This is a presentation on making verbs agree with noun subjects. This is a series of lessons intended for for separate discussions (may vary depending on the teacher's strategy). Covered in this lesson are the 12 rules in subject-verb agreement. Short activities are also provided in this lesson.

1. SUBJECT-VERB
AGREEMENT

2. Making Verbs
Agree with Noun
Subjects
Part I

3. RULE 1. Singular subjects take singular
verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.
Nouns ending in s are usually plural;
verbs ending in s are usually singular.
The band plays well. (singular)
The bands play well. (plural)

4. RULE 2. The number of a subject is not
usually affected by phrases between
the subject and the verb.
The cry of the captives was ignored.
(singular)
The cries of the captive were ignored.
(plural)

5. RULE 2. The number of a subject is not
usually affected by phrases between
the subject and the verb.
• Mr. Smith, together with the students,
goes to the library every day. (singular)
• The students, together with Mr. Smith,
go to the library every day. (plural)

6. RULE 3. The verb agrees with the
subject not the predicate nominative.
• Strawberries are the delicacy that I like
best. (plural)
• The delicacy that I like best is
strawberries. (singular)

7. (1) Underline each subject. (2) Circle the correct
verb in parentheses.
1. Crickets (is, are) one bait used to catch fish.
2. The corn in the far corners of the fields
(lack, lacks) sufficient moisture.
3. The winding river (flow, flows) deep into the
canyon.
4. The miracle of the ages (is, are) God’s love
for man.
5. The musicians in the queen’s court (play,
plays) with studied perfection.

8. Making Verbs
Agree with Noun
Subjects
Part 2

9. RULE 4. If a sentence asks a question
or begins with there or here, you must
be careful to locate the subject and
make the verb agree with it.
• Who are those visitors in the lobby?
• There were five possible choices.
• Here are the flowers you ordered.

10. RULE 5. Doesn’t, isn’t, and wasn’t are
singular and must be used with
singular subjects. Don’t, aren’t, and
weren’t are plural and must be used
with plural subjects.
• Scott isn’t fully prepared.
• These bushes don’t grow in the winter.

11. RULE 6. Titles of literary works, works
of art, organizations, cities, and
countries are usually singular even if
they are plural in form.
• “Dessert Places” is a thought-provoking poem
by Robert Frost.
• Faithful Hounds was the name of the prize-
winning painting.
• The Chicago Bears is a professional football
team.
• The Netherlands remains a free country at the
present time.

12. RULE 7. The following words are
usually singular although plural in
form: mumps, measles, rickets,
molasses, news, stamina.
• Measles is an extremely contagious disease.
• His stamina was the deciding factor in the
race.
• Molasses has been a family favorite for years.
• The news about the fire is shocking.

13. (1) Underline each subject. (2) Circle the correct
verb in parentheses.
1. Mumps (is, are) a disease affecting the glands.
2. “Precious Words” (is, are) a well-known poem
by Emily Dickinson.
3. There (was, were) many battles fought in the
civil war.
4. Adrian (don’t, doesn’t) know anything about
dueling.
5. Evening Scenes (is, are) a work by Washington
Irving.
6. Who (is, are) the current leaders of the small
satellite countries?

14. (1) Underline each subject. (2) Circle the
correct verb in parentheses.
7. The players (wasn’t, weren’t) able to eat
until after the game.
8. Measles (is, are) usually a disease of
childhood.
9. The nightly news (is, are) watched by
millions of Filipinos.
10. There (is, are) dogwood trees in the full
bloom.

15. Making Verbs
Agree with Noun
Subjects
Part 3

16. RULE 8. Collective nouns may
either be singular or plural.
• Collective noun names a group and is singular
in form. (e.g. jury, team, class, family)
• A collective noun is singular when the group is
thought of as a unit.
– The crew is very capable for that job. (singular)
• A collective noun is plural when the group is
thought of as individuals acting separately.
– The crew were arguing about what to do first. (plural)

17. RULE 9. Expressions stating amounts
(fractions, measurements, money,
time) may be singular or plural.
• They are singular when the amount is considered a
unit.
• They are plural when the amount is regarded as
separate parts.
– Twenty dollars is a fair price. (singular)
– Twenty dollars are spread out on the table. (plural)
– Nearly four fifths of the ice cream is gone. (singular)
– Four fifths of the students have completed their test.
(plural)

18. RULE 10. Words that end in –ics
may be singular or plural
depending on their meaning.
• When words that end in –ics refer to a course of
study or to a science, they are considered
singular.
–Mathematics is not my best course.
–Economics is offered in the second semester.
–Acoustics is a science that deals with sounds.
–Tactics was taught at the military academy.

19. RULE 10. Words that end in –ics
may be singular or plural
depending on their meaning.
• When words that end in –ics do not refer to a
course of study or to a science, they are
considered plural.
–The acoustics in this room are excellent.
–Their ethics are questionable.
–Athletics are very popular these days.

20. (1) Underline each subject. (2) Circle the correct
verb in parentheses.
1. The Brown family (is, are) attending the
seminar on the Christian home.
2. Thirty dollars (is, are) my tithe for January.
3. The committee (was, were) making last-
minute phone calls.
4. Sixty years (has, have) passed since the
grandfather died.
5. The Senate (is, are) in session this week.

21. (1) Underline each subject. (2) Circle the correct
verb in parentheses.
6. Electronics (is, are) a new course taught at
our junior college.
7. Two thirds of the trees (was, were)
uprooted by the gusty winds.
8. His gymnastics (was, were) forbidden in the
locker room.
9. One hundred pounds (was, were) the
average weight.
10. Mr. Crow’s homeroom class (is, are)
meeting in the auditorium.

22. Making Verbs
Agree with Noun
Subjects
Part 4

23. RULE 11. Compound subjects
joined by and take a plural verb.
• Caroline and Mirriam are good gooks.
(Note: Sometimes words joined by and refer to
only one person or are considered as one thing.
Use a singular verb in this situation.)
- My best friend and neighbor is Dennis Evans.
- Macaroni and cheese makes a delicious meal.

24. RULE 12. When a compound subject is
joined by or, nor, either… or, neither…
nor, the verb agrees with the nearer
subject.
• Either the girls or Mom is washing the dishes.
• Either Mom or the girls are washing the dishes.

25. (1) Underline each subject. (2) Circle the correct
verb in parentheses.
1. Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost (is, are)
famous American poets.
2. The Saviour and Lord of my life (is, are)
Jesus Christ.
3. Praying and witnessing (bring, brings0 glory
to God.
4. Salvation and eternal life (is, are) gifts from
God.
5. Strawberries and cream (make, makes) a
refreshing dessert.

26. Reference:
Grammar and Composition (by James A.
Chapman)