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Objective I-3Objective I-3Recognize Subject-Verb AgreementRecognize Subject-Verb Agreement

Julie Mullins-Turner

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Agreement of Subjects and VerbsAgreement of Subjects and Verbs

A verb must agree in number (singular orA verb must agree in number (singular orplural) with its subject.plural) with its subject.

The The studentstudent waswas proud of her grades. proud of her grades.

NOTE: Do not be confused by words thatNOTE: Do not be confused by words thatcome between the subject and verb.come between the subject and verb.

The The managermanager, as well as the players, , as well as the players, isis required to required to display good sportsmanship. (display good sportsmanship. (ManagerManager, not , not playersplayers, is the subject.), is the subject.)

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Compound SubjectsCompound Subjects Compound subjects joined by Compound subjects joined by oor or r or nornor take a take a

singular verb. singular verb. Neither Neither JameliaJamelia nor nor IdaIda isis going to the luncheon. going to the luncheon.

NOTE: When one of the subjects joined by or or nor NOTE: When one of the subjects joined by or or nor is singular and one is plural, the verb must agree is singular and one is plural, the verb must agree with the subject nearer the verb.with the subject nearer the verb.Neither Neither LaurieLaurie or her or her friendsfriends areare eating in the eating in the lunchroom. (The plural subject lunchroom. (The plural subject friends friends is nearer the is nearer the verb, so the plural verb verb, so the plural verb areare is correct.) is correct.)

Compound subjects connected with Compound subjects connected with andand require a require a plural verb.plural verb.StrengthStrength and and balancebalance areare necessary for necessary for gymnastics.gymnastics.

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Delayed SubjectsDelayed SubjectsDelayed subjects occur when the verb comesDelayed subjects occur when the verb comesbefore the subject in a sentence. In thesebefore the subject in a sentence. In theseinverted sentences, the delayed subject mustinverted sentences, the delayed subject mustagree with the verb.agree with the verb.

There There areare many hardworking many hardworking studentsstudents in our in our schools.schools.There There isis present among many young people present among many young people today a today a willwill to succeed. to succeed.((StudentsStudents and and willwill are the true subjects of are the true subjects of these sentences, not these sentences, not therethere.).)

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““Be” VerbsBe” Verbs

When a sentence contains a form of the “be” When a sentence contains a form of the “be” verb—and a noun comes before and after thatverb—and a noun comes before and after thatverb—the verb must agree with the subject, verb—the verb must agree with the subject,

notnotthe complement (the noun coming after thethe complement (the noun coming after theverb.)verb.)

The The causecause of his problem of his problem waswas the bad the bad brakesbrakes..The bad The bad brakesbrakes werewere the the causecause of his of his problem.problem.

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Special CasesSpecial CasesSome nouns that are in plural in form but Some nouns that are in plural in form but singular in meaning take a singular verb:singular in meaning take a singular verb:mumps, measles, news, mathematics,mumps, measles, news, mathematics,economics, gallows, shambles.economics, gallows, shambles.

Measles Measles isis still considered a serious disease still considered a serious disease in many parts of the world.in many parts of the world.

Some nouns that are plural in form but singularSome nouns that are plural in form but singularin meaning take a plural verb: in meaning take a plural verb: scissors,scissors,trousers, tidings.trousers, tidings.

The The scissorsscissors areare missing again. missing again.

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Directions: For each sentence on the following slides, write the correct verb from the choice given in parentheses.

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

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

Answeris

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

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

Answer

are

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Either Jordan or Jenna (Either Jordan or Jenna (take,take,takestakes) the computers home from) the computers home fromMrs. Brown’s class during holidays.Mrs. Brown’s class during holidays.

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Either Jordan or Jenna (Either Jordan or Jenna (take,take,takestakes) the computers home from) the computers home fromMrs. Brown’s class during holidays.Mrs. Brown’s class during holidays.

Answer

takes

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

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

Answer

is

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

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

Answer

are

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(Have, Has) the fireworks started yet?

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(Have, Has) the fireworks started yet?

Answer

Have

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

The favored The favored teamteam isis losing, and the losing, and the crowdcrowd isis getting getting ugly. (Both ugly. (Both teamteam and and crowdcrowd are considered units in are considered units in this sentence, requiring the singular verb this sentence, requiring the singular verb isis.).)

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

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Indefinite PronounsIndefinite Pronouns Some indefinite pronouns are singular: Some indefinite pronouns are singular: each, each,

either, neither, one, everybody, another, anybody, either, neither, one, everybody, another, anybody, everyone, nobody, everything, somebody,everyone, nobody, everything, somebody, and and someone.someone. They require a singular verb. They require a singular verb.Everybody Everybody isis invited to the cafeteria for invited to the cafeteria for refreshments.refreshments.

