a plural subject, and the verb must take a
plural form as well.
Subject and Subject Plural form of verb
The director and the producer decide how the fi lm will be made.
If two subjects are connected by or or nor, they are considered separate,
and the verb should agree with the subject closest to it.
Subject or Singular subject Singular form of verb
The director or the producer decides how the fi lm will be made.
Subject nor Singular subject Singular form of verb
Neither the director nor the producer wants to give up control.
Subject or Plural subject Plural form of verb
The director or his assistants decide how the fi lm will be made.
Subject nor Plural subject Plural form of verb
Neither the director nor his assistants want to give up control.
PRACTICE 6 CHOOSING THE CORRECT VERB IN A SENTENCE
WITH A COMPOUND SUBJECT
In each of the following sentences, underline the word (and, or, or nor) that
joins the parts of the compound subject. Then, circle the correct form of
the verb.
EXAMPLE: A child and an adult ( has / have ) different nutritional
needs.
1. Fruits and vegetables ( does / do ) not make up enough of most Ameri-
cans’ diets.
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EDITING ESSAYS
444 Part Four • The Four Most Serious Errors
2. The U.S. government and other organizations concerned with health and
nutrition ( recommends / recommend ) that people eat at least fi ve serv-
ings of fruits and vegetables a day.
3. Whole-grain cereal or bread ( is / are ) another important part of a healthy
diet.
4. Neither vitamins nor fi ber ( is / are ) found in many popular snack foods.
5. Potato chips and candy ( contains / contain ) few useful nutrients.
6. Neither fat nor sugar ( helps / help ) build a healthy body.
7. However, in small amounts, fat and sugar ( contributes / contribute )
benefi cially by making food taste good.
8. Motivated dieters and certain health fanatics ( eats / eat ) nutritious food
that tastes terrible.
9. Neither dieters nor health fanatics ( is / are ) likely to keep eating the
unappetizing food for a lifetime.
10. Choosing nutritious food and preparing it well ( allows / allow ) a person
to feel healthy and satisfi ed.
The Subject Is an Indefi nite Pronoun
Indefi nite pronouns, which refer to unspecifi ed people or objects, are
often singular, although there are exceptions.
When you fi nd an indefi nite pronoun in your writing, use the table on
the next page to help you determine the correct verb form, singular or plural.
If the pronoun may be singular or plural, you’ll need to check whether the
word it refers to is singular or plural to determine what verb form to use.
Everyone loves vacations.
[Everyone is always singular, so it takes the singular verb loves.]
Some of the wreckage was recovered after the crash.
[In this case, some is singular, referring to wreckage, so it takes the singular verb
was recovered.]
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EDITING ESSAYS
Chapter 25 • Problems with Subject-Verb Agreement 445
Some of the workers were delayed by the storm.
[In this case, some is plural, referring to workers, so it takes the plural verb were
delayed.]
Often, an indefi nite pronoun is followed by a prepositional phrase or a
dependent clause; remember that the subject of a sentence is never found
in either of these. To choose the correct verb, you can cross out the prepo-
sitional phrase or dependent clause to focus on the indefi nite pronoun.
All of my fi rst day on the job was devoted to fi lling out forms.
Some who are longtime residents recommend a rent strike.
PRACTICE 7 CHOOSING THE CORRECT VERB WHEN THE
SUBJECT IS AN INDEFINITE PRONOUN
In each of the following sentences, underline the indefi nite pronoun that is
the subject, and cross out any prepositional phrases or dependent clauses that
come between the subject and the verb. Then, circle the correct verb.
EXAMPLE: One of the oldest types of exercise that people use to stay
in shape ( is / are ) once again fashionable.
1. Many who choose this newly-trendy type of exercise, which is walking,
( is / are ) middle-aged or older.
Indefi nite Pronouns
ALWAYS SINGULAR
anybody everyone nothing
anyone everything one (of)
anything much somebody
each (of) neither (of) someone
either (of) nobody something
everybody no one
MAY BE SINGULAR OR PLURAL
all none
any some
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EDITING ESSAYS
446 Part Four • The Four Most Serious Errors
2. Someone with aching joints, past injuries, or an aging body ( want / wants )
a relatively gentle form of exercise.
3. But everybody, even people who are young and in great shape, ( need /
needs ) exercise that is safe, practical, and enjoyable.
4. Those who walk for aerobic exercise ( sustain / sustains ), on average,
fewer fi tness-related injuries than people who run.
5. Nobody with good sense or serious concern for his or her health ( pursue /
pursues ) activities that might risk bodily damage.
6. Furthermore, anyone who sets aside the time and makes the effort to walk
regularly ( benefi t / benefi ts ) in several ways.
7. Some of today’s active walkers ( do / does ) it to lose weight.
8. Anybody with a waistline problem, which is a category that includes too
many people these days, ( appreciate / appreciates ) the opportunity to
shed 300 calories by walking briskly for an hour.
9. Others who have the time for an energetic yet leisurely walk ( enjoy /
enjoys ) looking at people, stores, and the outdoors as they exercise and
observing the new and unusual around them.
10. Depending on their specifi c situations and preferences, many people want
a steady, low-impact type of exercise, like walking, and many others choose
something more strenuous and demanding, such as running; either type
of exercise ( help / helps ) them to have a more active and healthy life.
The Verb Comes before the Subject
In most sentences, the subject comes before the verb. Two kinds of sen-
tences reverse that order — questions and sentences that begin with here
or there. In these two types of sentences, you need to check carefully for
errors in subject-verb agreement.
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