1. Subject-Verb Agreement
How does this sound?
Many schools pay more attention to the honor students than the students who actually needs support.

2. Subject-Verb Agreement
What’s wrong with those sentences?

3. Subject-Verb Agreement

4. Verb & Subject Verb = the action in the sentence
Subject= the thing or person doing the action
Verb = the action in the sentence

5. Subject-Verb Agreement
Rule #1: A verb should agree in number with its subject.

6. Subject-Verb Agreement
Singular subject + singular verb= agreement 
Plural subject + plural verb= agreement 

7. Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-Verb Agreement in the Present Tense:
A singular subject does not end in an –s.
A singular verb DOES end with an –s.

8. Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-Verb Agreement in the Present Tense:
The girl runs.
The girls run.

9. Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-Verb Agreement in the Past Tense:
Generally speaking, past tense verbs have the same form regardless of whether the subject is singular or plural.

10. Subject-Verb Agreement
Present Tense
Past Tense
Singular
girl runs
girl ran
Plural
girls run
girls ran

11. Subject-Verb Agreement
Rule #2: The number of a subject is not changed by a word in a phrase or a clause following the subject.

12. Subject-Verb Agreement
Phrase/clause= something that further describes the subject
Subject (clause or phrase) + Verb = agreement 

13. Subject-Verb Agreement
Examples:
Mark Twain writes novels and short stories during the gilded era of American history.
Mark Twain, (one of the most famous American writers), writes novels and short stories during the gilded era of American history.

14. Subject-Verb Agreement
Identify the subject, verb and clause or phrase:
The short stories in this anthology are by various contemporary American authors.
The short stories (in this anthology) are by various contemporary American authors.

15. Subject-Verb Agreement
Edmonia Lewis, whose subjects included John Brown and Abraham Lincoln, was the first African American woman to achieve renown for her sculpture.
Edmonia Lewis, (whose subjects included John Brown and Abraham Lincoln), was the first African American woman to achieve renown for her sculpture.

16. Subject-Verb Agreement
Rule #3: Compound subjects determine the number of the verb.

17. Subject-Verb Agreement
A. In most cases, use a plural verb with a compound subject in which the parts are joined by and.
Example:
Kenyetta and Lewis make their beds everyday before coming to school.

18. Subject-Verb Agreement
Examples:
Saturn and its rings (present, presents) astronomers with clues about the formation of planets and solar systems.
The stores and the school (cooperate, cooperates) to schedule part-time work for students.

19. Subject-Verb Agreement
B. Use a singular verb with a compound subject when the subject is thought of as a unit.
Example:
Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite kind of sandwich.

20. Subject-Verb Agreement
C. Use a singular verb with a compound subject that is preceded by “each” or “every.”
Example:
Every magazine and catalog has its own computerized mailing list.

21. Subject-Verb Agreement
Examples:
Every student and faculty member (need, needs) an I.D. card issued by the school.
Before taking the computer to the service department, make sure every cable and switch (is, are) in its proper position.

22. Subject-Verb Agreement
D. When the parts of a compound subject are joined by or or nor, use a verb that agrees with the subject nearer the verb.
Example:
Neither the mayor nor the council members were pleased with the press coverage.

23. Subject-Verb Agreement
Examples:
Neither the disk drives nor the monitor (respond, responds) when Jane flips the power switch.
When ice and snowdrifts (cover, covers) the sidewalks and the street, driving becomes dangerous.

24. Subject-Verb Agreement in Your Writing
Go and be Subject-Verb Agreement EXPERTS! 

25. Practice Sentences Directions:
For the following sentences, determine which verb agrees with the sentence’s subject.

26. Practice Sentences
Everybody in ancient kingdoms (receive, receives) gifts from the queen.
Each of the kites (is, are) caught in a tree.
Mimi, along with her sisters, (has, have) been taking voice lessons.
Track and field (is, are) my favorite sport(s).