Subject / Verb Subject / Verb AgreementAgreement

11 English 11 English

Grammar ReviewGrammar Review

Agreement:Agreement:

A verb must agree with its A verb must agree with its subject in person and number. subject in person and number.

Singular subjects take singular Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs. verbs.

Ex: Ex: Cindy BrownCindy Brown isis famous. famous. Cindy and JoeCindy and Joe are are famous.famous.

Forms of Be:Forms of Be:

SingularSingular I I amam I I waswas You You areare You You werewere He / she / it He / she / it isis He / she / it He / she / it waswas

PluralPlural We We areare We We werewere You You areare You You werewere They They areare They They werewere

Words that Separate Words that Separate Subjects and VerbsSubjects and Verbs

When the subject and verb in a When the subject and verb in a sentence are separated by other sentence are separated by other words, mentally screen out those words, mentally screen out those words and make the verb agree words and make the verb agree with the subject. with the subject.

Ex: Ex: JoeJoe, as well as John, , as well as John, isis going going to the game. to the game.

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Complete questions 1-5 and 1-12 on Complete questions 1-5 and 1-12 on page 91 and questions 1-10 on Part page 91 and questions 1-10 on Part B of page 92 of your grammar B of page 92 of your grammar workbook. workbook.

Indefinite PronounsIndefinite Pronouns

When used as subjects, some When used as subjects, some indefinite pronouns are always indefinite pronouns are always singular and some are always plural. singular and some are always plural. Others can be either singular or Others can be either singular or plural, depending on how they’re plural, depending on how they’re used. used.

Indefinite Pronouns That Indefinite Pronouns That Are Always SingularAre Always Singular

Each, everyone, nobody, anything, Each, everyone, nobody, anything, either, everybody, nothing, someone, either, everybody, nothing, someone, neither, everything, anyone, neither, everything, anyone, somebody, one, no one, anybody, somebody, one, no one, anybody, something, another, muchsomething, another, much

Ex: Ex: NeitherNeither Tom nor Kate Tom nor Kate isis coming. coming.

EverybodyEverybody isis going to the game going to the game. .

Indefinite Pronouns That Indefinite Pronouns That Are Always PluralAre Always Plural

Several, few, both, manySeveral, few, both, many

Ex: Ex: SeveralSeveral of the students of the students areare on on the field trip. the field trip.

FewFew students students are goingare going tomorrow. tomorrow.

Indefinite Pronouns That Indefinite Pronouns That Can Be Either Singular or Can Be Either Singular or

PluralPlural Some, all, most, none, any, moreSome, all, most, none, any, more

Ex: Ex: MostMost of the of the studentsstudents areare goinggoing. .

MostMost of the of the moneymoney is is goinggoing toward a new gym. toward a new gym.

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Complete questions 1-6 and 1-10 on Complete questions 1-6 and 1-10 on page 94 of your grammar workbook. page 94 of your grammar workbook.

Compound SubjectsCompound Subjects

A compound subject whose parts are A compound subject whose parts are joined by joined by andand usually requires a usually requires a plural verb. Ex: plural verb. Ex: Tom and KateTom and Kate areare going. going.

However, a subject containing However, a subject containing andand takes a singular verb if it names a takes a singular verb if it names a single thing. Ex: single thing. Ex: Peanut butter and Peanut butter and jellyjelly isis my favorite type of sandwich. my favorite type of sandwich.

Compound SubjectsCompound Subjects

A subject containing A subject containing andand also also takes a singular verb if it consists takes a singular verb if it consists of singular parts modified by of singular parts modified by eacheach, , everyevery, or , or many amany a. EX: . EX: Almost Almost everyevery teenager and young teenager and young adult adult has been influencedhas been influenced by by music. music. EachEach student and teacher student and teacher hashas a shot record. a shot record.

Compound SubjectsCompound Subjects

When the parts of a compound When the parts of a compound subject are joined by subject are joined by oror or or nornor, , the verb should agree with the the verb should agree with the part closest to it. part closest to it. Katie or MacyKatie or Macy isis taking Marley home. taking Marley home. Jack nor Jack nor TreyTrey is is going to the dance. going to the dance.

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Complete questions 1-16 on page 97 Complete questions 1-16 on page 97 of your grammar workbook. of your grammar workbook.

Collective NounsCollective Nouns

Collective nouns, which name Collective nouns, which name groups of people or things, can groups of people or things, can take either singular or plural take either singular or plural verbs, depending on how they verbs, depending on how they are used. Ex: My are used. Ex: My familyfamily isis going going on on itsits annual vacation. The annual vacation. The familyfamily areare going going theirtheir separate separate ways. ways.

Phrases and ClausesPhrases and Clauses

Phrases and clauses used as Phrases and clauses used as subjects always take singular subjects always take singular verbs. verbs.

Ex: Ex: To have grown fingernails To have grown fingernails totaling 241 inchestotaling 241 inches is is Chillal’s Chillal’s claim to fame. claim to fame.

What is hard to believeWhat is hard to believe isis that that fingernails could grow that long. fingernails could grow that long.

Singular Nouns That End Singular Nouns That End in Sin S

Some nouns that end in s look plural Some nouns that end in s look plural but are actually singular. When used but are actually singular. When used as subjects, these nouns take as subjects, these nouns take singular verbs. Ex: The singular verbs. Ex: The newsnews isis on on Channel 4. Channel 4.

However, words that end in s and However, words that end in s and describe a thing with two equal describe a thing with two equal parts take plural verbs. Ex: scissors, parts take plural verbs. Ex: scissors, pants, The pants, The scissorsscissors areare on my desk. on my desk.

Numerical Amounts and Numerical Amounts and TitlesTitles

Numerical amounts and titles Numerical amounts and titles often look like plurals. often look like plurals. However, they usually refer to However, they usually refer to single units and take singular single units and take singular verbs. Ex: verbs. Ex: Ten monthsTen months is is the the amount of time one must wait amount of time one must wait for an acceptance letter. for an acceptance letter.

FractionsFractions

A fractional number can take A fractional number can take either a singular verb or a plural either a singular verb or a plural verb, depending on its meaning verb, depending on its meaning in the sentence. in the sentence.

Ex: Ex: Nine-tenthsNine-tenths of the of the bookbook isis about dogs. about dogs.

Nine tenthsNine tenths of my of my friendsfriends havehave read read it. it.

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Complete questions 1-13 on page Complete questions 1-13 on page 100 of your grammar workbook. 100 of your grammar workbook.

Inverted SentencesInverted Sentences

In inverted sentences and in many In inverted sentences and in many questions, subjects follow verbs. questions, subjects follow verbs. When writing such a sentence, When writing such a sentence, identify the subject and make the identify the subject and make the verb agree. Ex: verb agree. Ex: WasWas the longest the longest tennis tennis matchmatch more than five hours? more than five hours? Into the record book Into the record book have gonehave gone Edberg and ChangEdberg and Chang because of that because of that match. match.

Here and ThereHere and There

In sentences beginning with In sentences beginning with here or there, the subjects here or there, the subjects usually follow the verbs. Ex: usually follow the verbs. Ex: There There have beenhave been no no absencesabsences today. Here today. Here isis the the listlist of of absences. absences.

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Complete questions 1-15 on page Complete questions 1-15 on page 103 of your grammar workbook. 103 of your grammar workbook.