Using Subject-Verb Agreement

Using Subject-Verb Agreement What is subject-verb agreement? Number Singular subjects Plural subjects Intervening phrases and clauses Indefinite pronouns Compound subjects Solving special agreement problems Review A Review B

What is subject-verb agreement? All sentences have subjects and verbs. Subject Verb The storm rages. The storm rages. The stormrages. Subject Verb Two treesbreak. Two treesbreak. Two trees break. Subject Verb A blue sky emerges. A blue sky emerges. A blue skyemerges.

What is subject-verb agreement? Number Subjects and verbs agree in number to show that they belong together. • A word that refers to one thing is singular. • A word that refers to more than one is plural. Singular Plural taxis taxi puppy puppies she they

What is subject-verb agreement? Singular subjects Singular subjects take singular verbs. Singular subject Singular verb The horse gallops away. The horse gallops away. The horse gallops away. Singular subject Singular verb He skates to the finish line. Heskates to the finish line. Heskates to the finish line.

What is subject-verb agreement? Plural subjects Plural subjects take plural verbs. Plural subject Plural verb The horses gallop away. The horses gallop away. The horsesgallop away. Plural subject Plural verb They skate to the goal. Theyskate to the goal. Theyskate to the goal.

What is subject-verb agreement?Intervening phrases and clauses group of words Sometimes a group of words comes between the subject and the verb. Subject Verb Verb The trees in the park provide shade. provide shade. The number of the subject is usually not determined by a word in a phrase or clause following the subject. Subject Verb The trees in the park provideshade.

What is subject-verb agreement?Intervening phrases and clauses Subject Verb That basket of berrieslooks delicious. That basketof berrieslooks delicious. Looks agrees with basket, notberries. Subject Verb Runners who compete in the raceare amateurs. Runnerswho compete in the raceareamateurs. Are agrees with runners, notrace.

What is subject-verb agreement? On Your Own • For each of the following sentences, choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses. • 1. The dogs in that yard (barks, bark) too much. • 2. That box of old toys (is, are) for the garage sale. • 3. The shoes that I wore in yesterday’s game (needs, need) new laces. • Audience members who arrive early for the performance (obtains, obtain) the best seats. • 5. The painting of flowers (was, were) my favorite. [End of Section]

Subject-verb agreement andindefinite pronouns Indefinite pronouns refer to a person or thing whose exact identity is unknown. • Some indefinite pronouns are singular. • Some are plural. • Some may be either singular or plural depending on how they are used.

Subject-verb agreement and indefinite pronouns The following indefinite pronouns are singular: Verb Subject Subject Subject Verb Verb Somethingwas wrong with the bike. Nobodywas waiting for the bus. Either of the two students is capable.

Subject-verb agreement andindefinite pronouns The following indefinite pronouns are plural: Subject Verb Aremany still in line? Subject Verb Bothare wearing glasses now. Subject Verb Several of his pawns were captured.

Subject-verb agreement andindefinite pronouns The following indefinite pronouns may be singular or plural, depending on how they are used: Verb Subject Singular when they refer to singular words. Mostof the pie waseaten. Subject Verb Plural when they refer to plural words. Most of the apples wereeaten.

Subject-verb agreement andindefinite pronouns On Your Own • For each of the following sentences, choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses. • 1. Both of the performances (was, were) sold out. • 2. All the leaves (has, have) changed color. • 3. One of the library books (is, are) overdue. • (Has, Have) anybody found a house key? • 5. Neither (wants, want) to leave early. [End of Section]

Subject-verb agreement andcompound subjects A compound subject is two or more subjects that are joined by a coordinating conjunction and that have the same verb. • Subjects joined by and usually take plural verbs. He and Carmen enjoyskating. Subject 1 Subject 2 Verb Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois arein the Midwest. Subject 1 Subject 2 Subject 3 Verb

Subject-verb agreement andcompound subjects • Singular subjects joined by oror nor take a singular verb. Ayesha or Kathryn drivesa green car. Singular Singular Verb Neither snow nor sleet is usual this time of year. Singular Singular Verb

Subject-verb agreement andcompound subjects • Plural subjects joined by oror nor take a plural verb. Squirrels or raccoons eatthe dog’s food. Plural Verb Plural Neither storms nor winds damagethis roof. Plural Verb Plural

Subject-verb agreement andcompound subjects • When a singular and a plural subject are joined by oror nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject. Plural Singular Verb Neither the costumes nor the set is ready. The verb is agrees with the nearer subject set. Singular Plural Verb Suzi or her cousins repairbicycles. The verb repair agrees with the nearer subject cousins.

Subject-verb agreement andcompound subjects On Your Own For each of the following sentences, choose the verb that agrees with the compound subject. 1. Jimmy or Frank (has, have) borrowed my bike. 2. Fruit and vegetables (is, are) important for a healthy diet. 3. Neither noise nor music (distracts, distract) me. 4. Christina and her sisters (enjoys, enjoy) the beach. 5. A crow or a blue jay (teases, tease) my cats. [End of Section]

Solving special agreement problemsSubjects following verbs In some sentences the subject comes after the verb. Subject There (was, were) were no messages for you. no messages for you. When the subject follows the verb . . . 1. Find the subject. 2. Make sure that the verb agrees with it.

