LAURA FINEBERG COOPER
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Spoonful #6: USING INDEFINITE PRONOUNS

4/3/2019

3 Comments

 
Picture

HAVE NO FEAR!
SENTENCES  WITH INDEFINITE PRONOUNS (AS SUBJECTS) ARE HERE!!


ALWAYS SINGULAR
Little is known about the possibility of life on other planets.
Everything looks wonderful, so don't fret. 
No one is exempt from taking this test. Period.

ALWAYS PLURAL
Few students are ready to take the SAT without studying first.
Others claim exemption from the assembly, but that's not fair.

SINGULAR OR PLURAL

​SINGULAR: Any suggestion is appreciated. 
PLURAL: Have any questionnaires come back yet? 

SINGULAR: None of the tree was damaged from the storm.
PLURAL: None of John's answers were correct, despite how hard he studied.

Here's my overall suggestion about the ones that flip-flop from singular to plural: if the related noun appears singular (like with "suggestion" and "tree") opt for a singular verb. If the related noun appears plural (like with "questionnaires" and "answers"), opt for a plural verb instead. For a more thorough explanation, go to quickanddirtytips.com to learn what Grammar Girl has to say. 

In my next spoonful, I'll be switching over to punctuation! Stay tuned to discover which topic will be covered first!

Sincerely,
Laura Fineberg Cooper

www.laurafcooper.com
cooperlaura@yahoo.com

3 Comments
Marcia Strykowski link
4/3/2019 06:53:05 pm

Great examples, these posts are so handy!

Reply
Keri Demers
4/3/2019 08:12:08 pm

Thanks, Laura!

Reply
Laura Fineberg Cooper link
4/4/2019 12:04:04 pm

Marcia and Keri: thank you for your comments! I'm soooo glad you like my posts!!!

Reply



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    Welcome to
    ​A Spoonful of Grammar!

    Swallowing too many grammar rules at once can be hazardous to one's health. That's why my goal is to deliver one spoonful at a time - in the most delightful way.
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    Sincerely,
    Laura Fineberg Cooper

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