Using Subject-Verb Agreement

Using Subject-Verb Agreement What is subject-verb agreement? How to fix problems in agreement Phrases between subjects and verbs Indefinite pronouns Compound subjects Subjects after verbs Don’t and doesn’t Review A Review B What is subject-verb agreement? Every sentence has a subject and a verb Subject Verb The dog dog runs runs runs Subject Verb A ship shipsails sails sails Subject Verb Two children childrenplay play playmusic music music What is subject-verb agreement? Number Number is the form a word takes to show whether it is singular or plural • A word that refers to one thing is singular • A word that refers to more than one is plural Singular Plural scientists scientist goose geese they she What is subject-verb agreement? Singular subjects A verb should agree in number with its subject • Singular subjects take singular verbs Singular Singular Verb Subject Tabitha Tabitha rides ridesthe the thetrain train train rides Singular Singular Subject Verb He repairs thebicycle bicycle He repairs the What is subject-verb agreement? Plural subjects • Plural subjects take plural verbs Plural Plural Subject Verb The ridethe thetrain train The girls ride girls ride Plural Subject Plural Verb repair thebicycle They Theyrepair repairthe the bicycle bicycle What is subject-verb agreement? Plural subjects In a verb phrase the first helping verb agrees with the subject Singular Singular Verb Phrase Helping Verb Subject is repairing the bicycle He is Plural Plural HelpingVerb VerbPhrase Subject are repairing repairing the bicycle They They are What is subject-verb agreement? On Your Own For each sentence, identify the subject, and then choose the verb in parentheses that agrees with the subject The water (rushes, rush) down the river The bees (buzzes, buzz) around the picnic table The photograph (was, were) a gift from my cousin At the science fair the winner always (receives, receive) a savings bond They (march, marches) in all the parades [End of Section] How to fix problems in agreement Phrases between subjects and verbs Sometimes a phrase comes between the subject and the verb Subject Verb Phrase Verb of Coyote those folk tales is Coyote The hero is The number of the subject is usually not changed by a phrase following the subject Subject Verb The hero of those folk tales is Coyote How to fix problems in agreement Phrases between subjects and verbs Subject Verb bag of marblesisison onthe theshelf shelf A bag of marbles Is agrees with bag, not marbles Subject Verb The peppers peppersin inthe the garden garden have quickly have grown grown quickly The helping verb have agrees with peppers, not garden How to fix problems in agreement Phrases between subjects and verbs On Your Own For each of the following sentences, choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses A tidal wave, despite its name, (is, are) not caused by the tides Earthquakes beneath the sea (causes, cause) most tidal waves Tidal waves in the open ocean generally (does, do) not cause much interest The height of tidal waves there often (remains, remain) low [End of Section] ...What is subject -verb agreement? Every sentence has a subject and a verb Subject Verb The dog dog runs runs runs Subject Verb A ship shipsails sails sails Subject Verb Two children childrenplay... geese they she What is subject -verb agreement? Singular subjects A verb should agree in number with its subject • Singular subjects take singular verbs Singular Singular Verb Subject Tabitha Tabitha... Singular Singular Subject Verb He repairs thebicycle bicycle He repairs the What is subject -verb agreement? Plural subjects • Plural subjects take plural verbs Plural Plural Subject Verb The ridethe