Using Subject-Verb Agreement What is subject-verb agreement? How to fix problems in agreement Phrases between subjects and verbs Indefinite pronouns Compound subjects Subjects after verbs Don’t and doesn’t Review A Review B What is subject-verb agreement? Every sentence has a subject and a verb. Subject Verb The dog dog runs. runs. runs. Subject Verb sails. A ship ship sails. sails. Subject Verb Two children childrenplay play playmusic. music. music. What is subject-verb agreement? Number Number is the form a word takes to show whether it is singular or plural. • A word that refers to one thing is singular. • A word that refers to more than one is plural. Singular Plural scientists scientist goose geese they she What is subject-verb agreement? Singular subjects A verb should agree in number with its subject. • Singular subjects take singular verbs. Singular Singular Verb Subject Tabitha Tabitha rides ridesthe the thetrain. train. train. rides Singular Singular Subject Verb He repairs thebicycle. bicycle. He repairs the What is subject-verb agreement? Plural subjects • Plural subjects take plural verbs. Plural Plural Subject Verb The ride the the train. The girls ride thetrain. girls ride Plural Subject Plural Verb They repair thebicycle. bicycle. They repair repair the the bicycle. What is subject-verb agreement? Plural subjects In a verb phrase the first helping verb agrees with the subject. Singular Singular Verb Phrase Helping Verb Subject is repairing the bicycle. He is Plural Plural HelpingVerb VerbPhrase Subject are repairing repairing the bicycle. They They are What is subject-verb agreement? On Your Own For each sentence, identify the subject, and then choose the verb in parentheses that agrees with the subject. 1. The water (rushes, rush) down the river. 2. The bees (buzzes, buzz) around the picnic table. 3. The photograph (was, were) a gift from my cousin. 4. At the science fair the winner always (receives, receive) a savings bond. 5. They (march, marches) in all the parades. [End of Section] How to fix problems in agreement Phrases between subjects and verbs Sometimes a phrase comes between the subject and the verb. Subject Verb Phrase Verb of Coyote. those folk tales is Coyote. The hero is The number of the subject is usually not changed by a phrase following the subject. Subject Verb The hero of those folk tales is Coyote. How to fix problems in agreement Phrases between subjects and verbs Subject Verb bag of on the the shelf. shelf. A bag of marbles marbles isison Is agrees with bag, not marbles. Subject Verb The peppers inthe the garden garden have grownquickly. quickly. peppers in have grown The helping verb have agrees with peppers, not garden. How to fix problems in agreement Phrases between subjects and verbs On Your Own For each of the following sentences, choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses. 1. A tidal wave, despite its name, (is, are) not caused by the tides. 2. Earthquakes beneath the sea (causes, cause) most tidal waves. 3. Tidal waves in the open ocean generally (does, do) not cause much interest. 4. The height of tidal waves there often (remains, remain) low. [End of Section] How to fix problems in agreement Indefinite pronouns Indefinite pronouns refer to a person or thing whose exact identity is unknown. • Some indefinite pronouns are singular. • Some are plural. • Some may be either singular or plural, depending on how they are used. How to fix problems in agreement Indefinite pronouns The following indefinite pronouns are singular: Singular indefinite pronouns anybody either neither one anyone everybody nobody somebody anything everyone no one someone each everything nothing something Subject Subject Verb Verb Verb Neither of on the boys is sale in my Nothing ever goes on at class. thiswell. store. Everyone the team dribbles How to fix problems in agreement Indefinite pronouns The following indefinite pronouns are plural: Plural indefinite pronouns both few Subject many Verb Both of them wear glasses. Subject Verb Few have traveled there. Verb Subject Are many of the tools sharp? several How to fix problems in agreement Indefinite pronouns The following indefinite pronouns may be singular or plural, depending on how they are used: Singular or plural indefinite pronouns Subject all more none any most some Verb Most of the ice has melted. Subject Singular when they refer to singular words Verb Most of the ice cubes have melted. Plural when they refer to plural words How to fix problems in agreement Indefinite pronouns On Your Own For each of the following sentences, choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses. 1. Most of the balloons (has, have) long strings. 2. Both of these shoes (gives, give) me blisters. 