Subject/Verb Subject/Verb AgreementAgreement

Part 2Part 2

Subjects and verbs must work Subjects and verbs must work together. They must agree. A together. They must agree. A verb that does not end in a verb that does not end in a single s, es, or ies is used single s, es, or ies is used with a plural noun. These with a plural noun. These pronoun subjects - pronoun subjects - I, we, I, we, you, or they – you, or they – are also used are also used with the plural verb form.with the plural verb form.

Examples:Examples:Hounds trainHounds trainHounds of all varieties train their Hounds of all varieties train their

noses to follow specific scents.noses to follow specific scents.Traps catchTraps catchTraps by the river catch raccoons Traps by the river catch raccoons

quickly.quickly.Nails makeNails makeNails in a hollow log make a good Nails in a hollow log make a good

raccoon trap.raccoon trap.

More Examples:More Examples:

We figureWe figure

We figure he will catch a We figure he will catch a raccoon in another day.raccoon in another day.

They trapThey trap

They trap raccoons down in the They trap raccoons down in the valley. valley.

Even More Examples:Even More Examples:

Even though the pronouns I and you Even though the pronouns I and you are singular you use the plural forms are singular you use the plural forms of the verb with them.of the verb with them.

I think I think

I think Billy will catch a raccoon soon.I think Billy will catch a raccoon soon.

You betYou bet

You bet your boots the trap will work.You bet your boots the trap will work.

There are many rules about There are many rules about subject verb agreement, but subject verb agreement, but we are going to cover just we are going to cover just one more.one more.

Don’t be confused by Don’t be confused by subjects that come at the subjects that come at the

end of the sentence.end of the sentence.

WrongWrongStanding in the back of the store Standing in the back of the store

was Billy’s parents. (Turn the was Billy’s parents. (Turn the sentence around and it will be sentence around and it will be clearer. Billy’s parents was clearer. Billy’s parents was standing in the back of the standing in the back of the room.)room.)

RightRightStanding in the back of the store Standing in the back of the store

were Billy’s parents.were Billy’s parents.

WrongWrong

At the end of the coon hunt come At the end of the coon hunt come the passing out of trophies. (Turn the passing out of trophies. (Turn the sentence around and it will the sentence around and it will be clearer. The passing out of be clearer. The passing out of trophies come at the end of the trophies come at the end of the coon hunt.)coon hunt.)

RightRight

At the end of the coon hunt comes At the end of the coon hunt comes the passing out of trophies.the passing out of trophies.

Which is correct?Which is correct?

a)a) At the end of the day come At the end of the day come the sharing of dinner. the sharing of dinner.

b)b) At the end of the day comes At the end of the day comes the sharing of dinner.the sharing of dinner.

b)b) At the end of the day comes At the end of the day comes the sharing of dinner.the sharing of dinner.

dinner comesdinner comes

Which is correct?Which is correct?

a)a) At the end of the line was At the end of the line was three dirty men. three dirty men.

b)b) At the end of the line were At the end of the line were three dirty men. three dirty men.

b)b) At the end of the line were At the end of the line were three dirty men. three dirty men.

men weremen were

Practice – Number your paper Practice – Number your paper from 1 to 32. Write the correct from 1 to 32. Write the correct

answer for each of the answer for each of the following items.following items.

1. Grandpa and Billy (build, 1. Grandpa and Billy (build, builds) a special trap. builds) a special trap.

2. I (see, sees) Grandpa was 2. I (see, sees) Grandpa was serious and I get interested. serious and I get interested.

3. Coons (jump, jumps) at the 3. Coons (jump, jumps) at the opportunity to steal a shiny opportunity to steal a shiny piece of metal. piece of metal.

4. They (carry, carries) the trap 4. They (carry, carries) the trap to the river. to the river.

5. Neither Grandpa nor the 5. Neither Grandpa nor the coons (give, gives) up on the coons (give, gives) up on the plan. plan.

6. He (carry, carries) out our 6. He (carry, carries) out our knives, forks, and spoons. knives, forks, and spoons.

7. Anything that was bright 7. Anything that was bright and shinny, he (take, takes) and shinny, he (take, takes) to his den. to his den.

8. Mama and Papa (catch, 8. Mama and Papa (catch, catches) me cutting out the catches) me cutting out the circles of tin with the good circles of tin with the good scissors. scissors.

9. My mother's old churn 9. My mother's old churn (topple, topples) over and (topple, topples) over and spills the butter. spills the butter.