Some indefinite pronouns are plural: Some indefinite pronouns are plural: both, few, both, few, manymany, and , and severalseveral..SeveralSeveral likelike chocolate cake. chocolate cake. ManyMany askask for ice for ice cream, too.cream, too.

NOTE: Do not be confused by words or phrases thatNOTE: Do not be confused by words or phrases thatcome between the indefinite pronoun and the verb.come between the indefinite pronoun and the verb.

OneOne of the participants of the participants isis going to have to stay late going to have to stay late to clean up.to clean up.

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

MostMost of the food complaints of the food complaints areare from the seniors. from the seniors. (Complaints is plural, so most is plural.)(Complaints is plural, so most is plural.)

MostMost of the tabletop of the tabletop isis sticky with melted ice cream. sticky with melted ice cream. (Tabletop is singular, so most is singular.)(Tabletop is singular, so most is singular.)

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Relative PronounsRelative PronounsWhen a relative pronoun (who, which, that) isWhen a relative pronoun (who, which, that) isused as the subject of a clause, the number ofused as the subject of a clause, the number ofthe verb is determined by the antecedent of thethe verb is determined by the antecedent of thepronoun. (The antecedent is the word to whichpronoun. (The antecedent is the word to whichthe pronoun refers.)the pronoun refers.)

This is one of the books This is one of the books that that areare required for required for geography class. (The relative pronoun geography class. (The relative pronoun thatthat requires the plural verb are because its requires the plural verb are because its antecedent, antecedent, booksbooks, is plural.), is plural.)

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Directions: Read the passage on the following slide. For each underlined verb write the reason it does not agree with its subject.

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One of Edna Ferber’s most popular works (1) One of Edna Ferber’s most popular works (1) werewere thethe

novel novel So BigSo Big. (This is one book that (2) . (This is one book that (2) areare required reading required readingfor literature class.) Some students (3) for literature class.) Some students (3) wonderswonders about the about theauthor's reasons for writing the book. In one interview, Ferberauthor's reasons for writing the book. In one interview, Ferberanswered: “I wrote my book because I wanted to write moreanswered: “I wrote my book because I wanted to write morethan anything in the world.”than anything in the world.”

Many readers are aware that So Big won a PulitzerMany readers are aware that So Big won a PulitzerPrize for literature. The main characters, Selina Peake Prize for literature. The main characters, Selina Peake DeJong and her son Dirk “So Big”DeJong, (4) DeJong and her son Dirk “So Big”DeJong, (4) makes makes the storythe storymemorable. The pair (5)memorable. The pair (5)facesfaces many challenges. Selina is a many challenges. Selina is awidow who (6) widow who (6) areare forced to make her way in a male- forced to make her way in a male-dominated world. Dirk experiences many changes as he dominated world. Dirk experiences many changes as he grows into a young man.grows into a young man.

The novels The novels ShowboatShowboat and and Giant Giant (7) (7) isis other well-known other well-known works by Edna Ferber. Some of her fans (8) works by Edna Ferber. Some of her fans (8) believesbelieves that she that shewas the greatest novelist of her day.was the greatest novelist of her day.

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AnswersAnswers1.1. WereWere is plural, and its subject, is plural, and its subject, oneone is singular. is singular.2.2. Are Are is plural, and its subject, is plural, and its subject, bookbook, is singular., is singular.3.3. WondersWonders is singular, and its subject, is singular, and its subject, studentsstudents, is , is

plural.plural.4.4. MakesMakes is singular, and its subject, is singular, and its subject, characterscharacters , is , is

plural.plural.5.5. FacesFaces is singular, and its subject, is singular, and its subject, pairpair, is plural., is plural.6.6. AreAre is plural, and its subject, is plural, and its subject, whowho (antecedent, (antecedent,

widowwidow), is singular), is singular7.7. IsIs is singular, and its subject, is singular, and its subject, novelsnovels, is plural., is plural.8.8. BelievesBelieves is singular, and its subject, is singular, and its subject, somesome is is

plural.plural.

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1. Choose 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.

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1. Choose 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.

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2. Choose 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.

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2. Choose 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.

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3. Choose the correct word or words to complete the sentence.

_____ is driving from Huntsville to Mobile.

A. I

B. We

C. Her sister

D. Her sisters

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3. Choose the correct word or words to complete the sentence.

_____ is driving from Huntsville to Mobile.

A. I

B. We

C. Her sister

D. Her sisters

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4. Choose the sentence in which the underlined word is an error.

A. There are twenty-four chapters in the book.

B. He don’t 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.

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4. Choose the sentence in which the underlined word is an error.

A. There are twenty-four chapters in the book.

B. He don’t 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.