© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2000 Prepared by Professors Rita Perkins and Paul Harris Camden County College Subject-Verb Agreement Chapter Twenty-Seven Subject-Verb Agreement

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 Subject-Verb Agreement When subjects and verbs agree, they match in number and person. third person subjects require the third person form of the verb. In other words, singular subjects require singular verbs and plural subjects match plural verbs; third person subjects require the third person form of the verb. My brother buys old bicycles. to repair. My brothers buy old bicycles. to repair.

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 except In English, regular verbs take the same form for singular and plural except for the third- person singular form of the verb. The -s, or -es ending on a verb designates a singular verb. In fact, nouns and verbs are the opposite where plural endings are concerned. Subject/Verb Agreement The boy walks. The boys walk.

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 Do not A subject agrees with its verb no matter how far apart the two are. Do not be distracted by nouns or pronouns placed between the subject and verb. The ducks on the lake behind the school swim in large groups. The ducks on the lake behind the school swim in large groups. A list of required readings is mailed to entering freshmen. A list of required readings is mailed to entering freshmen. Subject-Verb Agreement

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 and A compound subject that is linked by the conjunction “and ” requires a plural verb. Both the college newspaper and the literary magazine fail to attract experienced staff. Both the college newspaper and the literary magazine fail to attract experienced staff. Subject-Verb Agreement

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 or nor A compound subject linked by the conjunction or or nor requires a singular verb. Either the dean or his assistant addresses the freshmen class. Either the dean or his assistant addresses the freshmen class. Neither geology nor astronomy is required for my major. Neither geology nor astronomy is required for my major. Subject-Verb Agreement

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 Indefinite pronouns Indefinite pronouns refer to indefinite persons or things and usually require a singular verb. Each of the volunteers tutors for at least three hours every week. Each of the volunteers tutors for at least three hours every week. Subject-Verb Agreement

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 If a collective noun acts as a single unit, it takes a singular verb. My entire family is coming for homecoming weekend. My entire family is coming for homecoming weekend. Subject-Verb Agreement

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 When normal word order is inverted and the subject follows the verb, the subject and verb must agree. Standing at the door with grins on their faces were the cheerleaders. Standing at the door with grins on their faces were the cheerleaders. Subject-Verb Agreement

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 Note:there here Note: Sentences that begin with there or here have the subject follow the verb. There are three branches of government: judicial, executive, and legislative. There are three branches of government: judicial, executive, and legislative. Subject-Verb Agreement

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 Movies in today’s market makes a great deal of money. IncorrectIncorrect Click to see answer….

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 Movies in today’s market make a great deal of money. RevisedRevised

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 The American audiences pays for tickets at the theater and for cable at home. IncorrectIncorrect

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 The American audiences pay for tickets at the theater and for cable at home. RevisedRevised

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 The international market, which includes dozens of countries, produces even more profit. Correct

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 Films are very expensive to manufacture, so American studios creates far more films than other countries. IncorrectIncorrect

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 Films are very expensive to manufacture, so American studios create far more films than other countries. RevisedRevised

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 There is many advantages to seeing a movie seeing a movie in the theater rather than watching a video at home. IncorrectIncorrect

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 There are many advantages to seeing a movie seeing a movie in the theater rather than watching a video watching a video at home. RevisedRevised

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 The dark theater and the enormous screen take the movie viewer to another world. Correct

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 The background music in movies play an important role. IncorrectIncorrect

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 The background music in movies plays an important role. RevisedRevised

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 The music creates a mood and gives a signal of something to come. Correct

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 Not everyone in the entertainment fields agree about the quality of the quality of movies. movies. IncorrectIncorrect

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 Not everyone in the entertainment field agrees about the quality of movies. RevisedRevised

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 Neither the use of subtitles nor black and white photography demonstrate the preferences of most Americans. IncorrectIncorrect

© 2000 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. College Writing Skills/College Writing Skills with Readings, 5E Chapter 27 Neither the use of subtitles nor black and white photography demonstrates the preferences of most Americans. RevisedRevised