When studying Subject When studying Subject Verb agreement you Verb agreement you

Need to know this Need to know this first…..first…..

What is a Subject?What is a Subject?

It is the thing doing the action….

Normally a noun!

What is a Verb?What is a Verb?The action word! Something doing the action Also can be a linking verb or a

helping verbExamples: is, was, run, play,

were, are

Find the Subject and VerbFind the Subject and Verb

1. Harvey is a pooka!

2. Harvey plays tricks on people.

3. Harvey and Elwood are playing cards.

4. Veta and Myrtle sing at the party.

5. Grammar worksheets are complicated.

6. The cats and the dogs like to play with each other.

PrepositionalPrepositionalPrepositions get in the way and confuse

people you need to remove these first before you do anything else when looking at verb agreement!

When you see these get rid of the phrase!

Example: of, to, by, in, since, around, above, along, before, from, for, on, until

Here is what I meanHere is what I mean

1. I along with my brother went to the store!

2. Peter of Sunny Brook Farm is coming over tonight.

3. The cat by the bookshelf and the desk is eating the plants.

4. The pictures beside the window are fading from the sunlight.

5. The witch between the ghost and the monster is very ugly.

Subject Verb AgreementSubject Verb Agreement

Definition of Subject verb agreement:

the subject agrees with the verb in number

The verb must be plural and the subject must be plural

•The verb must be singular and the subject must be singular

Sounds easy enough, so Sounds easy enough, so what’s the problem?what’s the problem?

Plural verbs don’t end in “S”

Plural subjects usually end with “S,” but the singular verbs end with “S”

Examples:Examples:is, was, seems, needs, etc. are singular

The peach seems ripe.

are, were, seem, need, etc. are plural

The peaches seem ripe.

Maybe this will clear things Maybe this will clear things up!up!

The cat runs into the wall.

The cats run into the wall.

Exception to the rule! Exception to the rule!

The form were is plural except when used with the singular you and in sentences that are contrary to the fact.

You were the best player on the team.

(You is the singular subject)

•If he were captain, we would be a stronger team. (The statement is contrary to fact, HE IS NOT THE Captain.)

Watch out! Watch out! Here is what will trip you up!Here is what will trip you up!

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES

Example of a preposition:

Of, over, under, through, in, between, along, below, besides,by, off, near, into, instead of, up, up to

TIP:TIP:

Remove all prepositional phrases when you are trying to find the subject.

ExamplesExamples

The interest shown in the Romeo and Juliet movie (has/have) been amazing.

The interest shown in the Romeo and Juliet movie has been amazing.

How we do that?

Remove the prepositional phrase—”in the Romeo and Juliet movie”

Find the subject--Interest

•The subject is singular so the verb must be singular• Singular verb is “has”

Try these!Try these!

A list of groceries (is/are) hanging on the fridge.

The cottages between the sea and the road beyond the board walk (is/are) for sale

AnswersAnswers

The list (of groceries) is hanging on the fridge

The cottages (between the sea and the road) (beyond the board walk) are for sale.

BE CAREFUL YOU BE CAREFUL YOU DON’T DO THISDON’T DO THIS

When correcting sentences do not change the tense of the verb.

Change the form

(singular, plural)

ExampleExample

John make pancakes for his friends. (incorrect)

We need to correct this how?

John made pancakes for his friends.

(incorrect change—tense is wrong)

John makes pancakes for his friends.

(corrected correctly).

Practice Time!Practice Time!

1. The witches in the city (plan/plans) to do great damage to the people.

2. Kim’s actors (recite/recites) a soliloquy from William Shakespeare’s plays.

3. Mr. Butnick (make/makes) supper all the time.

4. The cat in our house and cabins (chase/chases) the dog.

5. English class at the university and in high school (are/is) always very interesting.

6. If Tom (was/were) in this class, it would really be fun.

7. You (was/were) always fun to hang out with.

8. Turkey (is/are) my favorite part of Thanksgiving.

9. The pilgrims under the table (was/were) afraid to eat the turkey.

10. Harry Potter of the famous books often (makes/make) his aunt and uncle angry.

Compound SubjectsCompound Subjectsjoined by “or” or “nor”joined by “or” or “nor”

The verb agrees with the Closest Subject to the verb.

Examples:Examples:

Sara or Jamie (is/are) at fault.

Jamie is at fault.

Example Example

The principal nor the teachers (is/are) staying after school on Friday.

