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Subject-Verb Agreement This presentation covers maintaining agreement between subjects and verbs. Do I need an s at the end of the verb? Or should I leave the s off? Agreement in a Nutshell The elephant trumpets for a peanut. elephant = singular subject trumpets = singular verb The elephants trumpet for peanuts. elephants = plural subject trumpet = plural verb In the present tense, singular verbs end in the suffix s; plural verbs do not. Two [or more] singular nouns joined by and make a plural subject. The chicken wing and pork rib sit untouched on Ruth’s plate. Because there’s no s at the end of sit, you know it’s a plural verb. When each or every precedes two [or more] singular nouns joined by and, you have a singular subject. Every chicken wing and pork rib sits untouched on Ruth’s plate. Because there is an s at the end of sit, you know it’s a singular verb. In this situation, no matter how many singular nouns you join with and, the subject is still singular. Every chicken wing, pork rib, slice of pepperoni pizza, hotdog, hamburger, steak, and fried shrimp sits untouched on Ruth’s plate. X X X X X X I’m a vegetarian! Use caution with these three conjunctions: either … or, neither … nor, and not only … but also. Not only the boss employees but also buther also their boss wish employees wishes the shift thewould shift end. end. the wish shift would end.would If you flip the two subjects, You’ll have two subjects, but so that employees is next only the closer one—in this to the verb, then wish will case boss —counts! work! These indefinite pronouns are always singular [even when they seem plural]. Each, either, neither Anyone, anybody, anything Everyone, everybody, everything No one, nobody, nothing Someone, somebody, something Everyone on Earth = more than one person—billions of people, in fact. The word everyone, however, is still singular. Beware interrupting phrases. As well as Along with Together with Including In addition to Especially The squirrel as well as the pigeons keep an eye on Sammy, the sneaky cat. Bad kitty! This sentence might sound right, but it is completely wrong! Beware inverted word order. Here is the onions you need for the chili. In the refrigerator is the jalapeño peppers you might want to add. Here and there are never the subjects. Cross through prepositional phrases to find the real subject! Pop Culture Grammar Fails!!! Correct the subject-verb agreement in the following sets of song lyrics. Every little thing she does is magic Everything she do just turns me on Even though my life before was tragic Now I know my love for her goes on Every little thing she does is magic Everything she DOES just turns me on Even though my life before was tragic Now I know my love for her goes on Believe it or not, everyone have things that they hide Believe it or not, everyone keeps most things inside Believe it or not, everyone, believe in something above Believe it or not, everyone, need to feel loved Believe it or not, everyone HAS things that they hide Believe it or not, everyone keeps most things inside Believe it or not, everyone, BELIEVES in something above Believe it or not, everyone, NEEDS to feel loved OK, little mama had a swag like mine She even wear her hair down her back like mine I make her feel right when it's wrong like lying Man, she ain't never had a love like mine OK, little mama had a swag like mine She even WEARS her hair down her back like mine I make her feel right when it's wrong like lying Man, she ain't never had a love like mine There you see her Sitting there across the way She don’t got a lot to say But there’s something about her And you don’t know why But you’re dying to try You wanna kiss the girl There you see her Sitting there across the way She DOESN’T HAVE a lot to say But there’s something about her And you don’t know why But you’re dying to try You wanna kiss the girl Systems thumping, party jumping, shorty, she's a perfect 10 She rock her hips, then roll her hips, then drop it down like it's nothing She shaped just like an hour glass, she see how fast an hour passed Systems thumping, party jumping, shorty, she's a perfect 10 She ROCKS her hips, then ROLLS her hips, then DROPS it down like it's nothing She IS SHAPED just like an hour glass, she SEES how fast an hour passed The End. Bad kitty!