Subject-Verb Agreement

1
Subject-Verb Agreement Parallel Structure

• Unit 10 Grammar Forms Functions 3

2
S-V Agreement General Rules Part 1
Click on the correct sentence.
Correct -- Use the base form of verb with I
you.
Try again.
I will run to the store.
I will runs to the store.
Correct -- Use the base verb -s with he,
she, it.
She runs every morning.
Try again.
She run every morning.
Correct -- Use plural verbs with plural subjects.
Try again.
John and Alice are lawyers.
John and Alice is lawyers.
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3
S-V Agreement General Rules Part 1
Click on the correct sentence.
Correct If two or more subjects are connected
with the word and, then it is a plural subject.
Try again.
The lab and the library is on the first floor.
The lab and the library are on the first floor.
Correct Some nouns end in -s BUT are singular
and need singular verbs.
Mathematics is not my favorite subject.
Try again.
Mathematics are not my favorite subject.
Correct Mathematics is an adjective.
Teachers is the plural subject, so you need a
plural verb.
Mathematics teachers are not my favorite people.
Try again.
Mathematics teachers is not my favorite people.
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4
S-V Agreement General Rules Part 1
Click on the correct sentence.
Correct Use singular verbs with gerund subjects
(verb ing used as a subject)
Swimming is my favorite sport.
Try again.
Swimming are my favorite sport.
Correct Two or more gerund subjects become a
plural subject.
Swimming and biking are popular sports in
California.
Try again.
Swimming and biking is popular sports in
California.
Correct Mathematics is an adjective.
Teachers is the plural subject, so you need a
plural verb.
Mathematics teachers are not my favorite people.
Try again.
Mathematics teachers is not my favorite people.
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5
S-V Agreement General Rules Part 1
Click on the correct sentence.
Correct Use singular verbs with each,
every, or any (has is singular, have is
plural)
Each of the subjects in a sentence has to agree
with its verb.
Try again.
Each of the subjects in a sentence have to agree
with its verb.
Correct Use a singular verb with indefinite
pronouns like everyone, anything, and
everything.
Everyone wants something from us.
Try again.
Everyone want something from us.
Try again.
All of the teachers prepares for class.
Correct Use a plural verb with all, almost
all, most or some
All of the teachers prepare for class.
Both are correct. All uses a plural verb.
Both are correct. Everyone uses a singular verb.
Everyone prepares for class.
All of the teachers want something from us.
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6
S-V Agreement General Rules Part 1
Click on the correct sentence.
Correct Two singular subjects combined with
or need a singular verb (different rule for
eitheror.
Thursday or Friday is the best day to go.
Try again.
Thursday or Friday are the best days to go.
Correct Two plural subjects joined by or need
a plural verb.
Dogs or cats are good pets.
Try again.
Dogs or cats is good pets.
Both are correct. Verb agrees with subject
closest to it when subjects combined by or.
I think that the potatoes or the chicken is
burning.
Both are correct. Verb agrees with subject
closest to it when subjects combined by or.
I think that the chicken or the potatoes are
burning.
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7
S-V Agreement General Rules Part 2
Click on the correct sentence.
Correct Prepositional phrases do not affect the
verb of his investments. The subject is value.
The value of his investments is dropping every
day.
Try again.
The value of his investments are dropping every
day.
Correct Phrases with along with, together
with, accompanied by, as well as, and in
addition to do not affect the verb.
My parents, along with my brother, are going to
visit me tomorrow.
Try again.
My parents, along with my brother, is going to
visit me tomorrow.
Correct there or here can be singular or
plural depending upon the noun that follows it.
There are many students in class today.
Try again.
There is many students in class today.
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8
S-V Agreement with Quantity Words
Click on the correct sentence.
Correct Use a singular verb with expressions of
time, money, distance, weight and measurement
even if they look plural.
Ten dollars is all the money I have.
Try again.
Ten dollars are all the money I have.
Correct Use a singular verb with the number
of.
The number of students in our class is 28.
Try again.
The number of students in our class are 28.
Correct Use a plural verb with a number of.
A number of important people are here today.
Try again.
A number of important people is here today.
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9
S-V Agreement with Quantity Words
Click on the correct sentence.
Correct With some of, a lot of, and
three-quarters of the verb agrees with the
noun/pronoun after of.
Some of the orange is still good.
Try again.
Some of the orange are still good.
Try again.
Some of them is still good.
