Agreement: Subject/verb

I. The basics: You must first find the subject and the verb in a sentence in order to see if they match in number. The student studies after school. Students study after school.

Reminders: Note: Some sentences have more than one set of subjects and verbs. I missed class on Friday because I was sick. Note: Sentences do not always start with the subject and the verb; sometimes they are in the middle or they’re separated by phrases. My third grade teacher [with the short hair and long dresses] runs [in the park] [on Sundays].

General Rules: Singular subjects take singular verbs, and verbs usually end with an “s” in the PRESENT TENSE. (1) Sally skips (along the side walk). Plural subjects take plural verbs, and verbs DO NOT end with an “s” in the PRESENT TENSE. (>1) Horses gallop (in the pasture).

General Rule: Compound subjects occur when the subject is more than one noun combined with a conjunction, and they take a plural verb. Carrie and Sabrina go [to the movies] [on Saturdays.] Both cookies and brownies are my favorite desserts. Compound verbs are when the subject is doing two things combined with a conjunction. My friends call and text me daily.

Exception to the Rule: Collective nouns represents a group of things. The verb is then determined by whether or not the action is referring to the group as a whole or the individuals within the group. The flute ensemble are tuning their instruments. The flute ensemble is playing its concert in the gymnasium. (Use any given pronouns as hints.)

Practice: Circle the verb and underline the subject. Kent (explores, explore) the woods behind his house. In olden times, explorers (uses, use) maps and the stars as a guide. After school Maggie and Joyce (dances, dance) around their room. Athletes (stretches and practices, stretch and practice) before big games. The classroom beside the kitchen (gets, get) hot during lunchtime.

Practice: Circle the verb and underline the subject. 6. The English class (writes, write) reports on their summer reading. 7. The public (supports, support) its travel baseball team.

II. Subjects Followed by Prep Phrases/Clauses Some subjects can be hard to find because they are surrounded by other nouns that relate to the verb within a prepositional phrase or a relative clause.

General Rule: The verb should match the actual noun doing the action. Don’t match the verb to the nouns that surround the subject and give more information about it. The plate of cookies sits on the counter. The bouquet of yellow roses costs too much money. Students who major in nursing are getting good jobs. The girl with the floral tattoos and multiple piercings is my best friend.

Practice: Circle the correct verb and underline the subject. The list of names (is used, are used) to take attendance. Apartments in this city (is, are) expensive. The box of games (belongs, belong) to my brother. The grove of orange trees (looks, look) beautiful in the postcard. Sounds of music (floats, float) throughout the neighborhood.

III. Indefinite Pronouns Sometimes, pronouns can be the subject of a sentence, including indefinite pronouns. “Indefinite” implies that the pronouns are a general/unspecific one, amount or number.

III. Indefinite Pronouns 1. Some indef. pronouns always act like a singular noun, meaning their corresponding verbs end with “s.” Pronouns that are ALWAYS singular: Everyone, anyone, someone, no one, one Something, anything, everything, nothing Everybody, somebody, nobody Each, neither, either, etc.

III. Indefinite Pronouns 1. Some indefinite pronouns are ALWAYS plural: Both, several, much, many, few

III. Indefinite Pronouns 2. Other indef. pronouns are either singular OR plural depending on the noun they describe and whether or not that noun is a number or an amount.

III. Indefinite Pronouns Indefinite pronouns that are singular OR plural depending on their noun: All, any, more, most, some Some of the water is for tomorrow. Some of the people are unhappy. (They’re followed by “OF ______”)

III. Indefinite Pronouns NUMBER Nouns You CAN COUNT them; there are several items. How MANY? Examples: Bottles, ideas, dancers This kind of noun makes the verb PLURAL AMOUNT Nouns You CAN’T COUNT them; it is a whole unit. How MUCH? Examples: Water, faith, advice This kind of noun makes the verb SINGULAR

Practice: Circle the correct verb AND its subject. This is Homework for Thursday if unfinished.

Agreement: Pronoun/antecedent Agreement

What is the “antecedent”? The antecedent is the noun that the pronoun is replacing. Mike and Sandra were partners because they shared a table. John picked up a rock and threw it into the creek. Some of the cookies were broken.

General Rule: Plural antecedents take plural pronouns. Students should review their notes during clinic. Singular antecedents take singular pronouns. Harold reviews his notes during clinic.

Remember: Even though it might sound wrong, singular antecedents cannot be replaced by plural pronouns. A student should review his or her notes during clinic. If a contestant wants to forfeit, he or she will have to talk to the judge.

Remember: Note: you will mostly see this issue with indefinite pronouns. Each student should review his or her notes during clinic. One of the cats didn’t eat his or her dinner.

One of the sisters needs to clean (her, their) room. Practice: Circle the pronoun that agrees with the underlined antecedent. Everyone needs to bring (his or her, their) homework to class tomorrow. One of the sisters needs to clean (her, their) room. Some of the gymnasts earn perfect scores on (his or her; their) routines.

Pronoun CASE Agreement

Subject vs. Object The subject is the noun doing the action and the object is the noun receiving the action. I turned in the paper. Subject = I; Object = paper Mike gave the book to me after class. Subject = Mike; Object = me & book

*Does not apply to indefinite pronouns* The case of the pronoun depends on whether it is the subject or object. Subject Case Pronouns Object Case Pronouns I Me He, she Him, her They Them We Us (Who) (Whom) *Does not apply to indefinite pronouns* He gave the book to me after the meeting. Greg and I went to the gym on Saturday.

Tip: If the pronoun is in a prepositional phrase, it is the OBJECT.

Practice: Circle the correct form of the pronouns. We wanted to buy (he, him) a new car. His sister and (he, him) are very close. (We, us) students want a break. May John and (I, me) go to the nurse? (They, them) sent the letters to your brother and (I, me).

TIP: If you have “____ AND ____” in a sentence, isolate the pronoun and it should still make sense. EX. Can Kelly and (I, me) go to the office? Can ME go to the office doesn’t make sense.