Subject-Verb Agreement

Warm-up: 2/16/10 The jury (takes, take) their seats in the courtroom. Neither the teacher nor the students (seem, seems) to understand this assignment. (Has, Have) either my father or my brothers made a down-payment on the house? Hartford is one of those cities that (is, are) working hard to reclaim a riverfront. Some of the grain (has, have) gone bad.

Warm-up: 2/15/10 The piano as well as the pipe organ (has, have) to be tuned for the big concert. The mayor together with his two brothers (is, are) going to be indicted for accepting bribes. Neither of my two suitcases (is, are) adequate for this trip. There (are, is) a list of committee members on the head-table. Everybody in the class (has, have) done the homework well in advance.

Basic Rule Singular subjects need singular verbs. Plural subjects need plural verbs.

These create problems: Pronouns such as everyone and everybody seem plural, but they are always singular — so they need a singular verb. 1. Everyone who worked on the science project is a winner.

These create problems: Prepositional phrases may come between the subject pronoun and its verb —IGNORE them! Each of the basketball players is excited about tonight’s game.

These create problems: Pronouns such as all and some have verbs that will be determined by whether the pronoun is referring to something that is COUNTABLE or not. 1. Some of the workers on the building have left for the day. You could count the workers.

These create problems: Verbs that accompany pronouns such as all and some will be determined by whether the pronoun is referring to something that is COUNTABLE or not. 1. Some of the salt was spilled on the floor. Salt is considered one lump item.

These create problems: None can have a singular OR a plural verb None of the boys has helped at the game. OR None of the boys have helped at the game. Either is correct!

These create problems: Phrases like together with, along with, and as well as seem to combine subjects, but they do not! Some of the tile in our room, as well as the hall, was soaked. The major problem we had, together with that of our teacher, was tardiness. Don’t be fooled by extra phrases!

These create problems: When either and neither appear as a subject alone (without the words or and nor), they are singular. 1. Either of those answers seems to be right. 2. You can have the bed by the window or the one by the door. Either is okay with me. Seems like plural things!

These create problems: The words there and here are never subjects. 1.Here are the papers you gave me. 2.Here is my answer. Here is not the subject.

These create problems: If a verb is singular it has an “s” ending If a verb is plural it has a “no-s” ending 1.He asks for help. 2.She asks for help. 3.They ask for help. Tricky subject pronouns

Let’s Try These! Directions: If the subject and verb are in agreement click "correct." If they are not, click the word that is the correct answer. Ready?

Bill am going to the store. a) correct correct b) is is c) was was d) were were e) does does

Oh No! The subject and verb are not in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to try again. try again.

CORRECT! The subject and verb are in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to move forward. move forward.

The teachers are going to the movie. a) correct correct b) am am c) is is d) does does e) was was

Oh No! The subject and verb are not in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to try again. try again.

CORRECT! The subject and verb are in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to move forward. move forward.

This are going to be the easiest quiz of all time. a) correct correct b) is is c) am am d) was was e) were were

Oh No! The subject and verb are not in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to try again. try again.

CORRECT! The subject and verb are in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to move forward. move forward.

Everyone at the movie is taking a dollar. a) correct correct b) were were c) am am d) are are e) when when

Oh No! The subject and verb are not in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to try again. try again.

CORRECT! The subject and verb are in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to move forward. move forward.

This is a fun book to read. a) correct correct b) was was c) were were d) am am e) does does

Oh No! The subject and verb are not in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to try again. try again.

CORRECT! The subject and verb are in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to move forward. move forward.

One time I were at the mountains. a) correct correct b) was was c) is is d) am am e) does does

Oh No! The subject and verb are not in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to try again. try again.

CORRECT! The subject and verb are in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to move forward. move forward.

Everyone are going to the circus. a) correct correct b) were were c) was was d) is is e) does does

Oh No! The subject and verb are not in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to try again. try again.

CORRECT! The subject and verb are in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to move forward. move forward.

Each of the students are worried about the test. a) correct correct b) has has c) is is d) am am e) does does

Oh No! The subject and verb are not in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to try again. try again.

CORRECT! The subject and verb are in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to move forward. move forward.

None of those girls go to church. a) correct correct b) goes goes c) are are d) were were e) does does

Oh No! The subject and verb are not in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to try again. try again.

CORRECT! The subject and verb are in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to move forward. move forward.

The last book we read, as well as the five in the library, was fiction. a) correct correct b) is is c) am am d) were were e) does does

Oh No! The subject and verb are not in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to try again. try again.

CORRECT! The subject and verb are in agreement. Click HERE to Click HERE to move forward. move forward.

Try these online verb games Cats Game Subject-Verb Quiz 1 Subject-Verb Quiz 2 Subject-Verb Quiz 3 Subject-Verb Quiz 4 Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz Show

Warm-up: 2/15/10 The piano as well as the pipe organ (has, have) to be tuned for the big concert. The mayor together with his two brothers (is, are) going to be indicted for accepting bribes. Neither of my two suitcases (is, are) adequate for this trip. There (are, is) a list of committee members on the head-table. Everybody in the class (has, have) done the homework well in advance.