subject-verb_powerpoint.ppt many example

Subject/Verb Agreement
Rule #1
 Plural nouns usually
end in –s.
 Singular verbs
usually end in –s.

Rule #2
 Singular subjects need singular verbs.
 Examples:
 He washes the dishes.
 A girl in my neighborhood plays in the band.

Rule #3
 Plural subjects need plural verbs.
 Examples:
 They wash the dishes.
 Several girls in my neighborhood play in the
band.

Rule #4
 Don’t determine the number of a subject
by a word in a phrase or clause
following the subject.
 Examples:
 The apartments across the street (does, do)
have balconies.
 Eli, one of my friends, (was, were) late.
 The planes pulling up to the gate (was,
were) purchased by a movie company.

Rule #5
 Singular Indefinite Pronouns Take
Singular Verbs…

Singular Indefinite Pronouns
Each Either Neither One
Anybody Somebody Nobody Everybody
Anyone Someone No one Everyone
Anything Something Nothing Everything

 How to remember these????
 Each, Either, Neither…The ONES, The
BODYS, The THINGS, + ONE

 Examples
 Each of the athletes (run, runs) effortlessly.
 Neither of the women (is, are) ready to start.
 Someone (was, were) waving a large flag.
 (Does, do) everyone who signed up enjoy
playing tennis.

Rule #5
 Plural Indefinite Pronouns Take Plural
Verbs

Plural Indefinite Pronouns
Both Several
Few Many

 Both sisters found mom.
 BOTH SEVERAL FEW MANY

 Examples
 (Were, was) both of the games postponed?
 Few that I know of (has, have) qualified.
 Several of the runners (is, are) exercising.

Rule #5
 Singular OR Plural Indefinite Pronouns
can take either singular or plural verbs
depending on how they are used in each
sentence

Singular-Plural Pronouns
All Any More
Most None Some

 All Active Men Need More Sports.
 ALL ANY MOST
NONE MORE SOME

 Examples
 Some of the test (is, are) hard.
 Some of the questions (is, are) hard.
 Most of his routine (sound, sounds)
familiar.
 Most of his jokes (sound, sounds) familiar.
 (Was, were) any of the feedback positive?
 (Was, were) any of the reviews positive?

Rule #6
 Two subjects joined by AND take a
plural subject
 Examples:
 George Lucas and Steven Spielberg (make,
makes) movies.
 Rhythm and imagery (helps, help) poets
express their feelings.

Rule #6
 Exception…Compound subjects that
name only one person, thing, or place
take a singular verb.
 Examples:
 My pen pal and best friend (is, are) my
cousin.
 Macaroni and cheese (is, are) my favorite
dish.

Rule #7
 Subjects joined by OR or NOR…the
verb should agree with the subject
closest to it.
 Neither the children nor the their mother
(were, was) ready for the trip.
 Neither the mother nor her children (were,
was) ready for the trip.

Compound Subjects Examples
 Either Anne or Tony (load, loads) the
dishwasher.
 Neither the coach nor the principal (is,
are) happy with the team’s performance.
 Either the boys or their sisters (take,
takes) the garbage out.
 Neither the dogs nor the cats (comes,
come) when we call them.

Rule #8
 Collective nouns may be either singular
or plural, depending on their meaning in
the sentence
 Examples:
 The class (has, have) completed their
projects.
 The class (has, have) elected its officers.

Rule #9
 An expression of an amount may be
singular or plural depending on how it’s
used in a sentence.
 Three fourths of the pizza (is, are) gone.
 Of these songs, three fourths (is, are)
new.

Amount Examples
 Two hours (was, were) a long time to
wait.
 Thirty dollars (was, were) too much for
a concert ticket.
 Six dollars (was, were) found in the
couch cushions.
 Two hours—one before school and one
after—(is, are) all I have for practice.

Rule #10
 Some nouns that are plural in form that
singular verbs
 “Memories” (is, are) my favorite poem.
 Rickets (are, is) a serious health
concern in some countries.
 The news of the nominee (was, were) a
surprise.

Rule #11
 Subjects preceded by EVERY or MANY
A take singular verbs.
 Every homeowner and storekeeper
(has, have) joined the cleanup.
 Many a litterbug (was, were) surprised
by the stiff fines.

subject-verb_powerpoint.ppt many example

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