SUBJECTVERB AGREEMENT
Subject is the
person/people/thing(s) that do the activity.
Verb is a word used to describe
an action, state, or occurrence, and forming the main part of the predicate of
a sentence.
Kinds of VERB
ACTION VERBS
LINKING VERBS
HELPING VERBS
ACTION VERB
• Also known as MAIN VERB.
• Action verbs are words that
express action (give, eat, walk, etc.) or possession (have, own, etc.).
• Action verbs can be either
transitive (with object) or intransitive (without object).
Example:
- Laurissa raises her hand. (kkt)
- Abdus gave Becky the pencil. (kkt)
LINKING VERBS
A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence to a noun or adjective
that renames or describes the subject.
To Be: is, am, are, was, were
Example:
Lisa is in love with Jason.
We were there!
I am happy
Verb: seem, appear, become, grow, remain
Example:
She looks pale.
I feel happy
That sounds great!
Your cook smells good.
Helping verbs are used before action or linking verbs to convey
additional information regarding aspects of possibility (can, could, etc.) or
time (was, did, has, etc.)
MODALS always function as Helping Verbs.
MODALS: can, could, may, might, shall, will, ought to, should, would.
Examples:
- Tejo is (helping verb) going (main verb) to Florida.
- The trip might (helping verb) be (main verb) dangerous.
MAIN RULE OF
“Subject Verb Agreement” Only the subject affects the verb!
“Subject Verb Agreement” Only the subject affects the verb!
RULE 1
Subjects and verbs must agree in number.
Examples:
The dog growls when it
is angry.
RULE 2
Don’t get
confused by the words that come between the subject and verb; they
do not affect agreement.
Examples:
The dog, who is chewing on my jeans
RULE 3
Prepositional
phrases between the subject and verb usually do not affect
agreement.
Examples:
The colors of the rainbow are beautiful.
RULE 4
When sentences
start with “there” or “here,” the subject will always be placed
after the verb,
so care needs to be taken to identify it correctly.
Examples:There is a problem with the balance
sheet
RULE
5
If two subjects are joined by and, they
typically require a plural verb form.
Examples:The cow and the pig are jumping over
the moon.
RULE
6
The verb is singular if the two subjects
separated by and refer to the same
person
or thing.
Examples:
Red beans and rice is my mom's favorite dish.
RULE
7
If one of the words each, every, or no comes
before the subject, the verb is
Singular
Examples:No
smoking or drinking is allowed
.
RULE 8
If the subjects are both singular and are
connected by the words or, nor,
neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also the
verb is singular.
Examples:
Jessica or Christian is to blame for the
accident.
RULE
9
The only time when the object of the
preposition decides plural or singular verb forms is when noun and pronoun
subjects like some, half, none, more, all, etc.
Examples:
All of the chicken is gone.
RULE
10
The singular verb form is usually used for
units of measurement or time.
Examples:
Four quarts of oil was required to get
the car running.
RULE 11
If the subjects are both plural and are
connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also,
the verb is plural.
Examples:
Dogs and cats are both available at the pound.
RULE 12
If one subject is singular and one plural and
the words are connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not
only/but also, you use the verb form of the subject that is nearest the verb.
Examples:
- Either the bears or the lion has escaped from the zoo.
- Neither the lion nor the bears have escaped from the zoo.
RULE
13
Indefinite pronouns (everything, anything,
everyone, someone, somebody, nothing, etc) typically take singular verbs.
Examples:
Everybody wants to be loved.
Everything is gonna be alright
. RULE
14
Except for the pronouns (few, many, several,
both, all, some) that always take the plural form.
Examples:
Few were left alive after the flood.
Several students understand the material.
RULE
15
If two infinitives are separated by and they
take the plural form of the verb.
Examples:
To walk and to chew gum require great skill.
Exercise : Subject and Verb
Agreement Exercise
Choose the correct
form of the verb that agrees with the subject.
1.
Annie and her brothers (are) at
school.
2.
Either my mother or my father (are)
coming to the meeting.
3.
The dog or the cats (are)
outside.
4.
Either my shoes or your coat (are)
always on the floor.
5.
George and Tamara (don't) want to
see that movie.
6.
Benito (doesn't) know the answer.
7.
One of my sisters (is) going on a
trip to France.
8.
The man with all the birds (lives)
on my street.
9.
The movie, including all the
previews, (takes) about two hours to watch.
10. The players, as well as the captain, (want) to win.
11. Either answer (are) acceptable.
12. Every one of those books (is) fiction.
13. Nobody (know) the trouble I've seen.
14. (Are) the news on at five or six?
15. Mathematics (is) John's favorite subject, while Civics (is, are) Andrea's
favorite subject.
16. Eight dollars (is) the price of a movie these days.
17. ( Are) the tweezers in this drawer?
18. Your pants (is) at the cleaner's.
19. There (were) fifteen candies in that bag. Now there (is, are) only one
left!
20. The committee (debates) these questions carefully.
21. The committee (lead) very different lives in private.
22. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, (greet) the press cordially.
23. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, (are) in this case.
