1. Agreement Subject – Verb Sentence Structure Lessons #4:
with a little help from
Bill and Giblet

2. Part One: The Basics I have a story for you. Subject – Verb Agreement
It’s about Bill and Giblet.
Part One:
Bill
Giblet
The Basics

3. I’m going to change one word—see if you can find it.
The Basics:
Introduction
Bill and Giblet are pelicans. Bill is smart. Giblet is not smart—he’s annoying. He follow Bill everywhere. Bill has tried to explain to Giblet that he prefers to be alone, but Giblet never seems to remember. As it turns out, Bill does not seem to mind so much, after all.
Bill and Giblet are pelicans. Bill is smart. Giblet is not smart—he’s annoying. He follows Bill everywhere. Bill has tried to explain to Giblet that he prefers to be alone, but Giblet never seems to remember. As it turns out, Bill does not seem to mind so much, after all.
Do you see the change?
Okay, so that’s just the beginning. But let’s use this part for a moment.
I’m going to change one word—see if you can find it.

4. I took the ‘s’ away, and now it sounds wrong.
The Basics:
Introduction
Bill and Giblet are pelicans. Bill is smart. Giblet is not smart—he’s annoying. He follows Bill everywhere. Bill has tried to explain to Giblet that he prefers to be alone, but Giblet never seems to remember. As it turns out, Bill does not seem to mind so much, after all.
Bill and Giblet are pelicans. Bill is smart. Giblet is not smart—he’s annoying. He follow Bill everywhere. Bill has tried to explain to Giblet that he prefers to be alone, but Giblet never seems to remember. As it turns out, Bill does not seem to mind so much, after all.
I took the ‘s’ away, and now it sounds wrong.
Why does one little letter make such a big difference?

5. When we write a sentence, the subject and verb must AGREE.
The Basics:
Introduction
When we write a sentence,
the subject and verb must AGREE.
Um,
what does
that mean?
Patience,
Giblet.

6. S P * * He follows Bill everywhere. When we write a sentence,
The Basics:
Introduction
When we write a sentence,
the subject and verb must AGREE. S P
First let’s find the simple subject and the verb.
Only one
choice here.
He follows Bill everywhere.
The subject tells who or what the sentence is about.
The simple subject is the main word in the subject. *
The predicate tells what the subject does.
The verb shows action and usually begins the predicate. *

7. P S * * He follows Bill everywhere. s When we write a sentence,
The Basics:
Introduction
When we write a sentence,
the subject and verb must AGREE. P S
He follows Bill everywhere. s
The subject and verb agree by sharing one ‘s’.
The subject can be singular (ONE) or plural (MORE THAN one).
If the subject is singular, the verb gets the ‘s’.
If the subject is plural, the subject gets the ‘s’. * *

8. P S * * He follows Bill everywhere. s When we write a sentence,
The Basics:
Introduction
When we write a sentence,
the subject and verb must AGREE. P S
AGREE
He follows Bill everywhere. s
Ooooh,
I agree,
too!
‘He’ is singular, so the verb gets the ‘s’.
The subject can be singular (ONE) or plural (MORE THAN one).
If the subject is singular, the verb gets the ‘s’.
If the subject is plural, the subject gets the ‘s’. * *

9. P S * * Buzzing mosquitos He follows Bill everywhere. s But what if…
The Basics:
Introduction
But what if… P S
AGREE
Ignore him.
Let’s regroup.
Buzzing mosquitos
He follows Bill everywhere. s
Yep, I was
just about to
say that.
‘Mosquitos’ is plural, so it gets the ‘s’.
The subject can be singular (ONE) or plural (MORE THAN one).
If the subject is singular, the verb gets the ‘s’.
If the subject is plural, the subject gets the ‘s’. * *

10. OR OR OR Buzzing mosquitos follow Bill everywhere. s
The Basics:
Practice
Buzzing mosquitos follow Bill everywhere. s
Silly Giblet follows Bill everywhere. s
And here are a few more simple examples… OR
The baby duckling follow Bill everywhere. s s OR
The ocean wave follow Bill everywhere. s s OR
A large whale follow Bill everywhere. L s s
Each sentence has an ‘s’ on the subject OR the verb…
so they can AGREE!

