Subject-Verb Agreement

10. Questions
11. Modals
12. Conditionals
13. Coordinating
Conjunctions
14. Subordinating
Conjunctions
15. Comparatives and
Superlatives
16. Word Order
17. Parts Of Speech
 Using Subject-Verb Agreement

What is subject-verb agreement?

How to fix problems in agreement
Phrases between subjects and verbs
Indefinite pronouns
Compound subjects
Subjects after verbs
Don’t and doesn’t
Review A
Review B
 Using Subject-Verb Agreement
Pre-Test
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl_exercises/sentence_structure/subject_verb_ag
reement/subject_verb_agreement_exercise.html

Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.

1. Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.

2. Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.
3. The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.
4. Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.
5. George and Tamara (doesn't, don't) want to see that movie.
6. Benito (doesn't, don't) know the answer.
7. One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.
 Using Subject-Verb Agreement
Pre-Test

8. The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.

9. The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two
hours to watch.
10. The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win.
11. Either answer (is, are) acceptable.
12. Every one of those books (is, are) fiction.
13. Nobody (know, knows) the trouble I've seen.
14. (Is, Are) the news on at five or six?
15. Mathematics (is, are) John's favorite subject, while Civics
(is, are) Andrea's favorite subject.
 Using Subject-Verb Agreement
Pre-Test
16. Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie these days.
17. (Is, Are) the tweezers in this drawer?
18. Your pants (is, are) at the cleaner's.
19. There (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag. Now there (is, are)
only one left!
20. The committee (debates, debate) these questions carefully.
21. The committee members (leads, lead) very different lives in
private.
22. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, (greets, greet) the
press cordially.
23. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, (is, are) in this case.
 What is subject-verb agreement?

Every sentence has a subject and a verb.

Subject Verb
The dog
dog runs.
runs.
runs.

Subject Verb
ship sails.
A ship sails.
sails.

Subject Verb
Two
Two children
children
childrenplay
play
playmusic.
music.
 What is subject-verb agreement?
Number

Number is the form a word takes to show whether it

is singular or plural.
• A word that refers to one thing is singular.
• A word that refers to more than one is plural.
Singular scientist goose she
Plural scientists geese they
 What is subject-verb agreement?
Singular subjects

A verb should agree in number with its subject.

• Singular subjects take singular verbs.

Singular Singular
Subject Verb
Tabitha rides
ridesthe
Tabitha rides the
thetrain.
train.
train.

Singular Singular
Subject Verb
repairsthe
He repairs thebicycle.
bicycle.
 What is subject-verb agreement?
Plural subjects

• Plural subjects take plural verbs.

Plural Plural
Subject Verb
The
The girls ride
girlsride
girls the
ridethe train.
thetrain.
train.

Plural Plural
Subject Verb
They
They
Theyrepair
repair
repair the
the
the bicycle.
bicycle.
bicycle.
 What is subject-verb agreement?
Plural subjects

In a verb phrase the first helping verb agrees

with the subject.
Verb Phrase
Singular Singular
Subject Helping Verb

is repairing the bicycle.

He is
Verb Phrase
Plural Plural
Subject Helping Verb

They are
They repairing the bicycle.
are repairing
 What is subject-verb agreement?

On Your Own
For each sentence, identify the subject, and then choose the
verb in parentheses that agrees with the subject.
1. The water (rushes, rush) down the river.
2. The bees (buzzes, buzz) around the picnic table.
3. The photograph (was, were) a gift from my cousin.
4. At the science fair the winner always (receives, receive) a
savings bond.
5. They (march, marches) in all the parades.

[End of Section]
 How to fix problems in agreement
Phrases between subjects and verbs

Sometimes a phrase comes between the subject

and the verb.
Subject Phrase Verb

The hero of those folk tales is Coyote.

The number of the subject is usually not changed

by a phrase following the subject.
Phrase
Subject Verb
The hero of those folk tales is Coyote.
 How to fix problems in agreement
Phrases between subjects and verbs

Subject Verb
bag of
A bag of marbles
marbles is
is on
on the
theshelf.
shelf.

Is agrees with bag, not marbles.

Subject Verb
The peppers
peppersin
inthe
thegarden
gardenhave
havegrown
grown quickly.
quickly.
The helping verb have agrees
with peppers, not garden.
 How to fix problems in agreement
Phrases between subjects and verbs

On Your Own
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct form
of the verb in parentheses.
1. A tidal wave, despite its name, (is, are) not caused by the
tides.
2. Earthquakes beneath the sea (causes, cause) most tidal
waves.
3. Tidal waves in the open ocean generally (does, do) not
cause much interest.
4. The height of tidal waves there often (remains, remain)
low.
[End of Section]
 How to fix problems in agreement
Indefinite pronouns

Indefinite pronouns refer to a person or thing

whose exact identity is unknown.
• Some indefinite pronouns are singular.
• Some are plural.
• Some may be either singular or plural,
depending on how they are used.
 How to fix problems in agreement
Indefinite pronouns

The following indefinite pronouns are singular:

Singular indefinite pronouns

anybody either neither one

anyone everybody nobody somebody

anything everyone no one someone

each everything nothing something

How to fix problems in agreement
Indefinite pronouns

Subject Verb

Neither of the boys is in my class.

Subject Verb

Nothing ever goes on sale at this store.

Subject Verb

Everyone on the team dribbles well.

 How to fix problems in agreement
Indefinite pronouns

The following indefinite pronouns are plural:

Plural indefinite pronouns

both few many several

Subject Verb
Both of them wear glasses.
Subject Verb
Few have traveled there.
Verb Subject
Are many of the tools sharp?
 How to fix problems in agreement
Indefinite pronouns

The following indefinite pronouns may be singular

or plural, depending on how they are used:

Singular or plural indefinite pronouns

all more none
any most some

Subject Verb
Most of the ice has melted. Singular when they refer
to singular words

Subject Verb
Plural when they
Most of the ice cubes have melted. refer to plural words
 How to fix problems in agreement
Indefinite pronouns

On Your Own
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct form of
the verb in parentheses.
1. Most of the balloons (has, have) long strings.
2. Both of these shoes (gives, give) me blisters.
3. Someone on the soccer team (needs, need) a new uniform.
4. Neither of the boys (was, were) wearing a helmet.
5. None of the house (has, have) been painted yet.

[End of Section]
SUBJECTS
 SUBJECTS
PRONOUN:

1st Person: Singular I Plural We

2nd Person: Singular You Plural You

3rd Person: Singular He she It Plural They

VERBS
COMMON MISTAKES
 How to fix problems in agreement
Compound subjects

A compound subject is two or more subjects

that are joined by a coordinating conjunction and
that have the same verb.

• Subjects joined by and usually take plural verbs.

Red and blue are the school’s colors.

Subject 1 Subject 2 Verb

Jana, Kurt, and Riley enjoy skating.

Subject 1 Subject 2 Subject 3 Verb
 How to fix problems in agreement
Compound subjects

• Singular subjects joined by or or nor take a

singular verb.

Neither the bus nor the train stops in our town.

Singular Singular Verb

On Mondays, Manuel or Gina baby-sits.

Singular Singular Verb
 How to fix problems in agreement
Compound subjects

• Plural subjects joined by or or nor take a plural

verb.

Curtains or artworks add color to a room.

Plural Plural Verb

Neither lemons nor limes were sold there.

Plural Plural Verb
 How to fix problems in agreement
Compound subjects

• When a singular and a plural subject are joined

by or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject
that is closer to the verb.
Plural Singular Verb
Either flowers or a book usually makes a nice gift.
The verb makes agrees with the nearer subject, book.

Singular Plural Verb

Maria or her parents prepare the lunches.
The verb prepare agrees with the nearer subject, parents.
 How to fix problems in agreement
Compound subjects

On Your Own
For each of the following sentences, choose the verb that
agrees with the compound subject.
1. Ants and spiders (has, have) invaded the backyard.
2. Mandy and her friends (is, are) going to the movies.
3. A statue or a fountain (looks, look) good in a park setting.
4. Neither maples nor elms (grows, grow) well in the valley.
5. Either potatoes or rice (is, are) served with the chicken.

[End of Section]
 How to fix problems in agreement
Subjects after verbs

In some sentences the subject comes after the

verb.
Plural Subject
Here (is,are
are) the
the balloons.
balloons.

When the subject follows the verb . . .

1. Find the subject.

2. Make sure the verb agrees with it.

 How to fix problems in agreement
Subjects after verbs

Subjects also appear after verbs in questions.

Plural Subject
Where (is,
areare) the old magazines?
magazines?

1. Find the subject.

2. Make sure the verb agrees with it.

 How to fix problems in agreement
Subjects after verbs

On Your Own
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct form
of the verb in parentheses.
1. There (is, are) a new student in my brother’s class.
2. (Was, Were) the fans cheering for the other team?
3. Where (has, have) Reggie hidden the gifts?
4. Here (stands, stand) the bravest heroes among us.
5. There (is, are) several correct answers to that question.

[End of Section]
 How to fix agreement problems
Don’t and doesn’t

The contractions don’t and doesn’t should agree

with their subjects.

Don’t is the contraction of do not. Use it with I and

you and with all plural subjects.
Singular Plural
I don’t we don’t
you don’t you don’t
they don’t

Don’t
You
I don’t
don’t
the puppies
want
know that
thelook
rules
coat.
cute?
yet.
 How to fix agreement problems
Don’t and doesn’t

Doesn’t is the contraction of does not. Use it with

all singular subjects except I and you.
Singular
I don’t
you don’t
he/she/it doesn’t

The
Doesn’t
car He
doesn’t
she
doesn’t
playrun
onknow
well
a teen
you.
in the
league?
winter.
 How to fix agreement problems
Don’t and doesn’t

On Your Own
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct
contraction in parentheses.
1. I (don’t, doesn’t) have any math homework tonight.
2. (Don’t, doesn’t) you usually study with Julia?
3. That show (don’t, doesn’t) come on until 9:00.
4. My grandparents (don’t, doesn’t) live near us.
5. (Don’t, Doesn’t) Jerome play the guitar anymore?

[End of Section]
 Review A

Choose the verb form in parentheses that agrees with the

subject.
1. Everyone in her family (prefers, prefer) to drink water.

2. Jamal and his parents (enjoys, enjoy) musicals.

3. There (is, are) three baby birds in the nest.

4. Neither the mower nor the weed-eater (works, work)

well.

5. Industries in the state (includes, include) farming and

mining.
 Review B

For each of the following sentences, if the subject and verb

do not agree, write the correct form of the verb. If the verb
already agrees with the subject, write C.
1. This table and this chair were made by hand in Mexico.

2. Each of my brothers go to college out of state.

3. Mr. Chang and his class has painted a mural for the hall.

4. A tornado or a hurricane is a dangerous storm.

5. Here is the decorations for the dance.

[End of Section]
1. __________ go to the beach every summer.
a. He b. She c. We d. It
2. Suddenly, __________ on the theatre.
a. they appear b. they appears. c. they d.
appear
3. There __________ many children in the park.
a. is b. has c. plays d. are
4. Mona and Hind (They) __________ together.
a. study b. studies c. studying d. students
5. People __________ watching television.
a.likely b. like c. likes d. liking
6. __________ is writing the letter now.
a.I b. He c. We d. They
Choose the best option in the following sentences:

1. Carlos is the only one of those students who __________

lived up to the potential described in the yearbook.
a. has b. have
2. The International Club, as well as the Choral Society and the
Rowing Club, __________ to submit a new constitution.
a. need b. needs
3. One of my best friends _____________ an extra on Seinfeld
this week.
a. are b. is
4. Not only the students but also their instructor___ been
called to the principal's office.
a. have b. has
5. Most of the milk _____ gone bad. Six gallons of milk
_______ still in the refrigerator.
a. has - are b. have - is

6. Each and every student and instructor in this building

__________ for a new facility by next year.
a. hope b. hopes

7. The students and instructors each ________for a new

facility by next year.
a. hopes b. hope

8. Rice and beans, my favorite dish, __________ me of my

native Puerto Rico.
a. remind b. reminds
9. A large number of voters still ___________ along
straight-party lines.
a. votes b. vote

10. Four years _______ a long time to spend away from

your friends and family.
a. are b. is
11. Politics __________ sometimes a dirty business.
a. are b. is
12. To an outsider, the economics of this country
________ to be in disarray.
a. seem b. seems
Choose the answer that correctly completes each sentence.

1-My cousin______________ playing football.

a- enjoy b-enjoying c-enjoys d-is enjoy
2-My new teacher ______________blond hair and blue eyes.
a-is having b-have c-having d-has
3-My______________usually gets up at 6 o'clock.
a-uncles b-uncle c- uncle he d-uncle and my
aunt
4-Mariam's best______________ often borrows her books.
a-friends b-friend c-friend she d-friend is
5-Our______________sometimes go on holiday.
a-bosses b-boss c-boss he d-boss is
6-Their mother______________ in a private company.
a-is a manager b- she a manager
c-she is manager d-is manager
7-Their______________often washes the car on Sundays.
a-brothers b-brother
c-brother is d- brother’s
8______________a lot of errors in the student’s essay.
a- there is b- they are c- their d- there
are
9- Some horses______________ many races.
a- wins b- win c- winning d- is winning
10- His sister usually____________ swimming on the weekend.
a- go b-going c-gone d- goes
(Simple Present = listen/listens)
11- My______________ usually goes to school by taxi.
a- sisters b-sister c- sister she d- sister is
12- My brother usually____________ to Quran when he is studying.

a- listens b- listen c- listening d- is listening

13- In some countries, elections___(verb)___ place every four years.
a- take b-takes c- taking d- are taking it
14- My brother is an accountant. works in a school.
a-He b- His c- He’s d- He is
15-Ali and Samy____________to the beach to surf with their friends.
a-goes b-go c-going d-is going
16- Our best friend ________ a wonderful holiday in Paris this week.
a-is having b-have c-having d-are having
Subject Verb
Agrrement
 https://kahoot.it/challenge/07001075?
challenge-id=5107a8a3-3b4e-4512-997b-
4e1d33799728_1678357423931

Due Date: March 20