1. Subject-Verb Agreement
By: Daniel J. Woods

2. Subject-Verb Agreement
Content Area: Language Arts
Grade Level: 9-12
Summary: The purpose of this Powerpoint
Content Standard: EL.1 Demonstrate knowledge of standard English usage, mechanics, spelling, and sentence structure.
Learning Objective: The student will use a verb bank to complete each sentence as measured by 90% accuracy on the activity.
Accomplishment: After this lesson the students will write sentences with subjects and verbs that agree.

3. Subject-Verb Agreement
A verb must agree in number with its subject (singular or plural).
The present tense of a regular verb has two forms. One form is used with a singular subject; the other is used with a plural subject.

4. Present Tenses
Two Types:
Singular
Plural

5. Present Tenses: Nouns
Ass –s or –es to the present tense of the verb when the subject is a singular noun.
Examples
Singular subject:
Emily’s dog always barks for biscuits.
Plural Subject:
Both dogs bark for biscuits.

6. Present Tenses: Pronouns
When the subject is a singular pronoun
(he she, it), add –s or
–es to the verb
Examples
Singular Subject:
He likes to draw.
Plural Subject:
They like to draw.

7. Present Tenses: Pronouns
When the subject is I or you, use the plural form of the verb.
Examples
I enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with my family.
Do you enjoy Thanksgiving?

8. Let’s Play
Q & A

9. Questions??
1. What do you add to subjects that are present tense or pronouns?
2. What form of a verb should be used when the subject is I or you?

10. Answers
Add –s or –es
Plural

11. Indefinite Pronouns

12. Indefinite Pronouns: Singular
Most indefinite pronouns are singular even though their meanings are plural. They take a singular form of the verb.
Example
Correct: Everyone goes to the beach in the summer.
Incorrect: Everyone go to the beach in the summer.

13. Indefinite Pronouns
Some indefinite pronouns may be singular or plural depending on their use. They are all, any, most, and none.
Example
Singular: All of the money is safe in the bank.
Plural: All of the boys are going to the concert.

14. Indefinite Pronouns: Plural
Some indefinite pronouns are always plural:
both, many, few, others, several.
A plural indefinite pronoun takes the plural form of the verb.
Example
Several of the people want fruit for dessert.

15. Let’s Play
Q & A

16. Choose the correct verb
Most of the students (go, goes) to Tony’s for snacks.
2. None of us (is, are) going.
3. Anyone (is, are) welcome at the concert.

17. Answers Go
Are Is

18. Conclusion
Today’s lesson explained subject-verb agreement and how nouns in the subject and verbs in the predicate must change form to make sure they agree.
Please visit the following links for more information and activities: