The Daily Edit

The Daily EditParts of Speech and Agreement The Parts of SpeechA noun is a word used to name a person, place, thing or idea. Persons: Maya Angelou, Dr. Strauss, children, team, baby sitterPlaces: desert, neighborhood, outer space, New York CityThings: money, wind, animals, Statue of LibertyIdeas: courage, love, freedom, equality, self-control NounsA compound noun is two or more words used together as a single noun.

A compound noun may be written as one word, separate words, or as a hyphenated word. One word: seafood, footsteps, daydream, IcelandSeparate words: police officer, John. F. Kennedy, Flowers for AlgernonHyphenated word: self-esteem, great-grandparents, fourteen-year-old, sister-in-lawNounsA collective noun is a word that names a group.

Examples: faculty, family, herd, team, crew

NounsA common noun is a general name for a person, place, a thing, or an idea. A proper noun names a particular person, place, thing, or idea. Proper nouns always begin with a capital letter. Common nouns begin with a capital letter in titles and when they begin sentences. NounsCommon nouns:PoemNationAthleteRiverProper Nouns:Paul Reveres RideMexicoSerena WilliamsCongo River Your TurnIdentify each noun in the following sentences. Classify each noun as common or proper.

Example:Roald Dahl is the author of The Landlady.Road Dahl-proper, author-common, The Landlady-proper

Your Turn1. Billy Weaver was going to The Bell and Dragon, an inn that was in Bath.2. Was Billy wearing his brown suit and a navy-blue overcoat?3. In his mind briskness was a characteristic of businessmen.4. Big shots in the company always seemed brisk to Billy.5. How was the landlady like a jack-in-the-box? Your Turn1. Billy Weaver-proper; The Bell and Dragon-proper; inn-common; Bath-proper. 2. Billy-proper; suit- common; overcoat-common3. mind-common; briskness-common; characteristic-common; businessman-common4. Big shots-common; company-common; Billy-proper.5. landlady-common; jack-in-the-box-common Using Specific NounsWhenever possible, use specific, exact nouns. Using specific nouns will make your writing more accurate and precise, as well as more interesting. VAUGE: people crowded into the building. PRECISE: Men, women, and children crowded into the theater. VAUGE: Following the young person was a small dog. PRECISE: Following the child was a dachshund. PronounsA pronoun is a word used in place of one or more nouns or pronouns. Examples: After Bill fed the dog and cat, Bill let the dog and cat go outside. After Bill fed the dog and cat, he let them go outside. PronounsThe word that a pronoun stands for is called its antecedent. Sometimes the antecedent is not stated. Stated antecedent: Mrs. Flowers opened the book and began reading it. Unstated antecedent: Who wrote the book? Personal PronounsA personal pronoun refers to the one speaking (first person), the one spoken to (second person), or the one spoken about (third person).

First Person: Singular (I, me, my, mine) Plural (we, us, our, ours)

Second Person: Singular (you, your, yours) Plural (you, your, yours)

Third Person: Singular (he, him, his, she, her, hers, its) Plural (they, them, their, theirs)

Reflexive and Intensive PronounsA reflexive pronoun refers to the subject and directs the action of the verb back to the subject. An intensive pronoun emphasizes a noun or another pronoun. Reflective and intensive pronounsFirst Person-myself, ourselvesSecond Person-yourself, yourselvesThird Person-himself, herself, itself, themselvesDemonstrative PronounsA demonstrative pronoun (this, that, these, those) points out a person, place, a thing, or an idea.

Example: This is Ernies bike.

Interrogative PronounsAn interrogative pronoun (what, which, who, whom, whose) introduces a question.

Example:Who is the author of Flowers for Aragon? Relative PronounsA relative pronoun (that, what, which, who, whom, whose) introduces a subordinate clause

Example: Mr. White received the two hundred pounds that he had wished for.

Indefinite PronounsAn indefinite pronoun refers to a person, a place, or a thing that is not specifically named.

Common Indefinite Pronouns:All, any, anyone, both, each, either, everybody, few, many, none, no one, one, several, some, something Indefinite PronounsExample:

All of them wanted to hear the story of Urashima Taro.

The travelers saw someone. Your TurnIdentify each of the pronouns in the following sentences as personal, reflexive, intensive, demonstrative, interrogative, relative or indefinite. Example:That was a very strange person!That-demonstrative Your Turn1. Who were her previous tenants, and what happened to them? 2. That is the guest book that they signed.3. Had they themselves or anyone else been suspicious of her?4. The house, which was brightly lit, had a sign in its window.5. She brought a pot of tea for him and herself. Answers1. Who-interrogative; her-personal; what-interrogative; them-personal2. that-demonstrative; that-relative; they-personal 3. they-personal; themselves-intensive; anyone-indefinite4. which-relative; its-personal5. She-personal ;him-personal; himself-reflexive AdjectivesAn adjective is a word used to modify a noun or a pronoun.

To modify a word means to describe the word or to make its meaning more definite. An adjective modifies a word by telling what kind, which one, how much or how many. AdjectivesWhat Kind? Tall woman, steep mountain, exciting storyWhich one?This year, last answer, middle rowHow much or how many? Less time, many mistakes, few marbles AdjectivesAn adjective may come before or after a word it modifies.

Examples:The old soldier told the curious couple that they could have three wishes. The map, although old and worn, was useful to him. ArticlesThe most frequently used adjectives are a, an, and the The adjective a and an are called indefinite articles. They indicate that the noun refers to someone or something in general. A is used before a word beginning with a consonant sound. An is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound. Example: He gave the salesclerk a nickel and an orange. Definite articleThe adjective the is a definite article. It indicates that the noun refers to someone or something in particular.

Example: Smiley went to the swamp to find the stranger a frog. Proper AdjectivesA proper adjective is formed from a proper noun and begins with a capital letter.

Proper NounProper Adjective AfricaAfrican nationsShakespeareShakespearean dramaRio GrandeRio Grande Demonstrative AdjectivesThis, that, these and those can be used both as adjectives and as pronouns. When they modify a noun or a pronoun, these words are called demonstrative adjectives. When they are used alone, they are called demonstrative pronouns. Demonstrative adjective: This poem was written by Amy Ling.Demonstrative Pronoun: This is an example of personification. Your TurnIn the following sentences, identify each adjective and the word that it modifies. Also, identify any articles, proper adjectives, or demonstrative adjectives. Example: Wasnt Christopher Mullholland a Cambridge undergraduate?A (article)-undergraduates, Cambridge (proper)-undergraduate Your Turn1. The houses were old and run-down but had once been grand.2. This house looks like a nice, friendly place.3. The room seems comfortable, with a large sofa and two pets. 4. The London train had been slow, and the weather was chilly. 5. What had happened to that Bristol man? Answers1. The (article)-houses; old-houses; run-down-houses; grand-houses2. This (demonstrative)-house; a (article)-place; nice-place; friendly-place3. The (article)-room; comfortable-room; a (article)-sofa; large-sofa; two-pets4. The (article)-train; London (proper)-train; slow-train; the (article)-weather; chilly-weather5. that (demonstrative) man; Bristol (proper)-man

The VerbNumberNumber is the form of a word that indicates whether the word is singular or plural.

When a word refers to one person, place, thing or idea, it is singular.

When a word refers to more than one its plural. Agreement of Subject and VerbsA verb agrees with its subject in number.

Singular subjects take singular verbs.

Example: The stranger shoots the frog. Johnny calls himself Red Chief. Agreement of Subject and VerbsPlural subjects take plural verbs.

Examples:Six girls compete in the race.Many people laught at Charlie. Subject and Verb AgreementThe first auxiliary (helping) verb in a verb phrase must agree with its subject.

Examples:She is helping Charlie. They are helping Charlie. Problems in AgreementThe number of a subject is not changed by a prepositional phrase in the following subject.

Nonstandard: The spare furnishings on the stage creates a somber atmosphere.

Standard: The spare furnishings on the stage create a somber atmosphere. Problems in AgreementThe following indefinite pronouns are singular: anybody, anyone, each, either, everybody, everyone, neither, nobody, no one, one, somebody someone.

Example: Each of them was sent a bouquet. Problems in AgreementThe following indefinite pronouns are plural:Both, few, many, several.

Example: Both of the stories were written by Shirley Jackson. Problems in Agreement The number of a subject is not changed by a prepositional phrase following the subject.

Example: Incorrect: The sparse furnishings on the stage creates a somber atmosphere. Correct: The spare furnishings on the stage create a somber atmosphere.

Singular PronounsThe following indefinite pronouns are singular:Anybody, anyone, each, either, everybody, everyone, neither, nobody, no one, one, somebody, someone.

Example: Each of them was sent a bouquet. Plural PronounsThe following indefinite pronouns are plural:

Both, few, many, several

Example:Both of the stories were written by Shirley Jackson. Either orThe following indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural: Any, all, most, none, some.

Examples:All of the action occurs on the top floor of a warehouse. All of the events occur on the top floor of a warehouse. Subjects joined by and usually take a plural verbExample:Sam and Bill kidnap Johnny.

ExceptA compound subject that names a single person or thing takes a singular verb. A compound noun used as a subject also takes a singular verb in most cases.

ExamplesThe captain and quarterback of the team was Lyle. One person, Lyle, was both the captain and the quarterback.

Rock and roll is my favorite kind of music. Rock and roll is a compound noun naming a kind of music. Subjects joined by or or norWhen subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject nearer the verb.

