1. Subject-Verb Agreement Created by Karen Walker for the Information Commons Tarpon Springs Campus St. Petersburg College Use Slide Show View for Best Results

2. Strictly numbers The verbs must agree with the subject in number. The verbs must agree with the subject in number. –If a subject is singular, its verb must be singular. –If a subject is plural, its verb must be plural. –Can’t mix and match!

3. First Steps Remember how to identify subjects & verbs? Remember how to identify subjects & verbs? –Eliminate the prepositional phrases –Spot the subjects and verbs

4. Decide if Subject is Singular or Plural Singular = 1 Singular = 1 –girl, house, car, flower, dog Plural = more than 1 Plural = more than 1 –girls, houses, cars, flowers, dogs

5. Special Situations Indefinite pronouns Indefinite pronouns And And Or, Nor Or, Nor Collective nouns Collective nouns Inverted sentences Inverted sentences

6. Indefinite Pronouns -ONE -ONE anyone, everyone, someone, no one -BODY -BODY anybody, everybody, somebody, nobody -THING -THING –anything, everything, something, nothing

7. Indefinite Pronouns each, each of each, each of either, either of either, either of neither, neither of neither, neither of

8. “and” “and” is a plus sign that adds the subjects and automatically makes them plural “and” is a plus sign that adds the subjects and automatically makes them plural Georgia and Teddy run the mile in seven minutes. Georgia and Teddy run the mile in seven minutes. Dedication and motivation are characteristics of successful students. Dedication and motivation are characteristics of successful students. plural

9. “and” as a single unit When “and” is used to identify a single unit, the verb will be singular When “and” is used to identify a single unit, the verb will be singular Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite. Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite. Rock and roll plays on the radio. Rock and roll plays on the radio.

10. NOT “and” These phrases are NOT the same as “and”; they don’t automatically create a need for a plural verb: These phrases are NOT the same as “and”; they don’t automatically create a need for a plural verb: –as well as, in addition to –along with, together with The teacher along with her students is hopeful everyone passes. The teacher along with her students is hopeful everyone passes. The dogs as well as the cat are in the yard. The dogs as well as the cat are in the yard.

11. “or,” “nor,” “either…or,” “neither…nor” With “or” and “nor,” the subject closest to the verb decides if the verb is singular or plural. With “or” and “nor,” the subject closest to the verb decides if the verb is singular or plural. Mark or his sisters are at the store. Mark or his sisters are at the store. Neither his sisters nor Mark is at the store. Neither his sisters nor Mark is at the store.

12. Collective nouns Group of something acting as ONE is singular Group of something acting as ONE is singular –jury, team, family, council, crew, species, crowd, audience, herd The city council makes a decision today. The city council makes a decision today. The crowd hears the speaker. The crowd hears the speaker. singular

13. Inverted Sentences Questions and sentences that begin with Here, There, or a prepositional phrase followed by a verb are inverted. Questions and sentences that begin with Here, There, or a prepositional phrase followed by a verb are inverted. –The subject is NOT “here” or “there” –The subject will be found AFTER the verb.

14. Inverted Sentences Flip the sentence in your head to make it “go right”; put the subject BEFORE the verb. Flip the sentence in your head to make it “go right”; put the subject BEFORE the verb. There (is/are) two cats. There (is/are) two cats. –Two cats are there. On one of the tables (is/are) a key. On one of the tables (is/are) a key. –A key is on one of the tables.

15. Hot Tip: In most cases, only the subject OR the verb will have an “s” on the end, not both. In most cases, only the subject OR the verb will have an “s” on the end, not both.Examples: The cars run fast The car runs fast

16. Four Steps for SV Agreement Review 1. Eliminate prepositional phrases 1. Eliminate prepositional phrases 2. Spot the subject and the verb 2. Spot the subject and the verb 3. Decide if subject is singular or plural 3. Decide if subject is singular or plural 4. Make verb agree with subject in number 4. Make verb agree with subject in number

17. Special Situations Review Indefinite pronouns (singular) Indefinite pronouns (singular) And (plural) And (plural) Or, Nor (depends on closest subject) Or, Nor (depends on closest subject) Collective nouns (singular) Collective nouns (singular) Inverted sentences (there and here aren’t the subject) Inverted sentences (there and here aren’t the subject)

18. Practice In each of the following, click on the option that corrects an error in the underlined portion. In each of the following, click on the option that corrects an error in the underlined portion. If no error exists, click on “no change needed.” If no error exists, click on “no change needed.” When you choose the correct answer, click on NEXT in the lower right hand corner to see the next question. When you choose the correct answer, click on NEXT in the lower right hand corner to see the next question.

