Subject – Verb Subject – Verb AgreementAgreement

Why do subjects and verbs Why do subjects and verbs have to agree? After all, they have to agree? After all, they

are only words!are only words!

What’s wrong with these What’s wrong with these sentences?sentences?

• There There isis too many too many picturespictures on the wall. on the wall.

Or this one?Or this one?• EverybodyEverybody but Julio but Julio wantwant to go home. to go home.

Or this one?Or this one?• AllAll the people the people wantswants to win the lottery. to win the lottery.

The The subjectssubjects and and verbsverbs don’t don’t agreeagree!!

How do we fix them?How do we fix them?

• There There areare too many too many picturespictures on the wall. on the wall.

A A plural subjectplural subject goes with a goes with a pluralplural verb.verb.• EverybodyEverybody but Julio but Julio wantswants to go home. to go home.

A A singular subjectsingular subject goes with a goes with a singular verb.singular verb.• AllAll the people the people planplan to win the lottery. to win the lottery.

A A plural subject plural subject goes with a goes with a pluralplural verb.verb.

Now the subjects and verbs agree!Now the subjects and verbs agree!

To be correct, subjects and verbs To be correct, subjects and verbs must agree…must agree…

They must agree in NUMBER:NUMBER:•SingularSingular subjectssubjects take singularsingular verbs (EXCEPT for the words verbs (EXCEPT for the words YOUYOU and and II). ).

•EveryoneEveryone wantswants to win the lottery.•Plural subjectsPlural subjects take pluralplural verbs.verbs.

•AllAll the players want want to win the game.

•Agreement can Agreement can onlyonly be achieved in be achieved in the the present tensepresent tense. . NEVER use past NEVER use past tense for agreement. tense for agreement.

Examples. . . Examples. . .

• The student works hard.- The student works hard.- singular singular (unlike, a subject, (unlike, a subject, add an “s” to make add an “s” to make a verb singulara verb singular))

• The students work hard.- The students work hard.- plural (unlike a plural (unlike a subject, subject, take the “s” away to make a take the “s” away to make a verb pluralverb plural))

**The **The FIRSTFIRST helping verb must agree with helping verb must agree with the subject!- the subject!- The class The class IS building IS building bird bird houses.houses.

VerbVerb before the before the subjectsubject……• Inside the garage Inside the garage areare the the shovelshovel..• Across the border Across the border isis Reynosa Reynosa

and Progresso.and Progresso.• Where Where isis the instructions for the the instructions for the

X-Box?X-Box?

Shouldn’t they be…?Shouldn’t they be…?

•Inside the garage Inside the garage isis the the shovelshovel..•Across the border Across the border areare Reynosa and Progresso.Reynosa and Progresso.•Where Where areare the instructions the instructions for the for the X-Box?X-Box?

BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE!BEWARE!

Prepositional Phrases will try to trick Prepositional Phrases will try to trick you. Always focus on the you. Always focus on the SUBJECTSUBJECT

of the sentence!of the sentence!The class The class (of students) (of students) isis smart. smart.

The girls The girls (in the class) (in the class) areare smart. smart.

What causes problems with S/V What causes problems with S/V agreement?agreement?• Words between the Words between the subjectsubject and the and the verb:verb:

The shoes The shoes in the closetin the closet needs to be shined. needs to be shined.In the closetIn the closet is a is a prepositional phraseprepositional phrase between the between the

subject subject shoesshoes and the verb and the verb need.need.To be correct, the verb should be: To be correct, the verb should be: need with no “s”need with no “s”

The shoes The shoes in the closetin the closet need to be shined. need to be shined.

Common PrepositionsCommon Prepositions

aboutabout beforebefore duringduring insideinside overover

aboveabove belowbelow exceptexcept inin througthroughh

acrossacross besidebeside forfor ofof toto

arounaroundd

betwebetweenen

fromfrom offoff underunder

atat byby inin onon withwith

BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE!BEWARE!

Indefinite Pronouns will try to trick Indefinite Pronouns will try to trick you. Know which ones are Singular, you. Know which ones are Singular,

Plural, and BothPlural, and BothThe class The class (of students) (of students) isis smart. smart.

The girls The girls (in the class) (in the class) areare smart. smart.

Indefinite PronounsIndefinite Pronouns

Singular -one, -body, -thing, each, either, neitherExample: Each of the doors is broke.

Plural Both, few, many, severalExample: Both of my friends are grounded.

Both All, none, any, most, some, moreExample: All of the book is ruined.Example: Most of my grades are good.**ONLY look inside of the prep phrase to determine the number of the subject of SINGULAR and PLURAL Indefinite Pronouns. This is the time only time you rely on the prepositional phrase.

Compound Subjects. . .Compound Subjects. . .

1. Subjects joined by 1. Subjects joined by andand usually take a plural verb. usually take a plural verb.

TheThe boy and girl boy and girl live live in two different dormitories. in two different dormitories.

2. A compound subject that names only one person or thing takes a singular verb.

The captain and point guard is Jack.

Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite snack.

