This document provides an overview of parts of speech and subject-verb agreement. It discusses the eight parts of speech - noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection. It also covers the rules for subject-verb agreement, noting that a singular subject requires a singular verb and a plural subject requires a plural verb. Examples are given to illustrate these concepts and rules.

1. GRAMMAR CLASS
Based on the book: English Grammar for the utterly confused.
Written by Laurie Rozakis, Ph. D.

2. PARTS OF
SPEECH
Refers to the
function that each
word has in a
sentence.

3. PARTS OF
SPEECH
• Noun
• Pronoun
• Verb
• Adjective
• Adverb
• Preposition
• Conjunction
• Interjection

4. AGREEMENT:
MATCHING
SENTENCES
PARTS.
Subjects must agree
with verbs, and
pronouns must
agree with
antecedents. If they
do not, the
sentences will sound
awkward and
confusing.

5. FIRST RULE
A subject must agree with
its verb in number.

6. A SINGULAR SUBJECT
MUST HAVE A
SINGULAR VERB.

7. 1. A singular subject must have a singular verb.
She hesitates at all intersections, making the other drivers angry.
I am ready for dinner now.
2. Two or more singular subjects joined by or or nor must have a singular verb.
Either the dog or the cat has to go.
Neither Elvis Costello nor Elvis Presley is in the room.
Singular
subject
Singular
verb
Singular
subject
Singular
verb
Singular
subject
Singular
subject
Singular
verb
Singular
subject
Singular
subject
Singular
verb

8. 3. Subjects that are singular in meaning but plural in form must have a singular
verb. Examples: measles, civics, social studies, molasses, economics, etc.
The news is on very night at 11:00 pm.
4. Plural subjects that function as a singular unit take a singular verb.
Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite dish.
Bacon and eggs makes a great late-night snack.
Singular
subject
Singular
subject
Singular
subject
Singular
verb
Singular
verb
Singular
verb

9. 5. Tittles are always singular.
For Whom the Bell Tolls is a story about the Spanish civil war.
Stranger in a Strange Land was written by Robert Heinlein.
Singular
subject
Singular
subject
Singular
verb
Singular
verb

10. A PLURAL SUBJECT
MUST HAVE A PLURAL
VERB.

11. 1. A plural subject must have a plural verb.
On average, people fear spiders more than they do death.
Students at US colleges read about 60,000 pages in four years.
2. Two or more plural subjects joined by or or nor must have a plural verb.
Either the children or the adults are clearing the table.
Neither my relatives nor my friends are leaving any time soon.
Plural
subject
Plural
subject
Plural
subject
Plural
subject
Plural
subject
Plural
subject
Plural
subject
Plural
verb
Plural
verb
Plural
verb
Plural
verb
Plural
verb

12. 3. A compound subject joined by and is plural and must have a plural verb.
Brownies and ice cream are a spectacular dessert.
Nancy and Jonathan have donated money to charity.
4. If two or more singular and plural subjects are joined by or or nor, the subjects
closest to the verb determines agreement.
Margery or the twins are coming to Seattle.
Nor the twins or Margery is coming to Seattle.
Singular
subject
Singular
subject
Singular
subject
Singular
subject
Singular
subject
Singular
subject
Plural
verb
Plural
verb
Plural
verb
Plural
subject
Plural
subject
Singular
verb

13. EXERCISES