NINTH GRADE ENGLISH SUBJECTVERB AGREEMENT SubjectVerb Agreement Rule
NINTH GRADE ENGLISH SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT
Subject/Verb Agreement Rule #1 Plural nouns usually end in –s. Singular verbs usually end in –s.
Subject/Verb Agreement Rule #2 � Singular subjects need singular verbs. � Examples: �He washes the dishes. �A girl in my neighborhood plays in the band.
Subject/Verb Agreement Rule #3 � Plural subjects need plural verbs. � Examples: �They wash the dishes. �Several girls in my neighborhood play in the band.
Subject/Verb Agreement Rule #4 � Don’t determine the number of a subject by a word in a phrase or clause following the subject. � Examples: �The apartments across the street (does, do) have balconies. �Eli, one of my friends, (was, were) late. �The planes pulling up to the gate (was, were) purchased by a movie company.
Subject/Verb Agreement Rule #5 � Singular Indefinite Pronouns Take Singular Verbs…
Subject/Verb Agreement Singular Indefinite Pronouns Each Either Neither One Anybody Somebody Nobody Everybody Anyone Someone No one Everyone Anything Something Nothing Everything
Subject/Verb Agreement Singular Indefinite Pronouns � How to remember these? ? � Each, Either, Neither…The ONES, The BODYS, The THINGS, + ONE
Subject/Verb Agreement Singular Indefinite Pronouns � Examples �Each of the athletes (run, runs) effortlessly. �Neither of the women (is, are) ready to start. �Someone (was, were) waving a large flag. �(Does, do) everyone who signed up enjoy playing tennis.
Subject/Verb Agreement Rule #5 � Plural Verbs Indefinite Pronouns Take Plural
Subject/Verb Agreement Plural Indefinite Pronouns Both Several Few Many
Subject/Verb Agreement Plural Indefinite Pronouns � How to remember these? ? � Both sisters found mom. � BOTH SEVERAL FEW MANY
Subject/Verb Agreement Plural Indefinite Pronouns � Examples �(Were, was) both of the games postponed? �Few that I know of (has, have) qualified. �Several of the runners (is, are) exercising.
Subject/Verb Agreement Rule #5 � Singular OR Plural Indefinite Pronouns can take either singular or plural verbs depending on how they are used in each sentence
Subject/Verb Agreement Singular-Plural Pronouns All Any More Most None Some
Subject/Verb Agreement Singular-Plural Pronouns � How � All to remember these? ? Active Men Need More Sports. � ALL NONE ANY MOST MORE SOME
Subject/Verb Agreement Singular-Plural Pronouns � Examples �Some of the test (is, are) hard. �Some of the questions (is, are) hard. �Most of his routine (sound, sounds) familiar. �Most of his jokes (sound, sounds) familiar. �(Was, were) any of the feedback positive? �(Was, were) any of the reviews positive?
Subject/Verb Agreement Rule #6 � Two subjects joined by AND take a plural subject � Examples: �George Lucas and Steven Spielberg (make, makes) movies. �Rhythm and imagery (helps, help) poets express their feelings.
Subject/Verb Agreement Rule #6 � Exception…Compound subjects that name only one person, thing, or place take a singular verb. � Examples: �My pen pal and best friend (is, are) my cousin. �Macaroni and cheese (is, are) my favorite dish.
Subject/Verb Agreement Rule #7 � Subjects joined by OR or NOR…the verb should agree with the subject closest to it. �Neither the children nor their mother (were, was) ready for the trip. �Neither the mother nor her children (were, was) ready for the trip.
Subject/Verb Agreement Compound Subjects Examples � Either Anne or Tony (load, loads) the dishwasher. � Neither the coach nor the principal (is, are) happy with the team’s performance. � Either the boys or their sisters (take, takes) the garbage out. � Neither the dogs nor the cats (comes, come) when we call them.
Subject/Verb Agreement Rule #8 � Collective nouns may be either singular or plural, depending on their meaning in the sentence � Examples: �The class (has, have) completed their projects. �The class (has, have) elected its officers.
Subject/Verb Agreement Rule #9 � An expression of an amount may be singular or plural depending on how it’s used in a sentence. � Three fourths of the pizza (is, are) gone. � Of these songs, three fourths (is, are) new.
Subject/Verb Agreement Amount Examples � Two hours (was, were) a long time to wait. � Thirty dollars (was, were) too much for a concert ticket. � Six dollars (was, were) found in the couch cushions. � Two hours—one before school and one after—(is, are) all I have for practice.
Subject/Verb Agreement Rule #10 � Some nouns that are plural in form that singular verbs � “Memories” (is, are) my favorite poem. � Rickets (are, is) a serious health concern in some countries. � The news of the nominee (was, were) a surprise.
Subject/Verb Agreement Rule #11 � Subjects preceded by EVERY or MANY A take singular verbs. � Every homeowner and storekeeper (has, have) joined the cleanup. � Many a litterbug (was, were) surprised by the stiff fines.
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