11. Some flowers all summer long. bloom blooms
The Basics:
Practice
Time to practice a bit…
For the choice on top, point your finger up.
For the choice on bottom, point your finger down.
Let’s try one.
Some flowers all summer long.
bloom
blooms
Some flowers bloom all summer long. OR

12. That bunny carrots from my garden. eat eats
The Basics:
Practice
Time to practice a bit…
For the choice on top, point your finger up.
For the choice on bottom, point your finger down.
Okay, here goes:
If you’re not sure
of the answer, ask yourself:
“If I read it slow and clear,
does it sound right to my ear?”
Here’s another:
Be careful, people. He’s a doofus.
That bunny carrots from my garden.
eat
eats
Hmm,
that’s not bad,
Giblet.
Ooh, ooh!
I have a tip!
That bunny eats carrots from my garden. OR
Copyright © 2013 by Michael Friermood

13. “If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?”
The Basics:
Practice
Time to practice a bit…
For the choice on top, point your finger up.
For the choice on bottom, point your finger down.
One more…
My coffee so good in the morning.
smell
smells
My coffee smells so good in the morning.
My coffee smell so good in the morning. OR
Would this
sound right?
“If I read it slow and clear,
does it sound right to my ear?”
Nope.

14. Are you ready to practice on your own?
The Basics:
Independent Practice
Are you ready to practice on your own?
Here’s a sheet on the BASICS of Subject-Verb Agreement.

15. Part Two: The Tricky Stuff Subject – Verb Agreement
Tricky Thing #1 : Plural Subjects that do not end in ‘s’
Tricky Thing # 2: Pronouns ‘YOU’ and ‘I’
Tricky Thing # 3: Past Tense Verbs
Tricky Thing # 4: Linking Verbs and Helping Verbs
Tricky Thing # 5: Compound Subjects
Tricky Thing # 6: Misleading Subjects

16. Okay, so do you remember this?
Tricky Thing #1:
Introduction
Tricky Thing #1: Plural Subjects that do not end in ‘s’
Okay, so do you remember this?
Look at this part again closely.
But…
Not all plural subjects end in ‘s’.
The subject and verb agree by sharing one ‘s’.
The subject can be singular (ONE) or plural (MORE THAN one).
If the subject is singular, the verb gets the ‘s’.
If the subject is plural, the subject gets the ‘s’.

17. Not all plural subjects end in ‘s’.
Tricky Thing #1:
Introduction
Tricky Thing #1: Plural Subjects that do not end in ‘s’
Not all plural subjects end in ‘s’.
For example…
One man… two men… NOT mans
One child… three children…NOT childs
One tooth… four teeth… NOT tooths
One mouse…five mice… NOT mouses
Hmm, what about:
One sheep… six, uh…. sheep! NOT sheeps

18. Not all plural subjects end in ‘s’.
Tricky Thing #1:
Introduction
Tricky Thing #1: Plural Subjects that do not end in ‘s’
Now let’s pull out a sentence to look at:
Not all plural subjects end in ‘s’.
Bill and Giblet are on a lazy morning flight. Bill spends much of his flying time thinking up jokes to play on Giblet. He says it keeps life interesting. Giblet spends much of his flying time talking to Bill. Bill hardly ever listens.
Sometimes they cross paths with a flock of geese. “Here come some geese, Giblet,” Bill says. “Those geese look for food over in that marsh. Why don’t you follow them and see what you can find?”
“Sure thing, Bill.” So Giblet flies off. He’s back in five minutes.
“What happened, Giblet?” Bill asks.
“All they do is honk, honk, honk. It gets very annoying.”
Bill clenches his beak. “Hmmph,” he growls, and they fly on.
So what does this mean for subject – verb agreement?
First let’s continue our story about Bill and Giblet.

