STEP NUMBER 24 IS THE CONCEPT OF SUBJECT AND VERB AGREEMENT

This is when the subjects and verbs in your sentences agree in number.

Huh???????????????
I dont get it?

Oh, wait a second I know!

Bill is one boy. Right? Bill is not two boys; he is one boy. Right? Right? No, thats not what I mean.

But, lets start with your sentence

Bill is one boy.
The subject (Bill) is, as youve said, one boy. This makes the subject (Bill) singular. Bill obviously is a singular subject.

SO
We see that a singular subject must take a singular verb.
Bill is one boy.

The verb isnt one boy, The verb is is.

Bill (is are) one boy.

Obviously, the answer is is. Bill is one boy. We wouldnt say Bill are one boy. Because are is a plural verb, and since Bill is a singular subject, it cannot take a plural verb.

This is the agreement between

A SUBJECT AND A VERB

If you use a singular subject, use a singular verb. (John likes pizza.) If you use a plural subject, use a plural verb. (We like pizza.) Be especially careful of agreement mistakes in the following types of sentences

COMPOUND SUBJECTS

Compound subjects connected by and need a plural verb. Alicia and Todd love amusement parks

In sentences with compound subject connected by or or nor, the verb must agree with the subject that is nearer the verb.
Neither Todd nor his friend likes the Ferris wheel. (Use a singular verb because the subject nearer the verbfriend-is singular.) Neither Alicia nor her friends ride the bumper cars. (Use a plural verb because the subject nearer the verbfriends-is plural.)

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
In sentences with a singular indefinite pronoun as the subject, use a singular verb.
HEY, WHAT IS AN INDEFINITE PRONOUN?
THE WORDS IN BLUE ARE PLURAL
all another any anybody anyone anything both each each one either everybody everyone everything few many most much neither nobody none no one nothing one other several some somebody someone something such

THE WORDS IN RED ARE SINGULAR

THE WORDS IN GREEN CAN BE EITHER SINGULAR OR PLURAL

SOME SCARY MOMENTS

As stated some indefinite pronouns (all, any, most, none, some) can be either singular or plural.

Most of my uncles fields are planted now.

(Use plural verb when the noun in the prepositional phrase that follows the indefinite pronoun is plural. In the example sentence, the noun fields is plural.)

HOWEVER,
Most of my uncles field is under water.
(Use a singular verb if the noun in the prepositional phrase is singular. In the example sentence, the noun field is singular.)

And the only way to remember which pronoun is singular and which pronoun is plural
IS TO MEMORIZE THEM

UNUSUAL WORD ORDER

When the subject is separated from the verb by words or phrases, you must check carefully to see that the subject agrees with the verb.
Damien, as well as Brian and Paco, works on the farm.

(Damien, not Brian and Paco, is the subject, so the singular verb works is used to agree with the subject.)

MORE UNUSUAL WORD ORDER

When the subject comes after the verb in a sentence, you must check carefully to see that the true subject agrees with the verb.
Out in that field are the two new tractors that my uncle bought. (The plural subject tractors agrees with the plural verb are.)

Behind those machine sheds is the garage. (The singular subject garage agrees with the singular verb is.)
**REMEMBER THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE HAS SEVERAL CHARACTERISTICS. ONE IS THAT IT NEVER CONTAINS A VERB, AND THE SECOND IS THAT IT IS NEVER THE SUBJECT OF A SENTENCE. SO YOU WILL NEVER CONJUGATE THE VERB IN A SENTENCE WITH A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE WITH THE OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION (THE NOUN). (UNLESS IS THE CASE OF AN INDEFINITE PRONOUN THAT CAN BE EITHER PLURAL OR SINGULAR AS ALREADY SHOWN.

COLLECTIVE NOUNS

A collective noun names a group or unit: faculty, committee, team, congress, species, crowd, army, pair.) When a collective noun is the subject of a sentence, it can be either singular or plural.

WATCH
The committee is developing a stricter dress code. (The collective noun committee is singular because it refers to the committeee as one group. As a result, the singular verb is is required.) The night crew are asked to take separate lunch breaks. (The collective noun crew is plural because it refers to the crew as individuals. As a result, the plural helping verb are is required.)

NOW LETS PRACTICE

1. 2. 3. 4.
5.

Many cherry trees in the city (is are) in bloom. Her opinion of the class (provide provides) background. One of the tests (show shows) great improvement. Everyone of the computers (was were) accepted.
Many of the students (walk walks) to school.

THE ANSWERS
1. Many cherry trees in the city are in bloom. 2. Her opinion of the class provides background. 3. One of the tests shows great improvement. 4. Everyone of the computers was accepted. 5. Many of the students walk to school.
How did you do?

SINGULAR PRONOUNS
SUBJECT PRONOUNS POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS OBJECT PRONOUNS

1ST PERSON 2ND PERSON 3RD PERSON

I YOU HE, SHE, IT

MY, MINE YOU, YOURS HIS, HER, HERS, ITS

ME YOU HIM, HER, IT

PLURAL PRONOUNS
SUBJECT PRNOUNS POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS OBJECT PRONOUNS

1ST PERSON 2ND PERSON 3RD PERSON

WE YOU, YOURS THEY

OUR, OURS YOUR, YOURS THEIR, THEIRS

US YOU THEM

LETS PRACTICE
1) 2) 3) 4)
5)

You saved (I me), shouted the student. Grandmother and (she her) told us the gory details. Is this fairytale to complicated for (she you) This is the kind of behavior she expects from him and ( I me). They either love (we us) or hate (we us).

THE ANSWERS
1) 2) 3) 4)
5)

You saved me, shouted the student. Grandmother and she told us the gory details. Is this fairytale to complicated for you. This is the kind of behavior she expects from him and me. They either love us or hate us.

Im so proud of you for understanding this complicated material.