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Subject Verb Agreement

Learn about subject-verb agreement rules, indefinite pronouns, compound subjects, using "there" to begin sentences, and more to write error-free sentences.

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Subject Verb Agreement

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  1. Subject Verb Agreement www.AssignmentPoint.com

  2. Rule • A verb must agree with it’s subject in number • Singular subjects should have singular verbs • Plural subjects – plural verbs www.AssignmentPoint.com

  3. Hints • Use “he” and “they” as substitutes for a subject to find a correct verb • He is always singular (only one guy) • They is always plural (two people, at least) • He runs/ they run • He walks/ they walk • Singular verbs usually end in “s” • Runs, walks, plays www.AssignmentPoint.com

  4. Examples • Early detectives (is/are) Sherlock Holmes and his assistant. • This book (describes/describe) ways to find evidence. • In the play, a neighbor (reports/report) a murder. • The officers (have/has) been looking for a clue. www.AssignmentPoint.com

  5. Be careful! • The subject of a verb is never in a prepositional phrase or an appositive phrase. • Don’t be fooled by words that come in between the subject and the verb www.AssignmentPoint.com

  6. Examples • The files of any computer (is/are) vulnerable to electronic-age thieves. • A computer thief with the right codes (control/controls) all the data files. • These thieves, people like Kevin Mitniek, (steal/steals) many files. • Mitnick, the most cunning of thieves, (is/was) caught by one of his victims. www.AssignmentPoint.com

  7. Indefinite Pronouns • A pronoun that refers to an unspecified person or thing • Some are always singular, some are always plural • Some, however, can be either- it then depends on the context of the sentence www.AssignmentPoint.com

  8. Always singular indefinite pronouns • Each everyone nobody • Either everybody nothing • Neither everything anyone • One no one anybody • Another much anything • Someone somebody something No one except the nice students leaves early. www.AssignmentPoint.com

  9. Always plural • Several • Few • Both • many A few in the crowd are troublesome. www.AssignmentPoint.com

  10. Either • Some • All • Any • More • Most • none Most of the Nobel Prizes for literature have been awarded to men. Most refers to prizes (plural) so verb is plural Most of the money for the prizes comes from a fund established by Alfred Nobel. Most refers to money (singular) so verb is singular www.AssignmentPoint.com

  11. Compound Subjects • Two subjects joined by and are plural • My mom and sisters are in Las Vegas. • Two subjects joined by or/nor are singular • Verb should agree to subject closest • My sisters or my mom is in Las Vegas. • My mom or my sistersare in Las Vegas. www.AssignmentPoint.com

  12. Using THERE to Begin a Sentence • Although sentences sometimes begin with there, there cannot be the subject of a sentence. • Usually the subject follows the verb in sentences that begin with there. • There is a squirrel in the yard. • There are two squirrels in the yard. www.AssignmentPoint.com

  13. WHO, WHICH, and THAT as Relative Pronouns • When you use a relative pronoun—who, which, or that—to introduce a dependent idea, make sure you choose the correct verb: • Find the word that relates to the relative pronoun to see if it is singular or plural • I know a woman who (play, plays) expert chess. • Suede coats, which (stain, stains) easily, should not be worn in the rain. • Computers that (talk, talks) make me nervous www.AssignmentPoint.com

  14. Prepositional Phrases don’t =And • As well as, together with, in addition to, along with, besides, and including are often similar in meaning to and. However, they are not a part of the subject. These words are prepositions, not conjunctions. • Aunt Martha, together with 6 children, (is, are) leaving town. • Sigma Rho, as well as Phi Kappa and Chi Beta, (is, are) buying new T-shirts. www.AssignmentPoint.com

  15. Collective Nouns • Collective nouns—team, family, group, class—take a singular verb if the noun acts as a unit but a plural verb is the group is considered as a number of individuals • The team is playing well tonight. • The team are getting dressed. www.AssignmentPoint.com

  16. Sums of money, distances, and measurements • Sums of money, distances, and measurements are followed by a singular verb when a unit is meant. They are followed by a plural verb when the individual elements are considered separately. • Three dollars was the price. (unit) • Three dollars were lying there. (individual) www.AssignmentPoint.com

  17. Some nouns have only a plural form • Some nouns have only a plural form and so take only a plural verb—for example, clothes, fireworks, scissors, pants, glasses. • His glasses are dusty. • Mary’s clothes were stylish and expensive. www.AssignmentPoint.com

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