19. Those geese look for food over in that marsh.
Tricky Thing #1:
Introduction
Tricky Thing #1: Plural Subjects that do not end in ‘s’
Let’s pull out another sentence to look at:
Bill and Giblet are on a lazy morning flight. Bill spends much of his flying time thinking up jokes to play on Giblet. He says it keeps life interesting. Giblet spends much of his flying time talking to Bill. Bill hardly ever listens.
Sometimes they cross paths with a flock of geese. “Here come some geese, Giblet,” Bill says. “Those geese look for food over in that marsh. Why don’t you follow them and see what you can find?”
“Sure thing, Bill.” So Giblet flies off. He’s back in five minutes.
“What happened, Giblet?” Bill asks.
“All they do is honk, honk, honk. It gets very annoying.”
Bill clenches his beak. “Hmmph,” he growls, and they fly on.
Those geese look for food over in that marsh.
So the verb does NOT need an ‘s’.
The subject is plural,
even though it doesn’t end in ‘s’.

20. Sometimes they cross paths with a flock of geese.
Tricky Thing #1:
Introduction
Tricky Thing #1: Plural Subjects that do not end in ‘s’
So we can now say…
ALL plural subjects need: a verb without an ‘s’.
Sometimes they cross paths with a flock of geese.
Which means the verb does NOT need an ‘s’.
‘They’ is a plural pronoun.
It is taking the place of ‘Bill and Giblet’.
‘Bill and Giblet’ are more than one.
So ‘they’ is a plural subject,
even though it doesn’t end in ‘s’.

21. If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?
Tricky Thing #1:
Practice
Let’s play our little game again…
For the choice on top, point your finger up.
For the choice on bottom, point your finger down.
Here we go…
People might in the tree house up there.
live
lives
People might live in the tree house up there. OR
If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?

22. If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?
Tricky Thing #1:
Practice
Let’s play our little game again…
For the choice on top, point your finger up.
For the choice on bottom, point your finger down.
And another…
The firemen to the burning shed.
rush
rushes
The firemen rush to the burning shed. OR
If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?

23. If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?
Tricky Thing #1:
Practice
Let’s play our little game again…
For the choice on top, point your finger up.
For the choice on bottom, point your finger down.
Try this one…
A moose out of the woods.
jump
jumps
A moose jumps out of the woods. OR
If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?

24. If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?
Tricky Thing #1:
Practice
Let’s play our little game again…
For the choice on top, point your finger up.
For the choice on bottom, point your finger down.
Hmm, how about this one…
Two crazy moose through the weeds.
crash
crashes
Two crazy moose crash through the weeds. OR
If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?

25. It He She We They You I It jumps… He jumps… She jumps… We jump…
Tricky Thing #2:
Introduction
Tricky Thing # 2: Pronouns ‘YOU’ and ‘I’
Pronouns take the place of nouns.
We often use pronouns as the simple subject.
It He She We They You I
Subject
Pronouns
Wow.
It’s a crazy world we live in.
Now hold on right there a minute, folks.
SINGULAR
PLURAL
SINGULAR
It jumps…
He jumps…
She jumps…
We jump…
They jump…
You jump…
I jump…
For example…
‘You’ and ‘I’ are singular, but their verbs do NOT get an ‘s’.
Most of these pronouns fit with what we’ve said
about subject – verb agreement.
Copyright © 2013 by Michael Friermood

26. “If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?”
Tricky Thing #2:
Practice
Tricky Thing # 2: Pronouns ‘YOU’ and ‘I’
“If I read it slow and clear,
does it sound right to my ear?”
We to the park on Saturdays.
walk
walks
I my package will come today.
hope
hopes
She a dish almost every day.
break
breaks
You to finish your homework.
need
needs

27. A beetle crawled onto a stick. Five beetles crawled onto a stick.
Tricky Thing #3:
Introduction
Tricky Thing # 3: Past Tense Verbs
We have been working with present tense verbs.
Subject – Verb Agreement actually gets EASIER with past tense verbs, because, well, you don’t even have to worry about it. Check it out:
PRESENT = happening now
PAST = already happened
Present Tense
crawl or crawls
Past Tense
crawled
A beetle crawled onto a stick.
Five beetles crawled onto a stick.
I crawled onto a stick.
The past tense verb is spelled the same whether
the subject is singular or plural.

