Subject Verb Agreement[1].ppt

8/14/2019 Subject Verb Agreement[1].ppt

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When studying Subject

Verb agreement youNeed to know this

first..


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What is a Subject?

It is the thing doing the

action.

Normally a noun!


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What is a Verb?The action word!

Something doing the actionAlso can be a linking verb or a

helping verb

Examples: is, was, run, play,

were, are


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Find the Subject and Verb

1. Harvey is a pooka!

2. Harvey plays tricks on people.

3. Harvey and Elwood are playing cards.4. Veta and Myrtle sing at the party.

5. Grammar worksheets arecomplicated.

6. The cats and the dogs like to play with

each other.


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Prepositional

Prepositions get in the way and confusepeople you need to remove these first

before you do anything else when looking

at verb agreement!

When you see these get rid of the phrase!

Example: of, to, by, in, since, around,

above, along, before, from, for, on, until


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Here is what I mean

1. I along with my brother went to the store!2. Peter of Sunny Brook Farm is coming over

tonight.

3. The cat by the bookshelf and the desk is eatingthe plants.

4. The pictures beside the window are fading from

the sunlight.5. The witch between the ghost and the monsteris

very ugly.


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Subject Verb Agreement

Definition of Subject verb agreement:

the subject agrees with the verb in number

The verb must be plural and the subject must be

plural

The verb must be singular and the subject must be singular


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Sounds easy enough, so

whats the problem?

Plural verbs dont end in S

Plural subjects usually end with S, butthe singular verbs end with S


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Examples:

is, was, seems, needs, etc. are singular

The peach seems ripe.

are, were, seem, need, etc. are plural

The peaches seem ripe.


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Maybe this will clear things up!

The catruns into the wall.

The catsrun into the wall.


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Exception to the rule!

The form were is plural exceptwhen used with

the singular you and in sentences that are contrary

to the fact. You werethe best player on the team.

(You is the singular subject)

If he were captain, we would be a stronger team.

(The statement is contrary to fact,

HE IS NOT THE Captain.)


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Watch out!

Here is what will trip you up! PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES

Example of a preposition:

Of, over, under, through, in, between, along,

below, besides,by, off, near, into, instead of, up, up to


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TIP:

Remove all prepositional phrases

when you are trying to find the

subject.


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Examples

The interest shown in the Romeo and Juliet

movie (has/have) been amazing.

The interest shown in the Romeo and Juliet

movie has been amazing.


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How we do that?

Remove the prepositional phrasein

the Romeo and Julietmovie

Find the subject--Interest

The subject is singular so the verb must be singular

Singular verb is has


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Try these!

A list of groceries (is/are) hanging on

the fridge.

The cottages between the sea and the

road beyond the board walk (is/are) forsale


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Answers

The list (of groceries) is hanging on the

fridge

The cottages (between the sea and theroad) (beyond the board walk) are forsale.


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BE CAREFUL YOU

DONT DO THIS

When correcting sentences donot change the tense of the verb.

Change the form(singular, plural)


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Example

John make pancakes for

his friends. (incorrect)

We need to correct thishow?


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John made pancakes for his

friends.

(incorrect changetense is wrong)

John makes pancakes for his

friends.

(corrected correctly).


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Practice Time!

1. The witches in the city (plan/plans) todo great damage to the people.

2. Kims actors (recite/recites) asoliloquy from WilliamShakespeares plays.

3. Mr. Butnick (make/makes) supper allthe time.

4. The cat in our house and cabins

(chase/chases) the dog.


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5. English class at the university and in

high school (are/is) always very

interesting.

6. If Tom (was/were) in this class, it

would really be fun.7. You (was/were) always fun to hang

out with.

8. Turkey (is/are) my favorite part ofThanksgiving.


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9. The pilgrims under the table

(was/were) afraid to eat the turkey.10. Harry Potter of the famous books

often (makes/make) his aunt and

uncle angry.


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Compound Subjects

joined by or or nor

The verb agrees with the

Closest Subject to the verb.


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Examples:

Sara or Jamie (is/are) at

fault.

Jamie is at fault.


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Example

The principal nor the teachers

(is/are) staying after school onFriday.

Teachers are staying (after

school) (on Friday).


