2. SUBJECT – VERB AGREEMENT
Subjects and verbs must AGREE with one
another in number (singular or plural).
Singular subjects take singular
verbs
Plural subjects take plural verbs
3. WORKING IN THE PRESENT
TENSE
In present tenses, nouns and verbs form plurals in
‘opposite’ ways:
Singular subject = ADD an ‘S’ to the VERB
Plural subject = NO ‘S’ on the VERB
All will become clear – promise!
4. SINGLE SUBJECTS + SINGLE
VERBS
Single Subject Single Verb
The dog chases the cat.
The student works hard.
Susan drives to work.
5. PLURAL SUBJECTS + PLURAL
VERBS
Plural Subject Plural Verb
The dogs chase the cat.
The students work hard.
Susan and Karen drive to work.
6. BE, DO, HAVE, GO, TEACH
The bag is on the floor. The bags are on the floor.
Barry does a great job. The workers do a great job.
Aadesh has three cats. The neighbours have three cats.
Bella goes swimming once a week. Bella and Darcy go swimming once a week.
Paul teaches Bella to swim. Paul and Mary teach Bella to swim.
7. AGREEMENT IN NUMBER
Choose correct form:
The Hendersons is/are at the movie
theater.
The boxes has/have arrived from Spain.
The actor is/are reciting his lines.
8. AGREEMENT IN NUMBER
Choose correct form:
The Hendersons are at the movie
theater.
The boxes have arrived from Spain.
The actor is reciting his lines.
9. PHRASES
Sometimes a phrase will come between the
subject and verb, but don’t let this confuse
you! You still only need the subject and verb
agree.
The students at school has/have many
different jobs.
Members of the club make/makes
sandwiches at a shelter.
10. PHRASES
Sometimes a phrase will come between the
subject and verb, but don’t let this confuse
you! You still only need the subject and verb
agree.
The students at school have many different
jobs.
Members of the club make sandwiches at a
shelter.
11. WATCH OUT FOR COMPOUND
SUBJECTS
When the parts of a compound subject are joined
by "and," treat the subject as plural, even if the
individual parts are singular.
Which sentence is correct?
Danny and Rolando gets their share of
rebounds.
Danny and Rolando get their share of
rebounds.
12. WATCH OUT FOR COMPOUND
SUBJECTS
When the parts of a compound subject are joined
by "and," treat the subject as plural, even if the
individual parts are singular.
Which sentence is correct?
Danny and Rolando get their share of
rebounds.
13. WATCH OUT FOR COLLECTIVE
NOUNS
Words such as group, jury, crowd, team, and committee can
be singular or plural depending on the meaning of the
subject.
For example:
The jury has awarded compensation to the victim.
The jury is acting as one unit; therefore, the verb is singular.
The jury members have been arguing for days.
The jury members are acting as individuals; therefore, the
verb is plural.
14. SINGULAR INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
The following words are treated as singular
subjects and take singular verbs.
Each of the students is responsible for doing work in the
library.
Neither of the tables is laid.
anyone anybody anything one
everyone everybody everything each
someone somebody something either
no one nobody nothing neither
15. TASK
1. The big tree with all the trimmings (make/makes)
the holidays special.
2. My brothers and sisters (enjoy/enjoys)
mathematics.
16. TASK
1. The big tree with all the trimmings (make/makes)
the holidays special.
2. My brothers and sisters (enjoy/enjoys)
mathematics.
17. TASK
5. The committee (believe/believes) that waiting
until everyone arrives is important.
6. The committee (come/comes) from all parts of the
city, so we usually start late.
7. Each of those opera singers regularly (hit/hits)
notes high enough to break glass.
8. The tweezers (is/are) on the dresser.
18. TASK
5. The committee (believe/believes) that waiting
until everyone arrives is important.
6. The committee (come/comes) from all parts of the
city, so we usually start late.
7. Each of those opera singers regularly (hit/hits)
notes high enough to break glass.
8. The tweezers (is/are) on the dresser.