Compound Subjects. . . Compound Subjects. . .

3. Singular subjects joined by 3. Singular subjects joined by “or” or “nor” “or” or “nor” take a singular verb.take a singular verb.

A ticket A ticket oror pass pass isis required to enter the gala. required to enter the gala.

An excuse An excuse oror a doctor’s note a doctor’s note isis required to return to required to return to school.school.

4. When a 4. When a singular Subject and Plural Subject singular Subject and Plural Subject are joined by are joined by “or” or “nor,”“or” or “nor,” the verb agrees the verb agrees with the subject nearer the verb. with the subject nearer the verb.

The The students or teacher students or teacher isis in the classroom. in the classroom.

The The notebook or the booksnotebook or the books areare in my backpack. in my backpack.

Subject-Verb AgreementSubject-Verb Agreement Rules for Other Special ProblemsRules for Other Special Problems

The contractions Here's, There's, The contractions Here's, There's, and Where's contain the and Where's contain the

singularsingular verb “is” causing it to verb “is” causing it to take a take a singularsingular subject. subject.

Examples:Examples:

1. Here1. Here's's my my shoeshoe (not shoes). (not shoes).

2. There2. There's's my my notebooknotebook (not (not notebooks).notebooks).

Subject-Verb AgreementSubject-Verb Agreement Rules for Other Special ProblemsRules for Other Special Problems

Doesn't is Doesn't is SINGULARSINGULAR and Don't is and Don't is PLURALPLURAL!!

Examples: Examples:

1. 1. SheShe doesdoesn't want to go to the n't want to go to the gala with him.gala with him.

2. These 2. These shoesshoes dodon't fit well.n't fit well.

Subject-Verb AgreementSubject-Verb Agreement Rules for Other Special ProblemsRules for Other Special Problems

Most nouns ending in “s” are still Most nouns ending in “s” are still SINGULARSINGULAR..

Examples:Examples:

Mumps Mumps

Measles Measles

News News

PhilippinesPhilippines

Subject-Verb AgreementSubject-Verb Agreement Rules for Other Special ProblemsRules for Other Special Problems

Words stating amounts are usually Words stating amounts are usually SINGULARSINGULAR..

Example:Example:

Fifty thousand dollarsFifty thousand dollars has been has been raisedraised (not have). (not have).

Practice SentencesPractice Sentences

1. Jan 1. Jan beginsbegins her vacation today. her vacation today. Sing. Sub./Sing.Verb Sing. Sub./Sing.Verb

2. New families 2. New families movemove into our into our neighborhood. neighborhood.

Plural. Sub./Plural VerbPlural. Sub./Plural Verb

3. The girls 3. The girls havehave been delayed. been delayed. 11stst helping verb agrees helping verb agrees with subwith sub

4. Is4. Is anyone filling the piñata? anyone filling the piñata? Reword: 1Reword: 1stst helping verb agrees with sub. helping verb agrees with sub.

5. The successful candidate, along with two 5. The successful candidate, along with two of her aides, of her aides, hashas entered the auditorium. entered the auditorium. Take out the prep. ph.Take out the prep. ph.

Practice SentencesPractice Sentences

6. Scientists from all over the world 6. Scientists from all over the world havehave gathered in Geneva. gathered in Geneva. Look at sub; not prep. phLook at sub; not prep. ph

7. Each of the newcomers 7. Each of the newcomers waswas welcomed to welcomed to the city. the city. Sing. Sub./Sing.VerbSing. Sub./Sing.Verb

8. Few of our neighbors 8. Few of our neighbors havehave parakeets. parakeets. Plural. Sub./Plural VerbPlural. Sub./Plural Verb

9. All of the fruit 9. All of the fruit lookslooks fresh. fresh. ALL can be “both” ; look @ ALL can be “both” ; look @ obj. of prep.phobj. of prep.ph

10. All of the pears 10. All of the pears areare ripe. ripe. ALL can be “both” ; look @ ALL can be “both” ; look @ obj. of prep.phobj. of prep.ph

Practice SentencesPractice Sentences

11. Our dog and cat 11. Our dog and cat getget baths in the baths in the summer. summer.

Plural. Sub./Plural Verb; “and” = more than onePlural. Sub./Plural Verb; “and” = more than one

12. Red Beans and Rice 12. Red Beans and Rice isis my favorite meal. my favorite meal. Sing. Sub./Sing.Verb; it’s just one dishSing. Sub./Sing.Verb; it’s just one dish

13. The chief geologist or her assistant 13. The chief geologist or her assistant isis due to arrive tonight. due to arrive tonight. “or” = verb agrees w/ sub. nearer the “or” = verb agrees w/ sub. nearer the verbverb

14.14. A book or flowers usually A book or flowers usually makemake an an appropriate gift. appropriate gift. “or” = verb agrees w/ sub. nearer the verb“or” = verb agrees w/ sub. nearer the verb

15.15. The clothes or the bag The clothes or the bag smellssmells terrible. terrible. “ “or” = verb agrees w/ sub. nearer the verbor” = verb agrees w/ sub. nearer the verb