Subject-Verb Agreement Ms. Lodhie’s Mini-Lesson on Sophisticated Writing =)

Recognize him? (It’s Gollum, from “The Lord of the Rings”)

“We wants it, we needs it. Must have the precious. They stole it from us. Sneaky little hobbitses. Wicked, tricksy, false!” “Yes, precious, she could. And then we takes it once they're dead.” “Oh! Cruel hobbit! It does not care if we be hungry.” Famous Gollum Quotes What’s common across the sentences in each quote, particularly the underlined portions?

“We wants it, we needs it. Must have the precious. They stole it from us. Sneaky little hobbitses. Wicked, tricksy, false!” “Yes, precious, she could. And then we takes it once they're dead.” “Oh! Cruel hobbit! It does not care if we be hungry.” Famous Gollum Quotes What’s common across the sentences in each quote, particularly the underlined portions? The don’t sound right because subjects and verbs don’t agree!

What Gollum would say… There is too many pictures on the wall. Everybody but Julio want to go home. All the people wants to win the lottery.

The Basic Principle of Subject-Verb Agreement Example (these agree in number): My brother is a nutritionist. My sisters are mathematicians. Example (these DON’T Agree in number): There is too many pictures on the wall. There is too many pictures on the wall. Everybody but Julio want to go home. Everybody but Julio want to go home. All the people plans to win the lottery. All the people plans to win the lottery.  Singular subjects need singular verbs  plural subjects need plural verbs.  They must agree in number. Try to correct the verbs to make the subjects and verbs agree!

The Basic Principle of Subject-Verb Agreement Example (these agree in number): My brother is a nutritionist. My sisters are mathematicians. Example (NOW these Agree in number!): There are too many pictures on the wall. There are too many pictures on the wall. Everybody but Julio wants to go home. Everybody but Julio wants to go home. All the people plan to win the lottery. All the people plan to win the lottery.  Singular subjects need singular verbs  plural subjects need plural verbs.  They must agree in number. Try to correct the verbs to make the subjects and verbs agree!

The Silliness of the English Language  Singular = 1  Plural = 2+  To make a noun plural, we usually add –s Singular: girl Singular: girl Plural: girls Plural: girls Now you try! Singular: power Plural:__________

The Silliness of the English Language  Singular = 1  Plural = 2+  To make a verb plural, we take away the –s. Example: “to talk” Singular: he talks Singular: he talks Plural: they talk Plural: they talk Now you try! “to recommend” Singular: it _________ Plural: they __________

So, what causes problems with Subject-Verb Agreement?! 5 things cause problems with Subject-Verb Agreement: 1.Stuff (words/phrases) in between the Subject and verb 2.Verb placed before the subject (reversed word order) 3.Indefinite pronouns (ex. nobody, each) 4.Compound subjects (2+ subjects) 5.Who, Which, and That

So, what causes problems with Subject-Verb Agreement?! 1. Stuff in between the Subject and verb (prepositional phrases) Without prepositional phrases: – The man dances with joy With “stuff in between” (prepositional phrases): – The shoes in the closet needs to be shined. – “in the closet” is a prepositional phrase in-between the subject and the verb, “shoes” and “needs” Correct the sentence: _________________________________________________

So, what causes problems with Subject-Verb Agreement?! 1. Stuff in between the Subject and verb (prepositional phrases) Without prepositional phrases: – The man dances with joy With “stuff in between” (prepositional phrases): – The shoes in the closet needs to be shined. – “in the closet” is a prepositional phrase in-between the subject and the verb, “shoes” and “needs” Correct the sentence: – The shoes in the closet need to be shined.

So, what causes problems with Subject-Verb Agreement?! 2. Verb before Subject (reversed word order): Example of a “normal order” sentence: (Subject  verb) The cat is in the house. Example of reversed order sentence (verb  subject) Inside the house is the cat. When reversed order goes wrong (subject-verb disagreement): CORRECT THESE SENTENCES: Inside the garage are the shovel. Across the street is Reynosa and Progresso. Where is the instructions for the X-Box?

So, what causes problems with Subject-Verb Agreement?! 2. Verb before Subject (reversed word order): Example of a “normal order” sentence: (Subject  verb) The cat is in the house. Example of reversed order sentence (verb  subject) Inside the house is the cat. When reversed order goes wrong (subject-verb disagreement): Check your corrections: Inside the garage is the shovel. Across the street are Reynosa and Progresso. Where are the instructions for the X-Box?

So, what causes problems with Subject-Verb Agreement?! 3. Indefinite pronouns Example of a subject-verb agreement issues with indefinite pronouns: Nobody have a clue about what they are doing. Nobody has a clue about what they are doing  Indefinite pronouns TAKE A SINGULAR VERB -one words-body words-thing words onenobodynothingeach anyoneanybodyanythingneither everyoneeverybodyeverythingeither someonesomebodysomething

So, what causes problems with Subject-Verb Agreement?! 3. Indefinite pronouns Example: All of the people has a library card. Both skateboards is expensive.  EXCEPT… “All” and “both”, however, are plural  EXCEPT… “All” and “both”, however, are plural All of the people have a library card. Both skateboards are expensive.

So, what causes problems with Subject-Verb Agreement?! 3. Indefinite pronouns Correct the following sentences: (check your answers on the next slide!) Everything are ready for the party. Neither Fred, nor Ed, nor Ted know the way. All of them wants to go. Both of them loves to dance.

So, what causes problems with Subject-Verb Agreement?! 3. Indefinite pronouns Correct the following sentences: Everything is ready for the party. Neither Fred, nor Ed, nor Ted knows the way. All of them want to go. Both of them love to dance.

So, what causes problems with Subject-Verb Agreement?! 4. Compound subjects (2+ subjects)  Subjects joined by “and” usually take a plural verb. Example of subject-verb disagreement issue with compound subjects – Speculation and fear leads to mass hysteria – Speculation and fear lead to mass hysteria Correct the following subject-verb disagreement issues: Diet and exercise is ways to be healthy. Ambition and luck was Juan’s keys to success.

So, what causes problems with Subject-Verb Agreement?! 4. Compound subjects (2+ subjects)  Subjects joined by “and” usually take a plural verb. Example of subject-verb disagreement issue with compound subjects – Speculation and fear leads to mass hysteria – Speculation and fear lead to mass hysteria Correct the following subject-verb disagreement issues: Diet and exercise are ways to be healthy. Ambition and luck were Juan’s keys to success.

So, what causes problems with Subject-Verb Agreement?! 5. “Who”, “Which”, and “That”  If “who”, “which”, or “that” stand for singular words, they take singular verbs Example: – Rebecca is a person who are very private. – Rebecca is a person who is very private  If “who”, “which”, or “that” stand for plural words, they take plural verbs Example: – Joel is one of those people who is very private. – Joel is one of those people who are very private.

Next Steps for learning! Check out the “Subject-Verb Agreement” Independent Practice resource in the Verb usage playlist! Then, take the Checks for Understanding