Subject – Verb Subject – Verb AgreementAgreement

Why do subjects and verbs Why do subjects and verbs have to agree? After all, they have to agree? After all, they

are only words!are only words!

Rules in Subject-Verb Rules in Subject-Verb AgreementAgreement

1.1. Every verb must agree with its Every verb must agree with its subject. subject.

SingularSubject

SingularVerb

PluralSubject

PluralVerb

To be correct, subjects and verbs To be correct, subjects and verbs must agree…must agree…

Do not be confused. Do not be confused. To make a noun plural, we add –s

Singular: girl Plural: girls

To make a verb plural, we take away the –s.

Singular: he talks Plural: they talk

Watch the verb endings!Watch the verb endings!

Singular Singular • I walkI walk• You walkYou walk• He/She/It walk He/She/It walk

ss– Joe walkJoe walkss..– The girl walkThe girl walkss..

PluralPlural• We walkWe walk• You walkYou walk• They walkThey walk

– Joe and Maria Joe and Maria walk.walk.

– The girls walk.The girls walk.

1. Generally, if the subject 1. Generally, if the subject doesn’tdoesn’t end in end in –S–S, , the verb will.the verb will.

If the subject If the subject doesdoes end in end in –S–S, the verb won’t., the verb won’t.

Rule Number 1Rule Number 1

The girl danceThe girl dancess

-S on verb

No –S on subject

The girlThe girlss dance dance

No -S on verb

–S on subject

Let’s Practice:Let’s Practice:

1.1.He (talk, talks) quietly.He (talk, talks) quietly.2.2.They (read, reads) their They (read, reads) their

assigned books.assigned books.3.3.Kim (go, goes) to the coffee Kim (go, goes) to the coffee

shop every weekend.shop every weekend.4.4.We (write, writes) letters for We (write, writes) letters for

our friend abroad.our friend abroad.5.5.Ian (sing, sings) well.Ian (sing, sings) well.

Rule Number 2: Compound subjects Rule Number 2: Compound subjects joined by “and”joined by “and”

If there are two or more subjects joined by and, the subject must be plural, so the verb will not get an “s”.

For example:

The boy and the girl dance.

No –S on verb

Let’s Practice: Let’s Practice:

1. A car and a bike (is, are) my means of transportation.

2. The dog and the cat (run, runs) around the house.

3. Kim and I (spend, spends) our free time reading books.

4. The teacher and the students (was, were) able to present something last MUFTI Day.

5. The Math book and the notebook (provide, provides) information about the lesson.

3. Do not forget that some common 3. Do not forget that some common English words have irregular plurals. English words have irregular plurals.

The child is doing the assignment.The child is doing the assignment.

The children are doing the assignment.The children are doing the assignment.

The ox is important to the farmers.The ox is important to the farmers.The oxen are important to the farmersThe oxen are important to the farmers..

Let’s PracticeLet’s Practice

1.1. The cacti (is, are) important for the The cacti (is, are) important for the travelers in the desert.travelers in the desert.

2.2. Bacterium (affect, affects) our Bacterium (affect, affects) our immune system.immune system.

3.3. Parentheses (tell, tells) the readers Parentheses (tell, tells) the readers something.something.

4.4. The criteria for judging (show, shows) The criteria for judging (show, shows) that the contest is a tough one.that the contest is a tough one.

5.5. The alumnus of the school usually The alumnus of the school usually (visit, visits) during summer vacation.(visit, visits) during summer vacation.

Rule Number 4: “There” Rule Number 4: “There” and “Here”and “Here”

When sentences start with “there” or When sentences start with “there” or “here,”“here,”

the subject will always be placed after thethe subject will always be placed after theverb, so care needs to be taken to identify verb, so care needs to be taken to identify

ititcorrectly.correctly.

• There There isis a a problem problem with the balance sheet. with the balance sheet. • There There areare  problemsproblems with the balance sheet. with the balance sheet.

Let’s PracticeLet’s Practice

1.1. There (is, are) four coins on top of There (is, are) four coins on top of the fridge.the fridge.

2.2. Here (is, are) the bag that you Here (is, are) the bag that you want to borrow.want to borrow.

3.3. Here (is, are) your things needed Here (is, are) your things needed for your field trip.for your field trip.

4.4. There (is, are) three problems that There (is, are) three problems that he cannot solve right now.he cannot solve right now.

5.5. Here (is, are) your Math book. Here (is, are) your Math book.

Rule Number 5: Rule Number 5: Expressions about time, Expressions about time,

money, weight and volumemoney, weight and volumeExpressions stating amount of time, Expressions stating amount of time,

money,money,

weight, volume are plural in form weight, volume are plural in form but take abut take a

singular verb as in:singular verb as in:

• Three weeksThree weeks isis a long time. a long time.• Two hundred dollarsTwo hundred dollars is is a lot of money. a lot of money.

Let’s PracticeLet’s Practice