Download Subject-Verb Agreement - Rochester Community Schools

Subject-Verb Agreement
How does this sound?

Many schools pay more attention
to the honor students than the
students who actually needs
support.
Subject-Verb Agreement
What’s wrong with
those sentences?
Subject-Verb
Agreement
Verb
Subject= the
thing or
person doing
the action
&
Subject
Verb = the
action in the
sentence
Subject-Verb Agreement
Rule #1: A verb
should agree in
number with its
subject.
Subject-Verb Agreement
 Singular
subject +
singular verb=
agreement 
 Plural
subject + plural
verb= agreement 
Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-Verb Agreement in
the Present Tense:
A singular subject does not
end in an –s.
 A singular verb DOES end
with an –s.

Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-Verb Agreement in
the Present Tense:
The girl runs.
 The girls run.

Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-Verb Agreement in
the Past Tense:
Generally speaking, past
tense verbs have the same
form regardless of whether
the subject is singular or
plural.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Present Tense
Past Tense
Singular
girl runs
girl ran
Plural
girls run
girls ran
Subject-Verb Agreement
Rule #2: The number of a
subject is not changed by
a word in a phrase or a
clause following the
subject.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Phrase/clause= something
that further describes
the subject
 Subject (clause or
phrase) + Verb =
agreement 
Subject-Verb Agreement
Examples:
Mark Twain writes novels and
short stories during the gilded era
of American history.
 Mark Twain, (one of the most
famous American writers), writes
novels and short stories during the
gilded era of American history.

Subject-Verb Agreement
Identify the subject, verb and
clause or phrase:
 The short stories in this anthology
are by various contemporary
American authors.
 The short stories (in this
anthology) are by various
contemporary American authors.
Subject-Verb Agreement


Edmonia Lewis, whose subjects
included John Brown and Abraham
Lincoln, was the first African American
woman to achieve renown for her
sculpture.
Edmonia Lewis, (whose subjects
included John Brown and Abraham
Lincoln), was the first African American
woman to achieve renown for her
sculpture.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Rule #3: Compound
subjects determine the
number of the verb.
Subject-Verb Agreement
A. In most cases, use a plural verb
with a compound subject in which
the parts are joined by and.
Example:
Kenyetta and Lewis make their
beds everyday before coming to
school.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Examples:
 Saturn and its rings (present,
presents) astronomers with clues
about the formation of planets and
solar systems.
 The stores and the school
(cooperate, cooperates) to schedule
part-time work for students.
Subject-Verb Agreement
B. Use a singular verb with a
compound subject when the
subject is thought of as a unit.
Example:
Peanut butter and jelly is my
favorite kind of sandwich.
Subject-Verb Agreement
C. Use a singular verb with a
compound subject that is
preceded by “each” or “every.”
Example:
Every magazine and catalog
has its own computerized mailing
list.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Examples:
 Every student and faculty member
(need, needs) an I.D. card issued
by the school.
 Before taking the computer to the
service department, make sure
every cable and switch (is, are) in
its proper position.
Subject-Verb Agreement
D. When the parts of a compound
subject are joined by or or nor,
use a verb that agrees with the
subject nearer the verb.
Example:
Neither the mayor nor the council
members were pleased with the
press coverage.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Examples:
 Neither the disk drives nor the
monitor (respond, responds) when
Jane flips the power switch.
 When ice and snowdrifts (cover,
covers) the sidewalks and the
street, driving becomes dangerous.
Subject-Verb Agreement
in Your Writing
Go and be Subject-Verb
Agreement EXPERTS!

Practice Sentences
Directions:
For the following sentences,
determine which verb agrees
with the sentence’s subject.
Practice Sentences
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Everybody in ancient kingdoms
(receive, receives) gifts from the queen.
Each of the kites (is, are) caught in a
tree.
Mimi, along with her sisters, (has, have)
been taking voice lessons.
Track and field (is, are) my favorite
sport(s).