7th Grade: Subject-Verb Agreement

7th Grade: Subject-Verb Agreement

Singular/Plural

• singular noun names ONE person, place, thing,or idea

• plural noun names MORE THAN ONE person, place, thing, or idea

Subject-Verb Agreement

• Match singular subjects with singular verbs and plural subjects with plural verbs...

• In other words, a verb must agree in number with its subject.

Multiple Choice

Let's review...

Identify the subject of this sentence:

The girl whom I saw at the mall yesterday was Susan from first grade!

• mall

• Susan

• girl

• grade

Multiple Choice

What is the verb in the sentence?

My family and I walked two miles to the park.

• park

• walked

• miles

• family

The subject and verb in a sentence MUST AGREE, or work together.

• A singular subject needs a singular verb.

• A plural subject needs a plural verb

• But this can be a little tricky at first...

Examples...

• My dog always barks at the mailman.

• My dogs always bark at the mailman.

• ...what do you notice?

Examples Explained

• My dog always barks at the mailman.

• My dogs always bark at the mailman.

• *If you have a singular subject, add -s or -es to your verb ending.

• *If you have a plural subject, do NOT add -s or -es to your verb ending.

Multiple Choice

We usually ____ the dishes after dinner.

• do

• does

Multiple Choice

Kathy ____ TV everyday after work.

• watch

• watches

Some more rules...

• #1) use a plural verb with subjects joined by and

• ex: My friends and I are music lovers.

• #2) Use a singular verb w/ singular subjects joined by or or nor.

• ex: The piano or the harp is the prettiest is the prettiest instrument.

• ex: Neither she nor he plays in the orchestra.

• #3) Use a plural verb w/ plural subjects joined by or or nor.

• ex: Neither violins nor flutes are common in a rock band.

Last rule (for now 🤪)

• #4) If a compound subject has BOTH singular and plural nouns joined by or or nor, use a verb that agrees with the noun closer to it.

• ex: Neither kettledrums nor the xylophone is in the band.

Multiple Choice

The students in our class______excited to study the ocean.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Either pizza or burgers _____________ for lunch today.

Either burgers or pizza _____________ for lunch today.

• is, are

• are, is

• is, is

• are, are

Multiple Choice

Either the students or their teacher _____ decided on the color of the new bulletin board.

• has

• have

Poll

How do you feel about Subject-Verb Agreement?

• Bad: I'm very confused!

• Okay: I somewhat understand but need my notes in the meantime.

• Good: I completely understand without any help from my notes.