1. Subject-Verb Agreement Practice

2. The Basic Principle: A subject must agree with its verb(s).
Singular subjects must have singular verbs.
Plural subjects must have plural verbs.
In other words, subjects and verbs must match.

3. The Rules
1. When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a plural verb.
Ender, Valentine, and Peter are siblings.
(Plural)

4. The Rules
2. When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or or nor, use a singular verb.
Neither Valentine nor Peter was selected for Battle School.
(Singular)

5. The Rules
3. When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or
pronoun joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the
subject that is nearer the verb.
Neither Ender’s teacher nor his siblings believe he will be chosen to attend Battle School.
(Plural)
Neither Valentine nor Peter was selected for Battle School.
(Singular)

6. Neither/nor and Either/or
For sentences containing neither/nor or either/or, a helpful hint is to cover up everything in the sentence prior to the nor or or. Then, determine if a singular or plural verb is needed.
Neither Valentine nor Peter was selected for Battle School.
Neither Ender’s teacher nor his siblings believe he will be chosen to attend Battle School.
(Singular)
(Plural)

7. Cautions Contractions Interrupting phrases Indefinite pronouns
Collective nouns
Tricky nouns
There

8. Contractions Doesn’t – Singular Ender doesn’t know how special he is.
Don’t – Plural
The Launchies don’t realize how clever Ender is.
Exceptions – The singular pronouns I and you always use don’t or do not.
I don’t know if I would be willing to leave my family to attend Battle School.
You don’t understand why it is imperative that Ender attends Battle School.

9. Interrupting Phrases
Watch out for phrases that come between the subject and verb.
Families with the exception of Ender’s family are not allowed to have more than two children.
Andrew Wiggins, the younger brother of Valentine and Peter, is chosen to attend Battle School.
Some bullies at Ender’s school tease him about being a Third.
One of the bullies at school is a lot like Ender’s brother, Peter.
Stilson’s friends at the request of Stilson who is convinced by Ender do not join in the fight.
Ender without his monitor and its protection worries his brother may kill him.

10. Indefinite Pronouns Always Singular Always Plural each anybody
somebody
nobody
everybody
one
anyone
everyone
someone
neither
either
nothing
anything
everything
something
both
several
few
many
all
Each is allowed two children.
All must comply with this law.
Nobody except Ender’s family is exempt from it.
Nothing can be done without the government’s permission.
Everybody is expected to obey.
Many are jealous of Ender’s intelligence.

11. Collective Nouns Acting Individually - Plural
Acting Together as One - Singular
The class look at their desks, ask each other questions, and glance at Ender.
The army guard the goal, defend the offense, and spread themselves.
The class is astonished.
The army plans its next battle.
Tip: Try substituting different nouns to check plural verbs. Reread the above sentences substituting students for class and soldiers for army.

12. Tricky Nouns Plural Singular One object with two parts Scissors
Tweezers
Pants
Trousers
One object that ends in s
Civics
Mathematics
Measles
News

13. There
Sentences beginning with there are inverted: the subject follows the verb.
There is not the subject of the sentence.
There is only one child like Ender.
There are no others like Ender.

14. Let’s Practice.
The following exercises can be used as bell ringers.

15. Practice 1: Match the verb to its sentence.
are is
say
says
was
were
“And there _____ doubts about him.”
“But there’ll be some tickling, and some people _____ they have a feeling of something missing.”
“Not if the other person _____ his enemy.”
“Some _____ dumping lessons or data into their computers at home.”
“It _____ upside down and backward at first, but Ender knew what it said long before it reached the bottom of his desk and turned right side up.”
Answers: ACBFE

16. Practice 2: Identify whether the subjects and verbs are singular or plural.
“And there are doubts about him.”
“But there’ll be some tickling, and some people say they have a feeling of something missing.”
“Not if the other person is his enemy.”
“Some were dumping lessons or data into their computers at home.”
“It was upside down and backward at first, but Ender knew what it said long before it reached the bottom of his desk and turned right side up.”
Answers: 1. P 2. P 3. S 4. P 5. S

17. Practice 3: Match the verb to its sentence.
are is
say
says
was
were
“Anything I _____ will make it worse.”
2 & 3. “They __2___ all wondering if he __3___
dead.”
4. “There _____ a Band-Aid.”
5. “This ____ all right, Ender thought.”
6. “Now, they _____n’t checking to see if you feel
pain, listening to hear what I’m saying what
I’m doing to you. How about that? How about it?”
Answers: 1. C 2. F 3. E 4. B OR E 5. B OR E 6. A

18. Practice 4: Identify whether the subjects and verbs are singular or plural.
1. “Anything I say will make it worse.”
2 & 3. “They were all wondering if he was dead.”
4. “There is a Band-Aid.”
5. “This is all right, Ender thought.”
6. “Now, they aren’t checking to see if you feel pain, listening to hear what I’m saying what I’m doing to you. How about that? How about it?”

19. Practice 5: Unscramble the Sentence Parts
out
entitled Andrew Wiggin
after all
hadn’t worked
the experiment
The experiment entitled Andrew Wiggin hadn’t worked out after all.
Identify the subject and verb. Are they singular or plural?

20. Practice 6: Identification
Sentence Parts
Identify each sentence part.
out
entitled Andrew Wiggin
after all
hadn’t worked
the experiment
Adv - Adverb
C - Conjunction
I – Infinitive Phrase
Part – Participial Phrase
S – Subject
V- Verb or verb phrase
Prep – Prepositional Phrase
1. Adv. 2. Part 3. Prep. 4. V 5. S

21. Practice 7: Imitate the following sentence.
The experiment entitled Andrew Wiggin hadn’t worked out after all.
Be sure that your subject and verb agree.

22. Practice 8: Identify whether the subjects and verbs are singular or plural.
“This will not have a happy ending.”
“For a moment, the others backed away, and Stilson lay motionless.”
“Ender knew the unspoken rules of manly warfare, even though he was only six.”
“You might be having some idea of ganging up on me. You could probably beat me up pretty bad.”
“Nobody followed him.”
Answers: 1. S 2. P/S 3. S *4. P 5. S *You must infer that if there is a gang, the you is plural.

23. Practice 9: Unscramble the Sentence Parts
in three dimensions
on his desk
drawing contour maps
and
then telling his desk
Ender
to display them
doodled
of mountainous islands
from every angle
Ender doodled in three dimensions on his desk, drawing contour maps of mountainous islands and then telling his desk to display them
from every angle.
Identify the subject and verb. Are they singular or plural?

24. Practice 10: Identification
Sentence Parts
Identify each sentence part.
in three dimensions
on his desk
drawing contour maps
and
telling his desk
Ender
doodled
to display them
of mountainous islands
from every angle
then
Adv - Adverb
C - Conjunction
I – Infinitive Phrase
Part – Participial Phrase
S – Subject
V- Verb
Prep – Prepositional Phrase
1. Prep 2. Prep 3. Part 4. C 5. Part 6. S 7. V 8. I 9. Prep 10. Prep 11. Adv

25. Practice 11: Imitate the following sentence.
Ender doodled in three dimensions on his desk, drawing contour maps of mountainous islands and then telling his desk to display them from every angle.
Be sure that your subject and verb agree.