Prepositional PhrasesBrief Review on Person

Most people know this intuitively, but for second language learners, they must learn it expressly. Why know this? Because prepositional phrase problems mess people up.

Person Singular Plural

First Person I go We go

Second Person You go You go

Third Person He, She, It goes They go

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How Prepositional Phrases Mess You Up.

• Prepositional phrases can come between subject and verbs and confuse us as we write. Look at the sentence below – can you easily tell which verb to choose?

• The students in classroom 519 by the office

[need/needs] assistance from the president.

Here’s a strategy to correct the sentence below

• The students in classroom 519 by the office [need/needs] assistance from the president.

• Look at the sentence above and eliminate the prepositional phrases. Then match the subject to the verb. Now can you see the answer?

Fixing Sentences with Prepositional Phrases

The students in classroom 519 by the office [need/needs] assistance from the president.

PREP. PHRASES[in classroom 519, by the office, from the president.]

All we have left: The students [need/needs] assistance.

Isn’t that easier?

One Way Prepositional Phrases Can Cause Problems - Indefinite Pronouns

• Indefinite pronouns are SINGULAR.– These are body words, one words, or thing

words [everybody, everyone, everything].

• Poor: Everyone in the two classes have their homework.

• Better: Everyone in the two classes has his or her homework.

One Way Prepositional Phrases Can Cause Problems – Indefinite Pronouns

• In questions or sentences using There is or There are – subjects come after the verb and cause us trouble. Can you easily correct these? Take out the prepositional phrases and give them a try.

– What in the world [is/are] the Teletubbies? – There [is/are] in this classroom 3 DVD players.

Another Way Prepositional Phrases Can Cause Problems – Compound Subjects

• Compound subjects are plural.

-Poor: Bill and his mother is at the party.

- Better: Bill and his mother are at the party.

- Poor: Two cups of coffee and a bagel is what I need.

– Better: Two cups of coffee and a

bagel are what I need.

Yet another way prepositional phrases can cause problems –

Either/Or and Neither/Nor

• When you have subjects connected with

Either/Or Neither/Nor, match the verb to

the subject closest to it.

Poor: The two teachers or the tutor are waiting to

help you.

Better: The two teachers or the tutor is waiting to

help you.

Poor: Either Tom or his two friends is waiting to help you.

Better: Either Tom or his two friends are waiting to help you.