1. Subject-Verb
Agreement
English 9
Ms. Parviainen

2. Singular versus Plural
 In
English, we can make words
singular and plural
Singular,
meaning “one”
Plural, meaning “two or more”
 Nouns
plural
and verbs can be singular or

3. Singular and Plural Nouns
Singular Nouns
 Truck
 Player
 Box
 Watch
 Woman
 Mouse
Plural Nouns
 Trucks
 Players
 Boxes
 Watches
 Women
 Mice

4. Singular and Plural Pronouns
Singular Pronouns Plural Pronouns
I
 We
 You
 You
 He
 They
 She
 It

5. Singular and Plural Verbs
 Some
verbs are always singular:
He
walked, Emily walked
He has walked, Emily has walked
I am, She is
 Some
plural:
I
verbs can be singular or
walk, they walk
You are, they are

6. Combining them
 Singular
nouns needs singular verbs
 Plural nouns need plural verbs
She
always tells the truth.
They always tell the truth.
The
twins always tell the truth.
The twin always tells the truth.

7. Also…
A
phrase or clause that interrupts a
subject and its verb does not affect
subject-verb agreement.
The captain of the guards stands at
attention.
The troopers whom the captain put in
charge of the roadblock stand on either
side.
Do Subject-Verb Agreement A,-B 105-6

8. Indefinite Pronouns
 Pronouns
are words used in place of
regular nouns, like “he”, “she”, or “it”.
 Some pronouns are “indefinite
pronouns”—they refer to no specific
noun.
 Some pronouns are singular, some
are plural, and some can be singular
or plural depending on how they are
used.

9. Singular Indefinite Pronouns
Another
 Anybody
 Anyone
 Anything
 Each
 Either
 Everybody
 Everyone
 Everything
 Little

Much
 Neither
 Nobody
 no one
 Nothing
 One
 Other
 Somebody
 Someone
 Something


10. Plural Indefinite Pronouns
 Both
 Few
 Many
 Others
 Several

11. Singular/Plural Indefinite Pronouns
 All
 Any
 More
 Most
 None
 Some
Do Subject-Verb Agreement: Indefinite Pronouns A,-B p. 107-108

12. Compound Subjects

13. What is a compound subject?
A
subject is the person or thing
committing the act described in the
verb:
The
author fought during WWII.
A
compound subject links two or
more subjects to one verb:
J.R.R.
Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were in a
literary society.

14. Compound Subject Agreement
A
compound subject joined by “and” is
generally plural and must have a plural
verb.
Penny
and Rose are going to lose.
The boys and the girls are going to have a
rematch.
The twins and Sam are going to have a
rematch.

15. Compound Subject Agreement
 Two
or more singular objects joined by
“or” or “nor” must have a singular verb.
Beth
or Sam is going to win.
Neither sleet nor snow can stop us.
 Two
or more plural subjects joined by
“or” or “nor” must have a plural verb.
Beth,
Sam, or the twins are going to win.
Either the twins or Sam are going to win.

16. Compound Subject Agreement
 If
the parts of the compound item are
thought of as one item, a singular verb is
needed
Bacon
and eggs is my favorite breakfast.
 If
a singular and plural subject are joined
by “or” or “nor”, the verb agrees with the
subject nearer the verb.
Neither
the team members nor the coach
has been to the Superbowl.
Do Agreement with Compound Subjects A-B, Page 109-110