Subject/Verb Agreement Mrs. Wellman-High Horse

The Rules Singular subject needs singular verb Mandy jumps for joy at the game. Plural subjects needs plural verbs Mandy and Jim jump for joy at the game.

What’s the missing verb? The bird: A) sings B) sing

What’s the missing verb? The birds: A) sings B) sing

What’s the missing verb? Palm trees _____ little shade. A) give B) gives

What’s the missing verb? The palm tree _____ little shade. A) give B) gives

Don’t be fooled… By words that come between the subject and verb

What’s the missing verb? The runners on our track team _____ a trophy every year. A) win B) wins Answer: win WHY?

What’s the missing verb? The lions, waiting in front of their trainer, _____ his commands. A) obeys B) obey Answer: obey WHY?

What’s the missing verb? The jacket that I bought with two pairs of pants ____ a bargain A) was B) were Answer: was WHY?

And vs. Or & Nor Subject is two or more nouns (pronouns) connected by and = PLURAL VERB Molly and her friends are at the fair. Subject is two or more singular nouns connected by or / nor = SINGULAR VERB The book or the pen is in the drawer.

And vs. Or & Nor (con’t) Subject contains both singular and plural noun (pronoun) connected by or / nor = VERB AGREES WITH NOUN NEARER TO VERB The boy or his friends run every day. His friends or the boy runs every day.

What’s the missing verb? Ice cream and yogurt ______ equally delicious. is are Answer: are Why?

What’s the missing verb? Sam and Toby, my dogs, ______ tug-of-war with each other. play plays Answer: play Why?

What’s the missing verb? The lawyer or his secretary ______ the phone. answer answers Answer: answers Why?

What’s the missing verb? Neither the teacher nor the students ____ to work hard today. wants want Answer: want Why?

Your turn Write 2 sentences connecting the nouns with both and and or When using “or / nor,” be mindful if your subjects are: both singular singular and plural

There is / There are In sentences beginning with “there is” or “there are,” the subject follows the verb. There are many questions. (plural) There is a question. (singular)

Indefinite Pronouns Can you name some? Singular Anybody Anyone Each Either Everybody Everyone No one / One Nobody Somebody Someone Something Plural Both Many Others Several

Indefinite Pronouns Can you name some that are singular or plural? All Any Most Some None Singular or plural depends on what the indefinite pronoun refers to All of the people clap their hands. All of the newspaper is soaked.

What’s the missing verb? No one _____ until the teacher gives permission. leaves leave Answer: leaves Why?

What’s the missing verb? Everybody at the games ______ a gift certificate. receive receives Answer: receives Why?

What’s the missing verb? Something ______ outside the house. were lurking was lurking Answer: was lurking Why?

What’s the missing verb? Each of the students ______ to bring $10 by Friday. need needs Answer: needs Why?

What’s the missing verb? Several of the students ______ to bring $10 by Friday. need needs Answer: need Why?

What’s the missing verb? None of the money ______ missing from the safe. are is Answer: is Why?

What’s the missing verb? None of the cookies ______ missing from the jar. are is Answer: are Why?

Pronoun-Antecedent What is an antecedent? A pronoun usually refers to another noun or pronoun, which is called the antecedent EX: Melissa drove the car all the way to her grandma’s house. AntecedentPronoun

Pronoun-Antecedent Pronoun needs to agree in number, gender, and person with its antecedent EX1: He won the award for his book of poems. EX2: The students have their book bags.

Number Singular pronoun = singular antecedents EX: Julie will go to the store with her mom. You write one. Identify the pronoun and antecedent Plural pronoun = plural antecedents EX: The children will go with their mom. You write one. Identify the pronoun and antecedent

Gender Sara took _____ dogs for a long walk. What’s the pronoun that agrees with the antecedent? Brad was out of breath when ____ rushed into the room. What’s the pronoun that agrees with the antecedent? The school closed _____ doors for winter break. What’s the pronoun that agrees with the antecedent?

Person First, Second, and Third Person Identify the pronoun that agrees with its antecedent First Person EX: We adopted ____ cat from the animal shelter. Second Person EX: Did you paint this landscape _______? Third Person EX: They built ____ own home in the Black Hills.

What’s the missing pronoun? Sally and Tommy need to make _____ beds. What rule? Number & Person

What’s the missing pronoun? Sally needs to finish _____ laundry before she can join us. What rule? Number & Gender

Curveball: Indefinite Pronouns What’s the missing pronoun? Each will go to the store with _____ mom. one’s his/her Number rule - singular

Indefinite Pronouns What’s the missing pronoun? Many of the players have to work on _____ ball-handling skills. their Number rule - plural

Indefinite Pronouns What’s the missing pronoun? Nobody knew the answer to the question on _____ exam. one’s his/her Number rule - singular

Indefinite Pronouns What’s the missing pronoun? All of the them are in _____ seats. their Number & Person - plural

Indefinite Pronouns What’s the missing pronoun? Each of the schools will start _____ Christmas break on Wednesday. its Gender - neutral

Your Turn… Write 3 sentences, one for each indefinite pronoun: Singular Plural Singular or plural