Simple/Compound Subject/Verb Agreement

Simple & Compound Subject/Verb Agreement

Singular & Plural Nouns

• Singular nouns name ONE person, place, thing, or idea

• Plural nouns name MORE THAN ONE person, place, thing, or idea

Fill in the Blanks

What do we typically add to a singular noun to make it plural?

Singular & Plural Nouns

• Most "regular" singular nouns are made plural by adding an "s" to the end.

• EX: shoe --> shoes

• Some plural nouns are irregular and do not follow the rule.

• EX: child --> children

Verbs can be singular or plural too!

• Match singular subjects with singular verbs.

• EX: Jenny's friend is in a good mood.

• Match plural subjects with plural verbs.

• EX: Jenny's friends are in a good mood.

Multiple Choice

Cristina Yang's friends _____ their best to pick movies she likes.

• do

• does

Fill in the Blanks

What is the subject in the following sentence:

Cristina Yang's friends do their best to pick movies she likes.

Multiple Choice

Is the subject SINGULAR or PLURAL?

Cristina Yang's friends

• singular

• plural

Singular/Plural Verbs

Singular verbs typically end in "s"

This is opposite from nouns

EX: They swim in the ocean.

He swims in the ocean

Of course there are some exceptions --> linking/helping verbs for example

Multiple Choice

Which verb agrees with the subject?

Peeta _____ especially scary in his Halloween costume.

• look

• looks

Multiple Choice

Is the subject/verb SINGULAR or PLURAL?

Peeta looks especially scary in his Halloween costume.

• singular

• plural

Multiple Choice

Which verb is in agreement with the subject?

Chris _____ to get together with Nick for a project.

• need

• needs

Multiple Choice

Which verb is in agreement with the subject?

Jon's friends _______ to all be professional wrestlers.

• happen

• happens

Multiple Choice

Do the subject and verb agree?

Eleven's cousins fills up an entire room because there are so many of them.

• yes

• no

Multiple Choice

Do the subject & verb agree?

Candice was spotted at the supermarket with a large bag of potatoes.

• yes

• no

Multiple Choice

Do the subject & verb agree?

Rachel Chu fill her chicken noodle soup with a bunch of strange ingredients.

• yes

• no

Multiple Choice

Do the subject & verb agree?

Emma Stone's cousins go rollerblading on Wednesdays.

• yes

• no

"I" and "You" as Subjects

• The pronouns "I" and "You" almost always require PLURAL subjects even though they are singular.

• EX: Dave likes that I give him ice cream on Sundays.

• EX: Rusty doesn't know that you are the reigning kayak polo champion of the world.

Multiple Choice

Which verb would agree with the subject?

Agatha Christie is glad you _____ a Wii so that she can play.

• has

• have

Multiple Choice

Which verb would agree with the subject?

Stephenie Meyer wonders when you ____ your homework because you always seem to be practicing the harmonica.

• do

• does

Multiple Choice

Which verb would agree with the subject?

Stephenie Meyer wonders when you ____ your homework because you always seem to be practicing the harmonica.

• do

• does

Compound Subjects

• When combining two subjects with "and," use a plural verb.

• EX: Dave and his best friend are entering the trumpet contest.

• EX: Lily and my dad both happen to love competitive air hockey.

Multiple Choice

Does the verb agree with the compound subject?

Those journal articles and stack of books look intimidating to Nikola Tesla.

• yes

• no

Multiple Choice

Does the verb agree with the compound subject?

The studio owners and Candice makes decorations together.

• yes

• no

Multiple Choice

Does the verb agree with the compound subject?

Empty pizza boxes and a can opener was mysteriously found underneath his couch.

• yes

• no