3. Someone on the soccer team (needs, need) a new uniform. 4. Neither of the boys (was, were) wearing a helmet. 5. None of the house (has, have) been painted yet. [End of Section] How to fix problems in agreement Compound subjects A compound subject is two or more subjects that are joined by a coordinating conjunction and that have the same verb. • Subjects joined by and usually take plural verbs. Red and Subject 1 Jana, blue are the school’s colors. Subject 2 Verb Kurt, Subject 1 Subject 2 and Riley Subject 3 enjoy skating. Verb How to fix problems in agreement Compound subjects • Singular subjects joined by or or nor take a singular verb. Neither the bus nor the Singular On Mondays, Manuel or Singular train stops in our town. Singular Verb Gina baby-sits. Singular Verb How to fix problems in agreement Compound subjects • Plural subjects joined by or or nor take a plural verb. Curtains or artworks add color to a room. Plural Plural Neither lemons nor Plural Verb limes were sold there. Plural Verb How to fix problems in agreement Compound subjects • When a singular and a plural subject are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject that is closer to the verb. Plural Singular Verb Either flowers or a book usually makes a nice gift. The verb makes agrees with the nearer subject, book. Singular Maria or her Plural Verb parents prepare the lunches. The verb prepare agrees with the nearer subject, parents. How to fix problems in agreement Compound subjects On Your Own For each of the following sentences, choose the verb that agrees with the compound subject. 1. Ants and spiders (has, have) invaded the backyard. 2. Mandy and her friends (is, are) going to the movies. 3. A statue or a fountain (looks, look) good in a park setting. 4. Neither maples nor elms (grows, grow) well in the valley. 5. Either potatoes or rice (is, are) served with the chicken. [End of Section] How to fix problems in agreement Subjects after verbs In some sentences the subject comes after the verb. Plural Subject Here (is,are are) the the balloons. balloons. When the subject follows the verb . . . 1. Find the subject. 2. Make sure the verb agrees with it. How to fix problems in agreement Subjects after verbs Subjects also appear after verbs in questions. Plural Subject Where (is, are are) the old magazines? magazines? 1. Find the subject. 2. Make sure the verb agrees with it. How to fix problems in agreement Subjects after verbs On Your Own For each of the following sentences, choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses. 1. There (is, are) a new student in my brother’s class. 2. (Was, Were) the fans cheering for the other team? 3. Where (has, have) Reggie hidden the gifts? 4. Here (stands, stand) the bravest heroes among us. 5. There (is, are) several correct answers to that question. [End of Section] How to fix agreement problems Don’t and doesn’t The contractions don’t and doesn’t should agree with their subjects. Don’t is the contraction of do not. Use it with I and you and with all plural subjects. Singular Plural I don’t we don’t you don’t you don’t they don’t Don’t You I don’t don’t the puppies want know that the look rules coat. cute? yet. How to fix agreement problems Don’t and doesn’t Doesn’t is the contraction of does not. Use it with all singular subjects except I and you. Singular I don’t you don’t he/she/it doesn’t The Doesn’t car He doesn’t she doesn’t bowlrun on know well a teen you. in the league? winter. How to fix agreement problems Don’t and doesn’t On Your Own For each of the following sentences, choose the correct contraction in parentheses. 1. I (don’t, doesn’t) have any math homework tonight. 2. (Don’t, doesn’t) you usually study with Julia? 3. That show (don’t, doesn’t) come on until 9:00. 4. My grandparents (don’t, doesn’t) live near us. 5. (Don’t, Doesn’t) Jerome play the guitar anymore? [End of Section] Review A Choose the verb form in parentheses that agrees with the subject. 1. Everyone in her family (prefers, prefer) to drink water. 2. Jamal and his parents (enjoys, enjoy) musicals. 3. There (is, are) three baby birds in the nest. 4. Neither the mower nor the weed-eater (works, work) well. 5. Industries in the state (includes, include) farming and mining. Review B For each of the following sentences, if the subject and verb do not agree, write the correct form of the verb. If the verb already agrees with the subject, write C. 1. This table and this chair were made by hand in Mexico. 2. Each of my brothers go to college out of state. 3. Mr. Chang and his class has painted a mural for the hall. 4. A tornado or a hurricane is a dangerous storm. 5. Here is the decorations for the dance. [End of Section] The End
