1. Subject-Verb Agreement

2. What it is… Subject-verb agreement means:
If the subject is plural, then the verb needs to be plural
If the subject is singular, then the verb needs to be singular

3. Various Senarios

4. Singular subjects take singular verbs
He / (washes : wash) the dishes
A girl in my neighborhood / (plays : play) in the band.

5. Plural subjects take plural verbs
They / (washes : wash) the dishes
Several girls in my neighborhood / (plays : play) in the marching band.

6. Subjects joined by and take a plural verb
Compound subjects: 2 or more subjects having the same verb
My pen pal and best friend / (is : are) my cousin
Broccoli and melted cheese / (makes : make) a tasty dish.

7. When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject nearer the verb.
Neither the children or their mother / (was : were)ready for the trip.
Neither the mother or her children / (was : were) ready for the trip.

8. Cheat Sheet 1. A singular subject will need a verb that ends with “s”
2. A plural subject will need a verb that does NOT end with “s”

9. Practice You (come, comes) with me.
The girl and her friends (talk, talks) frequently.
Neither the spices nor the pepper plant (grows, grow) well here.
The leader with his followers (have, has) the power to influence many people.
Out of the jungle (step, steps) three lions.
The committee and its members (are, is) disagreeing on the procedure.
Either the teacher or her students (is, are) right.
Few of them (were, was) interested in our project.
Civics (is, are) taught in ninth grade.
Everyone (need, needs) some attention sometimes.