ELA7CI c—The student uses standard subject-verb agreement.

Tips on subject-verb agreement. First, identify your subject. Ask whether this subject is singular or plural. Then, find your verb. Ask whether your verb or verb phrase is singular or plural. The motor is running

Rule #1 A verb should agree in number with its subject Ex. Jan begins her vacation today. Jan=singular Begins=singular Ex. Cheetahs run fast. Cheetahs=plural Run=plural

Rule#2 The number of a subject is not changed by a phrase following the subject. Ex. Walls of earth and stone along the shore are often too weak to protect coastal villages. Ex. Tidal waves in the open ocean generally do not cause much interest. IT IS HELPFUL TO CROSS OUT ALL PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES TO AVOID CONFUSION. Ex. A network of warning signals alerts people in coastal areas of an approaching tidal wave.

Rule #3 The following indefinite pronouns are singular: anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, somebody, someone, and something. Ex. Each of the newcomers was welcomed to the city. Ex. Neither of these papayas is ripe. Ex. Does anybody on the bus speak Arabic. Again, don’t let your prepositional phrases get in your way…..

Rule #4 The following indefinite pronouns are plural: both, few, many, several. Ex. Few of our neighbors have parakeets. Ex. Many of them keep dogs as pets.

Rule #5 The indefinite pronouns all, any, more, most, none, and some may be either singular or plural, depending on their meaning in the sentence. All of the fruit is ripe. All of the pears are ripe. Some of the harvest has been sold. Some of the apples have been sold.

Let’s Review…. 1. Neither of the movies (were, was) especially funny. 2. Everybody in those classes (get, gets) to research a historical person. 3. Someone among the store owners (donates, donate) the big trophy each year. 4.Both of the songs (sound, sounds) good to me, Gregory said. 5. Each of the problems(are, is) easy to solve is you know the correct formula.

Continued… 6. Few of us really (understand, understands) the four cycles of sleep. 7. Most of our dreams (occur, occurs) toward morning. 8. All of the new research on dreams (is, are) fascinating.

Rule #6 Subjects joined by and usually take a plural verb. Our dog and cat get baths in the summer. Mr. Duffy and his daughter have gone fishing. Exception Macaroni and cheese is my favorite dish. One dish A famous singer and dancer is going to speak at our meeting. One person

Rule #7 Singular verbs joined by or or nor take a singular verb The chief geologist or her assistant is due to arrive tonight. Neither a rabbit nor a mole does that kind of damage.