19. Practice A Neither our cars nor my friend were in the lot; maybe the attendants, who have been here all afternoon, know where either of them is. Neither our cars nor my friend were in the lot; maybe the attendants, who have been here all afternoon, know where either of them is. A B C A.waswas B.has beenhas been C.werewere D.no change neededno change needed

20. Practice B At Perkins, there are many different food options for lunch, but Jay, along with his sister, prefers peanut butter and jelly, which are his favorite. At Perkins, there are many different food options for lunch, but Jay, along with his sister, prefers peanut butter and jelly, which are his favorite. A B C A.isis B.preferprefer C.isis D.no change neededno change needed

21. Practice C The group of calculus students come to study in the library because the staff is friendly and each gets his own seat. The group of calculus students come to study in the library because the staff is friendly and each gets his own seat. A B C A.comescomes B.areare C.getget D.no change neededno change needed

22. Practice D The Department of Environmental Affairs office sponsors a lecture series that is so popular that no one I know has been able to get tickets. The Department of Environmental Affairs office sponsors a lecture series that is so popular that no one I know has been able to get tickets. A B C A.sponsorsponsor B.areare C.have been ablehave been able D.no change neededno change needed

23. Practice Answer A Neither our cars nor my friend were in the lot; maybe the attendants, who have been here all afternoon, know where either of them is. Neither our cars nor my friend were in the lot; maybe the attendants, who have been here all afternoon, know where either of them is. A B C A. was B. B.

24. Practice Answer B At Perkins, there are many different food options for lunch, but Jay, along with his sister, prefers peanut butter and jelly, which are his favorite. At Perkins, there are many different food options for lunch, but Jay, along with his sister, prefers peanut butter and jelly, which are his favorite. A B C C. is

25. Practice Answer C The group of calculus students come to study in the library because the staff is friendly and each gets his own seat. The group of calculus students come to study in the library because the staff is friendly and each gets his own seat. A B C A. comes

26. Practice Answer D D.no change needed The Department of Environmental Affairs office sponsors a lecture series that is so popular that no one I know has been able to get tickets. The Department of Environmental Affairs office sponsors a lecture series that is so popular that no one I know has been able to get tickets. AB C

27. Practice Wrong A Neither our cars nor my friend were in the lot; maybe the attendants, who have been here all afternoon, know where either of them is. Neither our cars nor my friend were in the lot; maybe the attendants, who have been here all afternoon, know where either of them is. A B C A.waswas B.has beenhas been C.werewere D.no change neededno change needed

28. Practice Wrong B At Perkins, there are many different food options for lunch, but Jay, along with his sister, prefers peanut butter and jelly, which are his favorite. At Perkins, there are many different food options for lunch, but Jay, along with his sister, prefers peanut butter and jelly, which are his favorite. A.isis B.preferprefer C.isis D.no change neededno change needed A B C

29. Practice Wrong C The group of calculus students come to study in the library because the staff is friendly and each gets his own seat. The group of calculus students come to study in the library because the staff is friendly and each gets his own seat. A B C A.comescomes B.areare C.getget D.no change neededno change needed

30. Practice Wrong D The Department of Environmental Affairs office sponsors a lecture series that is so popular that no one I know has been able to get tickets. The Department of Environmental Affairs office sponsors a lecture series that is so popular that no one I know has been able to get tickets. AB C A.sponsorsponsor B.areare C.have been ablehave been able D.no change neededno change needed

31. Work Cited Examples questions are based on those found in Thinking Through the Test by D. J. Henry & Mimi Markus (pages 168-172). Examples questions are based on those found in Thinking Through the Test by D. J. Henry & Mimi Markus (pages 168-172).

32. Need More Help? The Information Commons offers free tutoring services in many subjects. Take Advantage! Visit: Inside M.M. Bennett Library on the Tarpon Springs Campus. Visit: Inside M.M. Bennett Library on the Tarpon Springs Campus. Call: 727.712.5729 (TS Location). Call: 727.712.5729 (TS Location). Call: 727.341.4772 to direct you to the nearest Information Commons. Call: 727.341.4772 to direct you to the nearest Information Commons.