Subject-Verb Agreement Presentation English

Subject-Verb Agreement Presentation

1. Subject-verb AgreementSubject-verb Agreement
A Review of the RulesA Review of the Rules
with with
Practice Exercises Practice Exercises

2. 1. The verb agrees with the 1. The verb agrees with the
subject, not with intervening subject, not with intervening
words. words.

TobyToby, along with his girlfriend, , along with his girlfriend, playsplays
paintball nearly every weekend. paintball nearly every weekend.

OneOne of the students of the students hashas left his or her left his or her
cell phone in the classroom. cell phone in the classroom.

A A harnessharness with bells with bells isis for sale on eBay. for sale on eBay.

3. Let’s practice!Let’s practice!

Click on the sentence in which the verb is used Click on the sentence in which the verb is used
correctly. correctly.
 The President, along with the press secretary, The President, along with the press secretary,
werewere late to the press conference late to the press conference. .
The President, along with the press secretary, The President, along with the press secretary,
waswas late to the press conference. late to the press conference.

4. Not quite!Not quite!
Click here to try againClick here to try again. .

5. Right!Right!
Click here for the next question. Click here for the next question.

6. Click on the sentence in whichClick on the sentence in which
the verb is used correctly. the verb is used correctly.
The cost of repairing all those computerThe cost of repairing all those computer
s s
isis quite prohibitive quite prohibitive. .
The cost of repairing all those computerThe cost of repairing all those computer
s s
areare quite prohibitive quite prohibitive..

7. Oops!Oops!
Click here to try again. Click here to try again.

8. You’ve got it! You’ve got it!
Click here for the next sentence. Click here for the next sentence.

9. Click on the sentence in whichClick on the sentence in which
the verb is used correctly. the verb is used correctly.
A driver’s license, as well as another forA driver’s license, as well as another for
m of ID, is requiredm of ID, is required
. .
A driver’s license, as well as another forA driver’s license, as well as another for
m of ID, are requiredm of ID, are required
. .

10. Not quite!Not quite!
Click here to try again. Click here to try again.

11. Yes!Yes!

Let’s move on to the next rule. Let’s move on to the next rule.

12. Rule 2Rule 2

The verb agrees with its subject, even The verb agrees with its subject, even
when the subject follows the verb.when the subject follows the verb.

In the back of the room In the back of the room sitssits a snoring a snoring
studentstudent..

There There areare only two only two cookiescookies left. left.

13. More ExamplesMore Examples

Notice the highlighted subject in these Notice the highlighted subject in these
sentences. sentences.

Here Here isis the the reportreport you were looking for. you were looking for.

Here Here areare the the keyskeys you were looking for. you were looking for.

On the wall On the wall hangshangs a a portraitportrait of his of his
father. father.

14. Let’s practice!Let’s practice!

Click on the correct sentence:Click on the correct sentence:
There There seemseem
to be a few errors in this program to be a few errors in this program. .
There There seemsseems
to be a few errors in this program to be a few errors in this program..

15. Not quite!Not quite!

Be sure that you can identify the Be sure that you can identify the
subject of the sentence. subject of the sentence.
Click here to try again. Click here to try again.

16. Good!Good!
Click here for the next sentence. Click here for the next sentence.

17. Click on the sentence in which Click on the sentence in which
the verb is used correctly. the verb is used correctly.

Included in the festivities was a three-Included in the festivities was a three-
legged race, a sack race, and a pie-legged race, a sack race, and a pie-
eating contest. eating contest.

Included in the festivities were a three-Included in the festivities were a three-
legged race, a sack race, and a pie-legged race, a sack race, and a pie-
eating contest. eating contest.

18. Not quite!Not quite!

Click here to try again.Click here to try again.

19. Right!Right!

Let’s move on to the next rule. Let’s move on to the next rule.

20. Rule 3Rule 3

Compound subjects joined by “and” Compound subjects joined by “and”
take a plural verb. take a plural verb.

* Some subjects joined by “and” are * Some subjects joined by “and” are
considered singular, however. considered singular, however.

