Subj Verb Agreement

8/14/2019 Subj Verb Agreement

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McGraw-Hill Copyright 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.All rights reserved.

Subject/Verbubject/VerbAgreementgreement


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McGraw-Hill Copyright 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Subject/Verbubject/VerbAgreementgreement When subjects and verbs agree, they matchWhen subjects and verbs agree, they match

in number and person.in number and person.

In other words, singular subjects requireIn other words, singular subjects require

singular verbs and plural subjects matchsingular verbs and plural subjects matchplural verbs;plural verbs; third person subjects requirethird person subjects require

the third person form of the verb.the third person form of the verb.

My brotherMy brother

buysbuys

old bicyclesold bicycles

to repair.to repair.

My brothersMy brothers

buybuy

old bicyclesold bicycles

to repair.to repair.


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In English, regular verbs take theIn English, regular verbs take the

same form for singular and pluralsame form for singular and plural

exceptexceptfor the third-person singularfor the third-person singularform of the verb.form of the verb.

The -s, or -es ending on a verbThe -s, or -es ending on a verb

designates a singular verb.designates a singular verb.

In fact, nouns and verbs are theIn fact, nouns and verbs are theopposite where plural endings areopposite where plural endings are

concerned.concerned.


The boy walks.The boy walks. The boys walk.The boys walk.


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A subject agrees with its verb noA subject agrees with its verb no

matter how far apart the two are.matter how far apart the two are. DoDo

notnotbe distracted by nouns orbe distracted by nouns orpronouns placed between the subjectpronouns placed between the subject

and verb.and verb.

The ducks on the lake behind theThe ducks on the lake behind the

school swim in large groups.school swim in large groups. A list of required readings is mailedA list of required readings is mailed

to entering freshmen.to entering freshmen.



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A compound subject that is linked by theA compound subject that is linked by the

conjunction conjunction andand requires a plural verb. requires a plural verb.

Both the college newspaper and theBoth the college newspaper and theliterary magazine fail to attractliterary magazine fail to attract

experienced staff.experienced staff.



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A compound subject linked by theA compound subject linked by the

conjunctionconjunction orororor nornor requires arequires a

singular verb.singular verb. Either the dean or his assistantEither the dean or his assistant

addresses the freshmen class.addresses the freshmen class.

Neither geology nor astronomy isNeither geology nor astronomy is

required for my major.required for my major.



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Indefinite pronounsIndefinite pronouns refer torefer to

indefinite persons or things andindefinite persons or things and

usually require a singular verb.usually require a singular verb. Each of the volunteers tutors for atEach of the volunteers tutors for at

least three hours every week.least three hours every week.



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If a collective noun acts as aIf a collective noun acts as a

single unit, it takes a singularsingle unit, it takes a singular

verb.verb. My entire family is coming forMy entire family is coming for

homecoming weekend.homecoming weekend.



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When normal word order isWhen normal word order is

inverted and the subject followsinverted and the subject follows

the verb, the subject and verbthe verb, the subject and verbmust agree.must agree.

Standing at the door with grins onStanding at the door with grins on

their faces were the cheerleaders.their faces were the cheerleaders.



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Note:Note:Sentences that begin withSentences that begin with

therethere oror herehere have the subjecthave the subject

follow the verb.follow the verb. There are three branches ofThere are three branches of

government: judicial, executive ,government: judicial, executive ,

and legislative.and legislative.



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Movies in todaysMovies in todaysmarket makes amarket makes a

great deal ofgreat deal of

money.money.

IncorrectIncorrectIncorrectIncorrect


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Movies in todaysMovies in todaysmarketmarket makemake aa

great deal ofgreat deal of

money.money.

RevisedRevisedRevisedRevised


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The AmericanThe Americanaudiences paysaudiences pays

for tickets atfor tickets at

the theaterthe theater

and for cable atand for cable at

home.home.



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The AmericanThe Americanaudiencesaudiences paypay forfor

tickets at thetickets at the

theater and fortheater and for

cable at home.cable at home.



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The internationalThe international

market, whichmarket, whichincludes dozensincludes dozens

of countries,of countries,

produces evenproduces even

more profit.more profit.

CorrectCorrectCorrectCorrect


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Films are veryFilms are very

expensive toexpensive tomanufacture, somanufacture, so

American studiosAmerican studios

createcreate far morefar more

films than otherfilms than other

countries.countries.



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There is manyThere is many

advantages toadvantages to

seeing a movieseeing a movie

in the theater ratherin the theater rather

than watchingthan watching

a video at home.a video at home.



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ThereThere areare manymany

advantages toadvantages toseeing a movieseeing a movie

in the theaterin the theater

rather thanrather than

watching a videowatching a videoat home.at home.



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The dark theaterThe dark theaterand the enormousand the enormous

screen take thescreen take the

movie viewer tomovie viewer to

another world.another world.

CorrectCorrectCorrectCorrect


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The backgroundThe backgroundmusic in moviesmusic in movies

play an importantplay an important

role.role.



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The backgroundThe backgroundmusic in moviesmusic in movies

playsplays an importantan important

role.role.



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Not everyone inNot everyone inthe entertainmentthe entertainment

fields agree aboutfields agree about

the quality ofthe quality of

movies.movies.



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Not everyone in theNot everyone in the

entertainment fieldentertainment fieldagreesagrees about theabout the

quality of movies.quality of movies.



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Neither the use ofNeither the use of

subtitles nor blacksubtitles nor blackand whiteand white

photographyphotography

demonstrate thedemonstrate the

preferences of mostpreferences of mostAmericans.Americans.



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Neither the use ofNeither the use of

subtitles nor blacksubtitles nor blackand whiteand white

photographyphotography

demonstratesdemonstrates thethe

preferences of mostpreferences of mostAmericans.Americans.



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Subj Verb Agreement