Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement

Excerpt from The Tale of Despereaux

He said nothing in defense of himself. How could he? Everything his aunt said was true. He was ridiculously small. His ears were obscenely large. He had been born with his eyes open. And he was sickly. He coughed and sneezed so often that he carried a handkerchief in one paw at all times. He ran temperatures. He fainted at loud noises. Most alarming of all, he showed no interest in the things a mouse should show interest in.

What tense?How many subjects?

Basic Rule

Singular subjects need singular verbs.

Plural subjects need plural verbs.

These create problems:Pronouns such as everyone and

everybody seem plural, but they are always singular — so they need a singular verb.1. Everyone who worked on the

science project is a winner.

2. Someone has to answer the phone.

These create problems:

Phrases that come between the subject pronoun and its verb —may contain plural words and confuse.

Each of the basketball players is excited about tonight’s game.


Phrases such as together with, along with, and as well as seem to combine subjects, but they do not .

Some of the tile in our room, as well as the hall, was soaked.

The major problem we had, together with that of our teacher, was tardiness. Don’t be fooled

by extra phrases!


The words there and here are never subjects.

1.Here are the papers you gave me.

2.Here is my answer.Here is not the subject.

Let’s Try These!

Directions: If the subject and verb are in agreement click "correct." If they are not, click the word that is the correct answer.

Ready?

Bill am going to the store.

a) correctb) isc) wasd) weree) does

Oh No!The subject and verb are

not in agreement.

Click HERE to try again.

CORRECT!The subject and verb are in agreement.

Click HERE to move forward.

The teachers are going to the movie.

a) correctb) amc) isd) doese) was


not in agreement.




This are going to be the easiest quiz of all time.

a) correctb) isc) amd) wase) were


not in agreement.




Everyone at the movie is taking a dollar.

a) correctb) werec) amd) aree) when


not in agreement.




This is a fun book to read.

a) correctb) wasc) wered) ame) does


not in agreement.




One time I were at the mountains.

a) correctb) wasc) isd) ame) does


not in agreement.




Everyone are going to the circus.

a) correctb) werec) wasd) ise) does


not in agreement.




Each of the students are worried about the test.

a) correctb) hasc) isd) ame) does


not in agreement.




None of those girls go to church.

a) correctb) goesc) ared) weree) does


not in agreement.




The last book we read, as well as the five in the library, was fiction.

a) correctb) isc) amd) weree) does


not in agreement.




Try these online verb games

Cats GameSubject-Verb Quiz 1Subject-Verb Quiz 2Subject-Verb Quiz 3Subject-Verb Quiz 4Subject-Verb AgreementQuiz Show

http://english-zone.com/verbs/sub-verbs.html

http://english-zone.com/grammar/subjverb.html

http://www.wonderfulwritingskillsunhandbook.com/html/verb_agreement.html

http://www.manythings.org/qs/verbs.html

http://cctc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/svagr2.htm

http://cctc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/svagr3.html

http://cctc.commnet.edu/cgi-shl/quiz.pl/sv_agr_quiz.htm

Documents

Subject-Verb Agreement