Subject-Verb Agreement 6th Grade English Language Arts Ms. Currie

Subject-Verb Agreement A verb expresses action or a state of being. A verb tense shows the time of the action or the state of being. The rules for forming verb tenses depends on the verb types. Form the past tense for regular verbs with –ed or –d. Irregular verbs do not follow a set pattern. It is best to memorize the past tense of these verbs. The future tense of these verbs ALWAYS uses the helping verb will.

Present I cheer I use I sit I am I have Past Future Tenses I cheered Regular Verb: Cheer Use Irregular Verb: Sit Be Have Present I cheer I use I sit I am I have Past I cheered I used I sat I was I had Future I will cheer I will use I will sit I will be I will have

Underline the verb in each sentence and indicate its tense: Panchito likes his new school. Migrant farmers moved around a lot. I will pick strawberries in the summer. Mr. Lima offered Panchito trumpet lessons. I will sit and listen to him practice.

Change the tense of the following sentences Change the tense of the following sentences. You may convert the verb to past, present, or future tense. The Lin family was invited to dinner in the United States. Mrs. Gleason offered celery to the Lins. Mother will memorize phrases and repeat them over and over again. I wanted a pair of blue jeans. I will be embarrassed next time I go to a restaurant with my mom and dad.

Agreement in Number A verb must agree with its subject in number. Number refers to whether a word is singular or plural. When a word refers to one person, place, thing, idea, action, or condition, it is singular. When a word refers to more than one, it is plural.

Singular and Plural Subjects Singular subjects take singular verbs. Teamwork is important in a jazz band. Agree Singular Verb

Plural subjects take plural verbs. The musicians play without sheet music. Most nouns that end in s or es are plural. For example, musicians is plural. Most verbs that end in s are singular. Plural Subject Plural verb

Practice : Write the correct word for each. Rock critics (considers, consider) the Beatles one of the most important groups in rock and roll history. Their musical development (shows, show) constant growth and exploration. In the late 1950s they (was, were) playing other people’s songs in clubs. However, their own compositions (was, were) changing popular music. Beatle songs (attracts, attract) listeners who like great melodies and clever lyrics. By the mid-1960s they (was, were) performing to huge crowds in baseball stadiums. Adults (remembers, remember) mobs of young fans screaming at Beatles’ concerts. The Beatles (was, were) considered wild in their day. Such popular groups (affects, affect) clothing and hair styles Today their music still (plays, play) around the world.

Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects Some pronouns do not refer to a definite, or specific, person, place, thing, or idea. These are called indefinite pronouns. When used as subjects, some indefinite pronouns are always singular. Some are always plural. Others can be singular or plural depending on how they’re used.

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS Singular Plural Singular or Plural another anybody anyone anything each either everybody everyone everything neither nobody no one nothing one somebody someone something Plural Both few many several Singular or Plural All any most none some

More Rules Singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs. Everyone knows about camels in desert caravans. Everything about them seems strange and exotic.

Plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs. Few of us realize their importance to desert people. Many rely on the camel for everyday living.\ All of the camels in this photo are Bactrain camels.

Singular or Plural? The indefinite pronouns all, any, most, none, and some can be either singular or plural. When you use one of these words as a subject, think about the noun it refers to. If the noun is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb. All of the camels carry supplies for humans on their humps. Some of the Mongolian desert still has wild Bactrain camels.

Sometimes an indefinite pronoun refers to a noun in a previous sentence. The camels went eight days without water. All were healthy. Indefinite Pronoun Plural noun Plural Verb

Rewrite correctly each sentence in which the verb does not agree with the subject. Everyone have heard of seeing-eye dogs. Few knows the term hearing dogs. All of these dogs alerts their owners to sounds of danger. Several of the dog breeds is especially suited for work with visually challenged people. Some of the best dogs includes German shepherds, Labrador retrievers, and golden retrievers. Most of the states guarantees access rights to guide-dog users. No one in these states is allowed to keep people with dog guides from public places. Everyone recognizes a seeing-eye dog by its special harness and U-shaped handle. Many knows that hearing dogs have a bright yellow or orange collar and leash. Both of the canine helpers gives visually challenged and hearing-impaired people more independence.

For each sentence, choose the verb that agrees with the subject For each sentence, choose the verb that agrees with the subject. Write each sentence correctly. No one (seems, seem) neutral on the subject of dogs as pets. Something about this topic (make, makes) people argue. Many (praise, praises) dogs for their loyalty and obedience. Few of the cat lovers (agrees, agree) Some of them (thinks, think) dogs are just loud and stupid. Somebody (accuses, accuse) a dog of having bad manners. Others (blames, blame) the owner for bad training. Some of the worst fights between neighbors (involves, involve) dogs. Often neither of the sides (want, wants) to compromise. Yet everybody (know, knows) pets are like family members.