Subject Verb Agreement Grade 7 2018-2019

Subject-Verb Agreement
Keep Your Eyes Open

 Although often overlooked, problems with Subject-
Verb Agreement are REAL!
To help avoid these errors, we will discuss:

How to make Subjects and Verbs agree in number,
What to do with tricky subjects like Each and Every,
What to do with compound subjects
 Learn to spot and correct these errors and become a

believer.
Recognizing Subjects and
Verbs
 A complete sentence must have a SUBJECT and a
VERB.
 The subject is the who or what that performs the

action.
 The verb expresses an action or state of being.

Spot the Subject and Verb
 The players on our side are strong.
 The players on our side are strong.
 Players is the subject and are is the verb.
 Once you’ve identified the Subject and the Verb,

you have to make sure they agree in Number.
 Singular subjects require singular verbs and plural
subjects require plural verbs.
What’s Next?
 An easy way to make your subjects and
verbs agree is to think about the S.
 Usually, plural nouns end with the letter S
and singular nouns do not.
 Verbs are the opposite:
 For the most part, singular verbs end with
the letter S and plural verbs do not.
Therefore . . .
 The carS run, but the car runS.
 The plural noun cars takes the plural verb

run. There is only one S in the pair.
 The singular noun car takes the singular

verb runs. Again, There is only one S in the
pair.
To avoid problems
 Make sure that you know which word
functions as the subject.
One of my books is missing.
Simple Subject
To avoid problems
 Phrases beginning with the words with,
together with, including, as well as, along
with, and in addition to are not part of the
subject.
S V
Danny, together with his family, has left the
country.
Let’s Practice
Underline the verb that agrees with

the subject.
Example: One of the students (has,
have) left.
Let’s Practice
She (steps, step) down from the

cart with a quick, delicate pose.
Let’s Practice
The young girls (looks, look) up

with smiles.
Let’s Practice
Her nails (has, have) been long

but not painted.
Let’s Practice
He (has, have) heard so much

about her.
Let’s Practice
Our pet, together with spot,

(swallows, swallow) my ping pong
ball.
What if the Subject is an
Indefinite Pronoun?
 Indefinite Pronouns are words like

someone, others, several, or none. Some of
these pronouns are always singular or
always plural and still some can be either
singular or plural, depending on the context.
Indefinite Pronoun?
 The following common Indefinite Pronouns
usually take singular verbs:
 Another each everything nothing

anybody either neither somebody
anyone every nobody someone
anything everyone no one something
Indefinite Pronoun?
BEWARE!
The words both, few, many, and several are
plural indefinite pronouns.
Example:
Both students are sent to the principal’s
office.
Several have signed up for training.
Indefinite Pronoun?
BEWARE!
The words some, all, and most are singular
when they refer to a singular word. They are
plural when they refer to plural word/words.
SINGULAR PLURAL
all the water all of the books
most of the day most of the children
Let’s Practice
Everybody (play, plays) the piano.

Let’s Practice
Someone (has, have) rung the bell.

Let’s Practice
Both (takes, take) music lessons.

Let’s Practice
One of my friends (owns, own) a

gasoline station.
Let’s Practice
All of the water (has, have) leaked.

BEWARE
 Compound subjects do not end with S.
 Instead, compound subjects consist of two
or more subjects joined by and.
 We treat these subjects like any other plural
subject.
 The student and the instructor work long

hours.
BEWARE
 The student and the instructor work long
hours.
 The subject consists of two people.

Therefore, it is plural.
Let’s Practice
1. Mother and father (expects, expect) my
brother and his wife.
Let’s Practice
2. The crew members and the pilot (was,
were) not injured.
Let’s Practice
3. A teacher and two parents (rides, ride) on
each bus.
Let’s Practice
4. My grandparents and my uncle (drives,
drive) me to school to this weekend.
Let’s Practice
5. The officer and his bodyguard (takes, take)
a taxi.
BEWARE
 BE CAREFUL!
 When subjects are joined by and and

combine to form a single thing or person,
they are treated like a singular subject.
 Use a singular verb with such compound

subjects.
Example:
 Spaghetti and meatballs has a place on
many menus.
 Spaghetti and meatballs is acting as a unit,

as a singular subject.
Let’s Practice
The principal and teacher (has, have) joined
the regional meeting.
Let’s Practice
His father and mentor (is, are) a known
politician.
Compound Subjects Joined
By Words Like Or
 Either the instructors or the student knows
the answer.
 The singular subject student requires the

singular verb knows.
By Words Like Or
 Be careful when your subjects are joined by
the following words:
 or
 nor
 either . . . or
 neither . . . nor
 not only . . . but (also)
BEWARE
When singular subjects are joined by or or
nor, use a singular verb.
 Neither the manager nor the assistant
was present.
 Either the teacher or the principal will
approve your request.
By Words Like Or
 In such cases, the verb agrees with the
subject nearest it.
 Example:
Either the instructors or the student knows
the answer.
 Try to ignore everything before the final

subject
BEWARE
When the parts of a compound subject are
joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the
subject near it.
 Neither Luther nor his friends were here.
 Either the cats or the dog has drunk the
water.
Let’s Practice
Sharon or Sally (is, are) going to present us.
Let’s Practice
The class presidents or the student council
members (is, are) going to represent the
school.
Let’s Practice
Ana or the twins (is, are) going to represent
us.
Using Singular Verbs with
Titles and Terms
 Titles and terms are treated as singular
subjects–even if they contain plural words.
 Examples:
 Les Miserables is a popular musical.
 “Disciplinary measures” is a euphemism
for punishment.
Let’s Practice
Mathematics (is, are) one of my favorite
subjects.
Let’s Practice
The news (seems, seem) alarming.

Subject Verb Agreement Grade 7 2018-2019

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Subject-Verb Agreement

Keep Your Eyes Open

To help avoid these errors, we will discuss:

 Learn to spot and correct these errors and become a

 The subject is the who or what that performs the

 The verb expresses an action or state of being.

 Players is the subject and are is the verb.

 Once you’ve identified the Subject and the Verb,

 The plural noun cars takes the plural verb

 The singular noun car takes the singular

One of my books is missing.

Underline the verb that agrees with

She (steps, step) down from the

The young girls (looks, look) up

Her nails (has, have) been long

He (has, have) heard so much

Our pet, together with spot,

 Indefinite Pronouns are words like

 Another each everything nothing

Everybody (play, plays) the piano.

Someone (has, have) rung the bell.

Both (takes, take) music lessons.

One of my friends (owns, own) a

All of the water (has, have) leaked.

 The student and the instructor work long

 The subject consists of two people.

 When subjects are joined by and and

 Use a singular verb with such compound

 Spaghetti and meatballs is acting as a unit,

 The singular subject student requires the

 Try to ignore everything before the final

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