Inthepresenttenseform,subjectsandverbsshouldagreeinnumber(singularorplural)andinperson(first,second,

orthird).

• Ifthesubjectissingularthentheverbmustbesingulartoo.Likewise,ifoneispluralthentheothershouldbeinpluralformaswell.• Ex.:Thecommentary was…notThecommentary were…

• Oftenasingularverbinthepresentformendswitha“s”whilethesubjectdoesnot,suchastheverbsgives,takes,receives,,modifies,etc.• Ex.:Ifanelephantknowshowstrongheis,he takesadvantageof

thesituation.• Alsowhenthereisapluralsubject,theverbshouldbepluralaswell.

• Ex.:Asalways,they requiremorefunds.Thewaterfall andmountain are gloriousthistimeofyear.

• Theserulesareonlyusedconcerningthirdpersonverbforms.Firstandsecondpersonverbformsdonotworkthisway.Inthesesituations,itisbestjusttolearnthedifferenttensesasthefollownosetrule.• Ex.:Whenthehorsecomesrunningby,you (singular)need tomove

outoftheway.I am thefirststudenttofinish!

• Maketheverbagreewithitssubject,notwithawordorwordsthatcomebetween.Mentallycrossouttheinterruptingword/words,soyoucanidentifythesubject• e.g.Allstudentsintheclassneedtosubmittheirreportsby

Monday(Thesubjectisstudents andnotclass).

• Wordssuchasathletics,economics,mathematics,physics,statistics,measles,andnewsareusuallysingular,despitetheirpluralforms• e.g.Statisticsisoneofthemostdreadedclassesintheprogram.Exception:whenthosewordsdescribeseparateitemsratherthanacollectivebodyofknowledge,theyareconsideredplural(e.g.Thestatisticsonthestudents’successrateisoutstanding).

• Maketheverbagreewithitssubjectevenwhenthesubjectfollowstheverb• e.g.Inthesupplyroomundertheboxesisthemissinginvoice.

(Thesubjectisinvoice,notboxes.)• Maketheverbagreewithitssubject,notwithasubjectcomplement

• e.g.Atentandasleepingbagaretherequiredequipment.(Tentandbag isthesubject,notequipment.)

• Titlesofworks,companynames,andgerundphrasesaresingular• e.g.LostCities describesthediscoveriesofmanyancient

civilizations.

• Treatmostsubjectsjoinedwithand asplural• e.g.Jasonandhiscousinworkforthesamecompany.• Exception:Whenthepartsofthesubjectformasingleunitorrefer

tothesameperson,treatthesubjectassingular(e.g.Myfriendandneighbor,Mr.Smith,ismovingawaysoon).

• Withsubjectsconnectedbyor ornor (orbyeither…or /neither…nor),maketheverbagreewiththepartofthesubjectnearertotheverb• (e.g.Neithertheteachernorthestudentswereinclass./The

studentsortheinstructoristakingresponsibility).

• Treatcollectivenounssuchasjury,committee,audience,coupleassingularunlessthemeaningisclearlyplural• e.g.Thecommitteemeetsonceeverythreeweeks.

1) Theuniqueblendofherbsandspices( /bring)outtheflavorofthefood.

2) Underthefilecabinets( /lie)themissingdocument.3) ThemayorofMinneapolis,alongwiththoseofothermajorcities,( /

have)askedthePresidentforassistance.4) Oneofourmanagers( /are)preparingthebudget.5) Thecompany,inadditiontotheemployees,( /are)hopingtherewillbeno

strikenextweek.7) Thestudents,includingMatt,(hopes/ )therewillbeapartysoon.8) Thecompany( /are)planning( /their)annualChristmasparty.9) Noone( /want)( /their)GPAtogodown.10) Thestudents,aswellastheinstructor,(keeps/ )verybusy.11) Theadministrators,whowrotethebooks,(sticks/ )totherules.12) ThePiratesoftheCaribbean ( /are)releasednextweek.13) Adriver’slicenseortwocreditcards(is/ )required.14) Anumberoftheexcuses(seems/ )unacceptable.

1) Mathematics( /were)nevermyfavoriteschoolsubject.2) Eachoftheplants( /have)beensold.3) Someoftherocks(is/ )slippery.4) Neitheroftheteachers( /are)interestedinexcuses.5) Dr.BarkerknewthatFrankwastheonlyoneofhissonswho( /were)

responsibleenoughtohandlethefamilybusiness.6) Thestatistics(indicates/ )thatcrimeisdecreasinginthecity.7) Eachtree,shrub,andvine(need/ )tobetrimmed.8) Jill’snaturalabilityandherdesiretohelpothers(has/ )ledtoacareer

intheministry.9) There(is/ )surprisinglyfewchildreninourneighborhood.10) Highlevelsofairpollution(causes/ )damagetotherespiratory

system.11) Neitherthestudentsnortheirteacher( /want)topostponetheexam.12) Everyone( /are)hopingthat( /they)mayleaveschoolearlyon

Friday.