S/V Agreement

Subject/Verb Agreement

​All nouns and pronouns have a number. They are singular in number if they refer to one thing. They are plural in number if they refer to more than one thing.

​If a noun refers to one thing, it is singular.

• hat, I, sky, principal​

​Singular or Plural

​If a noun refers to more than one thing, it is plural

• hats, we, skies, principals

A verb agrees with its subject in number.

​Two words agree when they have the same number. The number of the verb must agree with the number of the subject.

​Singular subjects take singular verbs.

Linda begins her vacation today.

​The lightning fills the sky.

​The verb fills is singular to agree with the singular subject lightning.

​The verb begins is singular to agree with the plural subject Linda.

​Plural subjects take plural verbs.

​New families move into our neighborhood frequently.

​Cheetahs run faster than most other animals.

​The verb run is plural to agree with the plural subject cheetahs.

​The verb move is plural to agree with the plural subject families.

​Notice that the -s on the verb is a singular verb whereas an -s on the subject is a plural subject.

Prepositional phrases following the subject do not affect the agreement.

​Cross out all prepositional phrases...look out for prepositional phrases beginning with of or in

Multiple Choice

What is the subject of the sentence?

The windows in the house stick easily.

• windows

• house

• stick

Multiple Choice

That bag of oranges _____ fresh.

• look
• looking
• looks

Multiple Choice

A pound of cookies________ about a dollar.

• cost

• costs

Multiple Choice

Two pieces of pie ________ eaten before dinner.

• was

• were

Doesn't Don't

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​Does is a singular verb and goes with a singular noun, so doesn't is a singular contraction.

​Do is a plural verb and goes with a plural noun, so don't is a plural contraction.

Multiple Choice

Where _______ your family live?.

• do

• does

Multiple Choice

They _____ make cookies anymore.

• doesn't

• don't

Multiple Choice

_____anything in this box belong to you?

• Do

• Does

Multiple Choice

My brother ______ work very much.

• doesn't

• does

• do

• don't

Multiple Choice

She ______ to school in the morning.

• doesn't goes

• don't go

• don't goes

• doesn't go

Compound Subjects

​When 2 or more subjects are connected by and, even if they are both singular, they are followed by a plural verb.

​New York and Chicago (is, are) two of the largest cities in the United States.

​

Both talc and gypsum (show, shows) a fingernail scratch.​

Multiple Choice

Many a chair, table, and sofa __ destroyed in the warehouse fire.

• was

• were

Multiple Choice

The videocassette recorder and the camcorder ___ become popular items.

• has

• have

Multiple Choice

Talking to friends and playing basketball ____ a great amount of my brother's day.

• consume

• consumes

​Either...or Neither...nor

​Verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

Multiple Choice

Neither the Minister nor his colleagues ………………………… given any explanation for this.

• has

• have

Multiple Choice

The chief executives or their assistant ____ due to arrive tonight.

• is

• are

​If a sentence begins with here or there, use the subject that follows to determine whether you need a plural or singular verb.

​

There is a delicious slushy in Dave's future.​

Multiple Choice

There __________ fifteen candies in that bag.

• was

• were

• do

• did

Multiple Choice

Here __________ the mail and newspapers that I picked up for you while you were on vacation.

• was

• were

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Here _______ the body of my beloved grandmother.

• Lie

• Lies

Multiple Choice

12. There is only two dollars in my wallet.

• Correct

• Wrong

Singular Indefinite pronouns

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​The following indefinite pronouns are ALWAYS singular:

• each, either, neither,

• one

• everyone, anyone someone, no one

• everybody, anybody, somebody​, nobody

• everything, anything, something, nothing

Multiple Choice

Each of the apples (was, were) ripe.

• was

• were

Multiple Choice

Each of the rookies (was, were) welcomed to the team.

• was

• were

Multiple Choice

(Do, Does) everyone in the band play well?

• Do

• Does

Multiple Choice

One of these dogs (has, have) fleas.

• has

• have

Multiple Choice

Everyone in the surrounding towns (was, were) warned about the epidemic.

• was

• were

Plural Indefinite pronouns

​The following indefinite pronouns are ALWAYS plural:

• both

• few

• many

• much

• several

Multiple Choice

Both of the football coaches (work, works) with the players every afternoon.

• work

• works

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is written correctly?

• Only one of the answers is correct.

• Only one of the answers are correct.

​Infinitive

​Gerund

​gerunds and infinitives are always SINGULAR

​-ing verb that functions as a noun

• Reading is difficult.​

​to + verb

• ​To speak five languages is a difficult skill.

Multiple Choice

Apologizing to me (isn't/aren't) enough.

• isn't

• aren't

Collective nouns...it depends on the context

​Some nouns name a group: jury, team, class, students, flock, company, etc.

• ​The audience is happy.

• ​The audience are from different countries.

Multiple Choice

The team ____ eating with their families tonight.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

The pack of dogs ____________running off in different directions.

• is

• are