21. Here are some examples:Here are some examples:

Shannon and her sister Shannon and her sister areare both on the both on the
tennis team. tennis team.

My favorite salad dressing My favorite salad dressing isis vinegar and vinegar and
oil. oil.

Macaroni and cheese Macaroni and cheese isis Jason’s favorite Jason’s favorite
lunch. lunch.

22. Let’s try some practice exercises: Let’s try some practice exercises:

Click on the correct verb. Click on the correct verb.
Strawberries and cream ( Strawberries and cream ( isis areare ) a ) a
traditional Wimbledon treat. traditional Wimbledon treat.

23. Not quite!Not quite!

Remember, some compound nouns act Remember, some compound nouns act
as one unit and are considered singular. as one unit and are considered singular.
Click here to return to the questionClick here to return to the question. .

24. Yes!Yes!

Let’s try another. Click on the correct Let’s try another. Click on the correct
verb:verb:
Charlotte and her mother ( Charlotte and her mother ( livelive liveslives ) in ) in
Las Vegas. Las Vegas.

25. Not quite!Not quite!
Click here to try again. Click here to try again.

26. You’ve got it!You’ve got it!

Let’s move on to Rule 4:Let’s move on to Rule 4:

When subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” When subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,”
the verb agrees with the nearest subject. the verb agrees with the nearest subject.

This is a tricky rule, which doesn’t always This is a tricky rule, which doesn’t always
sound “right” to the ear, so let’s look at sound “right” to the ear, so let’s look at
some examples. some examples.

27. Examples:Examples:

Either David or his Either David or his cousin ownscousin owns that that
property across the river. property across the river.

Neither Sylvia nor her Neither Sylvia nor her mothermother likeslikes going to going to
rodeos. rodeos.

Neither the students nor the Neither the students nor the instructorinstructor
knowsknows if classes will be held on Columbus if classes will be held on Columbus
Day. Day.

28. Let’s practice this tricky rule. Let’s practice this tricky rule.

Click on the correct verb. Click on the correct verb.
Either a check or a money order ( Either a check or a money order ( isis areare
))
acceptable.acceptable.

29. Oops!Oops!

Remember, the verb agrees with the Remember, the verb agrees with the
nearestnearest subject. subject.
Click here to try again.Click here to try again.

30. Yes!Yes!

Let’s try another. Click on the correct Let’s try another. Click on the correct
verb. verb.
( ( WasWas WereWere ) Mr. Phelps or his son put on ) Mr. Phelps or his son put on
the committee? the committee?

31. Not exactly. Not exactly.

Look for the nearest subject. Look for the nearest subject.
Click here to try again. Click here to try again.

32. Right! Here’s another. Right! Here’s another.

Click on the correct verb. Click on the correct verb.

Either the employees or the managerEither the employees or the manager
( ( isis areare ) confused about the policy. ) confused about the policy.

33. Oops!Oops!
Click here to try againClick here to try again. .

34. Right!Right!

Let’s move on to Rule #5:Let’s move on to Rule #5:

Amounts and distance, when used as Amounts and distance, when used as
singular units of measurements, are singular units of measurements, are
considered singular. considered singular.

35. For example:For example:

A million dollars just A million dollars just isis not enough to not enough to
retire on these days. retire on these days.

Thirty miles Thirty miles seemsseems like a long walk to like a long walk to
me. me.

36. Rule #6Rule #6

Most collective nouns, nouns that stand Most collective nouns, nouns that stand
for groups of people or things, are for groups of people or things, are
generally treated as singular:generally treated as singular:

The The team isteam is practicing at 6:00 a.m. practicing at 6:00 a.m.

Our Our class hasclass has been cancelled tonight. been cancelled tonight.

The The jury isjury is still deliberating. still deliberating.

37. Exception!Exception!

If individuals within a group are acting If individuals within a group are acting
separately, the collective noun is separately, the collective noun is
considered plural:considered plural:

The The bandband areare tuning their instruments. tuning their instruments.
(Each member is tuning a different (Each member is tuning a different
instrument.) instrument.)

