SUBJECT –VERB AGREEMENT
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.]
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.)
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.
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.
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.
Tonight’s Homework: Read section on Subj-Verb Agreement (Ch. 29) in The Little, Brown Handbook pp Complete practice worksheet