Subject Verb Agreement

1
Subject Verb Agreement

• Basic Definition and Prepositions

2
Subject Verb Agreement

• A verb must agree with its subject in number
• Singular subjects take singular verbs

3
Subject Verb Agreement

• The candle burns slowly
• S V
• The car comes to a sudden stop

4
Subject Verb Agreement

• Plural subjects take plural verbs
• The candles burn slowly
• S V
• The prisoners walk in the exercise yard

5
Subject Verb Agreement

• How can you tell if the verb is singular or
  plural?
• Replace the subject with he or they.
• You should be able to hear if it is correct or
  not

6
Subject Verb Agreement

• He walk (Does this sound correct?)
• He is singular and it does not fit the verb.
• They walk (Does this sound correct?)
• They is plural and it does fit the verb.

7
Prepositional phrases between subject and verb

• Students often commit agreement errors because
  they mistake words in prepositional phrases for
  the subjects of verbs
• The many lights on the Christmas tree makes it
  look very festive.
• Lights, not tree, is the subject.
• The many lights on the Christmas tree make it
  look very festive.

8
Prepositional Phrases
Aboard Behind From Throughout
About Below In To
Above Beneath Into Toward
Across Beside Like Under
After Between Near Underneath
Against Beyond Of Until
Along But (except) Off Unto
Amid By On Up
Among Down Over Upon
Around During Past With
At Except Since Within
Before For Through Without
9
Prepositional Phrases

• When there is a prepositional phrase, one should
  cross out the phrase in order to see the subject
  and verb agreement.
• 1. Many dogwood trees on my street are in bloom.

10
Prepositional Phrases

• 2. Her paper on rare American stamps needs
  editing.
• 3. Your opinion of the candidates gives the
  pollster important information.
• 4. The scientists at Cape Canaveral work many
  extra hours during a launch
• 5. Some students in the class volunteer for
  outside assignments.