UNIT 8: CH. 24AGREEMENT7th English

SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT

1. A verb must agree with its subject in number (singular or plural).

-Nouns are made plural by adding –es or –s to the end.

-Verbs are NOT made plural by adding –s…they are made singular

Ex: boxes=plural noun, plays=singular verbSingular—is, am, was, has, have (sometimes)Plural—are, were, have (sometimes)

SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT2. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. If

the subject is plural, the verb must be pluralEx: She is here. We are going.3. A prepositional phrase that comes between a subject

and verb does not affect subject and verb agreement.Ex: The classroom of young students is too full.REMEMBER: The object of a preposition can never

be the subject of a sentence!

SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT

4. Two or more singular subjects joined by or or nor must have a singular verb.

-Two or more plural subjects joined by or or nor must have a plural verb.

Ex: Either the turkey or the stuffing is cooking.

Neither the potatoes nor the peas are done.

SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT

5. When singular AND plural subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb must agree with the closer subject.

Ex: Neither the lights nor the wreath is in the box.

Neither the wreath nor the lights are in the box.

SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT6. A compound subject joined by and is usually

plural and must have a plural verb.

-Think of the word and as a plus “+” sign

Ex: The boy and the girl are waiting for the bus.

Exceptions:

-If the compound subject equals one thing.

Ex: Macaroni and cheese is…

-The words each or every is used before the compound subject.

Ex: Each student and teacher is…

SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT

7. When a subject comes after the verb, the subject and verb still must agree with each other in number.

Ex: Incorrect: There is several books about holidays.

Correct: There are several books about holidays.

REMEMBER: Here’s=here is, there’s=there is

SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT

8. Choose the correct verb for a indefinite pronoun based on the type of indefinite pronoun (singular, plural, or both)—see pg. 397 and chart in your notes

Ex: Each of the banners is blue. All of the books are damaged. Some of the pizza is left. Some of the books are left.

PRONOUN/ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT

What is an antecedent?-The word that the pronoun takes the place ofEx: Sheila lost her book.1. A personal pronoun must agree with its

antecedent in person, number, and gender.Person-1st, 2nd, 3rd

Number-singular, pluralGender-male, female

PRONOUN/ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT

-Do not carelessly use the pronoun “you” to refer to a noun in the 3rd person

Ex: Incorrect: Stephanie has learned French. This is the language you need to know when you go to Paris.

Correct: Stephanie has learned French. This is the language she needs to know when she goes to Paris.

PRONOUN/ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT

2. Use a singular personal pronoun to refer to two or more singular antecedents joined by or or nor

Ex: Incorrect: Either Becca or Megan will take their backpack.

Ex: Correct: Either Becca or Megan will take her backpack.

PRONOUN/ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT

3. When the gender of a third-person-singular antecedent is not known, you may make the pronoun agree in one of these three ways:

Use he or she, him or her, his or hers.Ex: A student should bring his or her books to class. Rewrite the sentence so that the antecedent and

pronoun are plural.Ex: Students should bring their books to class. Rewrite the sentence to eliminate the pronoun.Ex: Books should be brought to class by students.

PRONOUN/ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT

4. Use a singular personal pronoun when its antecedent is a singular indefinite pronoun.

Ex: Incorrect: One of the cats lost their collar.

Ex: Correct: One of the cats lost its collar.