Subject Verb Agreement: S Rule & Compound Subjects

Subject Verb Agreement: S Rule & Compound Subjects

A singular subject must have a singular verb which ends in -S 

The movie focuses on love.

A plural subject must have a plural verb which DOES NOT end in -S 

The movies focus on love.

If 2 or more subjects are joined by AND, substitute THEY & verb does NOT have an S.

Jim and Jo (play/plays) video games.

They (play/plays) video games.

If compound subjects are joined by OR/NOR, choose the subject closest to verb & use S rule.

Joe nor the other players (run/runs) before the game.

The other players nor Joe (run/runs) before the game.

Multiple Choice

Shari and I (like/likes) to watch old movies.

• like

• likes

Multiple Choice

The lion or the elephant (stand, stands) guard over his territory.

• stand

• stands

Multiple Choice

The lead singer or the backup girls in the band (sing/sings) this part of the song.

• sing

• sings

Multiple Choice

The spider on the bricks (look/looks) huge and creepy!

• look

• looks

Multiple Choice

Joe nor his girlfriend (eat/eats) spaghetti.

• eat

• eats

Multiple Choice

Roaches and snakes (make/makes) me wince!

• make

• makes

Multiple Choice

The monster in my closet or the boogeyman behind my curtains (keep/keeps) me up at night.

• keep

• keeps

Multiple Choice

Coke and Pepsi (taste/tastes) the same to me.

• taste

• tastes

Multiple Choice

The sun in the sky and the breeze in my hair (relax/relaxes) me.

• relax

• relaxes

Multiple Choice

The dog next to the cat (jump/jumps) toward me.

• jump

• jumps

Multiple Choice

My dad and my step-mom (live/lives) down the street.

• live

• lives

Multiple Choice

Jordan or Spencer (play/plays) football well.

• play

• plays

Multiple Choice

The vampires and werewolves (dislike/dislikes) each other.

• dislike

• dislikes

Multiple Choice

Caroline, the vampire, and Tyler, the hybrid, (date/dates) each other.

• date

• dates

Multiple Choice

Jughead or Archie (care/cares) deeply for Betty.

• care

• cares

Multiple Choice

The intense music and dark forest (keep/keeps) me in suspense.

• keep

• keeps

Multiple Choice

Betty's sister or her mom (join/joins) the cult.

• join

• joins

Multiple Choice

The police chief in the town (is/are) Jughead's dad.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Disney Plus nor Netflix (get/gets) my vote for being best.

• get

• gets

Multiple Choice

Music and movies (entertain/entertains) me.

• entertain

• entertains