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Subject-Verb Agreement. Subject-Verb Agreement . In the present tense, verbs agree with their subjects in number (singular or plural) and in person (first, second, or third) . . Subject-Verb Agreement (A Quick Refresher). Present-tense forms of love and try… Singular Plural
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Subject-Verb Agreement • In the present tense, verbs agree with their subjects in number (singular or plural) and in person (first, second, or third).
Subject-Verb Agreement (A Quick Refresher) Present-tense forms of love and try… Singular Plural 1st person: I love we love 2nd person: you love you love 3rd person: he/she/it loves they love 1st person: I try we try 2nd person: you try you try 3rd person: he/she/it tries they try
Subject-Verb Agreement (A Quick Refresher) Present-tense forms of have… Singular Plural 1st person: I have we have 2nd person: you have you have 3rd person: he/she/it has they have Present-tense forms of do… 1st person: I do we do 2nd person: you do you do 3rd person: he/she/it does they do
Subject-Verb Agreement (A Quick Refresher) Present-tense forms of be… Singular Plural 1st person: I am we are 2nd person: you are you are 3rd person: he/she/it is they are Past-tense forms of be… 1st person: I was we were 2nd person: you were you were 3rd person: he/she/it was they were
Subject-Verb Agreement • Make the verb agree with its subject, not with a word that comes between. • The samples on the tray in the lab need testing. • High levels of air pollution cause damage to the respiratory tract. • The slaughter of pandas for their pelts has caused a drastic decline in the panda population. • The governor as well as his press secretary was shot.
Subject-Verb Agreement • Treat most subjects joined with and as plural. • Leon and Jan often jog together. • Jill’s natural ability and her desire to help others have led to a career in the ministry. EXCEPTION: When the parts of the subject form a single unit or refer to the same person or thing, treat the subject as singular. • Strawberries and cream was a last-minute addition to the menu. • Sue’s friend and adviser was surprised by her decision.
Subject-Verb Agreement EXCEPTION: When a compound subject is preceded by each or every, treat the subject as singular. - Each tree, shrub, and vine needs to be sprayed. This exception does not apply when a compound subject is followed by each: - Alan and Marcia each have different ideas.