Subject Verb Agreement

Rule #1 A verb must agree with its subject in number. Number refers to whether a word is singular or plural. A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb. This store sells clothes. (singular subject/verb) These stores sell clothes. (plural subject/verb)

Let’s Practice Do these sentences agree in number? Agree or disagree? My favorite bakery sell 12 different kinds of bagels. Brad spends hours at basketball practice. Competitors lifts heavy barbells. Note: Have students locate the subject and verb. Then have them identify if the subject is singular or plural. Next, have them decide if the subject and verb agree in number. Answers: Disagree. Agree. Disagree.

Your Turn On your own, complete section B on page 109. Be prepared to share your answers.

Back to Basics Remember A clause contains a subject and a verb. A phrase does not contain a subject and a verb. Example I eat breakfast before school. Before school = phrase Notice: It does NOT contain a subject and a verb. Note: Have students recall the difference between a clause and a phrase. This will help prepare them for Rule #2.

Rule #2 The subject of a verb is never a part of a prepositional phrase, an appositive phrase, or a participial phrase. Such phrases may separate the subject from the verb. To find the subject, look at the words before the phrase. Make sure the verb agrees with the subject. Example: A hive of lively bees is noisy. Note: Use the example to demonstrate the rule to students. The prepositional phrase, of lively bees, can be ignored when determining subject verb agreement.

Let’s Practice Twenty members of the marching band (has, have) arrived for practice. The students, along with their art teacher, (is, are) going to the exhibition. Where is the phrase? Where is the subject? Which verb agrees with the subject? Answer: Members HAVE. Students ARE.

Your Turn On your own, complete section B on page 112. Also, complete section A on page 113. Be prepared to share your answers.

Rule #3 A compound subject is made up of two or more simple subjects joined by a conjunction. Compound subjects can take either singular or plural verbs. When simple subjects are joined by and, they call for a plural verb. Example: My brother and I are both interested in cooking. Brother and I are joined by and - this means they need a plural verb.

Rule #3 Continued... When the parts of a compound subject are joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the part closest to it. This rule is KING. Follow this rule before following any other. Example: Either a large pot or two smaller bowls are needed for the soup. Neither the grapes nor the banana is ripe.

Let’s Practice Where is your subject? Which verb is correct? Why? Culinary school and experience (are, is) necessary for becoming a chef. Neither the ingredients nor the appearance (are, is) neglected in a fine dish. Answer: Are. Because there are two simple subjects joined by and. Is. Because you must follow the or/nor rule and look only at the word closest to the verb.

Your Turn On your own, complete section A on page 115. Be prepared to share your answers.

Rule #4 When used as subjects, some indefinite pronouns are always singular. Examples include another, anybody, anyone, each, everything, everyone, neither, nobody, and someone. They take singular verbs. Example: Neither of the mountain peaks is visible.

Rule #4 Continued... Some indefinite pronouns, including both, few, many, and several, are always plural. They take plural verbs. Example: Several of the mountain climbers carry cameras.

Rule #4 Continued... Some indefinite pronouns, including all, any, most, none and some, can be singular or plural depending on how they are used in the sentence. If the pronoun refers to one person or thing, it takes a singular verb. If the pronoun refers to more than one person or thing, it takes a plural verb. Example: Most of the skiers are from neighboring states. (There are many skiers). Most of the snow is three feet deep. (The snow is considered as one unit). Note: You can also tell students to refer to the object of the preposition in these instances to help them determine whether the verb is singular or plural.

Indefinite Pronouns Start video at 0:38 seconds, stop at 0:57. Consider playing a few times to help students remember the various indefinite pronouns.

Let’s Practice... Few of the world’s ports (is, are) as busy as the harbors of Singapore. All of the Amazon rainforest (are, is) home to unusual animals and birds. Where is the indefinite pronoun? Is it singular or plural? How do we know? Answer: Few. Always plural so it calls for are. All. Can be either - must look at the object of the preposition. It is singular, so we need a singular verb is.

Your Turn On your own, complete section B on page 118 and section A on page 119. Be prepared to share your answers.

Rule #5 Sometimes the number of a subject can be hard to determine. Sometimes, you need to decide whether the subject refers to a unit or an individual.

Collective Nouns A collective noun refers to a group of people or things. Examples include team, family, committee, jury, herd, class, staff and majority. When the members of the group act together, the collective noun takes a singular verb. When the members act as individuals, the collective noun takes a plural verb.

Let’s Demonstrate On the count of three, we will all rise and say the pledge of allegiance. The class says the pledge of allegiance. Did we act as a unit? Or individuals? Look at the sentence. Is it singular or plural? Why?

Collective Nouns: Take Two I need five volunteers. In this scenario we are going to pretend that we have five students in the class. Volunteers, one at a time, please turn in the piece of paper to the turn-in box.

Collective Nouns Continued... The class turn in their paper when they finish the assignment. Look at the sentence above. Think about the scenario our volunteers acted out for us. Did they work as one unit (all together at once) or as individuals? When many members of a group act as individuals, the sentence takes a plural verb.

Your Turn On your own, complete the practice at the bottom of page 121. Also, complete section A on page 122. Be prepared to share your answers.

Applying What We Have Learned In groups of three or four, you will create sentences using pictures from magazines. Find a picture for the subject and a picture for the verb. Paste them to your paper. Write a sentence below. Underline the subject and circle the verb; identify whether they are singular or plural. You will need to create three sentences. Your sentences must reflect three different rules; you will be graded on accuracy.

Example Each girl in the class surfs. This is an example of the indefinite pronoun rule. Each is singular and calls for a singular verb.