Subject- Verb Agreement

Language Arts Standard L.C 1.2

Students will make sure that the verb agrees with the compound

subjects

Let’s Review..

The subject of a sentence is who or what the sentence is talking about.

For example, what is the subject in this sentence?:The dog plays outside.

Dog, because the dog is who the sentence is talking about.

The verb tells what the subject does.

In our example, “The dog plays outside”, what is the verb?

Plays, because it is what the dog is doing

Now try a few..

Identify the subject(s) and verb in these sentences:

Bob and Tim watch T.V.

The subject is Bob and Tim, the verb is watch

I walk to school.

The subject is I, the verb is walk.

Every subject must agree with the verb

If the subject is singular (he, she, Tom, Jane, the dog) “s” or “es” will need to be added to the end of the verb.

If the subject is I, you, or plural (more than one) do not add an “s” or “es”

Singular subject = verb + “es” or “s”

Billy watches the movie.

Billy is the subject and since Billy is a singular subject (only one) you need to add an “es” to the end of the verb watch.

Plural subject = verb with no “s” or “es”

Tim and Dave listen to the radio.

The subject, Tim and Dave, is plural so you do not add an “s” or “es” to the verb listen.

“I” subject = verb with no “s” or “es”

I jump over the branch.

I is the subject, so you do not add “s” or “es” to the verb jump.

“You” subject = verb with no “s” or “es”

You will cook dinner tonight.

You is the subject, so you do not add “s” or “es” to the end of the verb cook

Now you try some…

He (walk or walks) to school.

Walks, because the subject is plural.

We will (buy or buys) the milk.

Buy, because the subject is plural

You will (go or goes) to the beach.

Go, because the subject is you

The dog and cat (play or plays) on the lawn.

Play, because the subject is plural

I (hit or hits) the ball.

Hit, because the subject is I

Bill and Ted (correct or corrects) their work.

Correct, because the subject is plural

She (catch or catches) the ball.

Catches, because the subject is singular

Now try to make a few of your own

Make a sentence where the subject is “I” and the verb is “cook” or “cooks”.

Try one where the subject is “Jack and Jill” and the verb is “roll” or “rolls”

Create one with the subject “she” and the verb “talk” or talks”

Now try one with the subject “you” and the verb “sit” or “sits”

What did we just learn?

Explain to me the rules you learned about how to make sure the subject and verb in a sentence agree with each other.

Remember…

If the subject is plural, “I”, or “you” do not add “s” or “es” to the verb.

If the subject is singular add “s” or es” to the verb