1. Subject-Verb Agreement
Aim: Learn and demonstrate understanding of the basic rules of subject-verb agreement.

2. Rule #1
If the subject singular (only one person or thing), the verb must be singular.
In the present tense, a singular verb ends with an s.
Ex. A good student does his homework.

3. Rule #2
If the subject is plural (more than one person or thing), the verb must be plural.
The verb should not end in an s.
Ex. All good students do their homework.

4. Practice Exercise The student (work/works). He (studies/study) too.
Student is singular. Works is singular.
He (studies/study) too.
He is singular. Studies is singular.
All the students (walks/walk) to school.
Students is plural. Walk is plural.
These pictures (was/were) drawn by the instructor.
Pictures is plural. Were is plural.
Children (wants/want) their parents to come to the school.
Children is plural. Want is plural.

5. Uh Oh…
Sometimes words and phrases will come between the subject and the verb. They may confuse you. Remember, first find the verb!! Then ask yourself, whom or what is doing that verb? Only then can you make sure they agree.
Ex. The designs on the Indian pottery (fascinates/fascinate) me.

6. Practice Exercise
The buildings on each campus (was/were) recently completed.
Subject is buildings. Buildings is plural. Were is plural.
All applications for the job (has/have) be received.
Applications is the subject. Applications is plural. Have is plural.
Every student in all classes (has/have) been notified of the test date.
Student is the subject. Student is singular. Has is singular.
The chalkboard in the school (is/are) scratched.
Chalkboard is the subject. Chalkboard is singular. Is is singular.
Each year the winner from all the schools in the state (seems/seem) to be very surprised.
Winner is the subject. Winner is singular. Seems is singular.

7. Rule #3: There are some words that are ALWAYS singular. Memorize them.
anyone
each
someone
one
anybody
either
somebody
neither
everybody
no one
nobody
everyone
everything
Basically, anything that ends in ONE, BODY or THING!

8. Rule #4: Some words are always plural. Memorize them.
We call them FBOMS
F-Few
B-both
O-others
M-many
S-Several

9. Rule #5: Fishy pronouns
Fishy pronouns may be singular or plural depending on how they are used. Use the acronym SAMMAN to remember them. (haha, get it?)
S- Some
Some of the fruit is rotten. Some of the apples are rotten.
A-All
All of this apple is rotten. All of these apples are rotten.
M-More
M-Most
A-Any
None

10. Practice Exercise Some of the students (have/has) left the building.
Some is used as plural subject. Have is plural.
Each of her students (is/are) special.
Each is ALWAYS singular. Is is singular.
Several on the team (hit/hits) the ball really hard.
Several is one of the FBOMS. It is ALWAYS plural. Hit is plural.
Everything in the buildings (was/were) destroyed.
Everything is ALWAYS singular. Was is singular.
Neither of the men (meets/meet) his class every day.
Neither is ALWAYS singular. Meets is singular.

11. Rule #6/7
If the sentence has compound subjects (more than one subject) with AND in the middle, the verb is usually plural.
Ex. Ellis and John are twins.
Ex. The beginning of the story and the end of the story were exciting.
When the compound subjects are joined by OR or NOR, the verb must agree with the nearer subject (the subject that is closest in location to the verb).
Ex. Either the old men or the young man was responsible for the lovely music.
Ex. Neither the teacher nor the students are in class this morning.

12. Practice Exercise
Neither the science nor the math teacher (gives/give) extra credit.
Math teacher is closet to the verb. Math teacher is singular. Gives is singular.
Either the cat or the dogs (greets/greet) me at the door.
Dogs is closer to the verb. Dogs is plural. Greet is plural.
Neither the men who are listed as administrators nor the woman who is also listed (has/have) ever been in my classroom.
Woman is closer to the verb. Woman is singular. Has is singular.
Either my cousin or my uncle (was/were) on the list.
Uncle is closer to the verb. Uncle is singular. Was is singular.
Neither Ms. Jones nor a member of her staff (is/are) going to attend the meeting.
Member is closer to the verb. Member is singular. Is is singular.

13. A special trick…
If you are ever confused about which for of the verb is singular or plural substitute the subject with “This” and “These.”
This will always be singular. Which for agrees with this?
These will always be plural. Which form agrees with these?

14. Homework
Complete the second worksheet in the subject-verb agreement packet. Don’t forget the test on Friday!