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Subject and Verb Agreement

Subject and Verb Agreement. Agreement in Number. A verb must agree with its subject in number. Number is always about Singular & Plural Rule #1: A singular subject goes with a singular verb. Singular subjects will not end in –s but their verbs will. My dog walks outside every day.

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Subject and Verb Agreement

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  1. Subject and Verb Agreement

  2. Agreement in Number A verb must agree with its subject in number. Numberis always about Singular & Plural • Rule #1: A singular subject goes with a singular verb. Singular subjects will not end in –s but their verbs will. • My dogwalks outside every day. • Rule #2: A plural subject goes with a plural verb. Plural subjects will end in –s but their verbs will not. • Their dogswalk outside every day.

  3. Indefinite Pronouns • Rule #1: Singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs. • Example: Everybodygets an A! Neither of the shirts fits.

  4. Indefinite Pronouns, cont. • Rule#2: Plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs. • Example: Both of the apples are bruised. • Rule #3: Singular or Plural: look at the noun closest to the verb. • Example: Most of the puddingis gone. All of the mobilesmove in the breeze.

  5. Compound Subjects • Rule #1: A compound subject whose parts are joined by and usually takes a plural verb. • Example: George and Louise paint the deck. • Rule #2: A compound subject whose parts are joined by or ornor, the verb should agree with the word closest to the verb. • Example: Either ticket stubs or a photocompletesyour collage.   Either a photo or ticket stubscomplete your collage.

  6. Problem Subjects • Rule #1: Some nouns end in –s or –ics look plural but actually refer to singular concepts. Examples include measles, politics, mechanics, mumps, news, mathematics, and economics. When these words are used as subjects, use a singular verb. • Example: Politicsis a hot issue right now.

  7. Problem Subjects, cont. • Rule #2: Subjects can often be placed in unusual positions, such as in the form of a question, after a sentence beginning with here or there, or after a sentence that begins with an adjective, adverb, or phrase. Reorder the words in statement form to determine whether the verb should be singular or plural. • Example: There (was, were) a tiny rabbit. Reorder: A tiny rabbit (was, were) there. Unusual ordered subjects need to be reworded.

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