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Subject Verb Agreement

Subject Verb Agreement. In a sentence, subjects and verbs need to agree in number. EXAMPLE. She don’t know. WHY IS “DON’T” THE INCORRECT VERB? “She” (the subject) is singular. “Don’t” (the verb) is plural. Subject and verb do not agree. HOW DO WE FIX IT?

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Subject Verb Agreement

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  1. Subject Verb Agreement In a sentence, subjects and verbs need to agree in number.

  2. EXAMPLE She don’t know. WHY IS “DON’T” THE INCORRECT VERB? “She” (the subject) is singular. “Don’t” (the verb) is plural. Subject and verb do not agree. HOW DO WE FIX IT? Make the verb singular to agree with the subject. She doesn’t know.

  3. Steps to Correct Subject Verb Agreement • Find the subject. --Who or what is doing the action? • Determine the subject’s number. --Is the subject singular or plural? 3. Find the verb. --What is the subject doing? 4. Put the verb in the form that agrees with the subject’s number.

  4. Example They (eat, eats) pizza. • Find subject  • Determine number  • Find verb  • Put verb in form that agrees 

  5. Example They (eat, eats) pizza. • Find subject  THEY • Determine number  PLURAL • Find verb  EAT/EATS • Put verb in form that agrees  EAT They EAT pizza.

  6. Special Problems in Subject Verb Agreement • Intervening Phrases • Compound Subjects • Indefinite Pronouns

  7. Intervening Phrases Words that come in between a subject and its verb. 1. The girl without a space between her eyebrows (look / looks) like she is wearing a fur headband.

  8. Intervening Phrases Intervening phrases do not affect the number of the subject. 1. The girl without a space between her eyebrows (look / looks) like she is wearing a fur headband.

  9. Compound Subjects Two words or groups of words linked by a conjunction (usually and/or/nor) that form the subject of a verb. 2. The ninja and the pirate (sing, sings) karaoke at The Otter on Tuesdays.

  10. Compound Subjects Subjects joined by AND take a plural verb. 2. The ninja AND the pirate (sing, sings) karaoke at The Otter on Tuesdays.

  11. Compound Subjects 3. Either the ninja or the pirate (use, uses) his ninja sword to frighten away burglars.

  12. Compound Subjects Singular subjects joined by OR or NOR take a singular verb. 3. Either the ninja OR the pirate (use, uses) his ninja sword to frighten away burglars.

  13. Compound Subjects 4. Stanley or those girls (is / are) going to buy me a new pogo stick.

  14. Compound Subjects When a singular and a plural subject are joined by OR or NOR, the verb agrees with the nearer subject. 4. Stanley or those girls (is / are) going to buy me a new pogo stick.

  15. Indefinite Pronouns A pronoun whose antecedent or referent is undefined. 5. Each of the two chicken wings (is / are) covered in carpet fuzz. 6. Many of their heads (is / are) too large to fit through the office door. 7. Some of the money (is / are) missing. 8. Some of the tickets (is / are) in the front row.

  16. Indefinite Pronouns These indefinite pronouns are singular: each, either, neither, one, no one, everyone, anyone, someone, anybody, somebody, everybody 5. Each of the two chicken wings (is / are) covered in carpet fuzz.

  17. Indefinite Pronouns The following indefinite pronouns are plural: several, few, both, many 6. Many of their heads (is / are) too large to fit through the office door.

  18. Indefinite Pronouns These indefinite pronouns may be singular or plural depending on the meaning of the sentence: some, any, none, all, most 7. Some of the money (is / are) missing. 8. Some of the tickets (is / are) in the front row.

  19. Your Turn Write a 10 question subject verb agreement quiz that tests each of the skills we have covered this period.

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