Transcript Subject/Verb Agreement

Subject/Verb Agreement
Subjects
Subjects are mostly found at the
beginning of the sentence.
 Subjects are nouns or pronouns that are
“doing” an action.
Example:
My dog, Jesse, jumps over the log.
Who jumps over the log? Jesse does.

Verbs
Verbs are actions or state of being.
 Verbs show the reader what action the
subject is doing.
Example:
My dog, Jesse, jumps over the log.
What did Jesse do?
Jesse jumps.

What it’s all about!
My dog, Jesse, jumps over the log.
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2.
3.
4.
My dog is a noun and the subject of the
sentence.
Jesse is renaming the noun and called an
appositive.
Jumps is the action or verb of the
sentence.
Over the log is a phrase called a
prepositional phrase because “over” is a
preposition.
Agreement
If a subject is singular, its verb must be
singular.
Example:
My dog, Jesse, jumps over the log.
(only one dog jumps over the log in the
sentence.)
Notice that the verb jumps has an “s” on it.
Remember a verb is NOT a noun. Don’t treat
it like one. A verb with an “s” is singular.
Agreement Cont’d
If a subject is plural, its verb must be plural.
Example:
My dog, Jesse, and Ralph’s dog, Fido, jump over
the fence.
(2 dogs are jumping over the fence, now)
Notice that the verb jump does NOT have a “s”.
This is because a verb is plural when it does NOT
have an “s”.
Remember: A verb is NOT a noun!
Practice
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2.
3.
4.
5.
The cook (slices/slice) the meat thinly.
Vegetables (makes/make) a good lunch.
He (is/are) working for the city.
They (was/were) going to the game.
Our football team (is/are) the best.
Answers
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2.
3.
4.
5.
The cook (slices/slice) the meat thinly.
Vegetables (makes/make) a good lunch.
He (is/are) working for the city.
They (was/were) going to the game.
Our football team (is/are) the best.
Explanation
1. The cook (slices/slice) the meat thinly.
How many cooks?
1
Therefore, the verb must be singular. Singular
verbs HAVE an “s.”
Explanation
2. Vegetables (makes/make) a good lunch.
How many vegetables?
More than 1.
Therefore, the verb must be plural. Plural
verbs DO NOT have an “s”
Explanation
3. He (is/are) working for the city.
Is “he” singular or plural? Singular.
Therefore, the verb must be singular. Singular
verbs HAVE an “s”
Explanation
4. They (was/were) going to the game.
How many went to the game?
More than 1.
Therefore, the verb is plural. A plural verb
DOES NOT have an “s.”
Explanation
5. Our football team (is/are) the best.
Is team singular or plural?
Singular.
Team is called a “collective noun” and groups
many into one, therefore is singular.
The verb must be singular and have a “s.”