Grammar subject verb agreement

Subject Verb Agreement
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What can be a subject?
- A noun (preference)
- A pronoun (I, he, she ,it, …..)
- A word acting as a noun
- Gerund (dancing is my favorite…)
- Infinitive
- Adjective with article the (The delicious is…)

Plural Subject Plural Verb
Old Dan and Little Ann run
The coon hounds share
The two fires glow
Billy’s parents fix

Singular
A poet explores beauty.
The theme touches readers.
Robert Frost writes about farms.

Singular Plural
A poet explores beauty. Poets explore beauty.
The theme touches readers. The themes touch readers.
Robert Frost writes about farms. Frost and Robinson write about farms.

41 2 3
The Number of Subjects

41
A noun ending
in s/es/ies is
usually a
regular plural
noun such as:
Boys
Boxes
flies
2 3

41
A noun ending
in s/es/ies is
usually a
regular plural
noun such as:
Boys
Boxes
flies
2
Irregular plural
noun such as:
Children
People
phenomena
3

41
A noun ending
in s/es/ies is
usually a
regular plural
noun such as:
Boys
Boxes
flies
2
Irregular plural
noun such as:
Children
People
phenomena
3
Singular
Pronoun
He
She
It
Someone
Every one

4
Plural
Pronoun
They
other
both
some
those
these
all
1
A noun ending
in s/es/ies is
usually a
regular plural
noun such as:
Boys
Boxes
flies
2
Irregular plural
noun such as:
Children
People
phenomena
3
Singular
Pronoun
He
She
It
Someone
everyone

The Number of Verbs
A verb ending in s/es/ies is
usually a singular verb such
as:
walks
goes
buys
accompanies

The Rules of Subject-verb agreement
.

.
Singular Subject
+
Singular Verb
-Dara speaks Chinese.
-He teaches Chinese.

.
Singular Subject
+
Singular Verb
-Dara speaks Chinese.
-He teaches Chinese.
Plural Subject
+
Plural Verb
-His parents are Chinese.

.

.
Singular Subject
+
modifiers (s)
+
Singular Verb
Dara with his students
speaks Chinese fluently.

.
Singular Subject
+
modifiers (s)
+
Singular Verb
Dara with his students
speaks Chinese fluently.
Plural Subject
+
modifier(s)
+
Plural Verb
His parents followed by
Dara are Chinese.

.

.
For compound
subjects joined
by and or
both…
and…,the verb
is in plural form.
-You and I are
friends.
-Both you and I
are Cambodian.

.
For compound
subjects joined
by and or
both…
and…,the verb
is in plural form.

.
For compound
subjects joined
by and or
both…
and…,the verb
is in plural form.
-You and I are
friends.
-Both you and I
are Cambodian.
If compound
subjects joined by
and or both…
and…refers to
one unit, the verb
is in singular
form.

.
For compound
subjects joined
by and or
both…
and…,the verb
is in plural form.
-You and I are
friends.
-Both you and I
are Cambodian.
If compound
subjects joined by
and or both…
and…refers to
one unit, the verb
is in singular
form.
-The room and
wall needs
renovating.

.
For compound
subjects joined
by and or
both…
and…,the verb
is in plural form.
-You and I are
friends.
-Both you and I
are Cambodian.
If compound
subjects joined by
and or both…
and…refers to
one unit, the verb
is in singular
form.
-The room and
wall needs
renovating.
For compound subjects joined by
or, nor, either…or…, neither…
nor…, or not only… but also…,the
verb agree with the nearer subject.

.
For compound
subjects joined
by and or
both…
and…,the verb
is in plural form.
-You and I are
friends.
-Both you and I
are Cambodian.
If compound
subjects joined by
and or both…
and…refers to
one unit, the verb
is in singular
form.
-The room and
wall needs
renovating.
For compound subjects joined by
or, nor, either…or…, neither…
nor…, or not only… but also…,the
verb agree with the nearer subject.
-John or his friends were in this
room.
-Either John or his friends were
in this room.
-John’s friends or he was in this
room.
-Either John’s friends or he was
in this room.

.