The The audience areaudience are stomping their feet. stomping their feet.

38. Let’s try a few. Let’s try a few.

Click on the correct pronoun in Click on the correct pronoun in
parentheses. parentheses.

The committee ( has have ) The committee ( has have )
recommended a further review. recommended a further review.

39. That’s not right. That’s not right.

It’s one committee, singular, not two It’s one committee, singular, not two
committees. committees.

Click here to try again. Click here to try again.

40. Right!Right!

Let’s try another. Click on the correct Let’s try another. Click on the correct
pronoun. pronoun.

The team ( is are ) loading their The team ( is are ) loading their
suitcases onto the bus. suitcases onto the bus.

41. Not quite. Not quite.

Click here to try again. Click here to try again.

42. You’ve got it!You’ve got it!

Let’s move on to the next rule. Let’s move on to the next rule.

43. Most indefinite pronouns Most indefinite pronouns
are singular are singular

What’s an indefinite pronoun? What’s an indefinite pronoun?

An indefinite pronoun takes the place of many An indefinite pronoun takes the place of many
unspecified persons or things:unspecified persons or things:

Examples: Examples:

Any, anybody, anyone, each, every, everyone, Any, anybody, anyone, each, every, everyone,
nobody, nothing, something, no one, one nobody, nothing, something, no one, one

44. Some indefinite pronouns Some indefinite pronouns
are plural.are plural.

Plural indefinite pronouns:Plural indefinite pronouns:

Both, several, few, manyBoth, several, few, many

45. Some indefinite pronouns Some indefinite pronouns
can be either singular or plural. can be either singular or plural.

Pay close attention to the following Pay close attention to the following
indefinite pronouns:indefinite pronouns:

All, any, some, none, most, enough, halfAll, any, some, none, most, enough, half

These can be either singular or plural, These can be either singular or plural,
depending upon their function in the depending upon their function in the
sentence. sentence.

46. Look at the noun or object that Look at the noun or object that
this pronoun refers to.this pronoun refers to.

If the noun being modified is singular, If the noun being modified is singular,
treat the pronoun as singular:treat the pronoun as singular:

Some of the Some of the newspaper isnewspaper is missing. missing.

Most of the Most of the cake has beencake has been eaten. eaten.

Half of the Half of the house washouse was damaged. damaged.

47. Notice that in the following Notice that in the following
sentences, the pronoun refers to sentences, the pronoun refers to
a plural noun:a plural noun:
Some of the newspaper Some of the newspaper pages ispages is missing. missing.
Most of the Most of the cupcakes have beencupcakes have been eaten. eaten.
Half of the Half of the houses werehouses were damaged. damaged.

48. Let’s practice!Let’s practice!

Choose the correct pronoun.Choose the correct pronoun.

Everyone concerned with the Everyone concerned with the
community theater ( has have ) helped community theater ( has have ) helped
in the fund raising. in the fund raising.

49. Not quite!Not quite!

Remember, “everyone” is considered Remember, “everyone” is considered
singular. singular.

Click here to try again. Click here to try again.

50. Right!Right!

Let’s try another:Let’s try another:

Several of the students ( was were ) Several of the students ( was were )
delayed by the highway construction. delayed by the highway construction.

51. Not exactly. Not exactly.

““Several” is plural.Several” is plural.

Click here to try again. Click here to try again.

52. Right!Right!

Let’s try one more. Let’s try one more.

None of the employees ( take takes )None of the employees ( take takes )
enough vacation time. enough vacation time.

53. Not quite!Not quite!

““None” in this case is considered plural None” in this case is considered plural
because “none” refers to “employees.” because “none” refers to “employees.”

Click here to try again. Click here to try again.

54. You’ve got it!You’ve got it!

This concludes the lesson. This concludes the lesson.

For more practice, try the supplemental For more practice, try the supplemental
PowerPoint containing just subject-verb PowerPoint containing just subject-verb
agreement exercises. agreement exercises.