Study guide: Agreement, Pronouns and Punctuated Speech
Apply match subject and present verb, choose a pronoun’s role, recognize verb time, interpret quotation punctuation using supplied texts and original responses.
Ideas to explain in your own words
- In conventional present-tense sentences, a singular third-person subject uses runs while a plural subject uses run. Be has its own forms, is for singular and are for plural here.
- Subject pronouns do an action; object pronouns receive an action or follow many prepositions. She and they are subjects; her and them are objects in these exercises.
- Verb phrases can distinguish completed past action, a current regular action, future action and an action continuing now. The helping verb belongs with the main verb.
- Prose dialogue uses quotation marks around exact speech, usually with a speaker tag. Scripts can instead use a speaker label. Two independent sentences need more than a comma alone.
Useful vocabulary
- Match subject and present verb
- In conventional present-tense sentences, a singular third-person subject uses runs while a plural subject uses run. Be has its own forms, is for singular and are for plural here.
- Choose a pronoun’s role
- Subject pronouns do an action; object pronouns receive an action or follow many prepositions. She and they are subjects; her and them are objects in these exercises.
- Recognize verb time
- Verb phrases can distinguish completed past action, a current regular action, future action and an action continuing now. The helping verb belongs with the main verb.
- Interpret quotation punctuation
- Prose dialogue uses quotation marks around exact speech, usually with a speaker tag. Scripts can instead use a speaker label. Two independent sentences need more than a comma alone.
Watch your reasoning
- A nearby object does not control the subject’s verb.
- The name’s length does not decide the pronoun.
- Ignoring the helper changes the time meaning.
- A comma splice is not a dialogue tag.
A worked review example
Subject bird; use run. Blank: ___ sings, referent Ana, singular she. Verb: jumped. Speech: "Come here," Ana said. Match subject and present verb: The relevant input states: Subject bird; use run. This fits runs. In conventional present-tense sentences, a singular third-person subject uses runs while a plural subject uses run. Be has its own forms, is for singular and are for plural here. A nearby object does not control the subject’s verb. Choose a pronoun’s role: The relevant input states: Blank: ___ sings, referent Ana, singular she. This fits she. Subject pronouns do an action; object pronouns receive an action or follow many prepositions. She and they are subjects; her and them are objects in these exercises. The name’s length does not decide the pronoun. Recognize verb time: The relevant input states: Verb: jumped. This fits simple past. Verb phrases can distinguish completed past action, a current regular action, future action and an action continuing now. The helping verb belongs with the main verb. Ignoring the helper changes the time meaning. Interpret quotation punctuation: The relevant input states: Speech: "Come here," Ana said. This fits quotation marks enclose spoken words. Prose dialogue uses quotation marks around exact speech, usually with a speaker tag. Scripts can instead use a speaker label. Two independent sentences need more than a comma alone. A comma splice is not a dialogue tag.
Make a practice plan
- Practice match subject and present verb: Check both the given subject number and whether the task asks for run or be. Choose the matching form.
- Practice choose a pronoun’s role: Use the supplied referent and the blank’s sentence role. Keep singular and plural distinct.
- Practice recognize verb time: Read the entire verb phrase, including will or is. Identify its time and whether -ing marks continuing action.
- Practice interpret quotation punctuation: Identify the displayed form. Separate speech, tag and independent clauses before naming the convention.
- Try the new review before opening its answer. Return to the related lesson if you want more help.