28. is are am was were has have had does do did
Tricky Thing #4:
Introduction
Tricky Thing # 4: Linking Verbs and Helping Verbs
Now let’s pull out a few sentences:
A linking verb is a verb that does not show action.
A helping verb works together with an action verb.
Bill and Giblet were wandering along the shore together. Tall coconut trees overhung the water, and seashells were scattered about.
“You are walking extra-waddly these days, Gib. You might be eating too many fish.”
Giblet was concerned. “Really? I do feel a bit top-heavy, Bill.”
Suddenly, a coconut plopped down in front of them. Giblet stared at it, wondering. Oh boy, thought Bill. Giblet has thought of something. But just before Giblet jammed a coconut into his gullet, Bill stopped him.
“Giblet! We’re pelicans. We don’t eat coconuts.”
“Well you said not to eat so many fish. So I thought I’d try a coconut instead.”
Bill rolled his eyes and kept walking.
Here are some common linking and helping verbs:
is are am was were has have had does do did
Let’s hear more from Bill and Giblet.
Then we’ll do a bit more with these verbs.

29. Giblet has thought of something. s
Tricky Thing #4:
Introduction
Tricky Thing # 4: Linking Verbs and Helping Verbs
Common linking and helping verbs:
is are am was were has have had does do did
Singular
Subject
Linking Verb
Giblet was concerned. s
Giblet has thought of something. s
Main Verb
Singular
Subject
Helping Verb

30. AND, the tricky pronouns
Tricky Thing #4:
Introduction
Tricky Thing # 4: Linking Verbs and Helping Verbs
Common linking and helping verbs:
is are am was were has have had does do did
Plural
Subject
Helping Verb
Seashells were scattered about. s
Main Verb
You are walking extra-waddly these days, Gib.
Good
News!
Main Verb
Our
share one ‘s’
rule is still working!
AND, the tricky pronouns
‘you’ and ‘I’
are still being tricky!
Singular
Subject
Helping Verb

31. If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?
Tricky Thing #4:
Practice
Let’s do the pointing-game now with
Linking Verbs and Helping Verbs…
For the choice on top, point your finger up.
For the choice on bottom, point your finger down.
Here we go…
Cousin Jeb grouchy in the morning. is
are
Cousin Jeb is grouchy in the morning.
Singular subject,
so linking verb needs ‘s’ OR
If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?

32. If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?
Tricky Thing #4:
Practice
For the choice on top, point your finger up.
For the choice on bottom, point your finger down.
Here is another…
The puppy’s feet dirty. is
are
The puppy’s feet are dirty.
Tricky plural subject,
so linking verb needs NO ‘s’ OR
If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?

33. If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?
Tricky Thing #4:
Practice
For the choice on top, point your finger up.
For the choice on bottom, point your finger down.
Next…
You a hole in your pocket.
has
have
You have a hole in your pocket.
Tricky pronoun ‘you’,
so linking verb needs NO ‘s’ OR
If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?

34. If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?
Tricky Thing #4:
Practice
For the choice on top, point your finger up.
For the choice on bottom, point your finger down.
Switching to helping verbs now…
The gorillas in a straight line.
was walking
were walking
The gorillas were walking in a straight line.
Plural subject,
so helping verb needs NO ‘s’ OR
If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?

35. If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?
Tricky Thing #4:
Practice
For the choice on top, point your finger up.
For the choice on bottom, point your finger down.
Once again…
A duck during my nap.
was quacking
were quacking
A duck was quacking during my nap.
Singular subject,
so helping verb needs ‘s’ OR
If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?

36. If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?
Tricky Thing #4:
Practice
For the choice on top, point your finger up.
For the choice on bottom, point your finger down.
Last one…
She all afternoon.
has been waiting
have been waiting
She has been waiting all afternoon
Singular subject,
so helping verb needs ‘s’ OR
If I read it slow and clear, does it sound right to my ear?

37. and P A compound subject is made of more than one
Tricky Thing #5:
Introduction P S S
Tricky Thing # 5: Compound Subjects
A compound subject is made of more than one
simple subject connected with a word like and or or.
Well that’s
not too
tricky.
Oh.
Bummer.
and
Jancy and her monkey perform a funny show every Friday.
A is PLURAL
when it is joined by and.
compound subject
So the verb does
NOT get an ‘s’.
But when a compound subject
is joined by OR, things get a little trickier.

