Subject-Verb Subject-Verb AgreementAgreement

The SUBJECT and The SUBJECT and the VERB of a the VERB of a sentence must sentence must agree in number.agree in number.

SINGULARSINGULAR

If the subject of the sentence is If the subject of the sentence is SINGULAR, the verb must also SINGULAR, the verb must also

be SINGULAR.be SINGULAR.

A car stops quickly at the light.A car stops quickly at the light.

sing. sing.sing. sing.A singular verb in present tense ends with –s.

PLURALPLURAL

If the subject of the sentence is If the subject of the sentence is PLURAL, the verb must also be PLURAL, the verb must also be

PLURAL.PLURAL.

Cars stop quickly at the light.Cars stop quickly at the light.

plur. plur.plur. plur.A plural verb in present tense does NOT end with –s.

PRACTICEPRACTICE

Acadia National Park Acadia National Park (lies, lie) along (lies, lie) along Maine’s coast.Maine’s coast.

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Several islands (is, Several islands (is, are) in the park.are) in the park.

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Acadia (feature, Acadia (feature, features) a rocky features) a rocky coastline.coastline.

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Mount Desert Island Mount Desert Island (is, are) very (is, are) very beautiful.beautiful.

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Many people (travels, Many people (travels, travel) to Acadia travel) to Acadia every year.every year.

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They (photographs, They (photographs, photograph) the photograph) the wildlife.wildlife.

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Mammoth Cave (is, Mammoth Cave (is, are) in Kentucky.are) in Kentucky.

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The passageways The passageways (winds, wind) for (winds, wind) for nearly two hundred nearly two hundred miles.miles.

Prepositional PhrasesPrepositional Phrases Sometimes a prepositional Sometimes a prepositional

phrase comes between the phrase comes between the subject and the verb.subject and the verb.A A parkpark in the islands in the islands containscontains a a

volcano.volcano.In this case, IGNORE the phrase.In this case, IGNORE the phrase.

Your subject & verb must still Your subject & verb must still agree!agree!

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The island of Oahu The island of Oahu (has, have) a mild (has, have) a mild climate.climate.

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Islands of volcanic origin Islands of volcanic origin (rises, rise) in the (rises, rise) in the Pacific.Pacific.

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Travelers to Haleakala Travelers to Haleakala (sees, see) a huge (sees, see) a huge crater.crater.

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A hike along the cliffs A hike along the cliffs (is, are) exciting.(is, are) exciting.

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Our trip to the islands Our trip to the islands (delights, delight) us.(delights, delight) us.

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A busload of tourists A busload of tourists (arrives, arrive) in the (arrives, arrive) in the park.park.

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Parts of Kauai (has, Parts of Kauai (has, have) served as have) served as movie locations.movie locations.

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The rain forests The rain forests

of Hawaii (needs, of Hawaii (needs, need) protection.need) protection.

““HERE” and “THERE”HERE” and “THERE”

Some sentences begin with the words Some sentences begin with the words “here” and “there.” These words are “here” and “there.” These words are NOT the subject of the sentence!NOT the subject of the sentence!

Look for the subject after the verb in this Look for the subject after the verb in this type of sentence. type of sentence.

There There isis a a parkpark on Maui. on Maui.

Here in the park Here in the park areare tropical tropical forestsforests..

PRACTICEPRACTICE

There (is, are) lush There (is, are) lush green trees green trees everywhere.everywhere.

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There (is, are) many There (is, are) many visitors to the Hawaii visitors to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Volcanoes National Park.Park.

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

In a sentence that is a In a sentence that is a question, turn it into a question, turn it into a declarative sentence.declarative sentence.

It is easier to find the It is easier to find the subject.subject.

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

Example:Example:Does James need a blanket?Does James need a blanket?

Declarative:Declarative:James does need a blanket.James does need a blanket.

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

JamesJames does need a blanket. does need a blanket.Now you can see the subject Now you can see the subject

clearly, and it is singular. clearly, and it is singular. Therefore, “does” is the Therefore, “does” is the correct form of the verb.correct form of the verb.

PRACTICEPRACTICE

(Does, Do) you have (Does, Do) you have my phone number?my phone number?

You do have my phone number.

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(Have, Has) the (Have, Has) the teacher given the teacher given the instructions yet?instructions yet?

The teacher has given the instructions.

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(Was, Were) the boys (Was, Were) the boys the best choice for the best choice for the opening act?the opening act?

The boys were the best choice for the opening act.

Review – Indefinite Review – Indefinite Pronouns Pronouns

Always Singular Always Singular – Use singular verb– Use singular verb

Always Plural Always Plural – Use plural verb– Use plural verb

Singular OR Plural Singular OR Plural – Look at the prepositional – Look at the prepositional phrase after the indefinite pronounphrase after the indefinite pronoun

Examples:Examples:

SomeSome of the of the animalsanimals werewere visible at the zoo. visible at the zoo.

MostMost of the of the bookbook appealsappeals to young readers. to young readers.

PRACTICEPRACTICE

Most of the cookies Most of the cookies (contain, contains) (contain, contains) raisins and chocolate raisins and chocolate chips.chips.

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Some of television show Some of television show (entertain, entertains) (entertain, entertains) my family.my family.

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All of the students (arrive, All of the students (arrive, arrives) to their classes arrives) to their classes on time.on time.

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More of the punch (is, More of the punch (is, are) available in the are) available in the kitchen.kitchen.