Sub-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement

The subject of the sentence must agree with the verb of the sentence in number.

​Basic Rule 1:

Singular Subjects:

• dog

• sister

• sun

​Agree with....

​Singular Verbs:

​ When the subject of a sentence is singular, use a singular verb.

• barks

• plays

• shines

​Basic Rule 2:

Plural Subjects:

• dogs

• sisters

• suns

​Agree with....

​Singular Verbs:

​ When the subject of a sentence is plural, use a plural verb.

• bark

• play

• shine

Multiple Choice

The players (is, are) going to the mall

• are
• is

Multiple Choice

My sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.

• is
• are

​Basic Rule 3:

​ Sometimes, sentences include prepositional phrases which separate the subject from the verb.

The book on the table belongs to me.

The colors of the rainbow are beautiful.

​Prepositions:

​ Sometimes, sentences include prepositional phrases which separate the subject from the verb.

• of

• in

• at

• on

• up

• over

• by

• from

• before

• behind

• above

• below

• towards

• into

• through

• across

• along

• among

• past

• throughout

• beneath

• under

• beside

• within

Multiple Choice

Select the correct verb that agrees with the collective noun.

The group of friends __________ to separate classrooms.

• goes

• go

Multiple Choice

Select the correct verb that agrees with the collective noun.

The audience of fans __________ disappointed in the performance.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

The fangs of a rattlesnake (carries, carry) poison to its prey.

• carries

• carry

​Basic Rule 4:

​ Sometimes, a singular verb or a plural verb are part of a contraction.

​Singular Verb Contractions

​PluralVerb Contractions

• isn't

• wasn't

• hasn't

• doesn't

• aren't

• weren't

• haven't

• don't

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence that has correct subject-verb agreement:

• There isn't many questions on the quiz.

• There aren't many questions on the quiz.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence that has correct subject-verb agreement:

• My friends wasn't absent yesterday.

• My friends weren't absent yesterday.

Multiple Choice

He (doesn't/don't) know the answer.

• doesn't

• don't

​Basic Rule 5:

​ Here or There

​

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

There is a delicious slushy in Dave's future.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence that has correct subject-verb agreement:

• There is many questions on the quiz.

• There are many questions on the quiz.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence that has correct subject-verb agreement:

• There is only one right answer.

• There are only one right answer.

Multiple Choice

Here _______ the directions to my house.

• are

• is

​Basic Rule 5:

​ Singular nouns that end in -s

The news is good.

The United Nations is headquartered in New York.

Multiple Choice

Brussels (is/are) the capital of Belgium.

• are

• is

​

Rule 7: singular indefinite pronouns

• each, either neither, nor

• anybody, somebody, nobody, everybody

• anyone, someone, no one, everyone

• anything, something, nothing, everything

Multiple Choice

Neither myself nor my sister ____ home.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Either my father or my brothers ____ going to jail.

• am

• are

Multiple Choice

Everyone at the party _____ to take a lie detector test.

• needs

• need

Multiple Choice

Each one of the students ___ passing.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Everyone in both classes (wants/want) to perform in the talent show.

• wants

• want

Multiple Choice

Only one of these dogs (bites/bite) without provocation.

• bites

• bite

​

Rule 8: plural indefinite pronouns

• both, several, few, many, much, some

Multiple Choice

Most of the students ____ passing.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Some of the ice from the polar caps (melts, melt) each summer.

• melts

• melt

​

Rule 9: collective nouns

• Singular or Plural depending on the context

• The audience is happy.

• The audience are from different countries.

Multiple Choice

A pod of dolphins _________ next to the boat.

• swim

• swims

Multiple Choice

The whole class ____________ at 3PM.

• meets

• meet

Multiple Choice

The team ________eating with their families tonight.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

The pack of dogs (is/are) running off in different directions.

• is

• are