Subject-Verb Agreement• A subject is a noun or pronoun in a sentence

that performs the action (the who or what).– Floyd goes fishing once a month.

• A verb is a word in a sentence that shows action or describes what something is.– Josh saved money to buy a computer.

• Subject-verb agreement means that the subject and verb must match in number. They must both be singular or both be plural. – The student spends long hours at the library. – The students spend long hours in the library.

• Note that singular verbs usually end in s.

Subject-Verb Agreement

• In each sentence underline the subject once and its verb twice. Then correct for agreement if necessary. – 1. Firefighters risks their lives to save others.– 2. The snowplow clear the road quickly.– 3. Dancers like reggae music best. – 4. St. Augustine, Florida have many old

buildings. – 5. The books is selling out of stores.

Subject-Verb Agreement

• 1. Students chooses to play volleyball.• 2. Strong winds whistles through the old

house. • 3. The winner always receive a savings

bond.• 4. The principal makes announcements

over the loudspeakers.• 5. The doctor say to follow the health

plan.

Bellwork10/18/11

• Write the sentences and correct for subject-verb agreement. Show your work!– 1. The ocean roar in the distance. – 2. She play the violin well.– 3. Squirrels eats the seeds from the bird

feeder.– 4. They practice after school. – 5. A lion growls on the plains of Kenya.

Subject-Verb Agreement

• Be careful of irregular nouns and verbs, however.

6. The children eats their vegetables.

7. The women changes their clothes.

8. The deer avoid the oncoming cars.

9. Latrice have been studying Arabic.

10. Enchiladas is a common Mexican food.

Bellringer(10/19/11)

• Write the sentences, correcting for subject-verb agreement (irregulars).

– 1. People is often twenty years behind in their knowledge.

– 2. He do the even problems from the textbook.

– 3. Shauna have an equal chance to make good grades.

– 4. The dozen sheep lingers in the meadow.

Subject-Verb Agreement

• A collective noun is a noun that names a group.– army, audience, band, class, club, committee,

crowd, family, group, herd, jury, public, school, squad, team, etc.

• may be either singular or plural – Singular when it refers to the group as a unit

» The class meets its substitute teacher.– Plural when it refers to the individual members or parts of

the group» The class disagree with one another about the

answers.

Subject-Verb Agreement

• 1. The cast enjoy its wrap party.

• 2. The squad conducts individual missions.

• 3. That flock graze in the field all morning.

• 4. The jury argues their opinions.

• 5. The team are on the field.

Subject-Verb Agreement

• 1. The choir sing the oratorio.

• 2. The group submits their resignations.

• 3. The band play the music well together.

• 4. The Boy Scout troop travel to the state park.

• 5. The faculty discusses their class schedules.

Bellwork(10/19/11)

• Write the sentences and correct for subject-verb agreement (collective nouns).

– 1. The jury takes their seats upon entering the courtroom.

– 2. The jury deliver its verdict at the conclusion of the trial.

– 3. The Tokyo String Quartet are the best string ensemble in the world.

– 4. The band is some of the most famous singers in history.

– 5. The staff is in disagreement with one another about the findings.

Subject-Verb Agreement• A compound subject is a subject that consists of two or

more simple subjects joined by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) and that have the same predicate.

– Joined by and = plural• A car and a bike are my means of transportation.

– Joined by or/nor = singular or plural depending on the simple subject closest to the verb

• The serving bowl or the plates go on that shelf.

• Neither Juan nor Carmen is available.

Subject-Verb Agreement (compound subjects)

• 1. The ranger and the camper sees the bear.

• 2. Either Kiana or Casey help today with stage decorations.

• 3. The surfer or the swimmers is responsible for the littered beach.

• 4. Neither the teacher nor the students drives to the festival.

• 5. Neither the director nor her assistant reply to our invitation.

• 1. Neither threat nor action scare the enemy.

• 2. Both Democrats and Republicans is an American political party.

• 3. The eyes or the muscles is affected by a lack of Vitamin A.

• 4. A good diet and plan combine to help one lose weight.

• 5. Either Maisy or her neighbors attends the City Council meetings.

Bellringer(10/21/11)

• Write the sentences and check for subject-verb agreement (collective nouns and compound subjects).

– 1. The team eats with their families tonight.– 2. Our staff meet on Tuesday mornings to

discuss customer complaints. – 3. She and her friends are at the fair.– 4. The book or the pen is in the drawer.– 5. Neither his friends nor the boy runs every

day.

Subject-Verb Agreement• Common preposition words:

– above, down, below, with, to, inside, underneath, etc.

• The preposition and the object of the preposition together are called a prepositional phrase

preposition (+/-) modifier + nounto + the +store

• There can be more than one prepositional phrase in a sentence.

• Be alert for prepositional phrases placed between the subject and verb: An object of a preposition can NEVER be a sentence subject. – The car with many riders was speeding around the curve.

• 1. The mole under the ground burrow through the yard.

• 2. A stranger outside the window glance at us.

• 3. Chickens across the road strut around the farm.

• 4. Tamaya and Kendra in the park plays hopscotch.

• 5. The beans inside the bowl is very delicious.

• 1. This box of ornaments belong in the attic.

• 2. A hill across the valley was long and white.

• 3. The teachers from the elementary school in the downtown area is tired.

Subject-Verb Agreement• Indefinite pronouns are words which replace

nouns without specifying which noun they replace. – singular

• anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, somebody, someone, something

– plural• both, few, many, several

– singular or plural (depending on how used)• all, any, more, most, none, some

• 1. Each does a good deal of work around the office.

• 2. Few attends the concert at the arena.

• 3. Everyone on the committee are welcome to express his/her ideas.

• 4. Some of the marbles is on the floor.

• 5. All of the problem was of my own making.

• 1. Each receive ten minutes to speak.

• 2. Either is a good choice for class president.

• 3. Both require immediate payment upon purchase.

• 4. Many present their research about Mississippi.

• 5. Some of the assignment is due tomorrow.