Singular versus Plural Along With Subject/Verb Agreement

Noun Rules Nouns USUALLY add an –S to make themselves plural Nouns without an –S are USUALLY Singular There are a few exceptions to the rule. –Examples : The dog runs. =singular : The dogs run. =plural : The book is good. = singular : The books are good. =plural : The kids like to read. = plural : The kid likes to read. = singular : Abby drives to the store. = singular : The students ride to the store. = plural

Noun Exceptions The deer ate berries from the tree. –Singular or plural The deer both ate berries from the tree. –Plural The scissors are in the basket on the shelf. –Singular or plural The scissors are sharp. –Plural or singular The pants fit great. –Singular or plural The pants are all hung in the closet. –Plural or singular Each example are interchangeable. They can be singular and plural in each of these example sentences.

Verb Rules Verbs add an –S to make themselves singular (opposite of nouns) Verbs without an –S are plural –Examples: He drives the bus. = singular : We drive to school. = plural : Annie watches TV. = singular : The students watch the movie. = plural : He runs after school. = singular : Susie and Tommy run after school. = plural

Verb Exceptions Susie and Tommy eat lunch. = plural I eat lunch. = singular

Tricky Verbs Am, Is, Are, Was, & Were: Which are singular and which are plural? –Am, Is, Was = singular –Are & Were = plural

Subject/Verb Agreement A sentence with a singular subject must have a singular verb –Singular subject = one person, one place, or one thing Example: The boy is here. A sentence with a plural subject must have a plural verb. –Plural subject = two or more Example: the boys are here

The Gatza/Goodman Rules Rule #1 A compound subject joined by “ and ” is always plural (requires a plural verb). –Example: Johnny and Sally (play, plays) together. Subject:Verb:

The Gatza/Goodman Rules Rule #2 In a sentence with a compound subject joined by “or” or “nor”- the verb must agree with the subject closest to the verb. –Examples: Sarah or Sam (drive, drives) to school everyday. Sarah or Sam (drive, drives) to school everyday. –Subject: –Verb: The teacher or the students (need, needs) to present that information to the school board. –Subject: –Verb:

The Gatza/Goodman Rules Rule #3 The subject of a sentence can NEVER be part of a prepositional phrase. Examples –The group of students (ride, rides) together. Subject:Verb: –At the store, he (buy, buys) food. Subject:Verb:

The Gatza/Goodman Rules Rule #4 The subject of a sentence is NEVER part of a phrase starting with “with,” “including,” “as well as,” “together with,” “in addition,” “ which,” “who,” or “along with.” Examples: –He, as well as she, (like, likes) to go to the movies. Subject:Verb: –The kids, along with their parents, (go, goes) on vacation. SubjectVerb:

The Gatza/Goodman Rules Rule #5 The following indefinite pronouns used in subjects of sentences are SINGULAR: everyone, anyone, everybody, each, one, either, neither, no one, nobody, anything, another, anybody. –Example: Everyone (go, goes) to the game. –Subject: –Verb: Each of us (like, likes) something different. –Subject: –Verb:

The Gatza/Goodman Rules Rule # 6 The following indefinite pronouns used as subjects in sentences are PLURAL: several, few, both, & many. –Example: Both of the boys (is, are) here. Subject:Verb: –Many of the students (drive, drives) to school. Subject:Verb:

The Gatza/Goodman Rules Rule # 7 The following indefinite pronouns in the subject can be either SINGULAR or PLURAL: some, any, none, all, & most. –They are singular when they refer to one thing. –They are plural when they refer to several things. Example: All of this paper (is, are) mine. –Subject: –Verb: Example: All of the stores (is, are) open. –Subject: –Verb: