Subject-Verb Agreement By: Daniel J. Woods

Subject-Verb Agreement Content Area: Language Arts Grade Level: 9-12 Summary: The purpose of this Powerpoint Content Standard: EL.1 Demonstrate knowledge of standard English usage, mechanics, spelling, and sentence structure. Learning Objective: The student will use a verb bank to complete each sentence as measured by 90% accuracy on the activity. Accomplishment: After this lesson the students will write sentences with subjects and verbs that agree.

Subject-Verb Agreement A verb must agree in number with its subject (singular or plural). The present tense of a regular verb has two forms. One form is used with a singular subject; the other is used with a plural subject.

Present Tenses Two Types: Singular Plural

Present Tenses: Nouns Ass –s or –es to the present tense of the verb when the subject is a singular noun. Examples Singular subject: Emily’s dog always barks for biscuits. Plural Subject: Both dogs bark for biscuits.

Present Tenses: Pronouns When the subject is a singular pronoun (he she, it), add –s or –es to the verb Examples Singular Subject: He likes to draw. Plural Subject: They like to draw.

Present Tenses: Pronouns When the subject is I or you, use the plural form of the verb. Examples I enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with my family. Do you enjoy Thanksgiving?

Let’s Play Q & A

Questions?? 1. What do you add to subjects that are present tense or pronouns? 2. What form of a verb should be used when the subject is I or you?

Answers Add –s or –es Plural

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite Pronouns: Singular Most indefinite pronouns are singular even though their meanings are plural. They take a singular form of the verb. Example Correct: Everyone goes to the beach in the summer. Incorrect: Everyone go to the beach in the summer.

Indefinite Pronouns Some indefinite pronouns may be singular or plural depending on their use. They are all, any, most, and none. Example Singular: All of the money is safe in the bank. Plural: All of the boys are going to the concert.

Indefinite Pronouns: Plural Some indefinite pronouns are always plural: both, many, few, others, several. A plural indefinite pronoun takes the plural form of the verb. Example Several of the people want fruit for dessert.

Let’s Play Q & A

Choose the correct verb Most of the students (go, goes) to Tony’s for snacks. 2. None of us (is, are) going. 3. Anyone (is, are) welcome at the concert.

Answers Go Are Is

Conclusion Today’s lesson explained subject-verb agreement and how nouns in the subject and verbs in the predicate must change form to make sure they agree. Please visit the following links for more information and activities: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/599/01/ http://www.towson.edu/ows/moduleSVAGR.htm http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/sv_agr.htm http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgi-shl/quiz.pl/sv_agr_quiz.htm