Solving special agreement problemsSubjects following verbs Subjects also appear after verbs in questions. Compound subject When (does, do) do Sue and I sing our parts? Sue and I sing our parts? 1. Find the subject. 2. Make sure that the verb agrees with it. Remember that subjects joined by and usually take plural verbs.

Solving special agreement problemsCollective nouns A collective noun may be singular or plural, depending on its meaning in the sentence. Singular Verb Singular when it refers to the group as a unit The herd was stranded by the flood. Pluralwhen it refers to parts of the group or to individual members. Plural Verb The herdwere separated from each other by the rising waters

Solving special agreement problemsExpressions of amount An expression of amount may be singular or plural, depending on how it is used. • Singular when the amount is thought of as a unit. Two thirds of the bread was eaten. • Pluralwhen it is thought of as separate parts. Two thirds of the slices were eaten.

Solving special agreement problemsPlural forms Some nouns that are plural in form take singular verbs. Subject Subject Verb Verb Gymnasticsis a sport that requires balance. The molasses in this cake tastes too strong.

Solving special agreement problemsPlural forms Some nouns that refer to single items take plural verbs. Verb Subject When were theOlympics last in Japan? Subject Verb The scissorsare not very sharp.

Solving special agreement problemsTitles Even when plural in form, titles of a creative work—books, songs, movies, or paintings—usually take singular verbs. Subject Verb “St. Louis Blues” was written by W. C. Handy. Verb Subject As You Like It, one of Shakespeare’s comedies, is being performed next weekend.

Solving special agreement problems On Your Own For each of the following sentences, choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses. 1. Where (is, are) the pliers? 2. Measles (was, were) a common childhood illness. 3. Six weeks (remains, remain) until the end of the school year. 4. “Send in the Clowns,” by Stephen Sondheim, (seems,seem) sad to me. 5. The fleet (has, have) entered the harbor. [End of Section]

Solving special agreement problemsEvery A subject preceded by every takes a singular verb. Subject Verb Every dog in the neighborhood is barking. Every Subject Verb Every junior and seniorwas invited to the dance. Every Subject Verb Every Every man, woman, and childneeds clean air and water.

Solving special agreement problemsDon’t and doesn’t The contractions don’t and doesn’t should agree with their subjects. Don’t is the contraction of do not. Use it with I and you and with all plural subjects. They You We I don’t know how to solve the problem. Don’t The teachers the teachers don’t have a meeting today. have a meeting today? Don’t litter! (You is the understood subject.)

The boat doesn’t have a radio. She doesn’t play soccer anymore. Doesn’t he have a ride home? Solving special agreement problemsDon’t and doesn’t Doesn’t is the contraction of does not. Use it with all singular subjects except I and you.

Solving special agreement problemsSubjects and predicate nominatives A verb always agrees with the subject, but not necessarily with the predicate nominative. Plural subject ? Singular predicate nominative are Quick reflexes (is, are) one requirement for this job. Are agrees with the plural subject reflexes, not with the singular predicate nominative requirement. Singular subject Plural predicate nominative ? is One requirement for this job (is, are) quick reflexes. Is agrees with requirement, not with reflexes.

Solving special agreement problemsRelative pronouns When the relative pronoun that, which, or who is the subject of an adjective clause, the verb in the clause agrees with the noun to which the relative pronoun refers. Verb adjective clause Subject Subject Verb Enrique goes to the same school as my sister. , whowas born in Puerto Rico, goes to the same school as my sister. • The relative pronoun who refers to Enrique. • Enrique is a singular noun and takes a singular verb, goes. • Who, the subject of the adjective clause, takes the singular verb was.

Solving special agreement problems On Your Own • For each of the following sentences, choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses. • 1. Every window and door (needs, need) to be replaced. • 2. This book, which (was, were) on one of the shelves at the library, is rare. • 3. Her house (don’t, doesn’t) have a fireplace. • The main attraction at the museum (is, are) the fossils. • 5. The man who (owns, own) the building drives a blue car. [End of Section]

Review A Provide the correct form of the verb in parentheses. • The flock ________ in a V-shaped formation. (fly) • Neither Drama nor Band ________ rehearsal after school today. (have) • The children who ________ in the park every day live in the neighborhood. (play) • Most of the liquid __________ when heated. (evaporate) 5. ________ we have to finish this assignment today? (do)

Review B For each of the following sentences, if the subject and verb do not agree, write the correct form of the verb. If the verb already agrees with the subject, write C. • None of the sports equipment are missing. • He and his friends don’t like that kind of music. • Do anyone want a glass of juice? • News travel quickly in the hallways of the school. 5. The box of carving tools were in the basement. [End of Section]

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Using Subject-Verb Agreement