Subject/Verb Agreement & Subject/Verb Agreement & Basic Verb Tenses Basic Verb Tenses

By By Raymond SpencerRaymond Spencer

Sharon DoveSharon DoveDeShaun JonesDeShaun Jones

Subject Verb AgreementsSubject Verb Agreements

Subject and verb of a sentence must Subject and verb of a sentence must agree in number: both must be singular, or agree in number: both must be singular, or both must be plural.both must be plural.

All sentences have both a subject and a All sentences have both a subject and a verb.verb.

ExamplesExamples

Example – singularExample – singular

The The studentstudent singssings (he or she sings) (he or she sings)

The The birdbird migrates (it does) migrates (it does)

Example - “plural”Example - “plural”

Your Your childrenchildren singsing (They sing) (They sing)

Those Those birdsbirds migrate (They do) migrate (They do)

How To Recognize a Subject in a How To Recognize a Subject in a Sentence Sentence

In a sentence, every verb must have a In a sentence, every verb must have a subject. subject.

If the verb expresses action like jump, run, If the verb expresses action like jump, run, or clap, the subject is who or what does or clap, the subject is who or what does (the verb) (the verb)

ExampleExample During lunch Sarah jumped off During lunch Sarah jumped off the table. the table.

Using Verb TensesUsing Verb Tenses

4 Past Tenses are 4 Past Tenses are

1.1. The simple past (“I went”)The simple past (“I went”)

2.2. Past Progressive (“I was going”) Past Progressive (“I was going”)

3.3. Past Perfect (“I had gone”) Past Perfect (“I had gone”)

4.4. Past Perfect Progressive (“I had been Past Perfect Progressive (“I had been going”)going”)

4 Present Tenses4 Present Tenses

1. The simple present (“I go”)1. The simple present (“I go”)

2. The present progressive (“I am going”) 2. The present progressive (“I am going”)

3. The present perfect (“I have gone”) 3. The present perfect (“I have gone”)

4. Present perfect progressive (“I will have 4. Present perfect progressive (“I will have been going”)been going”)

4 Future Tenses are 4 Future Tenses are

1. The simple future (“I will go”)1. The simple future (“I will go”)

2. The future progressive (“I will be going”) 2. The future progressive (“I will be going”)

3. The future perfect (“I will have gone”) 3. The future perfect (“I will have gone”)

4. The future perfect progressive (“I will have 4. The future perfect progressive (“I will have been going”) been going”)

The Progressive/Continuous The Progressive/Continuous TensesTenses

The progressive tenses give the idea that an The progressive tenses give the idea that an action is in progress at a particular time.  The action is in progress at a particular time.  The action can begin before another action, be in action can begin before another action, be in progress during another action, or can continue progress during another action, or can continue after another time or action.after another time or action.The progressive (or continuous) tenses are The progressive (or continuous) tenses are made by using a form of the verb "be" and the made by using a form of the verb "be" and the base form of a verb plus "ing":base form of a verb plus "ing":Subject  +   (am/is/are/was/were/will be)  + (base Subject  +   (am/is/are/was/were/will be)  + (base form  + ing)form  + ing)

3 Complete Tenses, or Perfect 3 Complete Tenses, or Perfect TensesTenses

That describes a finished action. The past That describes a finished action. The past perfect (I had gone), present perfect (I perfect (I had gone), present perfect (I have gone), future perfect (I have gone) have gone), future perfect (I have gone)

A verb in the complete aspect indicates that A verb in the complete aspect indicates that the end of the action, event, or condition is the end of the action, event, or condition is known + the “is” is used to emphasize that known + the “is” is used to emphasize that the action is completedthe action is completed

3 Incomplete Tenses, or 3 Incomplete Tenses, or Progressive TensesProgressive Tenses

Describe an unfinished actionDescribe an unfinished action

The past progressive ( I was going) The past progressive ( I was going)

The present progressive (I am going) The present progressive (I am going)

The future progressive (I will be going) The future progressive (I will be going)

A verb in the continuing aspect indicates A verb in the continuing aspect indicates that the action, event, or condition is going that the action, event, or condition is going in the present, the past or future.in the present, the past or future.

Works Cited Works Cited

"English Verb Tenses." "English Verb Tenses." Oregon State Oregon State . 2001. unknown. . 2001. unknown. 29 Mar 2007 29 Mar 2007 <http://oregonstate.edu/dept/eli/buswrite/verb_tense<http://oregonstate.edu/dept/eli/buswrite/verb_tenses.html>.s.html>.

"Writing Tip: Subject Verb Agreement." "Writing Tip: Subject Verb Agreement." Writing CenterWriting Center. . February 17, 2006. UNLV. 29 Mar 2007 February 17, 2006. UNLV. 29 Mar 2007 <http://writingcenter.unlv.edu/writing/svagree.html>.<http://writingcenter.unlv.edu/writing/svagree.html>.