Can’t we all just get along?
1.
Subjects and verbs must agree in number.
· Singular subject = singular verb
· Plural subject = plural verb
·
Cow= singular, eats= singular
· Ducks= plural, quack= plural
· *Hint*= SVS- singular verbs have an S
·
Singular yes?- the verb has an “S”!
·
Singular no? The “S” has to go!
2. Don’t get confused by the words that come between the subject and verb.
The detective who was called to the case is usually very good.
3. Prepositional phrases between the subject and verb usually do not affect the agreement.
·
The biker in this race is
very competitive.
· The bikers in this race are very competitive.
4. If a sentence starts with
“there” or “ here”, the subject will always be placed after the verb.
There is a meeting today.
Here
are the results from this past month.
5. Subjects can come after the verb in questions.
· Does Betty always play with dolls?
·
How are the Bosco sticks today?
6. If two subjects are joined by “and”, they typically require a plural verb.
The puppy and the lady are friends.
7. If two subjects are separated by “and” refer to the same thing, the verb is singular.
·
Spaghetti and
meatballs is my favorite pasta
dish.
8. If both subjects are singular and connected by or, nor, neither/nor, either/or and not only/but also, the verb is singular.
Sally or Bubba has stolen the scarecrow.
Not
only the guitar player but also the
drummer was soaked with sweat.
9. If both subjects are plural and connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also, the verb is plural.
Cookies
or brownies are nice
treats for your teacher.
10. If one subject is singular and one plural and are connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also, use the subject that is nearest the verb.
· Either my sisters or my mom has sent me a present.
·
Not only Bob but
also the Smiths want
some hamburgers for supper.
12. Collective nouns usually take a singular verb.
· The herd is stampeding.
·
The class was
ready for the test.
13. Titles of books, movies, novels, etc. are treated as singular.
·
Holes
was one of my favorite books.I want to see the movie.
14. Two infinitives separated by and
take a plural verb.
·
To run and to read are my two favorite “Free-time”
activities.
15. Gerunds alone take a singular
verb. Gerunds linked by and take a plural verb.
·
Dancing is
not something everyone can do as well as I can!
16. If the words each,
every or no come before the subject,
the verb is singular.
·
Each boy
and girl has to take the test.
· Every frog and toad turns into a prince.
·
No paper and
pen is required.
(But
an apple would be nice!:)
·
Dancing and singing come naturally to me!
17. Most indefinite pronouns take singular verbs.
|
ONE |
BODY |
THING |
|
someone |
somebody |
something |
|
anyone |
anybody |
anything |
|
No one |
nobody |
nothing |
|
everyone |
everybody |
everything |
· Several need to finish the race.
·
A few have
the right answer.
19. When the subject is all, any, more, most, none, or some, this is the ONLY time you must look at the object of the prepositional phrase to determine whether it is singular or plural.
· All of the chickens have laid eggs.
· Some of the milk has spilled.
20. Final rule-
Remember, only the SUBJECT affects the verb!