S UBJECT - V ERB AGREEMENT Pages

S UBJECT – V ERB A GREEMENT Having singular and plural subjects and verbs that match is called subject-verb agreement. You know that some subjects are singular and some are plural. When you are writing with present-tense verbs, always use the verb form that agrees with, or matches, the subject in number. Remember to use the plural form of the verb to agree with a compound subject using and. The simple subject and the simple predicate must agree. Examples: A humpback whale likes shallow waters The whale and its calf swim together. The people on the boat watch the whales subject verb compound subject verb subject verb

C LUES Another way to remember subject verb agreement is if the simple subject is singular, the verb will end with –s or –es. If the simple subject is plural, the verb will not end with – s or –es. So one of the words (simple subject or simple predicate) will end with –s or –es but not both words.

Directions for 1-10, page 170: Identify the simple subject and simple predicate (remember they will not be in a prepositional phrase). Tell whether the simple subject is singular or plural. If the subject and verb do not agree, tell the correct verb form.

1. The tourist boat pass near a humpback whale.

2. A humpback whale dives in the Pacific Ocean.

3. Its white flippers looks like wings.

4. The male humpback sings his song over and over.

5. The sound carries a long way through the water.

6. The visitor and her daughter hears the sound.

7. A whale’s slow heartbeat save oxygen during a dive.

8. Many whales breathes through a blowhole.

9. The blowhole opens wide for air.

10. Powerful muscles close the blowhole.

Directions for 11-20, page 171: Identify the simple subject and simple predicate (remember they will not be in a prepositional phrase). If the subject and verb do not agree, tell the correct verb form.

11. A female humpback whale weighs more than 40 tons.

12. A humpback defend itself in various ways.

13. That whale lash at an enemy with its tail.

14. One whale spurts clouds of bubbles.

15. This tourist rush for her camera.

16. Baby humpbacks come up to the surface for air.

17. That mother humpback hurry to her calf.

18. These whales produces milk for their babies.

19. Some baby whales gains more than 100 pounds a day.

20. A whale’s ribs and backbone is similar to those of other mammals.