Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement In the present tense, verbs agree with their subjects in number (singular or plural) and in person (first, second, or third).

Subject-Verb Agreement (A Quick Refresher) Present-tense forms of love and try… Singular Plural 1st person: I love we love 2nd person: you love you love 3rd person: he/she/it loves they love 1st person: I try we try 2nd person: you try you try 3rd person: he/she/it tries they try

Subject-Verb Agreement (A Quick Refresher) Present-tense forms of have… Singular Plural 1st person: I have we have 2nd person: you have you have 3rd person: he/she/it has they have Present-tense forms of do… 1st person: I do we do 2nd person: you do you do 3rd person: he/she/it does they do

Subject-Verb Agreement (A Quick Refresher) Present-tense forms of be… Singular Plural 1st person: I am we are 2nd person: you are you are 3rd person: he/she/it is they are Past-tense forms of be… 1st person: I was we were 2nd person: you were you were 3rd person: he/she/it was they were

Subject-Verb Agreement Make the verb agree with its subject, not with a word that comes between. The samples on the tray in the lab need testing. High levels of air pollution cause damage to the respiratory tract. The slaughter of pandas for their pelts has caused a drastic decline in the panda population. The governor as well as his press secretary was shot.

Subject-Verb Agreement Treat most subjects joined with and as plural. Leon and Jan often jog together. Jill’s natural ability and her desire to help others have led to a career in the ministry. EXCEPTION: When the parts of the subject form a single unit or refer to the same person or thing, treat the subject as singular. Strawberries and cream was a last-minute addition to the menu. Sue’s friend and adviser was surprised by her decision.

Subject-Verb Agreement EXCEPTION: When a compound subject is preceded by each or every, treat the subject as singular. - Each tree, shrub, and vine needs to be sprayed. This exception does not apply when a compound subject is followed by each: - Alan and Marcia each have different ideas.