1. SUBJECT –VERB AGREEMENT

2. Subject-Verb Rules  A subject and a verb should agree in number and person.  A singular subject must have a singular verb. A plural subject must have a plural verb. Ex: The bird (singular) soars. The birds (plural) soar. A U.S. citizen votes for president every 4 years. U.S. citizens vote for president every 4 years. [The s and es endings work differently for nouns and verbs.]

3. Subject-Verb Rules  A phrase or clause that interrupts a subject and its verb does NOT affect subject-verb agreement Examples:  Only citizens of the country vote.  The legislature, which has 386 members, is called the National Assembly.  The survival of hibernating frogs in freezing temperatures is fascinating.  The team captain, as well as her players, is anxious. (the pair of commas indicate a non-essential clause.)

4. Subject-Verb Rules  Compound subjects usually take a plural verb. Examples: The chancellor and his cabinet are meeting today. The minister and her assistants discuss a new bill. Exceptions: 1) When parts of the compound subject are the same thing or thought of as one item. Ex: Macaroni and cheese is my favorite lunchtime meal. 2) Or the compound subj is preceded by the adjective each or every Ex: Each man, woman, and child has a right to be heard.

5. Subject-Verb Rules  Singular subjects joined by or or nor must have singular verb. Ex: Schroeder or Kohl was going to win.  Subjects of mixed number joined by or or nor –the verb agrees with the subject that is closer to it. Ex: Neither the contractor nor the owners agree on the price. Neither the owners nor the contractor agrees on the price.

6. Subject-Verb Rules  An inverted sentence = in which the subject comes after the verb= can be confusing. On the wall are slogans Is the message clear?  There and here ---never function as the subjects of sentences: Ex: There is only one government in Germany. There are several parties in the government.

7. Tonight’s Homework:  Read section on Subj-Verb Agreement (Ch. 29) in The Little, Brown Handbook pp. 214-220  Complete practice worksheet