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Compound Subject

joined by andAre usually plural in number

Example:

The cat and the dogare running

around the yard.


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EXCEPT when they stand for

one unitExample: Macaroni and Cheese

Salt and Pepper

Macaroni and cheese is not my

favorite meal.


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Except describing one person

Example:

John the singer and dancer

The brown and white dog is chasing

the cat.

The singer and dancer is John.


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PHRASES SUCH AS

Together with

As well asAlong with

ARE NOT THE SAME AS

AND


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Examples

The king, along with his court, is

to arrive at the castle shortly.

My suitcases,along with my duffle

bag, were loaded onto the plane.


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Try These

1. John nor the boys can (runs/run) the mile

in two minutes.

2. Tom and Jerry over by the trees

(hides/hide) the food from the dogs.3. Spaghetti and meat balls (seems/seem) to

be the favorite meal of most children.

4. My best friend and paintball partner

(is/are) coming over tonight.


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5. Mason jars or a pail (hangs/hang) from

the hook in the kitchen.

6. If Kim (was/were) president, we would

have a peaceful world.

7. The book over on the counter under the

blanket (has, have) over 200 quotes in

it.


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8. The turkeys over the mountainbeside the river (runs/run) wild.

9. You (was/were) supposed to cometo Mrs. Butnicks room after class.

10. The old dog or the cat that live in

the barn beyond the river over thehighway (is/are) fat and hungry.


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Watch out for sentences that

begin with theseHere

ThereWhere

Are not subjects


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Tip One

Rearrange the word order

of the sentence to get rid ofhere, there, and

where.


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Example:

There (is/are) a million stories

in every big city.

A million storiesare in everybig city.


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Tip Two

To find the subject in there

is/was sentences, look at thefirst word after the verb that

makes sense as a subject.


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Examples

There (was/were) dozens of

books piled on the couch.

There were dozens(of books)piled (on the couch.)


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You Try It Now!

There (is/are) two reasons to

stay.There (is/are) no reason to do

this.

Here (is/are) the apples you

wanted.


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Answers

There are two reasons to stay

There is no reason to do this.

Here are the apples you wanted


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Watch Out for Questions

The subject is usually NOTat the beginning


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Examples

Where (is/are) the books for the

next unit?

Where are the books for the next

unit?


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You Try It

(Is/Are) there a quiz

tomorrow?

Is there a quiz tomorrow?


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Words that Look Plural

but are Singular in meaning

Measles, mumps, rickets

(names of diseases)

Physics, mathematics, economics, etc


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Example

Civicsis really hard.

Ricketsis caused by a vitamindeficiency.


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Specific units of

time, distance, weight, oramount

Are singular


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Example

Ten dollarsis how much the

movie cost.

Five minutesis how longyou have to wait.


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Titles

For books, magazines, short

stories, and movies

Are Singular


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Examples

Seventeenis my favorite magazine.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerers

Stoneis a cool book.


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Collective Nouns

are singular, but theyname a group of persons

or things


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Examples

Jury, chorus, family, troop,

class, army, audience,committee, team, band,

crowd, group, congregation,crew, camp, etc.


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Examples

The class isalways loud and

annoying.

The faculty meets every Wednesday.


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Practice Time

1. Here (is/are) the pictures we tookfrom the play.

2. What (is/are) your problems?3. Measles (is/are) not fun to have.

4. Five dollars (is/are) not a lot of

money today.


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5. Roughing it (is/are) written byMark Twain.

6. This class (is/are) obnoxious.

7. Ten pounds (makes/make) a large

bag.

8. The army (says/say) that youshould be all you can be.


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9. Rachel and John (makes/make) the best

macaroni and cheese.

10. Macaroni and cheese (is/are) only good

if Rachel and John (makes/make) it.

11. Dracula or the ghosts (tends/tend) toscare children.

12. My student and friend (bothers/bother)

me after school.


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Indefinite Pronouns

Plural

Many, Both, Few, Several

Marching Bunnies Fall SwiftlyMany Birds Fly South


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Examples

1. BothSara and Jen aregoing to

state.2. Many of my friends have seen

that movie.


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Indefinite Pronouns

Singular

Each, every, either, neither,

everyone, anyone, no one, someone,

one, everybody, anybody, nobody,

Somebody


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How Mrs. B remembers these!