.
Always-Singular
Indefinite Pronouns
One
no one
anyone
Everyone
Someone
nobody
nothing
each
anybody
Anything
either
everybody
Everything
Neither
somebody
something

.
Always-Singular
Indefinite Pronouns
One
no one
anyone
Everyone
Someone
nobody
nothing
each
anybody
Anything
either
everybody
Everything
Neither
somebody
something
Always-Plural
Indefinite Pronouns
several
many
few
both

.
Always-Singular
Indefinite Pronouns
One
no one
anyone
Everyone
Someone
nobody
nothing
each
anybody
Anything
either
everybody
Everything
Neither
somebody
something
Always-Plural
Indefinite Pronouns
several
many
few
both
depending upon the
nouns to which they
refer
some
all
any
most
none

.
Always-Singular
Indefinite Pronouns
When we checked,
everything was as it
should be.
Always-Plural
Indefinite Pronouns
Many in my class are
good at grammar.
depending upon the
nouns to which they
refer
All of the money is gone.
All of the children want
dessert.

.

.
Special
Nouns:
take singular
verbs.
Mumps
Measles
- Mathematics
interests many
people.

.
Special
Nouns:
take singular
verbs.
Mumps
Measles
- Mathematics
interests many
people.
Special
Nouns:
end in –s ,
take plural
verb.
scissors
Pants
binoculars
eyeglasses
Shorts
- Your pants
are too short.

.
Special
Nouns:
take singular
verbs.
Mumps
Measles
- Mathematics
interests many
people.
Special
Nouns:
end in –s ,
take plural
verb.
scissors
Pants
binoculars
eyeglasses
Shorts
- Your pants
are too short.
Special
Nouns:
end in –ics, may be
singular or plural,
depending upon their
meaning.
-Politics is often
interesting.
(one subject of interest)
-His politics are
shameless.
(more than one action of
political nature)



.
Collective
Nouns: A
collective
noun names a
group
- The army
defends the
nation.
- The army
guard their
camp.

Titles: A title is
always singular,
even if a noun within
the title is plural.
- Little Women
delights readers of
all ages
.
Collective
Nouns: A
collective
noun names a
group
- The army
defends the
nation.
- The army
guard their
camp.

Nouns of Amount: When
a noun of amount refers to
a total that is considered
as one unit, it is singular.
When it refers to a number
of individual units, it is
plural.
- Two months is the
waiting period. (one unit of
time)
- Two months have
gone by. (two individual
time periods)
Titles: A title is
always singular,
even if a noun within
the title is plural.
- Little Women
delights readers of
all ages
.
Collective
Nouns: A
collective
noun names a
group
- The army
defends the
nation.
- The army
guard their
camp.

.
Linking Verbs: Do not be confused by a predicate
nominative that is different in number from the subject. Only
the subject affects the number of the linking verb.

.
-The last course was three
subjects in English and two
other subjects in Khmer.
(The verb was agrees with
course, not with the predicate
nominative subjects)

.
-The main courses for
dinner were a selection of
fish dishes.
(The verb were agrees with
courses, not with the
predicate nominative a
selection)
-The last course was three
subjects in English and two
other subjects in Khmer.
(The verb was agrees with
course, not with the predicate
nominative subjects)

.
Inverted Sentences:

.
Inverted Sentences:
1.
Interrogative
Sentence.
- Does the eagle live
in the mountain?

.
Inverted Sentences:
1.
Interrogative
Sentence.
in the mountain?
2.
Prepositional
Phrase +
Verb +
Subject.
- In front of
students
stands the
teacher.

.
Inverted Sentences:
1.
Interrogative
Sentence.
in the mountain?
2.
Prepositional
Phrase +
Verb +
Subject.
- In front of
students
stands the
teacher.
3.
The sentence begins
with the words there
or here.
- There is an eagle
on the mountain.
- Here come the last
two runners.

9.

Greek and Latin
words
criterion
Medium
Phenomenon
-The main
criterion for
passing this
course is
attendance.
9.

Greek and Latin
words
criterion
Medium
Phenomenon
-The main
criterion for
passing this
course is
attendance.
Fractions are
affected by the
prepositional
phrase
-One half of the
computers are
not working.
-One half of the
paper is well
written.
9.

