SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Unit 1: Lesson 2

SUBJECT-VERBAGREEMENT

The objective of this lesson is to discuss and understand each rule under Subject-Verb Agreement.

Rule #

subjects and verbs must agree in number.

The cats chase the rat.

CATS - plural subject

CHASE - plural verb

He talks to the woman in the train.

HE - singular subject

TALKS - singular verb

ADDITIONAL TIP!

For subjects, there is a singular and plural form. But in verbs, we can also classify themas base form and s-form.

ADDITIONAL TIP!

A singular subject takes the s-form of the verb. A plural subject takes the base form of the verb.

ex. Sir Erick writes on his notebook.

Don’t get confused by the words that come between the subject and verb; they do not affect agreement.

Rule #

The dog, who is chewing on my jeans, is usually very good.

DOG - singular subject

IS - singular verb

Denver, the capital of Colorado, offers a lot of fun activities for vacationers.

DENVER - singular subject

OFFERS - singular verb

The knot-hole in the tree, typically full of treasures for Scout and Jem, was instead filled with cement.

KNOT-HOLE - singular subject

WAS - singular verb

Prepositional phrases between the subject and verb usually do not affect Agreement.

Rule #

The colors of the rainboware beautiful.

COLORS - plural subject

ARE - plural verb

The bird on the windowis hungry.

BIRD - singular subject

IS - singular verb

The boy at the door is my brother.

BOY - singular subject

IS - singular verb

When sentences start with “there” or “here,” the subject will always be placed after the verb, so care needs to be taken to identify it correctly.

Rule #

There is a problem with the balance sheet.

PROBLEM - singular subject

IS - singular verb

Here are the papers you requested.

PAPERS - plural subject

ARE - plural verb

There are two reasons whyit happened.

REASONS - plural subject

ARE - plural verb

Subjects don't always come before verbs in questions. Make sure you accurately identify the subject before deciding on the proper verb form to use. Subjects don't always come before verbs in questions.

Rule #

Does Lefty usually eat grass?

LEFTY - singular subject

EAT - singular verb

Where are the pieces of this puzzle?

PIECES - plural subject

ARE - plural verb

Rule #

If two subjects are joined by and, they typically require a plural verb form.

The cow and the pig are jumping over the moon

THE COW, THE PIG - plural subject

ARE - plural verb

The captain and the coach of the team have been sacked.

THE CAPTAIN, THE COACH - plural subject

HAVE - plural verb

ADDITIONAL TIP!

SVA # 7: The verb is singular if the two subjects separated by and refer to the same person or thing.

ex. The captain and coach of the team has been removed from the court.

If the words each, every, or no come before the subject, the verb is singular

Rule #

No smoking and drinking is allowed.

SMOKING, DRINKING - singular subject

IS - singular verb

Every man and woman is required to check in.

MAN, WOMAN - singular subject

IS - singular verb

Every child is special.

CHILD - singular subject

IS - singular verb

If the subjects are both singular and are connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also the verb is singular.

Rule #

Jessica or Christian is to blame for the accident.

JESSICA, CHRISTIAN - singular subject

IS - singular verb

ADDITIONAL TIP!

When the subjects joined by ‘either or’ or ‘neither nor’ are of different persons, the verb will agree in person and number with the noun nearest to it.

ex. Neither you nor your dogs know how to behave.

Either my father or my brothers are going to sell the house.

BROTHERS - NEARER plural subject

ARE - plural verb

The only time when the object of the preposition factors into the decision of plural or singular verb forms is when noun and pronoun subjects like some, half, none, more, all, etc. are followed by a prepositional phrase

10

Rule #

All of the chicken is gone. All of the chickens are gone.

Some men are needed forthe battle.

11

Rule #

The singular verb form is usually used for units of measurement.

ADDITIONAL TIP!

Money, time, and measurement can actually take singular or plural verb.

If to get your answer you can ask questions like how much? how big? how small? or how long?, use a singular verb.

ADDITIONAL TIP!

If you can ask the question how many?, use a plural verb.

Millions of dollars is what it will cost to renovate the library.

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS - subject

IS - singular verb

How much will it cost?

Fifteen dollars is the cost of the cake.

FIFTEEN DOLLARS - subject

IS - singular verb

How much does the cake cost?

There are only two dollars in my wallet.

TWO DOLLARS - subject

ARE - plural verb

How many dollars do you have left?

Millions of dollars were spent to renovate the library.

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS - subject

WERE - plural verb

How many dollars were spent?

If the subjects are both plural and are connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also, the verb is plural.

12

Rule #

Dogs and cats are both available at the pound.

DOGS, CATS - plural subject

ARE - plural verb

ADDITIONAL TIP!

RULE # 13 will follow the "NEARER SUBJECT" concept.

14

Rule #

Indefinite pronouns typically take singular verbs.

Everybody wants to be loved.

EVERYONE - singular subject

WANTS - singular verb

ADDITIONAL TIP!

-BODY-ONE -THING takes a singular verb.

15

Rule #

Except for the pronouns (few, many, several, both) that always take the plural form.

Few were left alive after the flood.

FEW - plural subject

WERE - plural verb

Many are still waiting for their salary.

MANY - plural subject

ARE - plural verb

16

Rule #

If two infinitives are separated by and they take the plural form of the verb.

ADDITIONAL TIP!

INFINITIVES

usually begins with the word “to” and is followed by the base form of a verb

To walk and to chew gum require great skill.

TO WALK, TO CHEW - plural subject

REQUIRE - plural verb

To see is to believe.

TO SEE - singular subject

IS - singular verb

17

When gerunds are used as the subject of a sentence they take the singular verb form of the verb, but when they are linked by and they take the plural form.

Rule #

Standing in the water was a bad idea.

STANDING - singular subject

WAS - singular verb

Killing is against the law.

KILLING - singular subject

IS - singular verb

Swimming in the ocean and playing drums are my hobbies.

SWIMMING, PLAYING - plural subject

ARE - plural verb

18

Rule #

Collective nouns like herd, senate, class, crowd, etc. usually take a singular verb form.

The herd is stampeding

HERD - singular subject

IS - singular verb

This organization puts a barbecue day every summer.

ORGANIZATION - singular subject

PUTS - singular verb

ADDITIONAL TIP!

FISH can be both singular and plural. If you are referring to many fish of the same species. But if you are referring to two or more different species of fish, you may use fishes.

19

Rule #

Titles of books, movies, novels, etc. are treated as singular and take a singular verb.

The Burbs is a movie starring Tom Hanks.

THE BURBS - singular subject

IS - singular verb

“Passionate Shepherd To His Love” and the “The Nymp’s Reply “ are popular poems in English literature.

(titles) - plural subject

ARE - plural verb

20

Rule #

Remember, only the subject affects the verb!

UNDERSTOOD?

Activity:

1. STATE ONE RULE FROM SVA.2. PROVIDE A SENTENCE EXAMPLE. 3. EXPLAIN.

Thanks!