Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement

• In the present tense, verbs agree with their subjects in number (singular or plural) and in person (first, second, or third).

Subject-Verb Agreement (A Quick Refresher)

Present-tense forms of love and try…Singular Plural

1st person: I love we love 2nd person: you love you love3rd person: he/she/it loves they love

1st person: I try we try2nd person: you try you try3rd person: he/she/it tries they try

Subject-Verb Agreement (A Quick Refresher)

Present-tense forms of have…Singular Plural

1st person: I have we have2nd person: you have you have3rd person: he/she/it has they have

Present-tense forms of do…1st person: I do we do2nd person: you do you do3rd person: he/she/it does they do

Subject-Verb Agreement (A Quick Refresher)

Present-tense forms of be…Singular Plural

1st person: I am we are2nd person: you are you are3rd person: he/she/it is they are

Past-tense forms of be…1st person: I was we were2nd person: you were you were3rd person: he/she/it was they were

Subject-Verb Agreement

• Make the verb agree with its subject, not with a word that comes between.– The samples on the tray in the lab need testing.– High levels of air pollution cause damage to the

respiratory tract.– The slaughter of pandas for their pelts has caused

a drastic decline in the panda population.– The governor as well as his press secretary was

shot.

Subject-Verb Agreement

• Treat most subjects joined with and as plural.– Leon and Jan often jog together.– Jill’s natural ability and her desire to help others have

led to a career in the ministry.EXCEPTION: When the parts of the subject form a single

unit or refer to the same person or thing, treat the subject as singular.

- Strawberries and cream was a last-minute addition to the menu.

- Sue’s friend and adviser was surprised by her decision.

Subject-Verb Agreement

EXCEPTION: When a compound subject is preceded by each or every, treat the subject as singular.- Each tree, shrub, and vine needs to be sprayed.

This exception does not apply when a compound subject is followed by each:- Alan and Marcia each have different ideas.