Subject/Verb AgreementSubject/Verb Agreement

The subject and verb must match in number Singular subjects have singular verbs Plural subjects have plural verbs Subject – Verb Agreement

When a subject refers to only one person or thing, it is singular Singular verbs must have an S on the end He lives in Ocala. Ms. Urban loves Johnny Depp. Tinkerbell licks Roxy’s ears. Singular Subjects and Verbs

When a subject refers to more than one person or thing, it is plural Plural verbs do not have an S on the end Johnny Depp and Ms. Urban love each other. Tinkerbell and Roxy play in the yard. The players want to rest. Plural Subjects and Verbs

The baby sleep/sleeps more than ten hours a day. – Sleep or sleeps? – Sleep is the plural verb, and sleeps is the singular verb – The baby sleeps more than ten hours a day. What if we said babies? – The babies sleep more than ten hours a day. Check for Understanding

1.The sealed boxes belong/belongs to Jenna. 2.The children gives/give the teacher a snack. 3.Many students think/thinks class is hard. 4.Harry give/gives Sally lunch everyday. 5.The puppies play/plays all night. 6.Many women pay/pays to color their hair. 7.My boss is/are nice. Quiz Yourself Answers: 1.belong 2.give 3.think 4.gives 5.play 6.Pay 7.is

1.The football team is/are good this year. 2.She was/were sad yesterday. 3.Jenna steal/steals my clothes. 4.Teri was/were speeding when she got her ticket. 5.The teachers talk/talks to each other. Quiz Yourself Answers: 1.The football team is good this year. 2.She was sad yesterday. 3.Jenna steals my clothes. 4.Teri was speeding when she got her ticket. 5.The teachers talk to each other.

Compound subject – more than one subject When the subjects are joined by and, you want to use a plural verb. Johnny Depp and Ms. Urban like movies. The boy and girl watch tv. Compound Subject

When joined by or or nor, make the verb agree with the subject closest to it Either Jake or Jenna has my keys. Jackie or Karl is going to come. Neither rain nor clouds are going to ruin my day. Compound Subject

Name a group of people or things – Team, band, class, committee, crew, crowd, family, senate, troop Use a singular verb when they act as a single unit. The team is excited for the game. The crew is mutinying against the captain. The orchestra sounds lovely tonight. Collective Nouns

Use a plural verb when referring to individual actions or feelings The team get their new uniforms today. The crew buy their new fishing poles from the store. The family are walking, running, and biking to the game. Collective Nouns

Sometimes, a subject and verb are separated by a prepositional phrase – Starts with a preposition and ends with an object (noun or pronoun) A small bag of potato chips contain/contains 440 calories. – So what do we do? Things to Watch

Cross out the prepositional phrase! A small bag of potato chips contain/contains 440 calories. The tomatoes in this salad gives/give me vitamins. Things to Watch Answers: 1.contains 2.give

The dogs in the crate cry/cries all night. – The dogs in the crate cry all night. Many people from Wisconsin has/have accents. – Many people from Wisconsin have accents. Things to Watch

Many cultures from different countries try/tries to maintain their customs. – Many cultures from different countries try to maintain their customs. The cause of thunder is/are studied by scientists. – The cause of thunder is studied by scientists. Things to Watch

One Anyone Everyone No one Someone Anybody Everybody Nobody Somebody Each Always Singular Pronouns

Both Few Many Several Always Plural Pronouns

Some, any, all, none, and most are exceptions to ignoring prepositional phrases We need the prepositional phrase to let us know if the pronoun is singular or plural – Some of the pie is gone. – Some of the cookies are gone. Exceptions

1.Is/Are any of the paper still in the supply cabinet? 2.Are/is any of the pencils still in the supply cabinet? 3.All of her work has/have been published. 4.All of her poems has/have been published. Quiz Yourself on Exceptions Answers: 1.Is any of the paper…. 2.Are any of the pencils… 3.All of her work has been published. 4.All of her poems have been published.