1. AGREEMENT: SUBJECTS & COMPLEMENTS From the UWF WRITING LAB GRAMMAR MINI-LESSON SERIES MINI-LESSON #16

2. Agreement: Subjects and Complements A verb must agree with its subject, not its subject complement (a word or words that rename the subject). In other words, if a sentence is in its natural word order, a verb should agree with what precedes it, not what follows it.

3. Examples Homemade pies is the bakery’s specialty. (Incorrect) Homemade pies are the bakery’s specialty. (Correct—the verb should agree with the subject pies, not the subject complement specialty.)

4. Examples His parents are his sole support. (Correct) His sole support is his parents. (Correct)

5. PRACTICE BY CORRECTING THESE SENTENCES The most valuable gift were the clothes. Henry IV is credited with the observation that “Riches is ready snares.” Library fines is a problem for many students. Computers is his business.

6. PRACTICE BY CORRECTING THESE SENTENCES The most valuable gift was the clothes. Henry IV is credited with the observation that “Riches are ready snares.” Library fines are a problem for many students. Computers are his business.