Teachers are staying (after school) (on Friday).

Compound Subject Compound Subject joined by “and”joined by “and”

Are usually plural in number

Example:

The cat and the dog are running around the yard.

EXCEPT EXCEPT when they stand for when they stand for one unitone unit

Example: Macaroni and Cheese Salt and Pepper

Macaroni and cheese is not my favorite meal.

Except describing one personExcept describing one person

Example:

John the singer and dancer

The brown and white dog is chasing

the cat.

The singer and dancer is John.

PHRASES SUCH ASPHRASES SUCH AS

Together withAs well asAlong with

ARE NOT THE SAME AS AND

ExamplesExamples

The king, along with his court, is to arrive at the castle shortly.

My suitcases,along with my duffle bag, were loaded onto the plane.

Try TheseTry These1. John nor the boys can (runs/run) the mile

in two minutes.

2. Tom and Jerry over by the trees (hides/hide) the food from the dogs.

3. Spaghetti and meat balls (seems/seem) to be the favorite meal of most children.

4. My best friend and paintball partner (is/are) coming over tonight.

5. Mason jars or a pail (hangs/hang) from the hook in the kitchen.

6. If Kim (was/were) president, we would have a peaceful world.

7. The book over on the counter under the blanket (has, have) over 200 quotes in it.

8. The turkeys over the mountain beside the river (runs/run) wild.

9. You (was/were) supposed to come to Mrs. Butnick’s room after class.

10. The old dog or the cat that live in the barn beyond the river over the highway (is/are) fat and hungry.

Watch out for sentences that Watch out for sentences that begin with thesebegin with these

HereThereWhere

Are not subjects

Tip OneTip One

Rearrange the word order of the sentence to get rid of “here,” “there,” and “where.”

Example:Example:

There (is/are) a million stories in every big city.

A million stories are in every

big city.

Tip TwoTip Two

To find the subject in “there is/was” sentences, look at the first word after the verb that makes sense as a subject.

ExamplesExamples

There (was/were) dozens of books piled on the couch.

There were dozens (of books) piled (on the couch.)

You Try It Now!You Try It Now!

There (is/are) two reasons to stay.

There (is/are) no reason to do this.

Here (is/are) the apples you wanted.

AnswersAnswers

There are two reasons to stay

There is no reason to do this.

Here are the apples you wanted

Watch Out for QuestionsWatch Out for Questions

The subject is usually NOT at the beginning

ExamplesExamples

Where (is/are) the books for the next unit?

Where are the books for the next unit?

You Try ItYou Try It

(Is/Are) there a quiz tomorrow?

Is there a quiz tomorrow?

Words that Look Plural Words that Look Plural but are Singular in meaningbut are Singular in meaning

Measles, mumps, rickets

(names of diseases)

Physics, mathematics, economics, etc

ExampleExample

Civics is really hard.

Rickets is caused by a vitamin deficiency.

Specific units of Specific units of time, distance, weight, or time, distance, weight, or

amountamount

Are singular

ExampleExample

Ten dollars is how much the movie cost.

Five minutes is how long you have to wait.

TitlesTitles

For books, magazines, short For books, magazines, short

stories, and moviesstories, and movies

Are Singular

ExamplesExamples

Seventeen is my favorite magazine.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerers’ Stone is a cool book.

Collective NounsCollective Nouns

are singular, but they name a group of persons or things

ExamplesExamples

Jury, chorus, family, troop, class, army, audience, committee, team, band, crowd, group, congregation, crew, camp, etc.

ExamplesExamples

The class is always loud and

annoying.

The faculty meets every Wednesday.

Practice TimePractice Time

1. Here (is/are) the pictures we took from the play.

2. What (is/are) your problems?

3. Measles (is/are) not fun to have.

4. Five dollars (is/are) not a lot of money today.

5. Roughing it (is/are) written by Mark Twain.

6. This class (is/are) obnoxious.

7. Ten pounds (makes/make) a large bag.

8. The army (says/say) that you should be all you can be.

9. Rachel and John (makes/make) the best macaroni and cheese.

10. Macaroni and cheese (is/are) only good if Rachel and John (makes/make) it.

11. Dracula or the ghosts (tends/tend) to scare children.

12. My student and friend (bothers/bother) me after school.

Indefinite PronounsIndefinite Pronouns

Plural

Many, Both, Few, Several

Marching Bunnies Fall Swiftly

Many Birds Fly South

ExamplesExamples

1. Both Sara and Jen are going to state.

2. Many of my friends have seen that movie.

Indefinite PronounsIndefinite Pronouns

Singular

Each, every, either, neither,

everyone, anyone, no one, someone,

one, everybody, anybody, nobody,

Somebody

How Mrs. B remembers these!How Mrs. B remembers these!

