Subject Verb Agreement

Identify the subject and verb within each sentence below. 1. Today is a day to learn. 2. Dr. Ash expects his students to do their best. 3. Waiting during the storm was my sister. 4. Ms. Basone hated that Georgia lost the SEC Championship. 5. Winter break is in a week.

How should the subject and verb agree? A verb should agree in number with its subject. A verb should agree in number with its subject.

Singular Singular subjects take singular verbs. Singular subjects take singular verbs.Examples: 1. The thunder sounds so loud tonight. 2. Ms. Basone begins her vacation in three weeks.

Plural Plural subjects take plural verbs. Plural subjects take plural verbs.Examples 1. Cheetahs run like the wind. 2. New students do not come to Central Magnet often.

Be careful with INDEFINATE PRONOUNS ONE-BODY-THINGS The following indefinite pronouns are singular: The following indefinite pronouns are singular: Anybody No one AnyoneNothing AnythingOne EachSomebody EitherSomeone EverybodySomething Everyone Nobody EverythingNeither

The following indefinite pronouns are PLURAL BothFewManyOthersSeveral

Variable Indefinite Pronouns Some are singular and some are plural depending on what follows them in a prepositional phrase. Some are singular and some are plural depending on what follows them in a prepositional phrase. Some Some Most Most All All None None Any Any

Examples of Variable Indefinite 1.All of the students were present. All is plural because students is plural All is plural because students is plural 2. All of the problem was of my own making All is singular because problem is singular

Some subjects, while in plural form, function as singular. Examples: Examples: 1. Measles is a contagious disease. 2. The New York Times is a popular newspaper.

Nouns that express quantities of amount require singular verbs when thought of as a unit. Time Time Money Money Weight Weight Length LengthExample: Twenty-four years is a long time to work at a single job.

Collective Nouns are considered singular FacultyTeam StaffJury BandAudience CommitteeFlock CongressHerd Example: The band is playing great music tonight. There is one band and a singular verb.