subject-verb agreement

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Sentence Skills: A Sentence Skills: A Workbook for Writers, Workbook for Writers,

Form AForm A

John LanganJohn Langan

Subject-Verb Subject-Verb AgreementAgreement

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Sentence Skills, Form A, 7E

Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb AgreementSubject-Verb Agreement• When subjects and verbs agree, they

match in number and person.• In other words, singular subjects require

singular verbs and plural subjects match plural verbs; third person subjects require third person subjects require the third person form of the verb.the third person form of the verb.

My brotherbuys

old bicyclesto repair..

My brothersbuy

old bicyclesto repair..



• In English, regular verbs take the same form for singular and plural exceptexcept for the third-person singular form of the verb.

• The -s, or -es ending on a verb designates a singular verb.

• In fact, nouns and verbs are the opposite where plural endings are concerned.

Subject/Verb AgreementSubject/Verb Agreement

The boy walks. The boys walk.



• A subject agrees with its verb no matter how far apart the two are. Do Do notnot be distracted by nouns or pronouns placed between the subject and verb.• The ducks on the lake behind the The ducks on the lake behind the

school swim in large groups.school swim in large groups.• A list of required readings is mailed A list of required readings is mailed

to entering freshmen.to entering freshmen.




• A compound subject that is linked by the conjunction “andand ” requires a plural verb.• Both the college newspaper and the Both the college newspaper and the

literary magazine fail to attract literary magazine fail to attract experienced staff.experienced staff.




• A compound subject linked by the conjunction oror or nor nor requires a singular verb.• Either the dean or his assistant Either the dean or his assistant

addresses the freshmen class.addresses the freshmen class.• Neither geology nor astronomy is Neither geology nor astronomy is

required for my major.required for my major.




• When who, which and that are used as subjects, they take singular verbs if the word they stand for is singular and plural verbs if the word they stand for is plural. • Frederick is a doctor who Frederick is a doctor who isis very very

friendly and intelligent.friendly and intelligent.• I knocked over the dishes that I knocked over the dishes that werewere

stacked in the sink. stacked in the sink.




• Indefinite pronounsIndefinite pronouns refer to indefinite persons or things and usually require a singular verb.• Each of the volunteers tutors for at Each of the volunteers tutors for at

least three hours every week.least three hours every week.




• If a collective noun acts as a single unit, it takes a singular verb.• My entire family is coming for My entire family is coming for

homecoming weekend.homecoming weekend.




• When normal word order is inverted and the subject follows the verb, the subject and verb must agree.• Standing at the door with grins on Standing at the door with grins on

their faces were the cheerleaders.their faces were the cheerleaders.




• Note:Note: Sentences that begin with therethere or herehere have the subject follow the verb.• There are three branches of There are three branches of

government:: judicial, executive, government:: judicial, executive, and legislative.and legislative.




Movies in today’sMovies in today’smarket makes a market makes a great deal of great deal of money. money.

IncorrectIncorrectIncorrectIncorrectClick to see answer….



Movies in today’sMovies in today’smarket market makemake a a great deal of great deal of money. money.

RevisedRevisedRevisedRevised



The American The American audiences paysaudiences paysfor tickets at for tickets at the theater the theater and for cable at and for cable at home.home.

IncorrectIncorrectIncorrectIncorrect



The American The American audiencesaudiences pay pay for for tickets at the tickets at the theater and for theater and for cable at home.cable at home.




The internationalThe internationalmarket, which market, which includes dozens includes dozens of countries, of countries, produces even produces even more profit.more profit.

CorrectCorrect



Films are very Films are very expensive to expensive to manufacture, so manufacture, so American studiosAmerican studioscreates far more creates far more films than other films than other countries.countries.




Films are very Films are very expensive to expensive to manufacture, so manufacture, so American studiosAmerican studioscreate create far more far more films than other films than other countries.countries.




There is many There is many advantages toadvantages to seeing a movie seeing a movie in the theater rather in the theater rather than watching than watching a video at home. a video at home.




There There areare many many advantages toadvantages to seeing a movie seeing a movie in the theater in the theater rather thanrather than watching a video watching a video at home. at home.




The dark theaterThe dark theaterand the enormousand the enormousscreen take thescreen take themovie viewer to movie viewer to another world.another world.

CorrectCorrect



The background The background music in moviesmusic in moviesplay an importantplay an importantrole.role.




The background The background music in moviesmusic in moviesplaysplays an important an importantrole.role.




The music createsThe music createsa mood and gives aa mood and gives asignal of somethingsignal of somethingto come.to come.

CorrectCorrect



Not everyone in Not everyone in the entertainment the entertainment fields agree aboutfields agree about the quality ofthe quality of movies.movies.




Not everyone in theNot everyone in theentertainment fieldentertainment fieldagrees agrees about the about the quality of movies.quality of movies.




Neither the use ofNeither the use ofsubtitles nor blacksubtitles nor blackand white and white photography photography demonstrate the demonstrate the preferences of mostpreferences of mostAmericans.Americans.




Neither the use ofNeither the use ofsubtitles nor blacksubtitles nor blackand white and white photography photography demonstratesdemonstrates the the preferences of mostpreferences of mostAmericans.Americans.


subject-verb agreement

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