Subject Verb Agreement Review

Making Subjects and Verbs Agree

Singular subjects match with singular verbs. Plural subjects match with plural verbs.

Remember for Regular Verbs: Singular verbs = verb + s

Plural verbs = verb

Example: The tree loses its leaves. (singular subject - singular verb)

Multiple Choice

Our galaxy's name (is, are) the Milky Way.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

The Milky Way (consists, consist) of the sun and other stars, the nine planets, gas, and dust.

• consists

• consist

Multiple Choice

The combined light from all the stars (spreads, spread) out to form a band of light across the sky.

• spreads

• spread

Multiple Choice

The spiral arms of the Milky Way (radiates, radiate) from the center.

• radiates

• radiate

Multiple Choice

Scientists (believes, believe) there are billions of galaxies in the universe.

• believes

• believe

Locating the Subject

The subject and verb must agree even when they're separated.

​Separated by a prepositional phase	​When sentences begin with here or there	​Interrogative Sentences
​The paper on the counter is the grocery list.	​There are the pens that I love most.	​Are you going to the dance?

Multiple Choice

What is the subject of the sentence?

There are more cookies in the kitchen.

• There

• are

• cookies

• kitchen

Multiple Choice

What is the subject of the sentence?

Has your mother called you?

• Has

• your

• mother

• you

Multiple Choice

What is the subject of the sentence?

Cars with airbags appear safer than those without them.

• Cars

• airbags

• those

• them

Multiple Choice

What is the subject of the sentence?

The kittens on the windowsill watch the birds.

• kittens

• windowsill

• watch

• birds

Multiple Choice

What is the subject of the sentence?

Was the teacher happy with their performance?

• Was

• teacher

• happy

• performance

Multiple Choice

What is the subject of the sentence?

Here is the recipe for the chocolate chip cookies.

• Here

• recipe

• chocolate

• cookies

Collective nouns and special subjects

1.If the noun is acting as a group, it's singular. If a noun is referring to individuals, it's plural.

2. Some nouns that end in -s take a singular verb. (mathematics, mumps, news)

3. Some nouns that end in -s take a plural verb. (binoculars, clothes, pliers, scissors, jeans)

4. Titles of books or works of art are always singular.

5. If an amount is treated as a single unit, it takes a singular verb. If it's referred to as individuals, it takes a plural verb.

Some text here about the topic of discussion

A collective noun names a group.

Multiple Choice

Where the Red Fern Grows (is, are) the book our teacher assigned us.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Your jeans (is, are) still in the dryer.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

The team (was, were) defeated last Sunday.

• was

• were

Multiple Choice

The scissors (is, are) too big for the little girl to hold.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Your glasses (breaks, break) every time!

• breaks

• break

Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects

​Singular	​Plural	​Depends on noun following
​another, anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, much, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, somebody, someone, something	​both, few, many, others, several	​all, any, most, none, some

Multiple Choice

Few of the parents (was, were) as proud as my stepfather.

• was

• were

Multiple Choice

All of us (is, are) ready for summer vacation.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

No one (minds, mind) standing in line for tickets to that concert.

• minds

• mind

Multiple Choice

Few (understands, understand) the theme of that movie.

• understands

• understand

Multiple Choice

Many of the books (discusses, discuss) the space program.

• discusses

• discuss

Agreement with Compound Subjects

1.Two or more subjects joined by and or by both...and take a plural verb.

2. However, if and joins a compound subject referring to one individual, it takes a singular verb.

3. When a compound subject is joined by or, nor, neither...nor, or either...or, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

Multiple Choice

Reading, drawing, and painting (amuses, amuse) Ethan in his spare time.

• amuses

• amuse

Multiple Choice

Neither food nor drinks (is, are) permitted in the library.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

The ventriloquist and his puppet (was, were) the star of the show!

• was

• were

Multiple Choice

Doctors and nurses (watches, watch) over the patients.

• watches

• watch

Multiple Choice

Neither my mom nor my dad (was, were) able to come to the show.

• was

• were

Poll

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