Subject Verb Agreement

1
Subject Verb Agreement
2
The basic idea

• The number of the subject determines the number
  of the verb.
• Singular subjectsingular verb
• Plural subjectplural verb
• Ex The girl graduates. (Singular)
• The students graduate. (Plural)

3
Most of the time

• Nouns ending in -S are plural (aunts, cities,
  tacos, friends)
• Verbs ending in S are singular (gives, takes,
  runs, has, is)
• Note Verbs used with I and you do NOT end in S
• Ex I run. You run. I walk. You walk.

4
Some Rules

• I ? Plural verb (no s) (exception)
• He, She, It ? Singular Verb (-s)
• You ? Plural Verb (no s)
• We ? Plural Verb (no s)
• They ? Plural Verb (no s)

5
Practice Choose the correct form of the verb.
Write the subject and verb.

1. The people (walk, walks) across the street when
   the cars stop.
2. You (is, are) required to turn in your work by
   noon.
3. That house (has, have) always given me the
   creeps.
4. We (talk, talks) on the phone everyday.
5. Kristin (was, were) in the mall and ran into her
   best friend.
6. The kids (sing, sings) every time they hear that
   song on the radio.
7. They (believe, believes) that they will win the
   game.
8. All the women (seems, seem) to feel the same way
   about the issue.
9. Julia (reads, read) all the time.
10. They (attends, attend) the church on the corner.

6
Special Rules for Subject Verb Agreement!

• Compound subjects When the compound subject is
  connected by and, use a plural verb.
• Ex Jim and Thomas like hiking.

Plural Verb
Ex Her dad, mom, and her brothers are doctors.
7
Special Rules for Subject Verb Agreement!

• When the subject is 2 or more singular nouns
  joined by or or nor, use a singular verb.
• Ex A pen or pencil is acceptable to use.
• Ex Neither Sam nor Mike likes sports.

Singular Verb
8
Special Rules for Subject Verb Agreement!

• When a singular subject and a plural subject
  are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with
  the subject closest to the verb.
• Ex Neither the potatoes nor the roast is done.
• Ex Neither the roast nor the potatoes are done.

9
Practice Choose the correct form of the verb.
Write the subject and verb.

1. Mario and Luigi (run, runs) away from the
   fireball.
2. Kathy and Bobby (play, plays) basketball every
   Saturday.
3. She and Simon (is, are) going to the Homecoming
   Dance.
4. Either my mom or my dad (drive, drives) me to
   school.
5. Neither the grapes nor the cantaloupe (was, were)
   ripe enough to eat.

10
SVA Checkpoint Quiz (Just write the verb)

• Neither the cantaloupe nor the grapes (was, were)
  ripe enough to eat.
• Actors and singers (is, are) very prominent in
  Hollywood.
• Either the faucet or the shower head (leak,
  leaks) when the water runs.
• The campers and the counselors (run, runs) 3
  miles every morning.
• The assistant managers or the boss (monitor,
  monitors) the sales floor.
• I (is, am) always up for a good movie.
• The girls (park, parks) the car and then go
  inside.
• My mom and dad (love, loves) music from the 70s.
• The students (is, are) very excited for the game.
• The players or the coach (creates, create) the
  plays.

11
Some more SVA Rules

• Sometimes phrases will appear in between the
  subject and the verb. Dont be misled by these
  phrases!!
• Ex The boy with the purple shoes runs fast.
• The people in the parking lot drive slowly.
• What are these two phrases???

12

• PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES!!!

13
SVA

• So, if we cross out the prepositional phrases we
  can easily choose the verb.

Ex The boy with the purple shoes runs fast.
Ex The people in the parking lot drive
slowly. Remember The subject and verb will
never be in the prepositional phrase!
14
More phrases
SVA

• Other phrases (adjective clauses, appositives,
  and participle phrases) might also interrupt the
  subject and the verb. Do not let these phrases
  confuse you!
• One of the boxes is open
• The people who listen to that music are few.
• The team captain, as well as his players, is
  anxious.
• The book, including all the chapters in the first
  section, is boring.
• The woman with all the dogs walks down my street.

15
Directions Write the sentence. Draw a line
through the interrupting phrase and then identify
the subject and correct verb.

1. Students in the 8th grade (is, are) not permitted
   to attend.
2. Her husband, a very kind man, (call, calls) her
   everyday at lunch.
3. The pond, frozen over since early December, (is,
   are) now safe for ice-skating.
4. The boy with the guitar (play, plays) all the
   time.
5. The girl winning the race (are, is) my best
   friend.
6. All the bands in the contest (deserve, deserves)
   an award.
7. That band from California ( perform, performs)
   all around the world.
8. The woman, a Florida native, (sings, sing)
   beautifully.

16
SVA Special Rules

• The words each, each one, either, neither,
  everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody,
  somebody, someone, and no one are singular and
  require a singular verb.
• Each of these hot dogs is juicy.
• Everybody knows Mr. Jones.
• Either is correct.

17
SVA Special Rules

• Collective nouns are words that imply more than
  one person but that are considered singular and
  take a singular verb, such as group, team,
  committee, class, and family.
• The team runs during practice.
• The committee decides how to proceed.
• The family has a long history.

18
SVA Special Rules

• In sentences beginning with there is or there
  are, the subject follows the verb. Since there is
  not the subject, the verb agrees with what
  follows.
• There are many questions.
• There is a question.

19
Practice Write the correct verb.

• Each of the cars (is, are) expensive.
• Everybody (want, wants) to go to the pep rally.
• There (is, are) a book on the table.
• There (is, are) books on the table.
• The group (is, are) ready to leave.
• The class (has, have) a test every three weeks.
• My family (has, have) never been able to agree.
• Anyone (is, are) welcome to attend.