Objective I-3 Recognize Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement1Agreement of Subjects and VerbsA verb must agree in number (singular orplural) with its subject.

The student was proud of her grades.

NOTE: Do not be confused by words thatcome between the subject and verb.The manager, as well as the players, is required to display good sportsmanship. (Manager, not players, is the subject.)

2Compound SubjectsCompound subjects joined by or or nor take a singular verb. Neither Jamelia nor Ida is going to the luncheon.NOTE: When one of the subjects joined by or or nor is singular and one is plural, the verb must agree with the subject nearer the verb.Neither Laurie or her friends are eating in the lunchroom. (The plural subject friends is nearer the verb, so the plural verb are is correct.)Compound subjects connected with and require a plural verb.Strength and balance are necessary for gymnastics.3Delayed SubjectsDelayed subjects occur when the verb comesbefore the subject in a sentence. In theseinverted sentences, the delayed subject mustagree with the verb.There are many hardworking students in our schools.There is present among many young people today a will to succeed.(Students and will are the true subjects of these sentences, not there.)4Be VerbsWhen a sentence contains a form of the be verband a noun comes before and after thatverbthe verb must agree with the subject, notthe complement (the noun coming after theverb.)The cause of his problem was the bad brakes.The bad brakes were the cause of his problem.5Special CasesSome nouns that are in plural in form but singular in meaning take a singular verb:mumps, measles, news, mathematics,economics, gallows, shambles.Measles is still considered a serious disease in many parts of the world.Some nouns that are plural in form but singularin meaning take a plural verb: scissors,trousers, tidings.The scissors are missing again.6Let's PracticeDirections: For each sentence on the following slides, write the correct verb from the choice given in parentheses.7Mrs. McCarthy (are, is) planning a quiz for this Friday.

8Mrs. McCarthy (are, is) planning a quiz for this Friday.

Answeris9There (are, is) rumors that Mr. Childers will give a quiz on Friday.

10There (are, is) rumors that Mr. Childers will give a quiz on Friday.

Answerare11Either Jordan or Jenna (take,takes) the computers home fromMrs. Browns class during holidays.

12Either Jordan or Jenna (take,takes) the computers home fromMrs. Browns class during holidays.

Answertakes13

There (are, is) remaining one medium-sized sweatshirt with the NHS softball team logo.14

There (are, is) remaining one medium-sized sweatshirt with the NHS softball team logo.Answeris15Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Kyle Bush(are, is) popular race-car drivers.

16Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Kyle Bush(are, is) popular race-car drivers.

Answerare17(Have, Has) the fireworks started yet?

18(Have, Has) the fireworks started yet?

AnswerHave19Collective NounsCollective nouns (faculty, committee, team, congress,species, crowd, army, pair, squad) take a singularverb when they refer to a group as a unit; collectivenouns take a plural verb when they refer to theindividuals within the group.

The favored team is losing, and the crowd is getting ugly. (Both team and crowd are considered units in this sentence, requiring the singular verb is.)

The pair were finally reunited after 20 years apart. (Here, pair refers to two individuals, so the plural verb were is required.)

20Indefinite PronounsSome indefinite pronouns are singular: each, either, neither, one, everybody, another, anybody, everyone, nobody, everything, somebody, and someone. They require a singular verb.Everybody is invited to the cafeteria for refreshments.Some indefinite pronouns are plural: both, few, many, and several.Several like chocolate cake. Many ask for ice cream, too.NOTE: Do not be confused by words or phrases thatcome between the indefinite pronoun and the verb.One of the participants is going to have to stay late to clean up.

21Indefinite Pronouns ContinuedSome indefinite pronouns can be either singular orplural: all, any, most, none, and some. These pronouns are singular if the number of the noun in theprepositional phrase is singular; they are plural if thenoun is plural.

Most of the food complaints are from the seniors. (Complaints is plural, so most is plural.)

Most of the tabletop is sticky with melted ice cream. (Tabletop is singular, so most is singular.)22Relative PronounsWhen a relative pronoun (who, which, that) isused as the subject of a clause, the number ofthe verb is determined by the antecedent of thepronoun. (The antecedent is the word to whichthe pronoun refers.)

This is one of the books that are required for geography class. (The relative pronoun that requires the plural verb are because its antecedent, books, is plural.)23Let's PracticeDirections: Read the passage on the following slide. For each underlined verb write the reason it does not agree with its subject.24One of Edna Ferbers most popular works (1) were thenovel So Big. (This is one book that (2) are required readingfor literature class.) Some students (3) wonders about theauthor's reasons for writing the book. In one interview, Ferberanswered: I wrote my book because I wanted to write morethan anything in the world.Many readers are aware that So Big won a PulitzerPrize for literature. The main characters, Selina Peake DeJong and her son Dirk So BigDeJong, (4) makes the storymemorable. The pair (5)faces many challenges. Selina is awidow who (6) are forced to make her way in a male-dominated world. Dirk experiences many changes as he grows into a young man.The novels Showboat and Giant (7) is other well-known works by Edna Ferber. Some of her fans (8) believes that shewas the greatest novelist of her day.25AnswersWere is plural, and its subject, one is singular.Are is plural, and its subject, book, is singular.Wonders is singular, and its subject, students, is plural.Makes is singular, and its subject, characters , is plural.Faces is singular, and its subject, pair, is plural.Are is plural, and its subject, who (antecedent, widow), is singularIs is singular, and its subject, novels, is plural.Believes is singular, and its subject, some is plural.26Choose the sentence that is written correctly.A. Each one of the teachers were given an award.B. Either my brothers or my sister is driving me to the airport.C. Few of the students really understands the calculus problem.D. The decision of the lower courts were reversed by the appeals court.

27Choose the sentence that is written correctly.A. Each one of the teachers were given an award.B. Either my brothers or my sister is driving me to the airport.C. Few of the students really understands the calculus problem.D. The decision of the lower courts were reversed by the appeals court.

28Choose the sentence that contains an error.A. One of the ten dollar bills was counterfeit.B. This collection of stories is not very good.C. The effects of sunburn is sometimes quite harmful.D. The ability of these children surprises everyone.29Choose the sentence that contains an error.A. One of the ten dollar bills was counterfeit.B. This collection of stories is not very good.C. The effects of sunburn is sometimes quite harmful.D. The ability of these children surprises everyone.30Choose the correct word or words to complete the sentence._____ is driving from Huntsville to Mobile.A. IB. WeC. Her sisterD. Her sisters31Choose the correct word or words to complete the sentence._____ is driving from Huntsville to Mobile.A. IB. WeC. Her sisterD. Her sisters32Choose the sentence in which the underlined word is an error.A. There are twenty-four chapters in the book.B. He dont swim well enough to cross the lake.C. Three fourths of the forest was burned by the fire.D. The safety factors in a helmet are important in an accident.33Choose the sentence in which the underlined word is an error.A. There are twenty-four chapters in the book.B. He dont swim well enough to cross the lake.C. Three fourths of the forest was burned by the fire.D. The safety factors in a helmet are important in an accident.34