Subject-Verb Agreement

Please select a Team.

1. Team 1
2. Team 2
3. Team 3

Present tense verbs can be singular or plural. Each verb must

agree in number with its subject.

Add and es to most

verbs for the singular
form.

Subject Verb
Agreement

Use the plural form of

verbs with I and you.

The verb have is irregular.

Have - plural present

Has - singular present
Had - past

Subject Verb
Agreement

The verb be is irregular.

Singular
is
am
was

Subject Verb
Agreement

Plural
are
were

It can be tricky to determine subject-verb agreement in cases

such as:

Interrupting Words and Phrases

Compound Subjects
Subject-Verb Inversion
Sentences Beginning with Here or There
Collective Nouns

Subject Verb Agreement

Interrupting Words and Phrases can distract

you from the subject of the verb.

The books on the coffee table in the living room is

well worn.
The books on the coffee table in the living room
are well worn.

Subject Verb Agreement

Compound Subjects can take either a singular or a

plural verb.
If the subjects are joined by and, use a plural verb.
If the subjects are joined by or, match the verb to the
subject closest to the verb.

Subject Verb Agreement

Compound Subjects

continued

Shakespeare and Milton are English authors.

Pizza or hamburgers are for lunch.
Hamburgers or pizza is for lunch.

Subject Verb Agreement

Subject Verb Inversion requires you to look ahead

at the subject, especially when using a contraction.

Wheres the children? (Where is the children?)

Wherere the children? (Where are the children?)

Subject Verb Agreement

Sentences beginning with

Here or There involve subject-

verb inversion and have the same problem.

Heres your boots. (Here is your boots.)

Herere your boots. (Here are your boots.)

Subject Verb Agreement

Collective nouns refer to a group of people or things.

If the group is acting as one, the verb should be singular.

The planning committee meet on Wednesdays.

The planning committee meets on Wednesdays.

Subject Verb Agreement

Do the following subjects and verbs agree

in number?
The floral pattern on these
dresses are very bold.

1. Yes
2. No

Do the following subjects and verbs agree in

number?
Instructions for uploading the
video is online.

1. Yes
2. No

Do the following subjects and verbs agree in

number?
Sunglasses on a bright, sunny
day are helpful.

1. Yes
2. No

Do the following subjects and verbs agree in

number?
While studying for tests, Maddie
and Emilee often listen to
classical music.

1. Yes
2. No

Do the following subjects and verbs agree in

number?
Because one of them watched
Netflix instead of studying,
Maddie or Emilee are going to
fail the exam.

1. Yes
2. No

Do the following subjects and verbs agree

in number?
Every summer, the dog or the
kids wear a path in the
backyard grass.

1. Yes
2. No

Do the following subjects and verbs agree

in number?
Here is your notebooks for your
language and math classes.

1. Yes
2. No

Do the following subjects and verbs agree in

number?
Theres your cell phone.

1. Yes
2. No

Do the following subjects and verbs agree

in number?
Why was the cars on the
freeway stopped for so long?

1. Yes
2. No

Do the following subjects and verbs agree

in number?
Wherere the prices for the coats
that are on display?

1. Yes
2. No

Do the following subjects and verbs agree

in number?
Has Shawn and Gus solved the
mystery yet?

1. Yes
2. No

Do the following subjects and verbs agree

in number?
My favorite band, Imagine
Dragons, go on stage to perform
after the opening act.

1. Yes
2. No

Points

Team

Team Scores

Points

Team