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Subject-Verb Agreement

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Objectives• At the end of this presentation, you should see that• Subjects and verbs must agree;• Each subject pronoun agrees differently with verbs; • Singular nouns agree with singular verbs and plural nouns agree with plural

verbs;• Verbs that take irregular forms like to be, to have, and to do agree with their

respective subjects;• You should be on the lookout for prepositional phrases;• Each, every, one, everyone, either, and neither are always singular.

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Fundamentals• The subject of a sentence will agree with the verb if it used in the

correct tense.• Subject-verb agreement errors are mostly made when using present

tense verbs.

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Which person is doing what?• To fully grasp how subjects and verbs should agree, remember that

pronouns come in 3 persons:• 1st person: I, we• 2nd person: you• 3rd person: he, she, it, they

• This will come in handy later. Remember it .

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All these Rules…• Singular subjects agree with singular verbs.• Plural subjects agree with plural verbs. • See the example on the next slide.

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On the Road Again…• He drives to Colorado every summer. • “He” is a singular subject.• “Drives” is a singular verb even though it ends with –s.

• They drive to Cape Cod each spring. • “They” is a plural subject. • While “drive” does not end with –s, it is a plural verb.

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Let’s Try It Out

I walk/walks for exercise.

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I walk for exercise.

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She love/loves my mother’s banana pudding.

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She loves my mother’s banana pudding.

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We like/likes ice cream.

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We like ice cream.

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Just when you thought it was safe…• Other verbs that can be tricky include to be, to have, and to do verbs.• These verbs can be tricky because they are irregular verbs. • Let’s look at these.

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To be verbs• Present tense to be verbs include am, are, and is.• Each one corresponds to and only works with one subject, and these

subjects will be in either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd person.

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To be • 1st person• I am.

• 2nd person• You are.

• 3rd person• He/she/it is.

Notice how with each change of subject pronoun, the verb itself changes. This is part of what makes to be, to have, and to do verbs irregular.

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Let’s practice

I am/is hungry.

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I am hungry.

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To have verbs• Present tense to have verbs include have and has.

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To have• 1st person• I have.

• 2nd person• You have.

• 3rd person• He/she/it has.

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Let’s try it out

She have/has the keys to the car.

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She has the keys to the car.

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To do verbs• Present tense to do verbs include do and does.

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To do• 1st person• I do.

• 2nd person• You do.

• 3rd person• He/she/it does.

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We do/does not like the new ice cream flavor.

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We do not like the new ice cream flavor.

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Just when you thought it was really safe…• Some words and phrases in English sentences can throw readers off if

they aren’t careful. • These words can include either, neither, each, one, and every one.• These words are always singular.

• Also, be the lookout for prepositional phrases. Many of the abovementioned words can precede prepositional phrases.

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Prepositional Phrases• Prepositional phrases never contain the simple subject of a sentence.• These phrases indicate time, direction, and location, and they act as

modifiers.• Prepositional phrases begin with a preposition and end typically with

an object that completes the phrase.

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Common PrepositionsAbout Above Across After

Against Along Among Around

As At Because of Before

Behind Below Beside Between

Beyond By Concerning Despite

Down During Except For

From In In front of Inside

Instead of Into Like Near

Next Of Off On

Onto On top of Opposite Out

Outside Over Past Plus

Regarding Round Through Throughout

To Toward Under Underneath

Unlike Up With Within

without

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See the following examples• Every one of the students is/are prepared for the exam.• Every one-singular• Is- singular• Eliminate the prepositional phrase of the students.

• Neither of the boys brushes/brush their teeth before bedtime. • Neither- singular• Brushes- singular

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Let’s give it a try

Everyone is/are going to learn a lot from this workshop.

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Everyone is going to learn a lot from this workshop.

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Suggested ReadingSimon & Schuster Handbook for Writers

Grassroots with Readings: The Writer’s Workbook

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If there are no questions, please take a survey from your facilitator, take and review the Writing Center Handout, and come to the next workshop.