Subject-Verb Agreement PDF

This presentation is brought to you by Grammar Bytes!, ©2022 by Robin L. Simmons.  Subject-Verb Subject-Verb Agreement Agreement Do I need an Or should I s at the end leave the s of the verb? off?  This pre...

This presentation is brought to you by Grammar Bytes!, ©2022 by Robin L. Simmons.  Subject-Verb Subject-Verb Agreement Agreement Do I need an Or should I s at the end leave the s of the verb? off?  This presentation covers maintaining agreement between subjects and verbs. A A subject-verb subject-verb agreement agreement item item on on an an objective objective test test might might look look like like this this......  Sample Sample Item Item The foods that provide providegood goodnutrition nutritionisare is A BB often the least tasty; a hamburger and fries, on the other hand, satisfy satisfythe thetongue tonguebut but C clog the arteries. Does Doesto be Is Is needs needs to be disagreement disagreement the the plural plural are, are, A.provides happen happen which which option at at B option B provide, is, or or B.are are provide, fixes. fixes. satisfy? satisfy? is, C.satisfies D.No change is necessary. Agreement Agreement in in a a Nutshell Nutshell The elephant trumpets for a peanut. elephant = singular subject trumpets = singular verb The elephants trumpet for peanuts. elephants = plural subject trumpet = plural verb In the present tense, singular verbs end in the suffix s; plural verbs do not. Two Two [or [or more] more] singular singular nouns nouns joined joined by by and and make make aa plural plural subject. subject. The chicken wing and pork rib sit untouched on Ruth’s plate. Because there’s no s at the end of sit, you know it’s a plural verb. When When each each or or every every precedes precedes two two [or [or more] more] singular singular nouns nouns joined joined by by and and,, you you have have aa singular singular subject. subject. Every chicken wing and pork rib sits untouched on Ruth’s plate. Because there is an s at the end of sit, you know it’s a singular verb. In In this this situation, situation, no no matter matter how how many many singular singular nouns nouns you you join join with with and and,, the the subject subject isis still still singular. singular. Every chicken wing, pork rib, slice of pepperoni pizza, hotdog, hamburger, steak, and fried shrimp sits untouched on Ruth’s plate. X X X X I’m a vegetarian! X X Use Use caution caution with with these these three three conjunctions: conjunctions: either either …… or or,, neither neither … … nor nor,, and and not not only only …… but but also also.. employees Not only the boss buther but also also their boss wish wishes employees thewish the shiftshift would the would shiftendend.. end. would If you flip the two subjects, You’ll have two subjects, but so that employees is next only the closer one — in this to the verb, then wish will case boss — counts! work! These These indefinite indefinite pronouns pronouns are are always always singular singular [even [even when when they they seem seem plural]. plural].  Each, either, neither  Anyone, anybody, anything  Everyone, everybody, everything  No one, nobody, nothing  Someone, somebody, something  Everyone on Everyone on Earth Earth == more than one more than one person person —billions —billions ofof people, people, inin fact. fact. The The word word everyone, everyone, however, however, is is still still singular. singular.  Beware Beware interrupting interrupting phrases. phrases.  As well as  Including  Along with  In addition to  Together with  Especially The squirrel as well as the pigeons keep an eye on Sammy, the sneaky cat. This sentence might Bad sound right, but it is kitty! completely wrong! Beware Beware inverted inverted word word order. order. Here is the onions you need for the chili. In the refrigerator is the jalapeño peppers you might want to add. Here and Cross through there are prepositional never the phrases to find subjects. the real subject!  Quick Quick Test Test Directions: In the items that follow, choose the option that corrects an error in the underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose “No change is necessary.” Show me what you know.  Item Item 1 1 In the cabinet is is the are the the tools tools tools that that that you youyouwill will will need need needto toto AA unclog the bathroom sink; I havehave found found that that aa B plunger and a prayer often do do the the trick. trick. C A.are are B.has C.does D.No change is necessary.  Item Item 2 2 Here are the books that Thomas and Darlene A need for their research, and here is is the are the the earplugs earplugs earplugs BB that you’ll require once they both doze doze offoff in in C boredom and start snoring. A.is B.are are C.dozes D.No change is necessary.  Item Item 3 3 Jasmine and Rodney have have decided decided to to double double the the A number of cupcakes that they are are baking baking since since B everyone love love moist lovesmoist moistcake cake cakeand and andchocolate chocolate chocolatefrosting. frosting. frosting. CC A.has B.is loves C.loves D.No change is necessary.  Item Item 4 4 Not only those students but also their professor looksforward look look forward forwardto totothe the thefinal final finalexam; exam; exam;everyone everyone everyonehas has has AA BB exciting vacation plans that start start next next Monday. Monday. C A.looks looks B.have C.starts D.No change is necessary.  Item Item 5 5 At the pet store, each iguana, mouse, and gerbil try to tries try toto climb climb climb the the the walls walls walls of ofof its itsits glass glass glass cage cage cage while while while AA humans hoverhover outside outside like like giant giant predators predators who who are are B C ready to strike. A.tries tries B.hovers C.is D.No change is necessary.  Item Item 6 6 Tyrone, as well as his cousins, hope hope that hopes that thatGrandma Grandma Grandma AA brings her brings herfamous famousbrownies browniesandandpeach peachpie piethat that B drip with drip with generous generous scoops scoops of of vanilla vanilla ice ice cream. cream. C A.hopes hopes B.bring C.drips D.No change is necessary.  Item Item 7 7 Either the dogs or the cat sleep sleep on sleeps on onthe the thebed bed bedwhile while while AA everyone is is out; out; Lorraine Lorraine always always finds findsan an B C indentation in the center of her comforter. A.sleeps sleeps B.are C.find D.No change is necessary.  Item Item 8 8 Meryl, together with her friends Beatrice and Laverne, plans aa daily plans daily trip trip for for ice ice cream, cream, for for these these women women A have discovered have discovered that that the the calories calories is is worth are worth worthseeing seeing seeing B CC Theo scoop their servings with his muscular arms. A.plan B.has C.are D.No change is necessary.  Item Item 9 9 The scissors are are sharp, sharp, soso neither neither the the cousins cousins nor nor A Timmy is is allowed allowed to to play play with with them, them, even even when when the the B boys needs needstoto need tofinish finish finishaaaschool school schoolproject. project. project. CC A.is B.are need C.need D.No change is necessary.  Item Item 10 10 Each fork, spoon, and knife are arescarred is scarred scarredfrom from fromthe the the AA disposal since Drew refuses refusestotocheck checkthe thedrain drain B before he throws throwsthe theswitch. switch. C A.is is B.refuse C.throw D.No change is necessary. Grammar Bytes! provides additional handouts and exercises on subject-verb agreement. Go to chompchomp.com!  The End. Bad kitty!