1. Subject – Verb Agreement
N. Clayton & S. Cugini
High 5 Achievers

2. Subject-Verb Agreement PowerPoint Lesson Plan
Common Core State Standards English Language Arts/Language: 9-12
Conventions of Standard English:
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
a. Apply the understanding that usage is a matter of convention, can change over time, and is sometimes contested.
The teacher may point out the standard that the lesson will cover. The PowerPoint presentation begins on slide 5.

3. Lesson Plan Continued
Title: Subject and Verb Agreement – Can’t We All Get Along?
Objective:
Students will watch a PowerPoint presentation to review basic rules for subject and verb agreement in order to complete subsequent exercises.
Materials: PowerPoint presentation; student handouts; pen and paper
Directions:
After viewing and taking notes on the PowerPoint presentation, as a group activity, the teacher will complete student exercise 1. Exercises 2 and 3 can either be completed in class or assigned as homework.
All exercises and keys are at the end of the PowerPoint Presentation.

4. Lesson Plan Continued
Closure: The teacher will review student responses to the
exercises.
Differentiated:
Struggling: All exercises will be completed in class with the help of the teacher.
Advanced: Students will complete exercises 2 and 3 on their own.
Assessment: Students will achieve a minimum of 70% on the student exercises.

5. Subject & Verb Definition
A subject is what the sentence is discussing.
Noun or pronoun
John likes to attend rock concerts. (subject)
He really enjoys concerts.(subject)
A verb expresses action or a state or being.
John frequently attends rock concerts. (action)
John feels sick today. (state of being)
The teacher can point out to the students that they turn the sentence into a question in order to find the subject: Who likes to attend rock concerts? John - therefore, John is the subject.

6. Subject & Verb Agreement
Basic Rule:
Singular Subject = Singular Verb
Plural Subject = Plural Verb
John & Harry
John
One Subj. = Singular Verb
John shakes hands.
Two Subj. = Plural Verbs
John and Harry shake hands.

7. Present Tense of Regular Verbs:
Sit down!
To find subject: ask who/what is discussed?
To find verb: ask what is subject doing?
John buys bread at the local market.
John and Mary buy bread at the local market.
Present Tense of Regular Verbs:
1st Per: I buy
1st Per. We buy
2nd Per. You buy
3rd Per. He, she, it buys
3rd Per. They buy
Note: 3rd per singular ends in “S”

8. Subject Verb Agreement with Prepositional Phrases.
The teacher in the back of the room sits quietly listening to her students.
The teacher of the first grade classes was called to the office.
Helpful hint: Always eliminate the prepositional phrase(s) to find the subject of the sentence.
The list of common prepositions is on the following two slides. To help the students learn the prepositions, go to You Tube and type in “preposition song.”

9. Common Prepositions aboard behind down about below during above
beneath
except
across
beside
for
after
besides
from
against
between in
along
beyond
inside
amid
but
into
among by
around
concerning at
considering
before
despite
Students need to copy these prepositions or the teacher needs to make a copy of this slide and distribute it to all students.

10. Common Prepositions like regarding unlike near round until of since up
off
through
upon on to
with
onto
toward
within
opposite
towards
without
outside
under
over
underneath
Students need to copy these prepositions or the teacher needs to make a copy of this slide and distribute it to all students.

11. Singular Indefinite Pronouns
Another
Nothing
These indefinite pronouns take singular verbs, even if some sound plural.
Anybody
One
Anyone
Other
Anything
Somebody
Each
Someone
Either
Something
Everyone is invited to the party.
Enough
Whatever
Everybody
Whoever
Nothing is out of the question for him.
Everyone
Whomever
Less
Whichever
Each of the students needs to finish dinner.
Little
You (one)
Much
Neither
No one
Nobody
Students need to copy these pronouns and the rule or the teacher needs to make a copy of this slide and distribute it to all students.

12. Plural Indefinite Pronouns
These indefinite pronouns take plural verbs.
Both students are invited to the party.
Few birds fly south for the winter.
Many children live with their parents.
Several books have been checked out of the library.
Some movies explode on the screen.
Both
Few
Many
Several
Some
Students need to copy these pronouns and the rule or the teacher needs to make a copy of this slide and distribute it to all students.

13. Indefinite Pronouns: Singular or Plural
All
Any
More
Most
None
Some
Such
Singular/Plural – Depends on Use
Some of the mustard is rotten.
Most of the sand is gone. (not countable)
None of the gates are open. (Not any)
None of you claim responsibility. (not one)
Point out to the students, that prepositional phrases are insignificant when selecting the correct verb unless there is an indefinite pronoun as the subject of the sentence.

