Subject Verb Agreement
Learning Objective:
To identify verbs that agree with their subject
in a sentence.
Number
Number is the form a word takes when it is
singular or plural.
Singular = one person, place, thing, or idea.
Plural = two or more people, places, things, or
ideas
Singular: egg, person, fox, I, die, each
Plural: eggs, people, foxes, we, dice, all
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Practice
Identify the following nouns as singular or plural:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Cell phone
Dogs
iPod
Fish
boxes
Agreement of Subject and Verb

A subject should agree in number with its verb. Singular subjects
should have singular verbs, and plural subjects should have plural
verbs.
Examples: The student studies algebra.
The students study algebra.
Both subjects have verbs that agree with it in number.

In a verb phrase, the first helping verb agrees in number with the
subject.
Example: The student is studying algebra.
The students are studying algebra.
Agreement of Subject and Verb
continued:

Generally, nouns ending in s are plural.
Examples: bands, thoughts, friends, lizards

Generally, verbs ending in s are singular.
Examples: jumps, hears, borrows, waits

Verbs used with the singular pronouns I and you do not
end in s.
Examples: I talk, you talk
Identify the verb that agrees in number
with the subject.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Milli (run, runs) down the hall.
I (play, plays) the electric guitar in my band.
The people in the building (practice, practices) fire
drills regularly.
Juan, the student with a cast on his leg, (need, needs)
crutches to get around.
They (say, says) I need to replace the book I lost.
It (is, are) important to brush your teeth every day.
Summary




What is subject verb agreement?
How do you decide whether to use a
singular or plural form of a verb in a
sentence?
What part of the verb agrees with the
subject when there is a verb phrase?
Why is it important to understand subject
verb agreement?