Greek and Latin
words
criterion
Medium
Phenomenon
-The main
criterion for
passing this
course is
attendance.
Fractions are
affected by the
prepositional
phrase
-One half of the
computers are
not working.
-One half of the
paper is well
written.
When a relative
pronoun, who, which,
or that, is used as a
subject, it depends on
the modifier
- Gary is one of those
people who are
very private.
- Gary is a person
who is very private.
9.

Billy’s biggest
problem are the
many sleepless
nights.
Billy’s biggest
problem is the
many sleepless
nights.
Identify the wrong and right sentences.

Wrong
Billy’s biggest
problem are the
many sleepless
nights.
Right
Billy’s biggest
problem is the
many sleepless
nights.

The topic of these
books are dogs.
The topic of
these books is
dogs.

Wrong
The topic of these
books are dogs.
Right
The topic of
these books is
dogs.

Each of the
dogs hunt well.
Each of the dogs
hunts well.

Wrong
Each of the
dogs hunt well.
Right
Each of the dogs
hunts well.

Every one of
the members of
both hunting
teams are
here.
Every one of
the members of
both hunting
teams is here.

Wrong
Every one of
the members of
both hunting
teams are
here.
Right
Every one of
the members of
both hunting
teams is here.

Little Ann, as
well as Old
Dan, like to
hunt.
Little Ann, as well
as Old Dan, likes
to hunt.

Wrong
Little Ann, as
well as Old
Dan, like to
hunt.
Right
Little Ann, as well
as Old Dan, likes
to hunt.

Billy, in addition
to all the other
boys in the
mountains, grow
up loving hound
dogs.
Billy in addition to
all the other boys
in the mountains,
grows up loving
hound dogs.

Wrong
Billy, in addition
to all the other
boys in the
mountains, grow
up loving hound
dogs.
Right
Billy in addition to
all the other boys
in the mountains,
grows up loving
hound dogs.

Either Little
Ann or Old
Dan hunt
during the
heat of the
summer.
Either Little Ann or
Old Dan hunts
during the heat of
the summer.

Wrong
Either Little
Ann or Old
Dan hunt
during the
heat of the
summer.
Right
Either Little Ann or
Old Dan hunts
during the heat of
the summer.

Wrong
Peanut butter
and jelly are
Billy’s favorite
sandwich.
Right
Peanut butter
and jelly is
Billy’s favorite
sandwich.

Peanut butter
and jelly are
Billy’s favorite
sandwich.
Peanut butter
and jelly is
Billy’s favorite
sandwich.

Five hundred
dollars is a lot of
money.
Five hundred
dollars are a
lot of money.

Right
Five hundred
dollars is a lot of
money.
Wrong
Five hundred
dollars are a
lot of money.

Movies in today’s
market makes a
great deal of
money.
Incorrect

Movies in today’s
market make a
great deal of
money.
Revised

The American
audiences pays
for tickets at
the theater
and for cable at
home.
Incorrect

The American
audiences pay for
tickets at the
theater and for
cable at home.
Revised

The international
market, which
includes dozens
of countries,
produces even
more profit.
Correct

Films are very
expensive to
manufacture, so
American studios
creates far more
films than other
countries.
Incorrect

Films are very
expensive to
manufacture, so
American studios
create far more
films than other
countries.
Revised

There is many
advantages to
seeing a movie
in the theater
rather than
watching
a video at home.
Incorrect

There are many
advantages to
seeing a movie
in the theater
rather than
watching a video
at home.
Revised

The dark theater
and the enormous
screen take the
movie viewer to
another world.
Correct

The background
music in movies
play an important
role.
Incorrect

The background
music in movies
plays an important
role.
Revised

The music creates
a mood and gives a
signal of something
to come.
Correct

Not everyone in
the entertainment
fields agree about
the quality of
movies.
Incorrect

Not everyone in the
entertainment field
agrees about the
quality of movies.
Revised

Neither the use of
subtitles nor black
and white
photography
demonstrate the
preferences of most
Americans.
Incorrect

Neither the use of
subtitles nor black
and white
photography
demonstrates the
preferences of most
Americans.
Revised

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Grammar subject verb agreement

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