14. Interrupters – are words, phrases or clauses between subject and verb.
John, as well as his sister, is going swimming. (singular verb)
The teacher, together with her students, has been invited to attend the ceremony. (singular verb)
The cats, along with the dog, were rescued. (plural verb)
Together with
As well as
Along with
In addition to
Including
Besides
Like
The teacher needs to point out to students that interrupters do not determine the verb; only the subject of the sentence determines verb. These interrupters require commas before and after.

15. More Pesky Interrupters
Interrupters add more information about the subject.
My sister, who thinks she is really smart, beautiful and awesome and has won all kinds of beauty prizes, is a real pain in the neck! (singular subject)
I am divine…
Point out to students that interrupters, regardless of their length, have no bearing on the correct verb.

16. Neither/Nor Neither my dad nor my sisters want steak. (Plural)
Neither my sisters nor my dad wants steak. (Singular)
To determine the correct verb, look at the noun next to the verb and immediately following nor. If the noun is plural, the verb must be plural. If the noun is singular, the verb must be singular.

17. Either/Or Either my parents or my sister is going home. (Plural)
Either my sister or my parents are going home. (Singular)
To determine the correct verb, look at the noun next to the verb and immediately following or. If the noun is plural, the verb must be plural. If the noun is singular, the verb must be singular.

18. Those Darn Expletives! We’re not talking about swearing…
There are two reasons why I want to go. (Plural Subject)
There is no reason why you should go. (Singular Subject)
Here are several pencils for you. (Plural Subject)
Here is a pencil for you. (Singular Subject)
An expletive is a word that fills out the structure of the sentence, but does not add to the meaning of the sentence. The teacher should point out to students to ignore the expletives and instead look at the noun following the verb to determine verb tense. Only there and here are expletives; these are adverbs telling where.

19. The Collective Experience!
Collective Nouns: Singular or Plural – it all depends…
Pants
Pliers
Scissors
Glasses
My pants are torn.
The glasses were broken.
The scissors are in the drawer.
A pair is missing.
Plural

20. More on Living in the Collective…
Collective Nouns: Singular or Plural – it all depends…
A majority of the students wants a minimum day. (singular)
The jury of women has reached a decision. (acting as one -- singular)
A flock of geese is heading south. (singular)
The team of boys are always fighting among themselves. (plural)
How to determine if the collective noun is singular or plural?
Recognize the collective noun.
Visualize what is going on in the sentence – is the collective noun acting as a unit or as individuals?
Choose the appropriate singular or plural verb.

21. Common Collective Nouns
Army
Council
Minority
Audience
Coven
Network
Band (musical)
Crowd
Pack
Board (political)
Department
Panel
Cabinet (political)
Enemy
Pod
Choir
Faculty
Posse
Class
Family
Public
Committee
Flock
School
Company
Government
Senate
Colony
Group
Slate
Corporation
Herd
Society
Clergy
Jury
Swarm
Majority
Team
Students need to copy the list or the teacher needs to reproduce it for distribution.

22. Heard of These Collective Nouns ???
A wake of buzzards
A farrow of piglets
A promise of barmen
A covert of coots
A pack of perch
A riches of matrons
A murder of crows
A shiver of sharks
A faith of merchants
A dole of doves
A troupe of shrimps
A diligence of messengers
A muster of peacocks
A quiver of cobras
A troupe of minstrels
A cloud of bats
A flight of dragons
A cortege of mourners
A clowder of cats
A mess of iguanas
A skirl of pipers
A stud of mares
A rhumba of rattlesnakes
A prudence of vicars
A mischief of mice
A bevy of beauties
A gaggle of women
A plague of locusts
A sneer of butlers
An ambush of widows

23. Words Ending in “-S” Words that look plural, but take singular verbs:
The news is boring today.
Measles is an unpleasant disease.
Words that point to a singular concept, take a plural verb:
My earnings have really taken a hit.
The assets that I accumulated are gone!
Our thanks appear unwelcome.

24. Think Fractions Happen Only in Math?
Fractional expressions: singular/plural – it depends…
50% of the parents were present. (parents are plural)
50% of the university was destroyed by fire. (university is singular)
Sums/Products of mathematical computations: singular subject = singular verb
Four and four is eight.
Five times five is twenty-five.
When fractional expressions are involved, direct the students to look at the noun in the prepositional phrase to determine if the verb is singular or plural.

25. Countable (Plural) Mass Nouns
If you can count the noun in the prepositional phrase, then use a plural verb; if not, then a singular verb.
Three-fifths of the animals were killed. (plural)
Half of the pens were stolen. (plural)
Three-fifths of the vineyard is spoiled. (singular)
The sand is so white. (singular)
Look to what is being counted or not counted to determine the correct verb.