10. Everything (go, goes) in 10. Everything (go, goes) in the trash pile. the trash pile.

11. Papa's words (perk, perks) 11. Papa's words (perk, perks) me up just like air does a me up just like air does a deflated inner tube. deflated inner tube.

12. Morning after morning I 12. Morning after morning I (feel, feels) the same old (feel, feels) the same old disappointment. disappointment.

13. The family (sit, sits) down 13. The family (sit, sits) down to breakfast. to breakfast.

14. Weeks (go, goes) by. 14. Weeks (go, goes) by.

15. Mama (yell, yells) 15. Mama (yell, yells) something to him about a something to him about a snake. snake.

16. Neither Little Ann nor Old 16. Neither Little Ann nor Old Dan (see, sees) the raccoon. Dan (see, sees) the raccoon.

17. Each (freeze, freezes) in his 17. Each (freeze, freezes) in his tracks. tracks.

18. Mama’s hot apple pie 18. Mama’s hot apple pie (grow, grows) cold waiting on (grow, grows) cold waiting on the hunters to return. the hunters to return.

19. Each of the men (catch, 19. Each of the men (catch, catches) three coons. catches) three coons.

20. Billy, as well as his Papa, 20. Billy, as well as his Papa, (feel, feels) using a shotgun is (feel, feels) using a shotgun is unfair in a coon hunt. unfair in a coon hunt.

21. Neither Little Ann or Old 21. Neither Little Ann or Old Dan (give, gives) the raccoon Dan (give, gives) the raccoon a lead in the chase. a lead in the chase.

22. Standing there looking 22. Standing there looking happy (was, were) Grandpa happy (was, were) Grandpa and Billy. and Billy.

23. Eight pounds of cheese (is, 23. Eight pounds of cheese (is, are) heavy to carry. are) heavy to carry.

24. Only one out of five boys in 24. Only one out of five boys in America (like, likes) to hunt. America (like, likes) to hunt.

25. The news of the coon hunt 25. The news of the coon hunt (spread, spreads) through the (spread, spreads) through the hills. hills.

26. Fifty dollars (was, were) a 26. Fifty dollars (was, were) a lot of money for Billy to earn. lot of money for Billy to earn.

27. At the end of a long trip 27. At the end of a long trip (come, comes) a victorious (come, comes) a victorious Billy. Billy.

28. Which of the following is 28. Which of the following is written correctly? written correctly?

a)a) He turn the boy pup loose. He turn the boy pup loose. b)b) I dart in and grab him by I dart in and grab him by

the hind leg. the hind leg. c)c) With a pup under each arm With a pup under each arm

Billy run for the house. Billy run for the house. d)d) Mama and Papa yells Mama and Papa yells

something to him.something to him.

29. Which of the following 29. Which of the following sentences does not contain a sentences does not contain a mistake? mistake? a)a) She shout, "Where did it bite She shout, "Where did it bite

you?" you?"

b)b) My sisters jumps up and hug My sisters jumps up and hug me. me.

c)c) Mama looks at me, smile, Mama looks at me, smile, and turns to the girls. and turns to the girls.

d)d) Their answers surprise Their answers surprise Mama.Mama.

30. Choose the answer that is 30. Choose the answer that is written correctly. written correctly.

a)a) You seems fine to me. You seems fine to me. b)b) The girls bury their faces in The girls bury their faces in

Mama's dress. Mama's dress. c)c) Papa whack him again and Papa whack him again and

it was all over. it was all over. d)d) Everybody smile when they Everybody smile when they

realize Billy is not hurt.realize Billy is not hurt.

31. Which of the following 31. Which of the following sentences does not contain a sentences does not contain a mistake? mistake?

a)a) Birch trees leans out over the Birch trees leans out over the river. river.

b)b) His stout legs help with His stout legs help with leverage. leverage.

c)c) Coon hunting teach Billy to be Coon hunting teach Billy to be patient. patient.

d)d) My grandfather's store sit on top My grandfather's store sit on top of the mountain.of the mountain.

32. Choose the answer that is 32. Choose the answer that is written correctly. written correctly.

a)a) Grandpa kid Billy. Grandpa kid Billy. b)b) Either Little Ann or Old Dan Either Little Ann or Old Dan

fall in the river. fall in the river. c)c) Two years seems like a long Two years seems like a long

time for a 12 year old. time for a 12 year old. d)d) They hears the wind in the They hears the wind in the

top of the trees. top of the trees.

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