DANIEL PRESTON JULY 15, 2010

Subject Verb Agreement

 As we’ve discussed before, a sentence is made up of a subject (the thing performing an action) and a verb (the action performed).  In the present tense, verbs agree with their subjects in number (singular/plural) and in person (first/second/third).

SINGULARPLURAL  First :I am/was  Second:you are/were  Third: he/she was  First :we are/were  Second:you are/were  Third: they are/were

 Make a verb agree with its subject, not words in between.

 The samples on the tray in the lab need testing.  The samples on the tray in the lab need testing.  High levels of air pollution cause damage to the respiratory tract.  High levels of air pollution cause damage to the respiratory tract.

 The slaughter of pandas for their pelts has caused the panda population to decline.  The slaughter of pandas for their pelts has caused the panda population to decline.

 Leon and Jan jogs together  Leon and Jan jog together.  A subject with two or more parts joined with and is treated as plural.  Each tree, shrub, and vine need to be sprayed.  Each tree, shrub, and vine needs to be sprayed.  Each and Every make compound subjects singular

 Everybody who signed up for the snowboarding trip were taking lessons  Everybody who signed up for the snowboarding trip was taking lessons  Treat most indefinite pronouns as singular.

 A tent and sleeping bag is the required equipment for all campers  A tent and sleeping bag are the required equipment for all campers

 A major force in today’s economy are women – as earners, consumers, and investors.  A major force in today’s economy is women – as earners, consumers, and investors.