38. Tricky Thing #5:
Introduction
Tricky Thing # 5: Compound Subjects
Either the nature guide or the most experienced camper _____ the hikes on this trail. or
Either the most experienced camper or the nature guides s s
leads
lead
Right now,
it’s ‘campers’ *
This sentence has a compound subject connected with ‘or’.
IF both subjects are SINGULAR, the verb needs an ‘s’. *
We have to look carefully at the subjects in order to
make the verb agree.
IF both subjects are PLURAL, the verb does not need an ‘s’. *
BUT, if one subject is SINGULAR, and one subject is PLURAL,
then it depends on the subject closest to the verb.
Since ‘campers’ is plural, the verb does not need an ‘s’.
Now, if our subjects flip-flop, our verb will no longer agree.
Since ‘guides’ is plural, the verb does not need an ‘s’.
But if ‘camper’ is singular, the verb needs an ‘s’.

39. My two sisters or Caroline with me to the concert. is coming
Tricky Thing #5:
Practice
Tricky Thing # 5: Compound Subjects
Let’s do just a couple more practice sentences
with Tricky Thing #5…
My two sisters or Caroline with
me to the concert.
is coming
are coming or
Ooh, that’s tricky. We have ‘or’ joining the two subjects. That means we really need to pay attention to the subject closest to the verb. Even though the first subject is plural, ‘Caroline’ is singular, so our helping verb needs an ‘s’ (is coming).
Aunt Judy and Uncle Gill both their
hips when they
wiggles
wiggle
dances.
dance.
and
A compound subject with ‘and’ automatically makes the whole subject plural, so our verbs do not need an ‘s’—neither of them!

40. We’ll use a story sentence to help show something tricky.
Tricky Thing #6:
Introduction
Tricky Thing # 6: Misleading Subjects
We’ll use a story sentence to help show something tricky.
For our final tricky thing about subject – verb agreement, let’s read one last installment from Bill and Giblet.
Bill and Giblet are flying low over some water. They are trying to spot some breakfast. Up ahead, Bill sees something bobbing. It’s a boot.
“Fresh fish, up ahead, Gib,” says Bill with a smile. Giblet flies down and snags the boot.
“It’s not a fish, Bill. It’s a helmet.” Giblet puts the boot on his head. Bill just shakes his head.
Right then, a flock of geese flies over the top of Bill and Giblet.
“Incoming!” yells Giblet. He has spotted some doo-doo dropping right towards Bill. But Bill doesn’t see it. Giblet charges ahead and blocks the mess with his helmet.
Bill stays clean.
“That was awesome, Giblet.”
“You’re welcome, Bill.”
And on they fly together.

41. A flock of geese flies over the top of Bill and Giblet.
Tricky Thing #6:
Introduction
Tricky Thing # 6: Misleading Subjects
A flock of geese flies over the top of Bill and Giblet.
‘geese’ is misleading because… geese fly
Here is the complete subject.
But what is the simple subject?
Sometimes words in the subject can mislead you when you are trying to make the verb agree.
‘flock’ is the true simple subject… A flock flies
‘Misleading’ means it leads you away from what is correct.

42. The stack of papers everywhere. is blowing are blowing
Tricky Thing #6:
Practice
Tricky Thing # 6: Misleading Subjects
How about a final round of our game?
But let’s add a step. This time, you’ll first see only the subject.
Point to the true simple subject.
Either or
The stack of papers everywhere.
is blowing
are blowing ? ?
The stack of papers is blowing everywhere. OR OR

43. Five packs of gum just enough for the trip. is are
Tricky Thing #6:
Practice
Tricky Thing # 6: Misleading Subjects
How about a final round of our game?
But let’s add a step. This time, you’ll first see only the subject.
Point to the true simple subject.
Either or
Here’s another one:
Five packs of gum just enough for the trip. is
are ? ?
Five packs of gum are just enough for the trip. OR OR

44. The gunk in the pipes the plumbing. clogs clog
Tricky Thing #6:
Practice
Tricky Thing # 6: Misleading Subjects
How about a final round of our game?
But let’s add a step. This time, you’ll first see only the subject.
Point to the true simple subject.
Either or
And one more:
The gunk in the pipes the plumbing.
clogs
clog ? ?
The gunk in the pipes clogs the plumbing. OR OR

45. Let’s practice on your own now.
Tricky Things:
Independent Practice
Let’s practice on your own now.
Here’s a sheet on the tricky things about Subject-Verb Agreement.