WOW Online Portfolio

Assignment 3 Mechanics 1

Assignment for Session Three
Part I
As you did on the self test for this lesson, indicate whether the italicized verbs in the following sentences are correct (by writing "C") or incorrect (by providing the corrected form). Prepare your answers in the following format:
1. corrected verb form
2. C
3. corrected verb form
4. etc.

1. is
2. was
3. was
4. were
5. C
6. is
7. C
8. is
9. stand
10. C
11. has
12. are

1. There you are; $19.98 are your change.
2. The total cost of materials, tools and man hours were paid by the insurance company.
3. Every one of the boys and girls were given a tetanus booster.
4. Either hail or crumbling trails was the cause of the climbers' deaths.
5. If one of these hours is open, please let me have an appointment.
6. The opinion of most critics are that Love Story is not a great novel.
7. The most important things to consider in sharpening chisels are file angle and pressure.
8. The best way to get ahead in any jobs in all businesses and industries are to give your employer more than he expects from you.
9. Near the end of the bar stands the bouncer, the bartender and the piano player.
10. Abernathy has the most seniority of the men who have been employed by this firm.
11. Abernathy is the only one of the men who have been employed for more than ten years.
12. The three most important considerations in purchasing a home is location, location and location.
Part II
In each of the following sentences, select the correct verb form from the choices provided in parentheses and indicate its subject. Prepare your answers in the following format:
1. verb choice (subject)
2. verb choice (subject)
3. etc.
1. requires (president-elect)
2. gives (display)
3. lying (napkins), lay (you)
4. sits (ostrich)
5. rise (all)
6. raise (all)
7. is (next)
8. is (trouble)
9. is (troop)
10. was (part)
1. The president-elect—with his personal advisers, his office workers, his many bodyguards, and the usual company of photographers and newsmen—(require/requires) three floors of a hotel.
2. Molly thinks her display of primitive cooking utensils (gives/give) her kitchen personality.
3. The napkins are (lying/laying) next to the spoons; please (lie/lay) them next to the forks, where they belong.
4. Contrary to popular notion, the ostrich really (sits/sets) while sleeping.
5. All in favor of Sam O'Toole, please (rise, raise).
6. All in favor of Sam, please (rise/raise) your hands.
7. Next on the agenda (is/are) the jazz ensemble auditions.
8. The trouble with us church members (is/are) our limited finances.
9. Our local troop of Girl Scouts (is/are) made up of sixteen Scouts, two assistant leaders and one leader.
10. The most interesting part of their performance (was/were) their costumes.
Optional Writing Assignment for Lesson Three: Verbs
In no more than 250 words, write a brief scene (either real or fictional) that depicts people in action. Concentrate on using specific verbs and avoiding the passive voice, but don't forget what you've learned about pronouns and agreement.

Ellie scampered over the rocks faster and faster as the hawk swooped down to snag her in his claws. She ducked under a large rock just in time to escape capture. Shaking, she wondered how long she should stay in hiding. True safety lies over the hill and so she sucked in a deep breath and climbed the hill of rocks as fast as she could, not even looking to see if the hawk was in the air.

Ellie scaled the top of the hill and dove into the safety of the burrow in the ground. Once in the hole she called home, she continued running and yelling to alert everyone. Mother knew exactly what to do. She sent brother to the underground link between the other burrows to let the other families know and then she checked Ellie from top to bottom to ensure she was not injured. Mother sent Ellie to her room with a stern finger wagging before enlisting the others in covering up the entrance to the burrow.

Peter stuck his head out to see the hawk, but saw only blue sky. The leaves, grass and rocks covered the entrance once again. The family felt safe for the moment.

Instructor's Feedback/Discussion (ascending order)

Instructor Giorgio: Hi, Janine!

I received your assignment and I'll get back to you on it soon!
3/13/2006 10:32:51 PM

Instructor Giorgio: Hi, Janine,
Here are my comments on this week’s assignments:

Part I
I have no comments to make on this section. Great job!

Part II
7. The correct verb is "are" and the correct subject is "auditions." "Agenda" can't be the subject of the verb, because it is part of the prepositional phrase "on the agenda." "Next are auditions" would be the proper sentence, with all prepositional phrases and clarifications removed.

Great job on both of these assignments!!

Optional Writing Assignment for Lesson Three: Verbs
Ellie scampered over the rocks faster and faster as the hawk swooped down to snag her in his claws. She ducked under a large rock just in time to escape capture. Shaking, she wondered how long she should stay in hiding. True safety lies (PRESENT TENSE VERB. IF YOU REWROTE THIS SENTENCE AS “TRUE SAFETY LIES OVER THE HILL, SHE THOUGHT.” THEN YOU WOULD BE OKAY, BECAUSE CHARACTERS THINK IN PRESENT TENSE EVEN IN A PAST TENSE STORY.) over the hill and so she sucked in a deep breath and climbed the hill of rocks as fast as she could, not even looking to see if the hawk was in the air.
Ellie scaled the top of the hill (TECHNICALLY, YOU DON’T SCALE THE TOP OF THE HILL, YOU SCALE TO THE TOP OF THE HILL.) and dove into the safety of the burrow in the ground. Once in the hole she called home, she continued running and yelling to alert everyone. Mother knew exactly what to do. She sent brother to the underground link between the other burrows to let the other families know and then she checked Ellie from top to bottom to ensure she was not injured. Mother sent Ellie to her room with a stern finger wagging before enlisting the others in covering up the entrance to the burrow.
Peter stuck his head out to see the hawk, but saw only blue sky. The leaves, grass and rocks covered the entrance once again. The family felt safe for the moment.

Janine,
Interesting story with an interesting setting. I’m assuming one of two things here: either Ellie and her family aren’t human, or these are some really, really big hawks! Either way, it’s fun (of course, I’m a mystery writer, so my view of fun might be just a little skewed :-)

Anyway, the verb usage here is excellent throughout. I didn’t have any problems with any of your verb choices. In fact, some of your choices are good for conveying the action of the scene (example: “dove into the safety of the burrow” conveys much more of a sense of relief than “went into the safety of the burrow.”). You made some nice choices throughout. Good work.

3/14/2006 11:02:56 PM

website created by Janine Bouyssounouse. Last updated 02/07/07