Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement

Poll

How do you feel about subject-verb agreement?

• Great

• Good

• Okay

• Bad

What is a SUBJECT?

The subject is what the sentence is about.

It is a noun.

Ask yourself the question: WHO is doing the action?

Multiple Select

What words can be a subject?

• teacher

• run

• pencil

• school

• eat

What is a VERB?

A verb is an action word.

It is also called the SIMPLE PREDICATE when talking about sentence parts.

Ask yourself the question: WHAT is the subject DOING?

Multiple Select

What words are verbs?

• teacher

• run

• pencil

• school

• eat

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.

Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement

• If the subject is a singular noun or "he," "she," or "it," add -s or -es to most verbs. (NOTICE, this is the opposite of making nouns singular.)

• If the subject is a plural noun, compound, or "I," "you," "we," or "they," DO NOT add -s or -es to the verb.

• For the verb "be", use am and is to agree with singular subjects and are to agree with plural subjects.

COLLECTIVE NOUN

• A collective noun names a group, such as family, team, and class.

• A collective noun is SINGULAR if it refers to a group acting as one. Ex: The class is waiting for takeoff.

• A collective noun is PLURAL if it refers to members of the group acting individually. Ex: The class are choosing their seats.

Multiple Choice

The chefs at the restaurant _________ amazing dishes.

• prepare

• prepares

Multiple Choice

My parents ______ let me watch TV until I have finished my homework.

• doesn't

• don't

Multiple Choice

One of the dancers on the stage ______ my cousin.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

The nurses at the hospital _______ extremely caring.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Eve ________ like to babysit her younger brothers.

• doesn't

• don't

Multiple Choice

Uncle Todd and Aunt Brenda ____________ two dogs.

• have

• has

Multiple Choice

The green apples in the basket _________ sour.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Penguins in freezing weather (huddle, huddles) together to conserve heat.

• huddles

• huddle

Multiple Choice

How often (does, do) Janice get to play in the sand?

• does

• do

Multiple Choice

The team (play, plays) the football game.

• play

• plays

Multiple Choice

Carl (is, are) reading an article about space travel.

• is

• are