Module 2 Grammar Subject-Verb Agreement Highlight the key ideas in your handout when you see or hear them in this presentation.

If two or more subjects are joined by the conjunctions and, or, or nor, the conjunction determines if you use a singular or a plural verb. Two or more nouns or pronouns + and = plural verb Two or more singular nouns or pronouns + or or nor = singular verb Singular and a plural noun + or or nor = closes noun determines if verb is singular or plural

If the subject and verb are separated by a phrase or clause, the verb should agree with the true subject of the sentence, NOT a noun or pronoun in the phrase or clause. One of the philosophers is … (subject is “one”, not “philosophers”) The farmer, as well as his neighbors is … (subject is “farmer”, not “neighbors”) The people who understand rhetoric are … (subject is “people”, not “rhetoric”)

Some words that might sound plural are actually singular. “Everyone” seems plural, but the verb agrees with “one,” which is singular. “There is” or “there are” are NOT subjects. The verb must agree with the noun that follows the verb. Many Greek-rooted words end with an –s but are singular. Do not automatically add a plural verb to every word ending in –s.

Correcting Subject-Verb Agreement Errors Activity 3 Directions: First, double-underline the verb and underline the subject in each sentence. Then, correct the subject-verb agreement problems. Work with a partner after we have completed the examples together in class.

1. Double underline verb and underline subject. 2. Correct subject-verb agreement problems. Example: For Aristotle, a speaker’s character contribute to whether the audience will believe the speaker’s argument. Correction: Example: There is several other reasons why an audience might believe an argument. Correction: