COMPOUND SUBJECTS AND CONFUSING SUBJECTS

Day 2 of AgreementPages 574-577

WRITE THIS CHART! Compound Subject Verb

Singular and Singular = PluralPlural and Plural = Plural

Singular and Plural = PluralPlural and Singular = Plural

*Exception: Each/Every before and if the item is considered one thing (singular)OR or NOR (Pick the Closest)

Singular or Singular = SingularPlural or Singular = Singular

Singular or Plural = PluralPlural or Plural = Plural

COMPOUND SUBJECTSA compound subject joined by and is generally plural and must have a plural verb

Wind and rain exist on Earth.

Winds and rainstorms exist on Earth.

Winds and rain exist on Earth.

Singular and Singular = PluralPlural and Plural = PluralSingular and Plural = PluralPlural and Singular = Plural*Exception: Each/E(word) before and OR or NOR (Pick the Closest)Singular or Singular = SingularPlural or Singular = SingularSingular or Plural = PluralPlural or Plural = Plural

EXCEPTION!!! Exception to this rule-when the parts of the

compound subject equal one thing and when the word each or every is used before a compound subject. Then use a singular verb.

Macaroni and cheese is an easy dish to make.

Each man and woman was waving a flag.

Singular and Singular = PluralPlural and Plural = PluralSingular and Plural = PluralPlural and Singular = Plural*Exception: Each/E(word) before and OR or NOR (Pick the Closest)Singular or Singular = SingularPlural or Singular = SingularSingular or Plural = PluralPlural or Plural = Plural

COMPOUND SUBJECTSTwo or more singular subjects joined by or or nor must have a singular verb

Either Jupiter or Saturn makes a fascinating topic of study.

Two or more plural subjects joined by or or nor must have a plural verb

Space probes or space shuttles provide information about space.

Singular and Singular = PluralPlural and Plural = PluralSingular and Plural = PluralPlural and Singular = Plural*Exception: Each/E(word) before and OR or NOR (Pick the Closest)Singular or Singular = SingularPlural or Singular = SingularSingular or Plural = PluralPlural or Plural = Plural

COMPOUND SUBJECTS If one or more singular subjects are joined to one or more plural subjects by or or nor, the subject closest to the verb determines agreement

Neither atmosphere nor clouds exist on Mercury.

Neither clouds nor atmosphere exists on Mercury.

Singular and Singular = PluralPlural and Plural = PluralSingular and Plural = PluralPlural and Singular = Plural*Exception: Each/E(word) before and OR or NOR (Pick the Closest)Singular or Singular = SingularPlural or Singular = SingularSingular or Plural = PluralPlural or Plural = Plural

CONFUSING SUBJECTS Hard to find subjects- When a subject comes after its verb, the verb must still agree with the subject in number

A sentence in which the subject comes after its verb is said to be inverted-you can check the subject-verb agreement by mentally putting the sentence in the normal subject-verb order

Which of the science reports has she read? (She has read which of the science reports?)

Singular and Singular = PluralPlural and Plural = PluralSingular and Plural = PluralPlural and Singular = Plural*Exception: Each/E(word) before and OR or NOR (Pick the Closest)Singular or Singular = SingularPlural or Singular = SingularSingular or Plural = PluralPlural or Plural = Plural

CONFUSING SUBJECTSThings to remember:There and Here are never subjects!

There is my favorite book.

Here comes the bus.

Singular and Singular = PluralPlural and Plural = PluralSingular and Plural = PluralPlural and Singular = Plural*Exception: Each/E(word) before and OR or NOR (Pick the Closest)Singular or Singular = SingularPlural or Singular = SingularSingular or Plural = PluralPlural or Plural = Plural

SUBJECTS OF LINKING VERBSA linking verb must agree with its subject, regardless of the number of the predicate nominative (the noun or pronoun that renames, identifies, or explains the subject)

Subject + Verb = Predicate Nominative

Moon craters are one sign of meteor storms.

One sign of meteor storms is moon craters.

Singular and Singular = PluralPlural and Plural = PluralSingular and Plural = PluralPlural and Singular = Plural*Exception: Each/E(word) before and OR or NOR (Pick the Closest)Singular or Singular = SingularPlural or Singular = SingularSingular or Plural = PluralPlural or Plural = Plural

COLLECTIVE NOUNSA collective noun takes a singular verb when the group it names acts as a single unit (or) a noun that describes a group of people or things. Examples: Team, Flock, Family

The class is excited to be learning about the solar system.

A collective noun takes a plural verb when the group it names act as individuals with different points of view

The class are unable to decide which planets to discuss in their reports.

Singular and Singular = PluralPlural and Plural = PluralSingular and Plural = PluralPlural and Singular = Plural*Exception: Each/E(word) before and OR or NOR (Pick the Closest)Singular or Singular = SingularPlural or Singular = SingularSingular or Plural = PluralPlural or Plural = Plural

NOUNS THAT LOOK LIKE PLURALSNouns that are plural in form, but singular in meaning take singular verbs

Some of these nouns are singular names for branches of knowledge: acoustics, civics, economics etc.

Physics is a challenging subject. (S)

My lost eyeglasses were behind the sofa. (P)

Singular and Singular = PluralPlural and Plural = PluralSingular and Plural = PluralPlural and Singular = Plural*Exception: Each/E(word) before and OR or NOR (Pick the Closest)Singular or Singular = SingularPlural or Singular = SingularSingular or Plural = PluralPlural or Plural = Plural