Subject Verb Agreement - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Subject Verb Agreement Slide2

Rule 1:

Basic Principle

:

Singular

subjects (nouns)

need singular verbs; plural subjects need plural verbs.

The key is to correctly identify the subject of the sentence, and decide if it is singular or plural. Then, match the verb to the subject.

A

singular subject

takes a

verb

that ends in

s

or

es

The

test

measures

critical thinking skills.

A

plural subject

takes a

verb

that does not end in

s

or

es

The

tests

measure

critical thinking skills.Slide3

Tutorial

1. Billy _______________ to buy a new skateboard. (want, wants)

2

. Those two boys _______________ to buy new skateboards. (want, wants)

3

. Grandpa _______________ a hamburger for dinner. (cook, cooks)

4

. Grandma and Grandpa _______________ dinner together. (cook, cooks)5. The dogs _______________ when the mail carrier comes. (growl, growls)

Wants

Want

Cooks

Cook

Growl

Exercise 1Slide4

Rule 1:

3. The pronouns

each, either, neither, one, everyone, no one, nobody, anyone,

anybody

,

someone

, everybody

, and much are singular and will require a verb with an -s ending.

Examples: Everyone in the class

is going on the trip. Neither teacher

plans to cover the entire textbook.Slide5

Rule 1:

The

pronouns

several

,

few

,

both, many, and others are plural and require a verb without an -s ending.

Examples: Several

of my friends work in the library.

Many on the honor roll study long hours.The

pronouns some, any, none, all, and most may be either singular or plural.

Examples: Some

of the cake

was

eaten.

All of the contestants were present.

Rules 2 & 3Slide6

Rule 1:

When a sentence has two or more subjects joined by

and

,

treat it like a plural subject. That means a

verb without an

s

is needed.Examples: Students and teachers park

in front of the auditorium.Pizza, cake and ice cream

_______(has/have) always been his favorite foods.Exception: If the nouns joined by the word and

are a single unit, treat it like a singular subject.Macaroni and cheese is being served.

Rule # 4

have

Compound SubjectsSlide7

Rule 1:

When

a sentence has two or more subjects joined by

or,

or

nor

, choose a verb that agrees

with the subject closest to it.Examples: Fudge or cookies are a good choice for dessert. Neither Tammy nor her sister likes

to travel.Cookies or fudge _______ a good choice for desert. Neither her sister nor Tammy

_________to travel.

is

Rule # 5

likes

Compound SubjectsSlide8

Compound

Subjects:

1

. Ben and Pete (want, wants) to buy a new computer.

2

. The color and style (is, are) important to most teenagers.

3. The price or warranty (is, are) not as important as other factors.

4. Neither a new television nor stereo (interest, interests) Ben and Pete.5. The manager and sales clerk (try, tries) to convince them to buy an expensive model.

Exercise

2Slide9

Delayed Subjects

Often, the subject of a sentence will come after the verb. A simple way to identify the subject

is as

follows:

1

. First identify the verb

2

. Then ask the question "Who or what...?"These steps may help you select the subject of most sentences.Other points to remember:The subject is never within a prepositional phrase.To

find the subject of a question, turn the question into a statement.The words there and here are never the subjects.Slide10

Delayed Subjects :

Instructions

: underline

the subject once and the verb twice.

1

.

There

are almost seven million books in the Library of Congress.2. How much are these bananas?

3. Where is Mary's brother?4. There were thousands of people at the parade.

Exercise 3