Chapter 4

Reaching an Agreement: Pairing

Subjects and Verbs
I n real life, respectful disagreement can be helpful. In grammar, disagreement is disastrous!
The subject — who or what you’re talking about — and the verb (the action or state of being)
must match, or agree. A singular subject pairs with a singular verb form and a plural subject
pairs with a plural verb form. In this chapter, you find the subject and then play matchmaker
between subjects and verbs. (If you have trouble identifying the verb, turn to Chapters 1 and
for extra help.)

The Questions You’ll Work On

In this chapter, you work on questions that cover the following concepts:

» Finding the subject in statements, questions, and commands

» Identifying compound subjects and pronouns acting as subjects

» Choosing the correct verb for every subject-verb pair

What to Watch Out For

eep these points in mind when you’re answering the questions in this chapter:

» o fin the subject, first locate the verb s in the sentence. s who? or what? is performing the
action or is in the state of being e presse by the verb.

» on t be foole by location. ost subjects appear before the verb, but some follo the verb. se
your rea ing comprehension s ills to ans er the who? or what? uestions.

» ost subjects an verbs sho up ith escriptions attache . gnore istracting or s or phrases
an concentrate on the real subject-verb pair.

CHAPTER 4 Reaching an Agreement: Pairing Subjects and Verbs 33

 » erb forms use as escriptions or nouns may resemble verbs ithout functioning as the verb
in the sentence. hen you as who? or what? to fin the subject, be sure you re or ing from the
real verb.

» The subject in a command may be an understood but not stated, you.

» ronouns acting as subjects can be tric y. Chec out Chapter for help istinguishing singular
an plural pronouns.

Locating the Subject 200. Only one boy in the crowd of

actually got an autograph.
fans

196–215 Identify the subject(s) in the sentence.

196. The plastic tip of the shoelace slowly

slipped through the hole as Juan marched
down the street.
201. Jumping on the trampoline is fun for Lily
and Jane during the long weeks of sum-
mer vacation.

197. Marina and Tom are in the grocery store

on the corner of Appleton Avenue and 202. Stop talking back to the teacher now!
Easy Street.

203. Henry distributed sheets of paper to

198. Eight security cameras constantly whoever needed some.
swiveled in their holders on the ceiling
of the jewelry store.

204. Does the new brand of peanut butter

taste odd to you?

199. In the garden behind the house, the bride

and groom solemnly recited their vows.

205. There on the shelf sat four large statues

of important leaders.

34 PART 1 The Questions

206. Above the clouds and far from the violent 213. The dog that I believe should win the
storm, the plane ew safely toward its contest is over there.
destination.

214. Courtney, along with her mother, spoke

207. The bus full of delighted tourists slowly firmly to the mayor about the need for
circled the famous monument. longer library hours.

208. Each of the coffee cups has a small crack

near the rim. 215. The fire truck, which is heading to a
blaze downtown, speeds through the
intersection.

209. Both of the parakeets happily land on my

finger for a bit of birdseed and a bite of
lettuce.
Fine-Tuning Subject-
Verb Agreement
216–240 In the context of the sentence, what form of
210. Allison and her former friend Pete parted the verb (V) in parentheses is correct, and what is the
angrily, snarling at each other and walk- subject (S) of that verb?
ing in opposite directions.

216. Every morning Anna _____ (to open,

present tense) the gate and _____ (to
allow, present tense) her poodle to play
in the yard.
211. Grandpa, who loves hockey, was the
goalie on his college team.

217. On the way to work, Clare and David

212. Either the apartment with a terrace or the always _____ (to share, present perfect
townhouse will surely please that buyer. tense) funny stories about their boss.

CHAPTER 4 Reaching an Agreement: Pairing Subjects and Verbs 35

 218. The large-sized bottle of my favorite 224. _____ (to have, present tense) you any
shampoo _____ (to be, past tense) on extra icing for my birthday cake?
sale last week.

225. Through the dark, damp tunnel _____

219. Alicia and I _____ (to plan, present (to crawl, present tense) the chipmunks,
progressive tense) a talent show to raise eager to reach the picnic tables.
money for a children’s charity.

226. Ham and cheese _____ (to be, present

tense) my favorite sandwich, but salad
220. The Cub Scouts _____ (to place,
_____ (to be, present tense) a more
past progressive tense) candy apples
nutritious choice.
in small, sticky piles in preparation
for the Halloween party.

227. “Your problem _____ (to be, present

tense) 17 unexcused absences,” com-
221. _____ (to be, past tense) Hank pleased mented the teacher as she explained why
when he _____ (to read, past tense) the student was scheduled for detention.
your letter?

228. Politics _____ (to in uence, present

222. The best exhibits in the museum _____ tense) much of the debate on that issue,
(to seem, present tense) more crowded but the senators from that state always
lately. _____ (to vote, present tense) accord-
ing to their consciences.

223. Matthew and I _____ (to sing, past

progressive tense) until our voices 229. John, not his friends, _____ (to go,
_____ (to break, past tense) from present progressive tense) to attend the
overuse. ceremony.

36 PART 1 The Questions

230. Any of the solutions he _____ (to offer, 236. Every student and teacher in the kinder-
present tense) to the panel _____ (to garten _____ (to prefer, present tense)
be, present tense) acceptable. with the plastic blocks, not the wooden
ones.

231. _____ (to be, present tense) the House

of Representatives in session now? 237. That little girl _____ (to be, present
tense) the only one of the dancers who
_____ (to make, present tense) friends
easily.

232. Most of the salt in those dishes _____

(to come, present tense) from natural
sources.
238. A thousand dollars _____ (to be,
present tense) too much to pay for that
broken-down car, which _____ (to
look, present tense) like a rusty bucket.

233. Two or three of the plants with red leaves

_____ (to droop, present progres-
sive tense) to the ground because of the
drought.
239. Neither Ginger nor her aunts _____ (to
have, present tense) keys to the house,
but the landlord _____ (to be, present
tense) able to supply an extra set.

234. The study of economics _____ (to

seem, present tense) interesting, but I
have never taken any courses about this
subject.
240. Shelby _____ (to sell, present pro-
gressive tense) me one of the cars that
_____ (to be, present tense) energy
e cient.

235. Two hours of homework _____ (to be,

present perfect tense) my usual amount,
but I _____ (to expect, present tense) to
spend more time on my studies next year.

CHAPTER 4 Reaching an Agreement: Pairing Subjects and Verbs 7