When studying Subject Verb agreement you Need to know this first…..

1. When studying Subject Verb agreement you Need to know this first…..

2. What is a Subject? • It is the thing doing the action…. • Normally a noun!

3. What is a Verb? • The action word! • the action • Also can be a linking verb or a helping verb • Examples: is, was, run, play, were, are

4. Find the Subject and Verb • Harvey is a pooka! • Harvey plays tricks on people. • Harvey and Elwood are playing cards. • Veta and Myrtle sing at the party. • Grammar worksheets are complicated. • The cats and the dogs like to play with each other.

5. Prepositional • Prepositions get in the way and confuse people you need to remove these first before you do anything else when looking at verb agreement! • When you see these get rid of the phrase! Example: of, to, by, in, since, around, above, along, before, from, for, on, until

6. Here is what I mean • I along with my brother went to the store! • Peter of Sunny Brook Farm is coming over tonight. • The cat by the bookshelf and the desk is eating the plants. • The pictures beside the window are fading from the sunlight. • The witch between the ghost and the monster is very ugly.

7. Subject Verb Agreement • Definition of Subject verb agreement: the subject agrees with the verb in number • The verb must be plural and the subject must be plural in other words or • The verb must be singular and the subject must be singular

8. Sounds easy enough, so what’s the problem? • Plural verbs don’t end in “S” • Plural subjects usually end with “S,” but the singular verbs end with “S”

9. Only one “S” in a Sentence • Christmas trees are sitting in the square. • The Christmas tree is sitting in the square.

10. Examples: • is, was, seems, needs, etc. are singular The peach seems ripe. • are, were, seem, need, etc. are plural The peaches seem ripe.

11. Maybe this will clear things up! The catruns into the wall. The catsrun into the wall. I wouldn't do that! Singular Plural

12. Exception to the rule! • The form were is plural except when used with the singular you and in sentences that are contrary to the fact. • You werethe best player on the team. (You is the singular subject) • If he werecaptain, we would be a stronger team. • (The statement is contrary to fact, • HE IS NOT THE Captain.)

13. Watch out! Here is what will trip you up! • PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES • Example of a preposition: Any thing a plane can do to a cloud! or in other words: Of, over, under, through, in, between, along, below, besides,by, off, near, into, instead of, up, up to

14. TIP: • Remove all prepositional phrases when you are trying to find the subject.

15. Examples The interest shown in the Romeo and Juliet movie (has/have) been amazing. The interest shown in the Romeo and Juliet movie has been amazing.

16. How we do that? • Remove the prepositional phrase—”in the Romeo and Juliet movie” • The subject is singular so the verb must be singular • Singular verb is “has” • Find the subject--Interest Remember Singular verbs end with "S"

17. Try these! A list of groceries (is/are) hanging on the fridge. The cottages between the sea and the road beyond the board walk (is/are) for sale

18. Answers The list (of groceries) is hanging on the fridge The cottages (between the sea and the road) (beyond the board walk) are for sale.

19. BE CAREFUL YOU DON’T DO THIS • When correcting sentences do not change the tense of the verb. • Change the form (singular, plural)

20. Example • John make pancakes for his friends. (incorrect) • We need to correct this how?

21. John made pancakes for his friends. (incorrect change—tense is wrong) • John makes pancakes for his friends. (corrected correctly).

22. Practice Time! • The witches in the city (plan/plans) to do great damage to the people. • Kim’s actors (recite/recites) a soliloquy from William Shakespeare’s plays. • Mr. Butnick (make/makes) supper all the time. • The cat in our house and cabins (chase/chases) the dog.

23. English class at the university and in high school (are/is) always very interesting. • If Tom (was/were) in this class, it would really be fun. • You (was/were) always fun to hang out with. • Turkey (is/are) my favorite part of Thanksgiving.

24. The pilgrims under the table (was/were) afraid to eat the turkey. • Harry Potter of the famous books often (makes/make) his aunt and uncle angry.

25. Compound Subjectsjoined by “or” or “nor” The verb agrees with the Closest Subject to the verb.

26. Examples: • Sara or Jamie (is/are) at fault. • Jamie is at fault.

27. Example • The principal nor the teachers (is/are) staying after school on Friday. • Teachers are staying (after school) (on Friday).

28. Compound Subject joined by “and” • Are usually plural in number Example: The cat and the dog are running around the yard.

29. EXCEPT when they stand for one unit Example: Macaroni and Cheese Salt and Pepper Macaroni and cheese is not my favorite meal.

30. Except describing one person • Example: John the singer and dancer The brown and white dog is chasing the cat. The singer and dancer is John.

31. PHRASES SUCH AS • Together with • As well as • Along with ARE NOT THE SAME AS AND

32. Examples • The king, along with his court, is to arrive at the castle shortly. • My suitcases,along with my duffle bag, were loaded onto the plane.

33. Try These • John nor the boys (runs/run) the mile in two minutes. • Tom and Jerry over by the trees (hides/hide) the food from the dogs. • Spaghetti and meat balls (seems/seem) to be the favorite meal of most children. • My best friend and paintball partner (is/are) coming over tonight.

34. 5. Mason jars or a pail (hangs/hang) from the hook in the kitchen. 6. If Kim (was/were) president, we would have a peaceful world. 7. The book over on the counter under the blanket (has, have) over 200 quotes in it.

35. 8. The turkeys over the mountain beside the river (runs/run) wild. 9. You (was/were) supposed to come to Mrs. Butnick’s room after class. 10. The old dog or the cat that live in the barn beyond the river over the highway (is/are) fat and hungry.

36. Watch out for sentences that begin with these • Here • There • Where Are not subjects

37. Tip One • Rearrange the word order of the sentence to get rid of “here,” “there,” and “where.”

38. Example: There (is/are) a million stories in every big city. A million storiesare in every big city.

39. Tip Two • To find the subject in “there is/was” sentences, look at the first word after the verb that makes sense as a subject.

40. Examples • There (was/were) dozens of books piled on the couch. • There weredozens (of books) piled (on the couch.)

41. You Try It Now! • There (is/are) two reasons to stay. • There (is/are) no reason to do this. • Here (is/are) the apples you wanted.

42. Answers • There are two reasons to stay • There is no reason to do this. • Here are the apples you wanted

43. Watch Out for Questions The subject is usually NOT at the beginning

44. Examples • Where (is/are) the books for the next unit? • Where are the books for the next unit?

45. You Try It • (Is/Are) there a quiz tomorrow? • Is there a quiz tomorrow?

46. Words that Look Plural but are Singular in meaning • Measles, mumps, rickets (names of diseases) • Physics, mathematics, economics, etc

47. Example • Civicsis really hard. • Ricketsis caused by a vitamin deficiency.

48. Specific units of time, distance, weight, or amount • Are singular

49. Example • Ten dollarsis how much the movie cost. • Five minutesis how long you have to wait.

50. TitlesFor books, magazines, short stories, and movies • Are Singular