This document is a chapter about subject-verb agreement. It covers identifying the subject of a sentence, singular vs plural verbs, pronouns as subjects, compound subjects, indefinite pronouns, and collective nouns. Examples and practice questions are provided to help the reader learn to identify correct subject-verb agreement and recognize different parts of speech that can impact agreement.

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2. CHAPTER 24: MAKING SUBJECTS AND VERBS AGREE
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3. CHAPTER OUTLINE AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES
In this chapter, you will be learn to:
 identify correct subject-verb agreement and
 recognize prepositional phrases, compound subjects,
indefinite pronouns, and collective nouns.
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4. SUBJECTS AND VERBS: SINGULAR VS. PLURAL
 Subjects and verbs have to agree in number.
 This means a singular subject must be matched to
a singular verb form; a plural subject must be
matched to a plural verb form.
 Pronouns as Subjects
 Pronouns can be used as subjects.
 Pronouns take the place of nouns.
 When pronouns are used as subjects, they must
agree in number with verbs.
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5. SUBJECTS AND VERBS: SINGULAR VS. PLURAL
 INFO BOX: Subjective Pronouns and a Present
Tense Verb
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6. SPECIAL PROBLEMS WITH AGREEMENT
 Finding the Subject
 Eliminate prepositional phrases to find the real
subject of a sentence.
 Changed Word Order
A change in the word order will require you to look
carefully to check for subject-verb agreement.
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7. COMPOUND SUBJECTS
 A Compound Subject is two or more subjects joined by
and, or, or nor.
 When subjects are joined by and, they are usually
plural.
 When subjects are joined by or, either,…or,
neither…nor, not, only…not, also, the verb form
agrees with the subject closer to the verb.
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8. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
 Certain pronouns that come from a group
called indefinite pronouns always take a
singular verb.
 INFO BOX: Indefinite Pronouns
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9. COLLECTIVE NOUNS
 Collective nouns refer to more than one person or
thing.
 Most of the time, collective nouns take a singular
verb.
 Collective nouns take a plural verb only when the
members of the group are acting individually, not as
a unit.
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10. MAKING SUBJECTS AND VERBS AGREE: THE BOTTOM LINE
 INFO BOX: Making Subject and Verbs Agree: A
Summary
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11. CHOOSE THE CORRECT FORM OF THE VERB
FOR THE SENTENCE BELOW.
After a rough day at school, you _________ a quiet
place to relax.
A. needs
B. need
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12. CHOOSE THE CORRECT FORM OF THE VERB
FOR THE SENTENCE BELOW.
After a rough day at school, you _________ a quiet
place to relax.
A. needs
B. need
identify correct subject-verb agreement
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13. OF THE FOLLOWING, WHICH IS A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE?
A. I listen
B. across the street
C. something
D. committee
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14. OF THE FOLLOWING, WHICH IS A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE?
A. I listen
B. across the street
C. something
D. committee
recognize prepositional phrases, compound subjects,
indefinite pronouns, and collective nouns.
Copyright © 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.