The singular indefinite pronouns have “Body” and “One” in it.

Each, Every, Either and Neither –have “E” or rhyme.

ExamplesExamples

Each (of the students) isresponsible for doing his or her

own work.

Be CarefulBe Careful

Some of the indefinite pronouns that are singular feel plural because they are often followed by prepositional phrases that end in a plural word.

ExampleExample

Everyone of the friends was involved with the prank.

Indefinite PronounsIndefinite Pronounssometimes singular and sometimes singular and

sometimes pluralsometimes plural

Some, Half, All, Rest, Part, Most, Any, None

(SHARPMAN)

HOW DO WE KNOW if it is HOW DO WE KNOW if it is singular or plural?singular or plural?

Look at what it is talking about!Can you Count it?Then it is plural!If you can’t, it is singular!

Warning!Warning!

This is the only time you will look at the prepositional phrase!

ExamplesExamples

Some of the beads (is/are)

missing.

Look at what is being counted

“Beads.” Can you count them?

ExampleExample

Some of the water (is/are) gone.

Can you count water?

Some of the water is gone.

Indefinite Pronoun PracticeIndefinite Pronoun Practice

1. Everyone of the students (is/are) annoying the teacher today.

2. All of the students (is/are) loud and make Mrs. Butnick scream.

3. Many of the dogs (yelps, yelp) at the neighbors when they walk by the houses.

4. Half of the class (is/are) not done with the project.

5. Either Tom or Joe (yells, yell) down the hall every day.

6. Everyone of the cats (meows, meow) for milk.

7. Each of the witches (flies, fly) by the old castle on Halloween.

8. Several of the bunnies (was/were) eating carrots.

9. Any of the Smurfs (sings/sing) in the valley.

10. Part of the play (was/were) in Spanish.

11. Everybody on the team (was/were) hanging out after school.

Practice on All the rules!Practice on All the rules!1. Winnie the Pooh with his friends (is/are)

running a marathon. (rule 3)2. Tom and Paul (walks, walk) me home every night

Rule 5

3. Tom or the Jones’ sisters (applies/apply) for the application.(Rule 4)

4. The pilgrims or Mr. Tom Turkey (eats/eat) lots of potatoes with gravy. (Rule 4)

5. How (is/are) we suppose to do this? (Rule 7)

6. The movie or the plays (portrays/portray) the character as evil. (Rule 4)

7. Twenty miles (is/are) the distance the runners have to go. (Rule 9)

8. Spaghetti and meat balls with lots of noodles (is/are) the best meal for runners before a meet. Rule 5

9.The neighbor’s house by Mr. Johnson’s and Tony’s houses (is/are) very scary. (rule 3)

10. My favorite singer and dancer (sings/sing) that song. Rule 5

11. The cats and dog (eats/eat) a lot of food. Rule 5

12. There (is/are) mice in the attic. (Rule 6)

13. Where (is/are) the actor that is playing the main role? (Rule 6)

14. Here (is/are) the rolls you wanted. (Rule 6)

15. What (is/are) the meaning of this? (Rule 7)

17. Rickets (is/are) a disease caused by a vitamin deficiency. (Rule 8)

18. Physics (is/are) a hard class. (Rule 8)

19. Two dollars (was/were) found at the office. (Rule 9)

20. Twenty pounds of weight (is/are) a lot to carry. (Rule 9)

21. Twilight (is/are) the new movie coming out on Friday. (Rule 10)

22. The Mona Lisa (is/are) one of the most famous pieces of art. (Rule 10)

23. The jury (was/were) out for hours. (Rule 11)

24. The class of almost all boys (loves/love) to tease the girls. (Rule 11).

25. Both of the girls (likes/like) to read those books. (Rule 12)

26. Each of the boys (runs/run) to Tom’s house after school. (Rule 12).

27. Half of the class (does/do) like the homework. (Rule 13)

28. The bear of the big woods (runs/run) all the way to the neighbor’s house. (rule 3)

29. The plays or the movie (portrays/portray) the character as evil. (Rule 4)

30. Some of the cows (eats/eat) grass and hay for supper the others eat soup. (Rule 13).