Subject-Verb Agreement

I’m a
subject! I’m a verb!
And we agree.
What is a subject?
 What is a subject?
A sentence’s subject is a noun or a pronoun.

Jenna likes fashion.

It was a very long day.
The astronaut was homesick.
She always does her homework.
 The subject must agree
with the verb!

Jenna like likes fashion.

It were was a very long day.
The astronaut were was homesick.
She always do does her homework.
 Singular Verbs: Be
When the subject of a sentence is composed
of one noun or pronoun, use a singular
verb.

She is…
I am…
You are…
 Plural Verbs: Be
When the subject of a sentence is composed
of two or more nouns or pronouns
connected by and, use a plural verb.

She and her friends are…

We are…
You all are…
 Which is the correct
form of be?

She ___ at the fair.

I ___ ready for the midterm.
You ___ going to be late.
She and her friends___ at the fair.
We ___ ready for the midterm.
You all ___ going to be late.
 What is the correct
form of be?

She is at the fair.

I am ready for the midterm.
You are going to be late.
She and her friends are at the fair.
We are ready for the midterm.
You all are going to be late.
 Singular Verbs: Have

I have…
You have…
He has…
Shana has…
 Plural Verbs: Have

We have…
You all have…
They have…
Shana and Robert have…
The students have…
 Which is the correct
form of Have?

We ___ confidence you will study for

the test.
You all ___ time to do well.
They ___ plenty of notes to study.
Shana and Robert ___ the right idea.
 Which is the correct
form of Have?

We have confidence you will study for

the test.
You all have time to do well.
They have plenty of notes to study.
Shana and Robert have the right idea.
What is a compound subject?
 What is a compound subject?
A compound subject is a subject which consists of
two or more words.

Examples:

• Sarah and Tom

• My mom and sister
• Rachel or her brother
• Your mom or your grandma
 For compound subjects
connected by AND:
use a plural verb!

Examples

Sarah and Tom drive to school.

My mom and sister are picking me up.
John and Nancy have three dogs.
Cats and dogs are good pets.
 For compound subjects
connected by OR:
the verb should agree with the word that is
closest to it!

Examples:
Every day, Sarah or her friends drive to
school.
Every day, her friends or Sarah drives to
school.
Oprah or her advisors choose her topics.
Her advisors or Oprah chooses her topics.
 Other examples…
Some of the sand is out of the box.
Use a singular verb because sand is singular.

Some of the teens like the movie.

Use a plural verb because teens is plural.

Ten percent of the population is allergic to peanuts.

Use a singular verb because the population is
singular.

Ten percent of people are allergic to peanuts.

Use a plural verb because people is a singular verb.
 Got it?
Here is the link to the subject-verb quiz:

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
cgishl/quiz.pl/sv_agr_quiz.htm?
cgi_quiz_form=1