Examples:Neither the director nor the players were on time for the rehearsal. Neither the players nor the director was on time for the rehearsal. Your TurnFor each of the following sentences, choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses. Example: Both of the girls (love, loves) running. Correct answer: loveWhy: The subject girls is plural, and plural subjects take plural verbs. A verb agrees with its subject in number. Your TurnMy favorite story (has, have) always been Raymond Run.Some of the story (concern, concerns) Squeakys rival. Neither Gretchen nor Mary Louise really (smile, smiles). Squeakys rival and schoolmate (was, were) Gretchen. Insults and taunts directed at Raymond (anger, angers) his sister. Answers1. Has2. Concerns3. Smiles4. Was5. AngerCollective NounsCollective nouns (such as family and team) may be either singular or plural.

A collective noun takes a singular verb when the noun refers to the group as a unit. A collective noun takes a plural verb when the noun refers to the individual parts or members of the group. ExamplesThe Frank family (collective noun) goes (singular verb) into hiding. (The family as a unit goes into hiding).

The Frank family (collective noun) pack(plural verb) their bags. (The individual members of the family pack bags). Collective NounsWhen the subjects follows all or part of the verb (comes after the verb), find the subject and make sure the verb agrees with it. The subject usually follows the verb in sentences beginning with here or there and in questions.

Example:There is (verb) a frog (subject) on that lily pad. Have any other frogs jumped on? Collective NounsThe contractions heres, theres and wheres contain the verb is and should be used only with singular subjects.

Theres the books. (There are the books). Collective NounsUse the contraction dont with plural subjects and with the pronouns I and you. Use the contraction doesnt with other singular subjects.

The police officers (plural subject) dont hear the noise. I (pronoun I) dont like that song.You (pronoun you) dont have enough money to buy that. The frog (singular subject) doesnt jump. Words stating amountsWords stating amounts are usually singular.

A word or phrase stating a weight, measurement, or an amount of money or time is usually considered one item.

Words like these take a singular verb. Words Stating AmountsExample:Twenty-five months is the amount of time Anne kept the diary.

Twenty-five months is an amount of time, and is considered one item so it takes a singular verb, months. TitlesThe title of a creative work or the name of an organization or country, even when plural in form, usually takes a singular verb.

Example:Flowers for Algernon (title of a creative work) was (singular verb) made into a movie. ExceptionsA few nouns, though plural in form, are singular and take singular verbs.

Example:Mathematics (looks plural in form), but is (singular verb) is my best subject. Your TurnIn the following sentences, choose the form of the verb in parentheses that agrees with the subject. Example:The people in her family (work, works) hard. Correct Answer: workWhy? Family is a collective noun and in this sentence it is referring to the individual members of the family. So Family takes a plural verb. Your Turn1. Hansel and Gretel (was, were) the pageant that Squeaky was in. Why: Titles of creative works take singular verbs. 2. Athletics (has, have) always interested squeaky. Why: Athletics though plural in form, is singular and takes a singular verb. Your Turn3. (Dont, Doesnt) she run well? Why: When the subject follows the verb, find the subject and make sure the verb agrees with it. The subject is she, and she is singular, so the verb must be singular as well. 4. Fifty yards (was, were) the length of the run. Why: A word stating a measurement is considered one item. Such a word takes a singular verb. Your Turn5. (Theres, There are) not much dialogue in the story. Why: The contraction theres contain the verb is and should be used with singular subjects. Dialogue is a singular subject. PronounsA pronoun refers to a noun or another pronoun called the antecedent.

A pronoun agrees with its antecedent in number and gender.

Some singular personal pronouns have forms that indicate gender. Masculine pronouns (he, him his) refer to males. Feminine pronouns (she, her, hers) refer to females. PronounsNeuter pronouns (its, its) refer to things that are neither male nor female and sometimes to animals. Examples:Ernie lent his bike to Alfonso. Squeaky protects her brother. The sergeant major took the dogs bone and threw it into the fire. PronounsSome antecedents may be either masculine or feminine. When referring to such antecedents, use both the masculine and feminine forms.

Example:No one on the committee gave his or her approval. PronounsSometimes using both the masculine and the feminine forms to refer to an indefinite pronoun is awkward or confusing. To avoid such use, rephrase the sentence by using both a plural pronoun and a plural antecedent.

Awkward:Everyone except Fanny signed the petition because he or she did not like working with the new Charlie. PronounsClear:

All of the workers except Fanny signed the petition because they did not like working with the new Charlie.

Your TurnRevise the following sentences to eliminate the awkward use of his or her. 1. Each of the characters had his or her own motives. 2. One of the stagehands had forgotten his or her tools. 3. Everyone in the play knew his or her lines. 4. Either Anna or Fred will drive his or her van. 5. Nobody forgot his or her costume. Problems in AgreementA singular pronoun is used to refer to anybody, anyone, each either, everybody, everyone, neither, nobody, no one, one, someone or somebody. Example:Everybody will have an opportunity to express his or her opinion.