26. O.K. Let’s See What You Have Learned Practice Exercise 1

27. Maria and Carla (want/wants) to study today.
Half of the student body (is/are) taking tests today.
Hard work and good study habits (is/are) important at school.
Each of us (understands/understand) the lesson.
All of us (works/work) very hard.
The team (is traveling/are traveling) to an away game.
The committee (is voting/are voting) on the issue now.
The pep squad (deserve/deserves) some of the credit.
Jerry, along with his cousin, (has/have) eaten the cake.
Neither the principal nor the teachers (was/were) happy.
John and Mary are arguing. Neither one (wants/want) to move.
A number of kids (is/are) playing hockey.
The number of people (is/are) increasing in the state.
Everybody (was/were) excited about the game.
The milk (has/have) been spoiled for several days.
The answers to this quiz are on the following slide. This practice exercise may be done as a class activity.

28. Answers to the Quiz Maria and Carla (want) to study today.
Half of the student body (is) taking tests today.
Hard work and good study habits (are) important at school.
Each of us (understands) the lesson.
All of us (work) very hard.
The team (is traveling) to an away game.
The committee (is voting) on the issue now.
The pep squad (deserves) some of the credit.
Jerry, along with his cousin, (has) eaten the cake.
Neither the principal nor the teachers (were) happy.
John and Mary are arguing. Neither one (wants) to move.
A number of kids (are) playing hockey.
The number of people (are) increasing in the state.
Everybody (was) excited about the game.
The milk (has) been spoiled for several days.

29. More Practice: Exercises 2 and 3:

30. Subject and Verb Agreement: Exercise 2 (Student Handout)
Identify the subject in each of the following sentences. Then underline the verb in the parentheses that agrees with the subject.
A big box of crayons (was, were) sitting on the teacher’s desk.
The cost of the two tickets (equal, equals) more than my weekly paycheck.
The flooring in the upstairs room (is, are) going to be replaced next week.
The horses (pull, pulls) a ton of hay.
The package sent to me by mother (arrive, arrives) in a few days.
His sense of humor, together with his compassion, (has given, have given) him great understanding for others.
Frogs, which are ugly little creatures, (lives, live) on land and water.
Neither the students nor the animal (has, have) been fed.
Neither of the animals (has, have) been fed.
A few in the auditorium (was, were) very rowdy.
Jose and she (is, are) the soccer champions.
Either a transistor or a capacitor (has, have) been damaged in the storm.
The cast (is, are) celebrating after the play.
All of your essays (was, were) graded yesterday.
Each of the poems (is, are) very beautiful.

31. Key: Subject and Verb Agreement Exercise 2
A big box of crayons (was, were) sitting on the teacher’s desk.
The cost of the two tickets (equal, equals) more than my weekly paycheck.
The flooring in the upstairs room (is, are) going to be replaced next week.
The horses (pull, pulls) a ton of hay.
The package sent to me by my mother (arrive, arrives) in a few days.
His sense of humor, together with his compassion, (has given, have given) him great understanding for others.
Frogs, which are ugly little creatures, (lives, live) on land and water.
Neither the students nor the animal (has, have) been fed.
Neither of the animals (has, have) been fed.
A few in the auditorium (was, were) very rowdy.
Jose and she (is, are) the soccer champions.
Either a transistor or a capacitor (has, have) been damaged in the storm.
The cast (is, are) celebrating after the play. (assuming that you are thinking of the cast as one)
All of your essays (was, were) graded yesterday.
Each of the poems (is, are) very beautiful.

32. Steven and Maria is the first team to finish.
Subject and Verb Agreement: Exercise 3
If the subject and verb do not agree in the following sentences, write the correct form of the verb. If the verb already agrees with the subject, write C.
Steven and Maria is the first team to finish.
There’s the kids that I told you were going to the movies.
Both my brother and sister wants to attend the baseball game this afternoon.
Either the boys or their sister are playing a solo in the concert.
Modern rock-and-roll are rooted in ancient musical patterns.
Where’s my gloves?
Neither the window nor the door is new.
How was the surfing and sailing at the beach this afternoon?
Do the club meet on Tuesday or Wednesday?
Each of the pictures show the girl wearing a red sweatshirt.

33. Key: Subject and Verb Agreement Exercise 3
Steven and Maria is the first team to finish. (are)
There’s the kids that I told you were going to the movies. (There are the kids…)
Both my brother and sister wants to attend the baseball game this afternoon. (want)
Either the boys or their sister are playing a solo in the concert. (is playing…)
Modern rock-and-roll are rooted in ancient musical patterns. (is rooted)
Where’s my gloves? (Where are …)
Neither the window nor the door is new. (C)
How was the surfing and sailing at the beach this afternoon? (C)
Do the club meet on Tuesday or Wednesday? (Does the club …)
Each of the pictures show the girl wearing a red sweatshirt. (Each shows …)

34. Be quiet! You’re almost home!
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