1. Subject-Verb Agreement
“They was talking, Miss!”
“You is crazy!”
“She don’t know the answer.”
-Comments made by students at GMS

2. Rule #1 Singular simple subjects require singular verbs.
Singular Simple Subject—one person, place, thing, or idea
Singular Verb—usually has an “s”
Example: The cat limps across the bed.

3. Rule #2 Plural simple subjects require plural verbs.
Plural Simple Subject—2+ people, places, things, or ideas
Plural Verb—usually has NO “s”
Example: The cats meow at night.

4. Rule #3 Simple subjects joined by and require a plural verb.
Plural Verb—usually has NO “s”
Example:
Mrs. Bender, Ms. Maxwell, and I love grammar.
The cats and dog run together in the yard.

5. Rule #4
When simple subjects are joined by or OR nor, form the agreement with the simple subject closer/closest to the verb.
Example:
The kids or their mom plans to attend tonight.
Mom or her kids plan to attend tonight.

6. Rule #5
Sentences that begin with here or there are inverted. Put them in normal word order. Then, form agreement.
Example: Here (is/are) your keys.
Your keys are here.

7. Rule #6
If a sentence is interrogative, turn the question into a declarative statement. Then form agreement.
Example: (Have/Has) he helped?
He has helped.

8. Rule #7
Never form subject-verb agreement with a word within a prepositional phrase.
Example: On the log (sit/sits) the boys.
The boys sit on the log.
The boys on the bus (wave/waves).
The boys on the bus wave.