The singular indefinite pronouns

have Body and One in it.

Each, Every, Either and Neither

have E or rhyme.


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Examples

Each (of the students) is

responsible for doing his or her

own work.


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Be CarefulSome of the indefinite pronouns

that are singular feel plural because

they are often followed by

prepositional phrases that end in aplural word.


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Example

Everyone of the

friendswas involved

with the prank.

Indefinite Pronouns


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Indefinite Pronouns

sometimes singular and

sometimes plural

Some, Half, All, Rest, Part,Most, Any,None

(SHARPMAN)


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HOW DO WE KNOW if it is

singular or plural?

Look at what it is talking about!

Can you Count it?

Then it is plural!

If you cant, it is singular!


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Warning!

This is the only time you willlook at the prepositional

phrase!


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Examples

Some of the beads (is/are)

missing.

Look at what is being counted

Beads. Can you count them?


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Example

Some of the water (is/are) gone.

Can you count water?

Some of the water is gone.

I d fi it P P ti


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Indefinite Pronoun Practice

1. Everyone of the students (is/are)annoying the teacher today.

2. All of the students (is/are) loud

and make Mrs. Butnick scream.

3. Many of the dogs (yelps, yelp) at

the neighbors when they walk bythe houses.


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4. Half of the class (is/are) not done

with the project.

5. Either Tom or Joe (yells, yell)

down the hall every day.

6. Everyone of the cats (meows,

meow) for milk.

7. Each of the witches (flies, fly) bythe old castle on Halloween.


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8. Several of the bunnies (was/were)

eating carrots.9. Any of the Smurfs (sings/sing) in

the valley.

10. Part of the play (was/were) in

Spanish.

11. Everybody on the team(was/were) hanging out after

school.

P ti All th l !


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Practice on All the rules!1. Winnie the Pooh with his friends (is/are)

running a marathon. (rule 3)

2. Tom and Paul (walks, walk) me home every night

Rule 5

3. Tom or the Jones sisters (applies/apply) forthe application.(Rule 4)

4. The pilgrims or Mr. Tom Turkey (eats/eat) lots

of potatoes with gravy. (Rule 4)5. How (is/are) we suppose to do this?(Rule 7)

6 The movie or the plays (portrays/portray)


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6. The movie or the plays (portrays/portray)

the character as evil. (Rule 4)

7. Twenty miles (is/are) the distance therunners have to go. (Rule 9)

8. Spaghetti and meat balls with lots of

noodles (is/are) the best meal for runnersbefore a meet. Rule 5

9.The neighbors house by Mr. Johnsons

and Tonys houses (is/are) very scary.(rule 3)


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10. My favorite singer and dancer (sings/sing)that song. Rule 5

11. The cats and dog (eats/eat) a lot of food. Rule5

12. There (is/are) mice in the attic. (Rule 6)

13. Where (is/are)the actor that is playing themain role? (Rule 6)

14. Here (is/are) the rolls you wanted. (Rule 6)


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15. What (is/are) the meaning of this?

(Rule 7)

17. Rickets (is/are) a disease caused by a

vitamin deficiency.(Rule 8)

18.Physics (is/are) a hard class. (Rule 8)

19.Two dollars (was/were) found at the office.(Rule 9)

20. Twenty pounds of weight (is/are) a lot to carry.


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(Rule 9)

21. Twilight(is/are) the new movie comingout on Friday. (Rule 10)

22. TheMona Lisa(is/are) one of the mostfamous pieces of art. (Rule 10)

23. The jury (was/were) out for hours. (Rule11)

24 The class of almost all boys


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24. The class of almost all boys(loves/love) to tease the girls. (Rule

11).25. Both of the girls (likes/like) to read those

books. (Rule 12)

26. Each of the boys (runs/run) to Toms houseafter school. (Rule 12).

27. Half of the class (does/do) like thehomework. (Rule 13)

28 The bear of the big woods (runs/run) all


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28. The bear of the big woods (runs/run) all

the way to the neighbors house. (rule 3)

29. The plays or the movie (portrays/portray)

the character as evil. (Rule 4)

30. Some of the cows (eats/eat) grass and hay

for supper the others eat soup. (Rule 13).

Documents

Subject Verb Agreement[1].ppt