This presentation is brought to you by chomp! Grammar Bytes!, chomp! 2012 by Robin L. Simmons.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Do I need an s at the end of the verb?

Or should I leave the s off?

agreement between subjects and verbs.

This presentation covers maintaining

A subject-verb agreement item on an objective test might look like this . . .

Sample Item
The foods that provide good nutrition is provide good nutrition is are A B B often the least tasty; a hamburger and fries, on the other hand, satisfy the tongue but satisfy the tongue but C clog the arteries.

A. B. C. D.

provides are satisfies No change is necessary.

Is needs to be disagreement the plural are, happen at which option B provide, is, or fixes. satisfy?

Does

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 mor e] singular nouns joined by and make a plur al subject.
The chicken wing and pork rib sit untouched on Ruths plate.

Because theres no s at the end of sit, you know its a plural verb.

W hen each or ever y pr ecedes two [or mor e] singular nouns joined by and , you have a singular subject.
Every chicken wing and pork rib sits
untouched on Ruths plate.

Because there is an s at the end of sit, you know its a singular verb.

I n t h i s s i t u at i o n , n o m at t e r how m any s i n g u l a r n o u n s yo u join with and, the subject is sti l l s i n g u l a r.

Every chicken wing, pork rib, slice of pepperoni pizza, hotdog, hamburger, steak, and fried shrimp sits
untouched on Ruths plate.

X X X

X X X
vegetarian!
Im a

Use caution with these three c o n j u n c t i o n s : ei ther or , nei ther nor , a n d not onl y but al so . Not only the employees but also their boss but also her boss wish the shift shift shift end. employees wish thewouldwould end. wishes the would end.

Youll have two subjects, but If you flip the two subjects, so that employees is next to only the closer one in this the case bosswish will work! verb, then counts!

T hese indefinite pr onouns ar e always singular [even w hen they seem plur al]. Each, either, neither Anyone, anybody, anything Everyone, everybody, everything No one, nobody, nothing Someone, somebody, something

Everyone on Earth = more than one personbillions of

people, in fact. The word everyone, however, is still singular.

Bewar e inter r upting phr ases.

As well as Along with Together with Including In addition to Especially

The squirrel as well as the pigeons keep an keeps an eye on Sammy, sneaky cat. eye on Sammy, thethe sneaky cat.

kitty!

Bad

This sentence might sound right, but it is completely wrong!

Bewar e inver ted wor d or der.

Here is the onions you need forfor the chili. In are the onions you need the chili. In the are the jalapeo peppers you the refrigerator is the jalapeo peppers might refrigerator is the jalapeo peppers you you might want to want to add. add.

Here and there are never the

subjects.

prepositional phrases to find the real subject!

Cross through

Quick Test
Directions: In the items that follow, choose the option that corrects an error in the underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose No change is necessary.

Show me what you know.

Item 1
In the cabinet is the tools that you will need toto are the tools that you will need is the tools that you will need to A A unclog the bathroom sink; I have found that a have found that a B plunger and a prayer often do the trick. do the trick. C A. B. C. D. are has does No change is necessary.

Item 2
Here are the books that Thomas and Darlene A need for their research, and here is the earplugs are the earplugs is the earplugs B B that youll require once they both doze off in doze off in C boredom and start snoring.

A. B. C. D.

is are dozes No change is necessary.

Item 3
Jasmine and Rodney have decided to double the have decided to double the A number of cupcakes that they are baking since B everyone love moist cake and chocolate frosting. loves moist cake and chocolate frosting. love moist cake and chocolate frosting. C C A. B. C. D. has is loves loves No change is necessary.

Item 4
Not only those students but also their professor looks forward the final exam; everyone has look forward to the final exam; everyone has look forward toto the final exam; everyone has A A BB exciting vacation plans that start next Monday. start next Monday. C A. B. C. D. looks looks have starts No change is necessary.

Item 5
At the pet store, each iguana, mouse, and gerbil tries climb the walls of its glass cage while try to climb the walls of its glass cage while try to to climb the walls of its glass cage while AA humans hover outside like giant predators who are hover outside like giant predators who are B C ready to strike.

A. B. C. D.

tries tries hovers is No change is necessary.

Item 6
Tyrone, as well as his cousins, hope that Grandma hopes that Grandma hope that Grandma A A brings her famous brownies and peach pie that brings her famous brownies and peach pie that B drip with generous scoops of vanilla ice cream. drip with generous scoops of vanilla ice cream. C A. B. C. D. hopes hopes bring drips No change is necessary.

Item 7
Either the dogs or the cat sleep on the bed while sleeps on the bed while sleep on the bed while A A everyone is out; Lorraine always finds an is out; Lorraine always finds an B C indentation in the center of her comforter. A. B. C. D. sleeps sleeps are find No change is necessary.

Item 8
Meryl, together with her friends Beatrice and Laverne, plans a daily trip for ice cream, for these women plans a daily trip for ice cream, for these women A have discovered that the calories is worth seeing have discovered that the calories is worth seeing are worth seeing B C C Theo scoop their servings with his muscular arms.

A. B. C. D.

plan has are No change is necessary.

Item 9
The scissors are sharp, so neither the cousins nor A Timmy is allowed to play with them, even when the is allowed to play with them, even when the B boys needs tofinish aaschool project. need to finish a school project. needs to finish school project. C C A. B. C. D. is are need need No change is necessary.

Item 10
Each fork, spoon, and knife are scarred from the is scarred from the A A disposal since Drew refuses to check the drain refuses to check the drain B before he throws the switch. throws the switch. C

A. B. C. D.

is is refuse throw No change is necessary.

provides additional chomp! handouts and exercises on subject-verb agreement. Go to chompchomp.com!

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The End.
kitty!
Bad