SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

English 10

Mrs. Freeman

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

All sentences contain a subject and a verb.

When the subject—the person or noun doing the

action—matches the verb in number, the subject and

verb are in agreement.

Which is correct?• One of the chairs is damaged.• One of the chairs are damaged.

RULES

A subject must agree a verb in number.• If the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular.• If the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.

Examples:Singular

He looks.He does.He was.

PluralThey look.They do.They were.

EXCEPTION

Note: The subject I, even though it is a single

person, usually takes the plural form.

Example: • I look.• I do.• I am.

CONJUGATING “TO BE”

The verb form to be can be tricky since the

principal parts are formed in such unusual ways.

Refer to this chart:Subject Present Past Past ParticipleI I am I was I have beenyou you are you were you have beenhe/she/it he is she was it has beenwe we are we were we have beenthey they are they were they have been

“TO BE” NOTE

Never use the “be” form after a subject.• Incorrect: I be going.• Correct: I am going.

• Incorrect: They be on their way.• Correct: They are on their way.

DOESN’T VS. DON’T

Doesn’t is singular, don’t is plural. • Remember, I takes the plural form.

Example:• I don’t want to move until next year.• She doesn’t want to move until next year.• They don’t want to move until next year.

WASN’T VS. WEREN’T

Wasn’t is singular, weren’t is plural.

Example:• I wasn’t sure.• You weren’t sure.• We weren’t sure.

PHRASES FOLLOWING SUBJECTS

Be sure to identify the subject of the sentence. Do not

allow a phrase following it to mislead you into using a

verb that does not agree with the subject.

Examples:• One of the chairs is damaged.

• The window designs by Rick Baker are complex and colorful.

• A manual with thorough instructions comes with this printer.

• The principal, along with her three associates, returns from the workshop today.

PRACTICE

Try out these practice sentences to test your prowess.1. When the boss (jokes, joke), we (laughs, laugh).

2. A single tree now (grows, grow) where the forest used to (grows, grow).

3. Constella (speaks, speak) English, but her parents (speaks, speak) Spanish.

4. The clerk (rings, ring) up the sales while the customers (waits, wait) in line.

5. The carolers (hums, hum) while the soloist (sings, sing).

6. The bright walls (doesn’t, don’t) seem very relaxing.

7. The shipment (wasn’t, weren’t) here when we arrived this morning.

8. The bank (doesn’t, don’t) open until 9:30 on Saturday mornings.

9. Mabel couldn’t drive to work because her car (wasn’t, weren’t) starting.

REFERENCES

Information gathered from Grammar Essentials, 3rd

Edition by Learning Express, LLC.