Correct With some of, a lot of, and
three-quarters of the verb agrees with the
noun/pronoun after of.
Some of them are still good.
Correct Use a singular verb with one of the.
One of the students is sick.
Try again.
One of the students are sick.
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10
S-V Agreement with Quantity Words
Click on the correct sentence.
Correct Use a singular verb with one of the.
One of the students is sick.
Try again.
One of the students are sick.
Correct Use a singular verb with every one of
the.
Every one of the dogs is well-trained.
Try again.
Every one of the dogs are well-trained.
Try again.
Each of the umbrellas are broken.
Correct Use a singular verb with each of the.
Each of the umbrellas is broken.
Correct Use a singular verb with none of the.
At least in formal grammar.
Incorrect for written grammar. Will hear it with
informal spoken grammar.
None of the students are late.
None of the students is late.
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11
Parallel Structure
Click on the correct sentence.
Try again. Grammar is a noun organize is a
verb. Therefore, the nouns are not parallel.
Correct Grammar is a noun organization is
a noun. Therefore, the nouns are parallel.
The essay had mistakes in grammar and organize.
The essay had mistakes in grammar and
organization.
Correct Interesting is a gerund adjective
helpful is an adjective. Therefore, the
adjectives are parallel.
His speech was neither interesting nor helpful.
Try again. Interesting is an adjective
(gerund) helping is a verb because helpful
is the adjective of help. Therefore, the
adjectives are not parallel.
His speech was neither interesting nor helping.
Try again. Arrives is a simple present verb
left is a simple past verb. Therefore, the
verbs are not parallel.
She arrives at seven and left at nine.
Correct Arrives is a simple present verb
leaves is a simple present verb. Therefore, the
verbs are parallel.
She arrives at seven and leaves at nine.
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12
Parallel Structure
Click on the correct sentence.
Incorrect Slow is an adjective quickly is
an adverb. Therefore, the adverbs are NOT
parallel.
Correct. Slowly is an adverb quickly is an
adverb. Therefore, the adverbs are parallel.
Does she work slow or quickly?
Does she work slowly or quickly?
Correct Dancing is a gerund subject
biking is a gerund subject. Therefore, the
subjects are parallel.
Try again. Dancing is a gerund subject bikes
is a noun subject. Therefore, the subjects are
NOT parallel.
Dancing and biking are my favorite activities.
Dancing and bikes are my favorite activities.
Correct. To swim is an infinitive to fish is
an infinitive. Therefore, the infinitive objects
are parallel.
Try again To swim is an infinitive to
fishing is incorrect grammar (to gerund).
Therefore, the infinitive objects are NOT
parallel.
I like to swim but not to fishing.
I like to swim but not to fish.
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13
Parallel Structure
Click on the correct sentence. ----------finished
April 13, 2010
Both are correct. Separate a series with commas,
but you do not have to put the comma before and
in the series.
Both are correct. Separate a series with commas,
but you do not have to put the comma before and
in the series.
The instructor expects students to attend every
class, to do all the assignments and to hand in
homework on time.
The instructor expects students to attend every
class, to do all the assignments, and to hand in
homework on time.
Try again.
I can speak Chinese, and English.
Correct When there are only two items, you do
not use a comma.
I can speak Chinese and English.
Bonus comma question -- Not a parallel structure
question
Try again.
I will graduate in June, because I have taken all
my required courses.
Correct Do not use a comma in front of because.
I will graduate in June because I have taken all
my required courses.
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14
Parallel Structure Coordinate Conjunctions
Click on the correct sentence.
Correct. Need a comma in front of the coordinate
conjunction.
A. Susan has many problems, but she always looks
happy.
Incorrect. Need a comma in front of a coordinate
conjunction.
B. Susan has many problems but she always looks
happy
Correct. For in this sentence is a preposition
and does not connect two independent clauses.
I bought it for you.
Incorrect.
I bought it, for you.
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15
Parallel StructureCorrelative Conjunctions
Click on the correct sentence.
Correct. Need the verbs to be parallel in tense.
Ben both studies and sleeps.
Incorrect.
Ben both studies and slept.
Try again.
Both his brother and sister is in town.
Correct When two subjects are connected with
bothand, then the verb is plural.
Both his brother and sister are in town.
Correct. Use the subject closest to the verb to
determine singular or plural.
Neither the doctor nor the nurse is with the
patient.
Incorrect.
Neither the doctor nor the nurse are with the
patient.
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