BASIC-GRAMMAR.pptx subject verb agreement rules

This will help you in learning basic sentence structures.

1. BASIC GRAMMAR SUBJECT – VERB AGREEMENT RULES

2. RULE 1: A singular subject takes a singular verb. A plural subject takes a plural verb. Examples: The car (stays, stay) in the garage. The flowers (smells, smell) good . Annie and her brothers ( is,are ) at school. 1. Your friend (talks, talk) too much.

3. RULE 2: Prepositional phrases that come between the subject and the verb do not change the number of the subject. Examples of Prepositional Phrases: as well as together with except in addition to along with with Example Sentences: The teacher as well as the students (was, were) working on that. The mother together with her children (is, are) waiting . The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street. 2. The politician along with the newsmen (is, are) expected shortly.

4. RULE 3: Use singular verbs with singular indefinite pronouns. Examples of Singular Indefinite Pronouns: everybody everyone everything nobody anybody anyone anything no one somebody someone something nothing Example Sentences: Everybody (knows, know) the answer. Nobody (speaks, speak) German here. 3. Nothing (seems, seem) right around this house anymore.

5. RULE 4: Subjects joined by and are plural. Examples: Bob and George (is, are) leaving the country. The teacher and the student (was, were) surprised. see 4. The ranger and the camper (sees, see) the bear.

6. RULE 5: Use plural verbs with plural indefinite pronouns. Examples of Plural Indefinite Pronouns: many several few both Example Sentences: Many outcomes (is, are) possible. Both (is, are) saved after receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 5. Few (is, are) left alive after the flood.

7. RULE 6: If the subjects are joined by either-or or neither-nor , the verb should agree with the nearer subject. Examples: Either the actors or the director (is, are) at fault. Potatoes, pasta, or rice (pairs, pair) well with grilled chicken. 6. Neither Juan nor his brothers (is, are) available.

8. RULE 7: In here and there sentences, the verb agrees with the subject that follows after it. Examples: There (goes, go) the cat, stealing food from the kitchen. There (was, were) five books on the shelf. 7. Here (is, are) the keys. c c

9. RULE 8: Expressions of time, money, measurement, and weight are usually singular when the amount is considered one unit. Examples: Fifty pesos (is, are) not too much to ask. Five million (is, are) needed for the church building. 8. Five years (is, are) the maximum sentence for that offense.

10. RULE 9: Use singular verbs for subjects plural in form but singular in meaning. Example words (plural in form, singular in meaning) Mathematics Physics measles news economics ethics mumps statistics Example Sentences: Physics (is, are) my favorite subject. Statistics (requires, require) complicated methods. 9. Generally, measles (lasts, last) about two weeks.

11. RULE 10: With fractions and percentages the verb agrees with the subject in the of phrase. Examples: One-fourth of the books (is, are) gone. Two-thirds of the Earth (is, are) made up of water. 10. Forty percent of the student body (is, are) in favor of changing the policy.

12. EXERCISES! The man with the roses (looks, look) like your brother. Everybody (was, were) asked to remain quiet. Margo and her parents (visits, visit) each other often. Either the cup or the glasses (is, are) in the dishwasher. Rule # 2 Rule # 3 Rule # 4 Rule # 6

13. RULE 11: With subjects following the indefinite pronouns all, most, none, & some, the verb agrees with the subject in the of phrase. Examples: All of the paint (is, are) dried up. Most of the news (is, are) good. All of the children (was, were) late. Some of the apples (was, were) missing. 11. All of the pie (is, are) gone.

14. RULE 12: Expression like The number of always takes a singular verb. Expression like A number of always takes a plural verb. Examples: The number of students attending the conference (is, are) quite impressive. A number of pastors and workers (joins, join) the seminar. 12. A number of people here (disagrees, disagree).

15. RULE 13

16. RULE 13 Examples: Each boy and girl (has, have) to take the test. Every man and woman who (receives, receive) Jesus as their Lord and Savior (is, are) saved. 13. Every man and woman (is, are) required to check in.

17. RULE 14: USE OF ITS and IT’S

18. RULE 15: When using the articles a and an, the subject/noun that follows should always be singular. Examples: An (apple, apples) a day (keeps, keep) the doctor away. There (is, are) an (eraser, erasers) on the table.

19. 15. My aunts or my uncle (is, are) arriving by train today. 16. Neither the plates nor the serving bowls (goes, go) on that shelf. 17. A car and a bike (is, are) my means of transportation. 18. Excitement, as well as nervousness, (is, are) the cause of her shaking.

20. 19. There (is, are) four hurdles to jump 20. Three miles (is, are) too far too walk. 21. Ten dollars (is, are) a high price to pay. 22. Some of the pies (is, are) missing. 23. The dogs (growls, growl) when they are angry.

21. 24. The colors of the rainbow (is, are) beautiful. 25. A man of letters (plays, play) with Toni. 26. All of the chicken (is, are) gone. 27. Dogs and cats (is, are) both available at the pond. 28. Everybody (wants, want) to be loved.

22. 29. A (bouquet, bouquets) of yellow roses (lends, lend) color and fragrance to the room. 30. Swimming in the ocean and playing drums (is, are) my hobbies. 31. The herd (is, are) stampeding. 32. The list of items (is, are) on the desk.

23. 33. The news (looks, look) good today. 34. Politics (has, have) made people do strange things. 35. Statistics (is, are) offered every year at the college. 36. The pot of eggs (is, are) boiling on the stove. 37. Either the dog or the cats (is, are) responsible for the mess.

24. 38. The number of people here (boggles, boggle) the mind. 39. A number of people here (disagrees, disagree). 40. Some of the beads (is, are) missing. 41. The mayor as well as his brothers (is, are) going to prison.

25. 42. Either my father or my brothers (is, are) going to sell the house. 43. Here (is, are) two apples. 44. Measles (is, are) a disease most children experience. 45. Some of the job applicants (is, are) expected to pass the difficult screening test.

26. 46. One of my friends (believes, believe) in Jesus. 47. Sixty days (is, are) not enough time to complete the project. 48. A pound of cookies (costs, cost) ten pesos. 49. Either the members or the pastor (spreads, spread) about the gospel of salvation. 50. Most of the seats (was, were) taken.

27. 51. Several of the sheep (is, are) sick. 52. Each of the girls (looks, look) good in dress. 53. Marinur (goes, go) to church every Sunday. 54. Few (attends, attend) the prayer meeting every Wednesday. 55. Pastor John together with his members (celebrates, celebrate) his birthday.