Basic Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement Part 1

​

Basic Rule

•  A singular subject (she, Bill, car) takes a singular verb (is, goes, shines).

• A plural (they, Markus and Mya, cars) subject takes a plural verb (are, go, shine).

Examples

Singular​

• She is ready to go.

• Bill goes to the movies a lot.

• The car shines in the sun.

Plural​

• They are ready to go.

• Markus and Mya go to the movies a lot.

• The cars shine in the sun.

Multiple Choice

Pliers (is, are) needed for the job; scissors (is, are) not enough.

• is / is

• are / are

• is / are

• are / is

Multiple Choice

The decorator’s advice (sound, sounds) logical: antique furniture (is, are) more appropriate for that house.

• sound / is

• sound / are

• sounds / is

• sounds / are

Multiple Choice

My luggage ____ gifts for my cousins.

• contain

• contains

Multiple Choice

This tree______a home for birds and squirrels.

• provides

• provide

Multiple Choice

The girls ______ basketball after school.

• play

• plays

Multiple Choice

The student's progress ______ slowed by the weather.

• was

• were

Multiple Choice

The boys ______ math is easy.

• thinks

• think

Multiple Choice

Derek ______ it is bad to litter.

• believe

• believes

Multiple Choice

Band members ______ raising money for new uniforms.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

She ______ her friends every Friday for dinner.

• meets

• meet

Multiple Choice

The pecan, the almond, and the cashew ______ my favorite nuts.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

We ______ the clouds in the distance.

• sees

• see

Interrupting Words

The agreement of a verb and subject is not changed by any interrupting words.

Always find the actual subject!

Example- The puppies with the purple ribbon (is, are) up for adoption.
with the purple ribbon is extra information.
The subject is puppies, so
The puppies with the purple ribbon (is, are) up for adoption.

Interrupting Words

Always find the actual subject!

This also includes information in commas between the subject and the verb.

Example- The box of old photographs, along with several letters, (was, were) in the attic.
Ignore ,along with several letters,
The subject is box, so
The box of old photographs, along with several letters, (was, were) in the attic.

Multiple Choice

Loretta, along with her two friends, ___ tacos for lunch almost every day.

• eats

• eat

Multiple Choice

Those books next to the window ___ dusting.

• needs

• need

Multiple Choice

Alicia's missing dwarf hamster ___ out of the closet.

• run

• runs

Multiple Choice

The library near the White House ___ more than twenty million books.

• contain

• contains

Multiple Choice

The mountains in the distance ___ to Italy.

• belong

• belongs

Multiple Choice

Penguins, with their black and white feathers, ___ men in tuxedos.

• resembles

• resemble

Multiple Choice

Sheila, but not her brothers, ___ working tomorrow.

• are

• is

Multiple Choice

Children from all over the neighborhood ___ to attend the birthday party.

• wants

• want

Multiple Choice

Sounds of distant music (floats, float) through the air.

• floats

• float