Subject-Verb Agreement

cont.

I can identify the subject of a sentence.

I can use the correct verb based on the subject of the sentence.

Subjects joined by and = plural verb*exception: compound subject that names

only one person/thing = singular

Acids and bases are interesting.

Macaroni and cheese is tasty.

Singular subjects joined by or or nor = singular verb

Plural subjects joined by or or nor = singular verb Neither Sally nor Jesse want to watch t.v.

Neither cows nor pigs are her favorite animal.

Singular subject and plural subject joined by or or nor = verb agrees with subject closest to it in the sentence.

Neither the color photo nor the black-and-white drawings show jewelry I like.

Neither the drawings nor the photo shows anything cheap.

Collective Noun as Subject

Singular Collective Noun: names a group of persons, animals or things as one unit; takes a singular verb

The family is new to town.family = one group

Plural Collective Noun: refers to individual parts or members of the group

The family are meeting downtown.family = separate people

Subject follows verbFind subject and match verb

Here and there are not subjects

When are Oscar and Ana leaving for the party?There are the gifts.Here is the invitation to the party.

Don’t and Doesn’tagree with their subjects in number

Plural subjects = don’tI and you subjects = don’tSingular subjects (except I and you) = doesn’t