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Learn how subject and verb must agree in number, master recognizing phrases that affect agreement, and practice examples for perfecting your skills!
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Subject-Verb Agreement Agreement in number and phrases between subject and verb
Verbs must agree with their subjects in NUMBER • If the subject is SINGULAR, the verb must be in its SINGULAR form • If the verb is PLURAL, the verb must be in its PLURAL form • Hint: a noun that ends in “s” is usually plural, but a verb that ends in “s” is usually singular. • Examples: The student helps the old lady across the street. • The studentshelp the old lady across the street.
Phrases lurking in the sentence • Sometimes a phrase that is hiding between the subject and verb can be confusing. • For example: • The Smith family dog, loved by neighbors, barks every evening until midnight.
Let’s review phrases, shall we? • A phrase is a group of related words that act as one part of speech. They do not have a subject or predicate. • Prepositional phrases – begin w/ a preposition and act as adjectives or adverbs. • He went to the movies. The cat was hiding under the rug. The phone in my purse just rang.
More phrase review! • Appositive phrases give more information about a noun or pronoun • Bob, my favorite cousin, just ran over my cat. • Verbal (participial, gerund and infinitive) phrases act as nouns, adjectives or adverbs. • Painfully plunking the keys, the boy rehearsed his piano lesson for an hour.(ptc.)
More example phrases… • My brother tried licking a light post on a cold winter’s day. (gerund phrase) • To watch him squirm as he tried to break free was quite entertaining. (infinitive phrase)
Why is recognizing a phrase important? • …because sometimes they make subject/verb agreement a difficult task. • HOWEVER, when a phrases is stuck between the subject and verb, the number of the subject does NOT change. • Ex: The success of our students is reflected in their performance after high school. (subject- success/ verb – is)
More examples: • Books – whether history or science fiction —are fascinating. • The jeans in the window are really expensive • Most foods needed for our citizens to survive are still cultivated in the United States.
Practice and Apply • Try out activity 3 on page 159 1-5. Write the verb form that agrees with the subject.