Poor subject-verb agreement will detract from your writing and distort your meaning. Subject and Verb Agreement

Subject/Verb Review Subject Who or what the sentence is about Could be a noun or pronoun Performs the action of the verb Verb / Predicate Action of the sentence It is essential that all of the subjects and verbs are compatible in number and person. Singular subject (referring to one person, place or thing) is coupled with a singular verb. Plural subject (more than one) are coupled with plural verbs. The dog likes to sleep on the porch under the rocking chair. (singular) The bees fly from flower to flower gathering pollen. (plural)

Did you notice? The –s endings of the singular verb? Unlike nouns, which usually have an –a on the end of a plural, singular verbs end in –s, while plural verbs do not. So …. Basically: Add an “s” to the verb if its subject is singular Don’t add an “s” to the verb if its subject is plural

When to add – ending vs. when to not add … Add an “s” to the verb if the subject is any one of the third- person singular pronouns (he, she, it, this, that) He drives a minivan. She follows a different drummer. It looks like rain. This confuses me. That takes the cake.

When to add – ending vs. when to not add … Do NOT add an “s” to the verb if the subject is the pronoun: I, you, we, or they. I make my own rules. You drive a hard bargain. We take pride in our work. They sing out of key.

Compound Subjects When you have two or more subjects that share the same verb, you have a compound subject. Compound subjects must be connected by the conjunctions and, or, or nor. When joined by and the subjects are considered plural. Do NOT add an “s” to the verb if two subjects are joined by and. Trent and Tate often argue with each other. Kris and Kodie enjoy music. When joined by or or nor, the subjects are considered separate units therefore the unit closest to the verb should determine whether it is singular or plural. Mom or Dad was supposed to pick us up at the movies. Is it the dog or the cats that are making such a commotion?

Indefinite Pronouns Like any other pronoun, a singular indefinite pronoun takes a singular verb, and a plural indefinite pronoun takes a plural verb. Some indefinite pronouns can be both, so the noun that the pronoun refers to determines the appropriate verb. Indefinite pronouns that end in -one are always singular. These words include anyone, everyone, someone, and one. Indefinite pronouns that end in -body are always singular. These words include anybody, somebody, nobody. The indefinite pronouns both, few, many, others, and several are always plural. The indefinite pronouns all, any, more, most, none, and some can be singular or plural, depending on how they are used. Most of the glasses are broken. Most of the glass is broken.

Subject-Verb Agreement Practice 1. Most of the soccer equipment (belong, belongs) to the township. 2. The delivery of milk (arrive, arrives) each morning. 3. Peanut butter and jelly (is, are) my favorite lunch. 4. Several pieces of lawn furniture (need, needs) to be replaced. 5. The students (walk, walks) quickly to get to class on time. 6. Drama Club (meet, meets) on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. 7. The big oak tree in my front yard (shade, shades) our front porch. 8. Mr. and Mrs. Jones (commute, commutes) to the city by train. 9. Sue or Jill (is, are) likely to be voted this year’s homecoming queen. 10. Nothing ever (seem, seems) to bother him.

Answers… 1. Most of the soccer equipment belongs to the township. 2. The delivery of milk arrives each morning. 3. Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite lunch. 4. Several pieces of lawn furniture need to be replaced. 5. The students walk quickly to get to class on time. 6. Drama Club meets on Tuesdays at 3:00 p.m. 7. The big oak tree in my front yard shades our front porch. 8. Mr. and Mrs. Jones commute to the city by train. 9. Sue or Jill is likely to be voted this year’s homecoming queen. 10. Nothing ever seems to bother him.