Subject-Verb Agreement

Im a subject! Im a verb! And we agree.

What is a subject?

What is a subject?
A sentences subject is a noun or a pronoun. Jenna likes fashion. It was a very long day. The astronaut was homesick. She always does her homework.

The subject must agree with the verb!

Jenna like likes fashion. It were was a very long day. The astronaut were was homesick. She always do does her homework.

Singular Verbs: Be
When the subject of a sentence is composed of one noun or pronoun, use a singular verb. She is I am You are

Plural Verbs: Be
When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a plural verb.

She and her friends are We are You all are

Which is the correct form of be?

She ___ at the fair. I ___ ready for the midterm. You ___ going to be late. She and her friends___ at the fair. We ___ ready for the midterm. You all ___ going to be late.

What is the correct form of be?

She is at the fair. I am ready for the midterm. You are going to be late. She and her friends are at the fair. We are ready for the midterm. You all are going to be late.

Singular Verbs: Have

I have You have He has Shana has

Plural Verbs: Have

We have You all have They have Shana and Robert have The students have

Which is the correct form of Have?

We ___ confidence you will study for the test. You all ___ time to do well. They ___ plenty of notes to study. Shana and Robert ___ the right idea.

Which is the correct form of Have?

We have confidence you will study for the test. You all have time to do well. They have plenty of notes to study. Shana and Robert has the right idea.

What is a compound subject?

What is a compound subject?

A compound subject is a subject which consists of two or more words. Examples: Sarah and Tom My mom and sister Rachel or her brother Your mom or your grandma

For compound sentences connected by AND:

use a plural verb! Examples Sarah and Tom drive to school. My mom and sister are picking me up. John and Nancy have three dogs. Cats and dogs are good pets.

For compound sentences connected by OR:

the verb should agree with the word that is closest to it! Examples: Every day, Sarah or her friends drive to school. Every day, her friends or Sarah drives to school. Oprah or her advisors choose her topics. Her advisors or Oprah chooses her topics.

Other examples
Some of the sand is out of the box. Use a singular verb because sand is singular. Some of the teens like the movie. Use a plural verb because teens is plural. Ten percent of the population is allergic to peanuts. Use a singular verb because the population is singular. Ten percent of people are allergic to peanuts. Use a plural verb because people is a singular verb.

Now, in groups,
you will take a quiz on some of the harder issues in subject-verb agreement. http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar /cgishl/quiz.pl/sv_agr_quiz.htm?cgi_quiz_fo rm=1