This presentation is brought to you by chomp! Grammar Bytes!, chomp! 2011 by Robin L. Simmons.

SubjectSubject - Verb Agr eement

Do I need an s at the end of the verb?

Or should I leave the s off?

This presentation covers maintaining agreement between subjects and verbs.

A subject-verb agreement subjectitem on an objective test might look like this . . .

Sample Item
The foods that providegood nutrition is are provide good nutrition is A B B often the least tasty; a hamburger and fries, satisfy the tongue but on the other hand, satisfy the tongue but C clog the arteries. A. B. C. D. provides are satisfies No change is necessary.
Does Is needs to be disagreement the plural are, happen at which option B provide, is, or fixes. satisfy?

Agr eement in a Nutshell

The elephant trumpets trumpets for a peanut.
elephant = singular subject trumpets = singular verb

The elephants trumpet for peanuts.

elephants = plural subject trumpet = plural verb

In the present tense, singular verbs end in the suffix s; plural verbs do not.

Two [or mor e] singular nouns joined by and make a plur al subject.
The chicken wing and pork rib sit untouched on Ruths plate.

Because theres no s at the end of sit, you know its a plural verb.

W hen each or ever y pr ecedes two [or mor e] singular nouns joined by and , you have a and, singular subject.
Every chicken wing and pork rib sits sits untouched on Ruths plate.
Because there is an s at the end of sit, you know its a singular verb.

I n t h i s s i t u at i o n , n o m at t e r h ow m a n y s i n g u l a r n o u n s yo u join with and, the subject is s t i l l s i n g u l a r.

Every chicken wing, pork rib, slice of pepperoni pizza, hotdog, hamburger, steak, and fried shrimp sits untouched on Ruths plate.

X X X

X X X
Im a vegetarian!

Use caution with these three c o n j u n c t i o ns : e i t h e r o r , neither nor, and not only but also. Not only the employees but also their boss but also her employees shift shift shift would wishes the would end end. boss wish the wish thewould.end. end. end.

Youll have two subjects, but If you flip the two subjects, so that employees is next to only the closer one in this the case bosswish will work! verb, then counts!

T hese indefinite pr onouns ar e always singular [even w hen they seem plur al].

    

Each, either, neither Anyone, anybody, anything Everyone, everybody, everything No one, nobody, nothing Someone, somebody, something

Everyone on Earth = more than one personbillions of people, in fact. The word everyone, however, is still singular.

Bewar e i nter r up ti n g phr ases.

 As well as  Along with  Together with  Including  In addition to  Especially

The squirrel as well as the pigeons keep an keeps eye on Sammy, thethe sneaky cat. an eye on Sammy, sneaky cat.

Bad kitty!

This sentence might sound right, but it is completely wrong!

Bewar e inver ted wor d or der.

Here is the onions you need forfor the chili. In are the onions you need the chili. In the the refrigerator is the jalapeo peppers might are the jalapeo peppers you refrigerator is the jalapeo peppers you you might want to want to add. add.

Here and there are never the subjects.

Cross through prepositional phrases to find the real subject!

Quick Test
Directions: In the items that follow, choose the option that corrects an error in the underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose No change is necessary.

Show me what you know.

Item 1
In the cabinet is the tools that you will need toto are the tools that you will need is the tools that you will need to A A unclog the bathroom sink; I have found that a found that a B plunger and a prayer often do the trick. do the trick. C A. B. C. D. are has does No change is necessary.

Item 2
Here are the books that Thomas and Darlene A need for their research, and here is the earplugs are the earplugs is the earplugs B B that youll require once they both doze off in doze off in C boredom and start snoring. A.is A.is B.are are B.are B.are C.dozes C.dozes D.No D.No change is necessary.

Item 3
Jasmine and Rodney have decided to double the decided to double the A number of cupcakes that they are baking since B everyone love moist cake and chocolate frosting. loves moist cake and chocolate frosting. love moist cake and chocolate frosting. C C A. B. C. D. has is loves loves No change is necessary.

Item 4
Not only those students but also their professor look forward toto the final exam; everyone has looks forward the final exam; everyone has look forward to the final exam; everyone has A A BB start next Monday. exciting vacation plans that start next Monday. C A. B. C. D. looks looks have starts No change is necessary.

Item 5
At the pet store, each iguana, mouse, and gerbil try to to climb the walls of its glass cage while tries climb the walls of its glass cage while try to climb the walls of its glass cage while AA humans hover outside like giant predators who are hover outside like giant predators who are B C ready to strike. A. B. C. D. tries tries hovers is No change is necessary.

Item 6
Tyrone, as well as his cousins, hope that Grandma hopes that Grandma hope that Grandma A A brings her famous brownies and peach pie that brings her famous brownies and peach pie that B drip with generous scoops of vanilla ice cream. drip with generous scoops of vanilla ice cream. C A. B. C. D. hopes hopes bring drips No change is necessary.

Item 7
Either the dogs or the cat sleep on the bed while sleeps on the bed while sleep on the bed while A A everyone is out; Lorraine always finds an is out; Lorraine always finds an B C indentation in the center of her comforter. A. B. C. D. sleeps sleeps are find No change is necessary.

Item 8
Meryl, together with her friends Beatrice and Laverne, plans a daily trip for ice cream, for these women plans a daily trip for ice cream, for these women A have discovered that the calories is worth seeing discovered that the calories is worth seeing are worth seeing B C C Theo scoop their servings with his muscular arms. A. B. C. D. plan has are No change is necessary.

Item 9
The scissors are sharp, so neither the cousins nor A Timmy is allowed to play with them, even when the is allowed to play with them, even when the B need to finish school project. needs to finish a school project. boys needsto finish aaschool project. C C A. B. C. D. is are need need No change is necessary.

Item 10
Each fork, spoon, and knife are scarred from the is scarred from the A A refuses to check the drain disposal since Drew refuses to check the drain B before he throws the switch. throws the switch. C A. B. C. D. is is refuse throw No change is necessary.

Grammar Bytes! chomp! provides additional chomp! handouts and exercises on subject-verb agreement. Go to chompchomp.com!

The End.
Bad kitty!