Subject-Verb Agreement

A verb must agree with its subject.

Singular Subjects and Verbs

• I am studying.• You are studying.• He is studying.• His brother lives in Oregon.• It tastes good.• She works hard.

A verb must agree with its subject.

Plural Subjects and Verbs

• We are studying.• You are studying.• They are studying.• His children live in Oregon.• These apples taste good.• John and his sister work hard.

Subject-Verb Agreement in Different Tenses

Simple Present

Be: I am ready.He / She / It is ready.We / They are ready.

Regular Verbs: I / You / We / They work hard.He / She / It works hard.

Subject-Verb Agreement in Different Tenses

Present Progressive

I am working.

He / She / It is working.

We / They are working.

Subject-Verb Agreement in Different Tenses

Present Perfect

I / You / We / They have eaten.

He / She / It has eaten.

Subject-Verb Agreement in Different Tenses

Simple Past

Be: I / He / She / It was late.We / They were late.

All Other Verbs: I / You / He / She / It We / They worked hard.

Subject-Verb Agreement in Different Tenses

Past Progressive

I / He / She / It was working hard.

We / They were working hard.

Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement

1. A verb must agree with its subject.

Those dogs are really cute.

Note: The subject and verb may not be right next to each other.

Those dogs in the pet store window are cute.

Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement

2. When the subject is two or more nouns joined by and, use a plural verb.

Tacos and pizza taste very good.Australia, Mexico, and France make

good cheese.

Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement

3. If the subject of a sentence is one of the + plural noun, the main subject is one and the verb is singular.

One of the students has the flu.One of my friends lives in Alaska.

Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement

4. In sentences with there + be, the subject is the noun following be.

There is a show on TV tonight.There are books on the table.There is jewelry in the drawer.

Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement

5. Gerunds (-ing) as subjects take the singular verb.

Shopping is fun for some people.

Writing takes a lot of time.

Swimming and running are good exercises.

Correct the subject-verb agreement errors.

1. Carrie and Kay is organizing the party.2. The elections was successful last year.3. Do Ben live near campus?4. Traveling to new cities are fun.5. The Drama Department offer some good

classes.