Making Subjects and Verbs Agree

Making Subjects and Verbs Agree

by Adrian Blackman

​What is Subject and Verb Agreement

​Subject-verb agreement means that a verb must agree with its subject in number (singular or plural).

​

When the subject is a singular noun, the verb takes an -s (or -es)

in the present tense.

The baby sleeps.

The baby cries.

​

When the subject is a plural noun, the verb does not take an -s (or -es)

in the present tense.

The babies sleep.

The babies cry.

​What is Subject and Verb Agreement Pronouns

​What is Subject and Verb Agreement Pronouns

​What is Subject and Verb Agreement Pronouns

Multiple Choice

Companies today (tests, test) their

workers for drugs.

• test

• tests

Multiple Choice

We (was, were) hoping to fi nd him there.

• was

• were

Multiple Choice

Professional athletes on a team (has,

have) special problems because of

unwelcome publicity.

• has

• have

Multiple Choice

He always (wears, wear) an old widebrimmed

hat.

• wear

• wears

​Subject-Verb Agreement With Hard to Find Subjects

​When looking for subject-verb agreement in sentences where the subjects are difficult to find, keep two points in mind:

​

• Subjects are not found in prepositional phrases or appositive phrases.

• Subjects can be found after the verb in sentences that are questions and in sentences that begin with the word there or the word here.

Multiple Choice

Constant clutter on people’s desks (causes, cause) frustration.

• cause

• causes

Multiple Choice

Here (is, are) some basic medical supplies needed for every home.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

The spider, a big and hairy creature, (scare, scares) most children.

• scare

• scares

​Subject-Verb Agreement With Collective Nouns

​A collective noun (also called a group noun) is considered singular unless the meaning is clearly plural.

​

​The class was waiting for its turn to use the gym

​The Cub scout troop is holding its jamboree in July

​The orchestra performs in Cincinnati next week

​Collective nouns continued

​Sometimes a collective noun takes a plural verb or requrires a plural pronoun to refer to that noun because the members of the group are clearly acting as individuals with separate actions.

​

​The class were putting on their coats

​(each member has his or her own coat)

​

​The Cub Scout troop were having difficulty with their tents.

​(Each person is individually having trouble with his tent)

Multiple Choice

The construction crew (is, are) being blamed for the accident. (acting as a unit)

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

The public (voices, voice) their concerns to the media. (acting as individuals)

• voices

• voice

​Subject-Verb Agreement - Indefinite pronouns

​

​Indefinite Pronouns continued

Multiple Choice

One of the dangers (is, are) that if we wait, the tropical forest may disappear.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Many of his drawings (shows, show)

vibrant plant life.

• show

• shows

Multiple Choice

Each of the companies (has been, have been) paying the country for the right to search the rainforest.

• has been

• have been

Multiple Choice

Among scientists, some (recommends, recommend) that governments

subsidize drug research.

• recommends

• recommend

​Subject-Verb Agreement - Compound Subjects

​If the parts of a compound subject are connected by the word and, the verb is usually plural.

​

​Alberto and Ramon are the winners.

​

​If the parts of a compound subject connected by and are though of as a single unit, the verb is singular.

​

​Peanut butter and jelly is my favourite sandwich.

​Compound Subjects continued

Multiple Choice

Macaroni and cheese (is, are) my son’s favorite supper

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

An apple or grapes (makes, make) a better choice.

• makes

• make

Multiple Choice

For many of us, our shopping habits or cooking routine (needs, need) to be

changed.

• needs

• need

​Subject-Verb Agreement- Unusual Nouns

Some nouns are always singular in meaning but end in -s:

Mathematics, Diabetes, United States, Economics, Measles, Kansas

 

Mathematics is my major.

 

Some nouns are always plural in meaning:

clothes, tweezers, pants, scissors, fireworks, pliers

 

My blue pants are ripped.

 

​Subject-Verb Agreement- Unusual Nouns

Some nouns change internally rather than add -s at the end:

foot - feet tooth - teeth

​

Some nouns remain the same whether singular or plural:

deer, elk, fish, moose

​

​When some foreign words are used in English, they continue to form the plural by following the rules of their original languages. (um-a)

​bacterium-bacteria datum-data stratum-strata

​