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Subject/Verb Agreement

Subject/Verb Agreement. I agree!. They agree!. Do you agree?. Mary agrees!. Bob agrees!. ? ? ?. What’s a subject?. What’s a verb?. How do you make them agree?. Finding the subject and verb. In most sentences, the subject comes before the verb. Introductory element. Subject/Verb.

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Subject/Verb Agreement

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  1. Subject/Verb Agreement I agree! They agree! Do you agree? Mary agrees! Bob agrees!

  2. ? ? ? What’s a subject? What’s a verb? How do you make them agree?

  3. Finding the subject and verb In most sentences, the subjectcomes before the verb. Introductory element Subject/Verb Prepositional phrase (adverb)

  4. “He, she, or it” subjects take a verb that has added -s • I walk. • You walk. • We walk. • Bob and Mary walk. Bob walks. Mary walks. The dog walks. but

  5. “He, she, or it” subjects are called 3rd person singular. Why??

  6. We have to call them something! First person is “I” (of course) Second person is “you” (naturally) Third person is everyone and everything else.

  7. Singular just means onePlural means more than one SO SingularPlural I We Bob and I He, she, or it Bob, Mary, OR the dog They Bob, Mary, AND the dog “You” can be singular OR plural

  8. Let’s put it together Subjects have person and number. Verbs have matching person and number. That’s what subject/verb agreement means.

  9. Let’s Practice Watch for the -s endings • The picture _____ on the wall. • The sun _____ in the sky. • I _____ ice cream. • Mary _____ Bob. • They _____ at the library. • He ______ a red truck. hangs shines like likes study drives

  10. BE is a special verb • BE doesn’t add –s for 3rd person singular • BE also has different forms for 1st and 2nd person • Sentences with BE still have to agree

  11. Let’s look at BE as the verb • I AM from Mexico. • You ARE my friend. • He IS winning the game. • She IS famous. • It IS difficult to be a star. • We ARE wondering why we should bother. • They ARE planning a big party.

  12. Areyou understanding all this? Many questions put the verb in front of the subject. They still have to agree!

  13. Examples: • Does he have a dog? • Has she finished? • Is it a nice day? • ____ we have time? (1st person plural) • ____ they moved yet? (3rd person plural) • ____ you taking a vacation? (2nd person) 3rd person singular Do Have Are

  14. Sometimes there are several verbs in a sentence. Only one verb has to agree.

  15. Examples: • We have learned a lot today. • However, Bob has learned little. • Unfortunately, Mary has not learned much either. • Bob and Mary have to study harder. • Have you figured it out?

  16. Problems with Subject/Verb agreement It’s not always easy to find the subject.

  17. You have to decide what the verb should agree with. When something comes between the subject and the verb …

  18. The members of the band are talented. The bandis busy. A prepositional phrase may come between the subject and the verb.

  19. Compound subjects • Use a plural verb with “and” subjects. Bob and Mary are happy. • For “or,” the verb agrees with the closest word. Mary or Bob is going. Mary or her sisters are going.

  20. Sentences with There is (singular)or There are (plural) Look for the subject AFTER the verb.

  21. There is … an answer to your question. a problem with the plumbing. a new show on television.

  22. There are … twelve signs of the zodiac. many cars on the street. lots of slides in this show.

  23. Summary Subjects and verbs must agree.

  24. First, you must find the subject. • Usually it’s before the verb. • In questions, the verb often comes first. • Sometimes prepositional phrases come between the subject and the verb. • “There is/are” subjects come after the verb.

  25. Then you must make the verb agree • Be careful with “and/or” subjects • “BE” is a special verb • Only one verb agrees

  26. Subject/Verb Agreement Does Bob agree? Does Mary agree? Do you agree?

  27. Menu/Index Finding Subjects & Verbs Singular & Plural The ‘Be’ Verb Multiple Verbs Problems finding S/V agreement

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