Subject Verb AgreementSubject Verb Agreement

Identify the subject and verb within Identify the subject and verb within each sentence below.each sentence below.

1.1. Today is a day to learn.Today is a day to learn.

2.2. Dr. Ash expects his students to do their Dr. Ash expects his students to do their best.best.

3.3. Waiting during the storm was my sister.Waiting during the storm was my sister.

4.4. Ms. Basone hated that Georgia lost the Ms. Basone hated that Georgia lost the SEC Championship.SEC Championship.

5.5. Winter break is in a week.Winter break is in a week.

How should the subject and verb How should the subject and verb agree?agree?

A verb should agree in number with its A verb should agree in number with its subject.subject.

SingularSingular

Singular subjects take singular verbs.Singular subjects take singular verbs.

Examples: Examples:

1. The 1. The thunderthunder soundssounds so loud tonight. so loud tonight.

2. 2. Ms. BasoneMs. Basone beginsbegins her vacation in three her vacation in three weeks.weeks.

PluralPlural

PluralPlural subjects take subjects take pluralplural verbs. verbs.

ExamplesExamples

1.1. CheetahsCheetahs runrun like the wind. like the wind.

2.2. New New studentsstudents dodo not not comecome to Central to Central Magnet often.Magnet often.

Be careful with INDEFINATE Be careful with INDEFINATE PRONOUNSPRONOUNS

ONE-BODY-THINGSONE-BODY-THINGS The following indefinite pronouns are singular:The following indefinite pronouns are singular:

Anybody Anybody No oneNo oneAnyoneAnyone NothingNothingAnythingAnything OneOneEachEach SomebodySomebodyEitherEither SomeoneSomeoneEverybodyEverybody SomethingSomethingEveryone Everyone NobodyNobodyEverythingEverything NeitherNeither

The following indefinite pronouns The following indefinite pronouns are are PLURALPLURAL

BothBoth

FewFew

ManyMany

OthersOthers

SeveralSeveral

VariableVariable Indefinite Pronouns Indefinite Pronouns

Some are singular and some are plural Some are singular and some are plural depending on what follows them in a depending on what follows them in a prepositional phrase.prepositional phrase.

SomeSome MostMost All All NoneNone AnyAny

Examples of Variable IndefiniteExamples of Variable Indefinite

1.All of the students were present.1.All of the students were present.

AllAll is plural because is plural because studentsstudents is is pluralplural

2. All of the problem was of my own making2. All of the problem was of my own making

All All is singular because is singular because problemproblem is is singularsingular

Some subjects, while in Some subjects, while in plural form, function as singular.plural form, function as singular.

Examples:Examples:

1.1. MeaslesMeasles isis a contagious disease. a contagious disease.

2.2. The New York TimesThe New York Times isis a popular a popular newspaper.newspaper.

Nouns that express quantities of Nouns that express quantities of amount require singular verbs amount require singular verbs

when thought of as a unit.when thought of as a unit.

TimeTime MoneyMoney Weight Weight LengthLength

Example:Example:Twenty-fourTwenty-four years years isis a long time to work at a single a long time to work at a single

job.job.

Collective Nouns are considered Collective Nouns are considered singularsingular

FacultyFaculty TeamTeamStaffStaff JuryJuryBandBand AudienceAudienceCommitteeCommittee FlockFlockCongressCongress HerdHerd

Example: The Example: The bandband isis playing great music tonight. playing great music tonight.

There is one band and a singular verb.There is one band and a singular verb.