1. Subject-Verb Agreement Lesson
English 9
Subject-Verb Agreement Lesson

2. What’s the deal with Subject-Verb Agreement?
All sentences have a subject and a verb.
Subjects and verbs MUST agree in number.
Agreeing in “number” refers to whether a word is Singular or Plural.

3. Singular and Plural Subjects
Singular Subjects
Plural Subjects
A word that refers to one person, place, thing, idea, or action is singular.
A word that refers to more than one is plural.

4. Singular Subjects Need Singular Verbs
Most verbs that end in “s” are singular.
Example---The dog barks all night.
Example---She walks around the park.

5. Plural Subjects need Plural Verbs
Most nouns that end in “s” or “es” are plural.
Example---Teachers work really hard.
Example---Students play all summer.

6. Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects
An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun that does not refer to a specific person, place, or thing.
Some indefinite pronouns are singular and others are plural.
When they are used as the subject, the verb must agree in number with these indefinite pronouns.

7. Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects
Singular
Plural
Singular/Plural
another
everybody
no one
both
All
anybody
everyone
nothing
few
Any
anyone
everything
one
many
Most
anything
much
somebody
others
None
each
neither
someone
several
Some
either
nobody
something

8. Singular and Plural Indefinite Pronouns
Singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs.
Example---Everybody watches The Walking Dead.
Plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs.
Example---Several of the characters are scared.
**remember “Big Feet May Stink” for plural indefinite pronouns**
Both
Few
Many
Several

9. Singular or Plural Indefinite Pronouns
All, any, most, none, and some may be singular or plural, depending on the phrase that follows.
Example---Most of the food is delicious. (Singular)
Example---Some of the girls were sad. (Plural)
**Repeat the “All, any, most, none, some” chant**

10. Verbs and Subject Pronouns
Verbs and subject pronouns must also agree. Look at the chart below and notice how the verb changes. In the present tense the “s” ending is used with the subject pronouns it, he, and she.
Singular Plural
I read We read.
You read You read.
He, she, it reads They read.

11. Collective Nouns
Sometimes it is difficult to determine if a subject is singular or plural.
Singular
The noun has a singular meaning when used to tell about a group that acts as a unit.
Collective nouns follow special agreement rules.
Plural
The noun has a plural meaning when used to describe members of the group acting as individuals.

12. Collective Nouns Singular Plural A group that acts as a unit.
Example---The pack howls at the moon.
Members of the group acting as individuals.
Example---The wolves in the pack howl at the moon.

13. Why is Subject-Verb agreement important?
Understanding Subject-Verb agreement help us communicate effectively.
Errors in Subject-Verb agreement can often be misleading and confusing to readers.

14. Practice
Circle the and underline the correct form of the verb in the following sentences.
He (listen, listens) to the radio.
It (inspire, inspires) him.
You (eat, eats) sushi.
Some of the cake (is, are) burnt.
Subject

15. Practice
Circle the correct form of the indefinite pronoun subject in bold.
Nobody enjoys getting a flue shot. (singular plural both)
Both of the tires are flat. (singular plural both)
Most of the articles are authentic. (singular plural both)
Something amazing is going to happen! (singular plural both)