Transcript singular verbs

Subject-Verb Agreement
Basic Rule
Singular
subjects need
singular verbs.
Plural subjects need
plural verbs.
For example:
The dog needs to go for a walk.
Singular subject?
Verb generally ends with “s”
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The dogs need to go for a walk.
Plural subject?
Verb generally does not end in “s”
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These create problems:
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Pronouns such as everyone and
everybody seem plural, but they are
always singular — so they need a
singular verb.
1. Everyone who worked on the
science project is a winner.
The Rule?
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Words that end in “body,” “thing,” or
“one” are always singular.
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Ex: anybody, everybody, somebody,
nobody…anything, everything,
something, nothing…anyone, everyone,
someone, no one.
These create problems:
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Prepositional phrases may come
between the subject pronoun and its
verb —IGNORE them!
Each of the basketball
players is excited about
tonight’s game.
These create problems:
• Pronouns such as all and some have
verbs that will be determined by
whether the pronoun is referring to
something that is COUNTABLE or not
(Countable = plural).
1. Some of the workers on
the building have left for the
day.
You could count
the workers.
These create problems:
• Verbs that accompany pronouns such
as all and some will be determined by
whether the pronoun is referring to
something that is COUNTABLE or not
(Not countable = singular).
1. Some of the salt was
spilled on the floor.
Salt is considered
one lump item.
These create problems:
• None can have a singular OR a plural
verb.
None of the boys has helped at the
game.
Both are correct!
OR
None of the boys have helped at the
game.
These create problems:
Phrases like together with, along with, and as
well as seem to combine subjects, but they
do not.
Some of the tile in our room, as well
as the hall, was soaked.
The major problem we had, together
with that of our teacher, was
tardiness.
Don’t be fooled
by extra phrases!
These create problems:
When either and neither appear as a
subject alone (without the words or
and nor), they are singular.
1. Either of those answers seems to
be right.
2. You can have the bed by the
window or the one by the door;
either is okay with me. Seem like plural
things.
And here’s the other way….
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When either or neither appear WITH “or”
or “nor,” you determine singular or plural
by the subject CLOSEST to the verb.
Neither the televisions nor the radio
works.
 Neither the radio nor the televisions
work.
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These create problems:
The words there and here are never
subjects.
1.Here are the papers you gave me.
2.Here is my answer.
Here is not
the subject.
Directions
Label this entry: Warm-Up 2/1/13
 Copy the five sentences exactly,
including both verb choices.
 Underline the subject and circle the
correct verb for all five sentences.
 Save your Warm-Ups in an accessible
place and bring them to class with you
every day.
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Warm-up 2/1/13
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The piano as well as the pipe organ (has,
have) to be tuned for the big concert.
The mayor together with his two brothers (is,
are) going to be indicted for accepting bribes.
Neither of my two suitcases (is, are) adequate
for this trip.
There (are, is) a list of committee members
on the head-table.
Everybody in the class (has, have) done the
homework well in advance.
Warm-up 2/1/13 Answers
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The piano as well as the pipe organ (has,
have) to be tuned for the big concert.
The mayor together with his two brothers (is,
are) going to be indicted for accepting bribes.
Neither of my two suitcases (is, are)
adequate for this trip.
There (are, is) a list of committee members
on the head-table.
Everybody in the class (has, have) done the
homework well in advance.
Warm-up 2/4/13
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The jury (takes, take) their seats in the
courtroom.
Neither the teacher nor the students (seem,
seems) to understand this assignment.
(Has, Have) either my father or my brothers
made a down-payment on the house?
Hartford is one of those cities that (is, are)
working hard to reclaim a riverfront.
Some of the grain (has, have) gone bad.
Warm-up 2/4/13 Answers
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The jury (takes, take) their seats in the
courtroom.
Neither the teacher nor the students (seem,
seems) to understand this assignment.
(Has, Have) either my father or my brothers
made a down-payment on the house?
Hartford is one of those cities that (is, are)
working hard to reclaim a riverfront.
Some of the grain (has, have) gone bad.
Warm-up 2/5/13
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There (is, are) sixteen candles on the cake.
Two cats as well as three dogs (is, are)
walking around the park.
None of the students (is, are) taking the test.
Some of the students (has, have) to read To
Kill a Mockingbird.
Everyone (is, are) going to Mr. Rochester on
Valentine’s Day.
Warm-up 2/5/13 Answers
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There (is, are) sixteen candles on the cake.
 Two cats as well as three dogs (is, are)
walking around the park.
 None of the students (is, are) taking the
test.
 Some of the students (has, have) to read To
Kill a Mockingbird.
 Everyone (is, are) going to Mr. Rochester on
Valentine’s Day.
Warm-up 2/6/13
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There (is, are) 27 dresses available for the
dance tonight.
 Either the lions or the tiger (needs, need) to
be moved to a different location at the zoo.
 Someone (needs, need) to go to the store to
buy more cake.
 Each of the students (has, have) to take the
Subject-Verb Agreement quiz tomorrow.
 Here (is, are) the papers you gave me.
Warm-up 2/6/13 Answers
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There (is, are) 27 dresses available for the
dance tonight.
 Either the lions or the tiger (needs, need) to
be moved to a different location at the zoo.
 Someone (needs, need) to go to the store to
buy more cake.
 Each of the students (has, have) to take the
Subject-Verb Agreement quiz tomorrow.
 Here (is, are) the papers you gave me.
Warm-up 2/7/13
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The world (change, changes) so rapidly that we
can hardly keep up.
Traditionally, college students (has, have) been
very active in politics.
People who (live, lives) in poverty often do not
even have television or newspapers.
My son, along with two friends, (is, are) coming
for the weekend.
Everybody (hate, hates) to take tests.
Warm-up 2/7/13 Answers
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The world (change, changes) so rapidly that
we can hardly keep up.
Traditionally, college students (has, have) been
very active in politics.
People who (live, lives) in poverty often do not
even have television or newspapers.
My son, along with two friends, (is, are) coming
for the weekend.
Everybody (hate, hates) to take tests.