SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

Subjects and Verbs Must Agree  A singular subject needs a singular verb.  A plural subject needs a plural verb.  A singular subject needs a singular verb.  A plural subject needs a plural verb. Before we get started… Singular The person waits. Plural The people wait.

Always mark out prepositional phrases that come between the subject and verb. 1.The shells on the beach (is, are) mostly small and smooth. 2.The abilities of this child (astonishes, astonish) everyone. 3.The effects of sunburn (sneaks, sneak) up on me every summer. 1.The shells on the beach (is, are) mostly small and smooth. 2.The abilities of this child (astonishes, astonish) everyone. 3.The effects of sunburn (sneaks, sneak) up on me every summer.

Example: implies two She and her friends (is, are)… plural verb implies two The kids and their mother (eat, eats)… plural verb Example:

singular plural plural verb The president or his assistants (run, runs)… The assistants or the president (run, runs)… singular plural singular verb

1.The students and their teacher (knows, know) to turn off the lights during a Code Red. 2.She and her friends (eats, eat) pizza every Friday. 3.The ranger and the camper (sees, see) a bear. 4.An atlas or some encyclopedias (is, are) sure to have the answer to your question about the topography of Mexico. 5.Mr. and Mrs. Johnson (travels, travel) to North Carolina each year. 6.The assistant principals or Mr. Nolan (monitors, monitor) lunch at Riverdale. 7.The spider and all other arachnids (has, have) four pairs of legs. 8.She and Tommy (is, are) going to Toot’s later. 9.The students or the teacher’s aid (is, are) in charge of watering the plants every day. 10.His friends or the boy (run, runs) every day. 1.The students and their teacher (knows, know) to turn off the lights during a Code Red. 2.She and her friends (eats, eat) pizza every Friday. 3.The ranger and the camper (sees, see) a bear. 4.An atlas or some encyclopedias (is, are) sure to have the answer to your question about the topography of Mexico. 5.Mr. and Mrs. Johnson (travels, travel) to North Carolina each year. 6.The assistant principals or Mr. Nolan (monitors, monitor) lunch at Riverdale. 7.The spider and all other arachnids (has, have) four pairs of legs. 8.She and Tommy (is, are) going to Toot’s later. 9.The students or the teacher’s aid (is, are) in charge of watering the plants every day. 10.His friends or the boy (run, runs) every day. On your paper, write the subject of the sentence and the correct verb.

one of the boxes is the woman with all the answers sits Write one of each of these examples Mark out phrases that come between the subject and verb the people who read that report are Phrases the team leader, as well as his developers, is the manuals, including all the chapters in the first section, are Nonessential Phrases Prepositional Phrases

1.The dishes in the kitchen (is, are) dirty. 2.The truck with many people in the bed (is, are) speeding around the sharp curve. 3.The computer menu that has ten items on it (is, are) very confusing. 4.The mayor, as well as his brothers, (is, are) going to prison. 5.The dog with its many toys (is, are) getting in the way. 6.The English department, including the department head, (is, are) going through the training. 7.A central part of my life goals (has, have) been to play sports in college. 8.The box of ornaments (is, are) in the closet. 9.One of the cars (is, are) my mother’s. 10.The student with 4 brothers (sit, sits) in that desk over there. 1.The dishes in the kitchen (is, are) dirty. 2.The truck with many people in the bed (is, are) speeding around the sharp curve. 3.The computer menu that has ten items on it (is, are) very confusing. 4.The mayor, as well as his brothers, (is, are) going to prison. 5.The dog with its many toys (is, are) getting in the way. 6.The English department, including the department head, (is, are) going through the training. 7.A central part of my life goals (has, have) been to play sports in college. 8.The box of ornaments (is, are) in the closet. 9.One of the cars (is, are) my mother’s. 10.The student with 4 brothers (sit, sits) in that desk over there. On your paper, write the subject of the sentence, the phrase that needs to be marked out, and the correct verb.

Always singular each, each one everyone, anyone, someone, no one everybody, anybody, nobody Collective nouns: group, team, committee, class, family Ex: Each of my friends is Ex: Nobody is Always plural several few both Many Ex: Many of the students are Ex: A few of my cousins are The only way to learn these is to memorize them… If it’s countable, it’s plural; if it’s uncountable, it’s singular all some Most Any More none Ex: Some of the sugar is Ex: Some of the cats are

Either and Neither Followed by a prepositional phrase = SINGULAR. Either of the cars (is, are) fine with me. Neither of the boys (study, studies). Followed by an “or” rule situation = USE “OR” RULE Either my mom or my dad (help, helps) me with my homework. Neither my aunt nor her kids (is, are) ever home. Either and Neither Followed by a prepositional phrase = SINGULAR. Either of the cars (is, are) fine with me. Neither of the boys (study, studies). Followed by an “or” rule situation = USE “OR” RULE Either my mom or my dad (help, helps) me with my homework. Neither my aunt nor her kids (is, are) ever home.

1.Everyone (take, takes) the same End of Course test. 2.Each of the teachers (follow, follows) the rules of the school. 3.Ten dollars (is, are) in my purse if you want to borrow it. 4.Many (go, goes) to college to further their education. 5.The family of ducks (swim, swims) in the pond. 6.The group of jurors (look, looks) over the evidence that the lawyers present. 7.All of the air (leak, leaks) out of the balloon. 8.Either the test or the quizzes (counts, count) 100 pts. 9.Neither of the two traffic lights (is, are) working. 10.The scissors (is, are) in the left-hand drawer. 1.Everyone (take, takes) the same End of Course test. 2.Each of the teachers (follow, follows) the rules of the school. 3.Ten dollars (is, are) in my purse if you want to borrow it. 4.Many (go, goes) to college to further their education. 5.The family of ducks (swim, swims) in the pond. 6.The group of jurors (look, looks) over the evidence that the lawyers present. 7.All of the air (leak, leaks) out of the balloon. 8.Either the test or the quizzes (counts, count) 100 pts. 9.Neither of the two traffic lights (is, are) working. 10.The scissors (is, are) in the left-hand drawer. On your paper, write the subject of the sentence and the correct verb.

There is a question Example: Here are your keys. subject verb subject verb Example:

1.There (is, are) no reason why you aren’t capable of making good grades! 2.There (go, goes) my two best friends. 3.Here (is, are) two apples to go with your lunch. 4.There (is, are) several tests you must pass to graduate. 5.Here (is, are) a collection of books you may choose from. 6.There (seem, seems) to be trouble brewing! 7.Here (is, are) a very high sand dune to cross. 8.There (is, are) two sides to every argument. 9.Here (is, are) some movies you may borrow. 10.There (appear, appears) to be many important reasons to pass the End of Course exam. 1.There (is, are) no reason why you aren’t capable of making good grades! 2.There (go, goes) my two best friends. 3.Here (is, are) two apples to go with your lunch. 4.There (is, are) several tests you must pass to graduate. 5.Here (is, are) a collection of books you may choose from. 6.There (seem, seems) to be trouble brewing! 7.Here (is, are) a very high sand dune to cross. 8.There (is, are) two sides to every argument. 9.Here (is, are) some movies you may borrow. 10.There (appear, appears) to be many important reasons to pass the End of Course exam. On your paper, write the subject of the sentence and the correct verb.