Snow

I really needed the day off from school and work today, therefore I am thankful for the snow day. However, this inclement weather makes traveling inconvenient. Driving to school, driving to my two jobs, and running errands are more difficult to do with the snow. Snow to begin with is difficult but the accumulation from the past few snow storms is what makes it worse. I cannot wait for the spring weather! I dislike staying in the house all day I get cabin fever. After a while you get bored of watching TV and tired of doing school work. I am thankful that I was productive with getting most of my school assignments done but after a while I need a break. I need to get out of the house just to let my mind relax.

1. inclement: very cold, wet weather
2. inconvenient: difficult
3. errands: chores someone has to go out and do
4. accumulation: an increasing amount
5. cabin fever: feeling annoyed or angry from being indoors for too long
6. productive: getting a lot of work done

                              Grammar points

Subject-verb agreement
A singular subject must take a singular verb, and a plural subject must take a plural verb. The only verb form that is affected by this rule is the third person simple present; but since this verb form is the one you will use most in your studies, it is essential that you master the subject-verb agreement rule as quickly as possible.

In these examples, the subject is in bold typeface and the verb is in italics:

• The Prime Minister is meeting the President of the United States at the White House. (singular subject: Prime Minister; singular verb is meeting)
• The Prime Minister and the President are meeting at the White House (plural subject: PM and President; plural verb are meeting)
• Glass breaks easily. Glasses break easily.
• The computer is a useful tool. Computers are useful tools.
• The lion has eaten the zebra. The lions have eaten the zebra.

Exercise: Select one answer from the choices provided after each sentence. The word you choose should fit the blank in the sentence.

1.  Either the doctors in this hospital or the nurses____ going to have to make a decision. is are

2.  ______ your boss going to attend the ceremony?
Is
Are
3.  Some of the votes __________ to have been lost.
seem
seems
4.  The amount of tornadoes in this county _____ increasing every year.
are
is
5.  Everyone in this class_____ to study.
have
has

6. He will _________ his project in front of a huge crowd presents present

7.  He seems to forget that there __________ things to be done before he can graduate.
are
is

8.  There _______ to be some people left in that town after yesterday's flood. have has

9.  Some of the food __________ to be contaminated.
appear
appears
10.  50% of the students __________ in favor of bringing their own lunch to school.
is
are