Subj/Pred and Subj/Verb Agreement

Subject/Predicate and Subject Verb Agreement

By Ashley Moody

At this point, you understand the basic concept of what a subject and predicate is.

But there are some circumstances that have been confusing for you.
Let's work on those today.

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Subject and Predicates

Quick Tip: Replace Nouns with Pronouns

Marvin and Alex run/runs every day after school.

Example

You are struggling to figure out what verb goes with the subject?
Replace the subject with a pronoun!

Problem:

Marvin and Alex They run/runs every day after school.

Replace Marvin and Alex with "They"

Multiple Choice

The mama bird and her hatchlings______________ throughout the night.

(Hint: replace the subject with "they")

• snuggle

• snuggles

Collective Nouns

You've got this part down!

• You know examples of collective nouns! flock, group, class, hive, family, etc.

• You know collective nouns are Singular and have Singular verbs.

  • The hive buzzes.

• Remember singular verbs end in "s" (like the word singular)

  • The fleet sails.
    

Multiple Choice

My family ___________ on River Street. (Hint: family is singular--replace it with a singular pronoun like "it")

• live

• lives

Collective Nouns

Complete Subject: A pack of wolves

Which is the simple subject?

Pack or wolves

Example

Sometimes the collective noun has extra information after it that is confusing.

These are typically prepositional phrases that sound like the subject

The problem

Collective nouns

More examples

The tribe of natives prepares for the winter. (remember: you can replace tribe with a singular pronoun "it")
The class of graduates prepares for the ceremony.

Multiple Choice

Practice: The swarm of locusts _______on the plants (Hint: replace swarm with "it")

• feed

• feeds

Multiple Choice

Practice: A choir of angels in the sky _____________softly in the morning. (Hint: replace choir with "it")

• serenade

• serenades

Neither/Nor Either/Or

Typically are singular in nature so they take a singular verb.
For example:
Neither the boy nor the girl wants to play the game.

boy and girl are singular, so the verb is singular

A Tip!

Neither the boy nor the girl wants to play the game.

Neither the boy nor the girl (HE) wants to play the game.

Example

Replace the subject of the sentence with a singular pronoun: He/She/It
Then determine which noun you would use

Remember:

Multiple Choice

Neither the truck driver nor the pedestrian _________ the stop sign.

(Hint: replace the entire subject with "he")

• sees

• see

Exception!
In the English language there is always an exception!

What if both of the subjects are not singular?

Go with the noun that is closest to the verb

Neither the teacher nor the students wants/want to cancel spring break.

In this case:

Neither the teacher nor the students wants/want to cancel spring break.
*Students is plural

Example:

Multiple Choice

Practice: Neither the store manager nor the customers ____ the robber enter the store.

(Hint: which is closer to the verb)

• sees

• see

Multiple Choice

Practice: Neither the cows nor the guard dog ______ from the pasture for feeding time.

(Hint: use the subject closest to the verb)

• comes

• come

Let's practice a little of everything!

Multiple Choice

What is the subject of this sentence?

"A sudden gust of wind knocked over the umbrella."

• A sudden gust of wind

• knocked over

• the umbrella

Multiple Choice

What is the subject of this sentence?

"Several of the students in the class were late to school."

• students

• several

• of the students

• class

Multiple Choice

What is the subject of this sentence? The government of Bolivia decided to remain neutral in the matter.

• Bolivia

• matter

• government

Multiple Choice

Which of these sentences has a compound predicate?

• My cousin and I ate lunch.

• The teacher wrote on the board.

• The dog barked and ran in circles.

• The train arrived late.

Multiple Choice

What is the predicate of this sentence?

"The old lighthouse on the cliff stands tall despite the storms."

• The old lighthouse

• on the cliff

• stands tall despite the storms

Multiple Choice

Which verb is correct?

"The collection of rare books ___ in the library."

• is

• are

• be

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb:

"One of my favorite books ___ missing from the shelf."

(Hint: What is your subject? One or Books?)

• is

• are

• were

• be

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• The herd of deer graze near the river at dawn.

• The herd of deer grazes near the river at dawn.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence has a subject-verb agreement error?

• The bouquet of flowers smell wonderful.

• The committee debates every Friday.

• The band practices every evening.

• The group of friends was excited.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

• The twins enjoys playing soccer.

• The box of crayons was missing a few colors.

• The group of tourists were amazed by the view.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb:

"Each of the students ___ their homework before class."

(Hint: What is your subject: Each or students?)

• do

• does

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb:

"Neither the teacher nor the students ___ prepared for the pop quiz."

(Hint: One of the terms is singular and one is plural)

• are

• is

• am

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb:

"Either my sister or my brother ___ taking the car tonight."

(Hint: both terms are singular. Replace with a singular pronoun to figure it out)

• is

• are

• be

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb:

"Either the boys or the girl ___ responsible for the decorations."

• is

• are

• be

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb:

"Neither my friends nor my cousin ______ to the concert."

• be going

• is going

• are going

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb:

"Neither the cake nor the pie___ been eaten yet."

• has

• have