Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement

By Catherine Allbritton

Schoolhouse Rock video

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

Review: Definition of a Subject

The subject of the sentence is the noun that does the action.

Doer of action = subject

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Example: Jeremy rescued a kitten from a burning building. 

Jeremy is the subject because he is the one who did the rescuing

Review: Definition of a Subject

The subject of the sentence is the noun that is being described

​

Example: Cara is not funny.

Cara is the subject of the sentence because she is the

one who is not funny

Subject | Subject

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Open Ended

What is the subject in the following sentence?

The cat followed me all the way home.

Open Ended

What is the subject in the following sentence?

Sara decided to go home after the game.

When a word refers to more than one, it is plural in number.

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Examples: hats, we, skies, principles (plural)

Plural Nouns

When a word refers to one person or thing, it is singular in number.

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Examples: hat, I, sky, principle (singular)​

Singular Nouns

Identifying Nouns - mark if the noun in plural or singular

1. morning

2. calves

3. women

4. she

5. pencils

1. shelf

2. they

3. heights

4. geese

5. ​it

A verb agrees with subject in number

Animals fight (plural subject and plural verb)

​

New families move into our neighborhood frequently (the verb move is plural to agree with the plural subject families)​

Plural subjects take plural verbs

He fights (singular subject and singular verb)

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The lightning fills the sky (the verb fills is singular to agree with the singular subject lightning)

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Singular subjects take singular verbs

Mark if the subjects and verbs are singular or plural

1. people think

2. wind howls

3. owls hoot

4. we practice

5. days pass​

1. night arrives

2. gates open

3. she tries

4. actors rehearse

5. girls study​

Interrupting Phrases: phrases that separate the subject from the verb

Changes for the new and improved ACT Writing section is going to be implemented soon.

• Cross out the prepositional phrase and the sentence should still be grammatically correct

  • Changes for the new and improved ACT Writing section is going to be implemented soon.

The error is now more obvious, and we can now correct the sentence: Changes for the new and improved ACT Writing section are going to be implemented soon.

Multiple Choice

The girls from John Carroll ___ arriving early for class.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

The bag of golf balls ___ for practice.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Equipment for both types of kayaks are similar, and

• NO CHANGE

• is

• were

• was

Multiple Choice

The women, as well as the men, ____ beautifully.

• sing

• sings

Non-Essential Clauses and Appositives

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• Example: My sister, who is very social, was elected class president.

  • They are surrounded by commas and can be removed without creating grammatical errors or changes in the meaning of a sentence.

• Strategy: Cross out the non-essential phrases​

• ​My sister, who is very social, was elected class president.

Multiple Choice

My boss, who is extremely kind to his employees, ____ helpful advice.

• give

• gives

Multiple Choice

Dickinson's last twenty years of letters - many over 1,500 words in length - reveals the breadth and depth of

• NO CHANGE

• reveal

• will of revealed

• would of revealed

Compound Subjects

• A compound subject is a subject in which two singular nouns are connected by "and."

• In a sentence with a compound subject, you should use the plural form of the verb.

• Examples:

  • Justin and the ACT are friends.​

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

The dogs and their owners ___ reunited.

• was

• were

Multiple Choice

New words and new meanings for old words ___ included.

• is

• are

Final Tips for Subject/Verb Agreement

1. Cross out all prepositional phrases

   1. Every one of the students try/tries hard.​

2. Cross out word groups within commas

   1. The girls, along with their dogs, walk/walks daily.​

3. Cross out word groups beginning with either...or and neither...nor

   1. Either the vase or the dish was/were a gift.​

4. ​Find the subject of the sentence - what the sentence is about

   1. it cannot be anything you've crossed out​

5. Select the verb​ - describes the action or state of being

   1. singular subject = singular verb; plural subject = plural verb

   2. compound subject (joined with and) = plural verb​

Multiple Choice

Beautifully written sentences composed by the prolific and talented author has been integral to his success.

• NO CHANGE

• have been

• was

• is being

Multiple Choice

The size and style of the dress is not to my liking.

• NO CHANGE

• was

• will being

• are

Multiple Choice

The selfish man, who owns five cars and two houses, has been unwilling to give any money to charity.

• NO CHANGE

• were

• have been

• has being

Multiple Choice

Mastery of grammar rules are essential to doing well on ACT English.

• NO CHANGE

• are being

• is

• were

Multiple Choice

Swimming pools that are above ground are often mocked by snobs.

• NO CHANGE

• are being

• is

• will been