Correct or Incorrect?

1. The minutes from last week’s meeting is on the table. _____

2. The residents of our county has many reasons to live here. _____

3. My dog and my cat doesn’t get along with each other. _____

4. Each of the horses are brown. _____5. The list of names are long. _____

Correct or Incorrect?

1. The minutes from last week’s meeting is are on the table.

2. The residents of our county has have many reasons to live here.

3. My dog and my cat doesn’t don’t get along with each other.

4. Each of the horses are is brown. 5. The list of names are is long.

Subject – Verb Agreement

• Agreement is achieved in the present tense

• A singular noun subject needs a singular form of the verb.

A diver explores the beauty under the sea.• A plural noun subject needs a plural form of

the verb.Divers explore the beauty under the sea.

Pronouns as Subjects

• Pronouns as subjects must also agree “in number” with the verb

SINGULAR: I read.You read.He, she, it reads.

PLURAL: We read.You read.They read.

Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects

• These are tricky! Know which ones are singular, plural, or both.

SINGULAR: each, either, neither, anyone,anything, everybody, something, another

Each of the boys is scheduled to work.Everybody walks to class together.

Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects

PLURAL both, few, many, several

Both the dog and cat are fun to play with.Many children walk to the park.

• Some indefinite pronouns can be BOTH singular and plural

all, none, any, most, some, more

• ONLY IF INDEFINITE PRONOUN is followed by a prepositional phrase , look at the object of the preposition to determine if singular or plural

All of the book is ruined. singularMost of my grades are good. plural

IMPORTANT NOTE!

• ONLY if an indefinite pronoun is followed by a prepositional phrase , use the object of the preposition to determine if singular or plural

Most of my grades are good. plural

• Nouns followed by prepositional phrases are still used to match subject-verb agreementThe city, with its bright lights, excites visitors.

Compound Subjects

• The word(s) used to join compound subjects determines if the subject is singular or plural

• Verbs should be PLURAL when joined by and or uses both / and

The girl and boy run in the 50 yard dash.Both student and teacher plan to read the book.

Compound Subjects

• Verbs should be SINGULAR when joined by or, nor, or uses either / or, or neither / nor

A ticket or pass is required to enter the gala.Either syrup or jam is offered for biscuits.

The girl nor the boy wants to clean the desks.Neither rain nor snow makes for easy driving.

“Here” and “There”

• “Here” and “there” are NEVER the subject of a sentence

• Look for the subject AFTER THE VERBHere is the answer to the question.

(The answer to the question is here.)

There are many books about sports.(Many books there are about sports.)

?? Interrogative Sentences ??

• The subject may appear between the helping verb and main verb

Do these stories interest you?(These stories do interest you.)

Does he read books about baseball?(He does read books about baseball.)

GRAPHIC ORGANIZER• Subjects and their verbs must agree in

number.

• SINGULAR subjects take SINGULAR verbs (except for the words you and I.)

• PLURAL subjects PLURAL verbs.

• Agreement can only be achieved in the present tense.

• The FIRST helping verb must agree with the subject! The class IS building bird houses.

• Prepositional Phrases will try to trick you. Always focus on the subject of the sentence.

The FIRST helping verb must agree with the subject! The class IS building bird houses.

RULES for Compound Subjects1.Subjects joined by “and” are usually plural and

take a plural verb.2.A compound subject that names only one

person or thing takes a singular verb.3.Singular subjects joined by “or” or “nor” take

a singular verb.

4. When a Singular Subject and Plural Subject joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject nearer the verb.

The students or teacher is in the classroom.

RULES for Other Special Problems1. There or here are NEVER the subject.2. The contractions Here’s, There’s, and

Where’s contain the singular verb “is” causing it to take a singular subject.

3. Doesn’t is SINGULAR and Don’t is PLURAL!

4. Most nouns ending in “s” are still SINGULAR.

5. Words stating amounts are usually SINGULAR.

Pronoun – Antecedent Agreement

• Note from yesterday ….Indefinite pronouns as subjects must agree in number with the verbEach of the books is open to the first page.

Both of the doors are closed.

• PERSONAL PRONOUNS used in a sentence must be in agreement in number and gender.

• PRONOUNS are words that are used in place of nouns in sentences

Ask Dan if Dan has done Dan’s homework.Ask Dan if he has done his homework.

• The ANTECEDENT is the noun that the pronouns replace (or refer to.)

Ask Dan if he has done his homework.

• Use a SINGULAR pronoun when using 2 or more antecedents joined by “or”

Either John or Jerry will bring his baseball.Sally or Jane will ride her bicycle to school.

• Use a PLURAL pronoun when using 2 or more antecedents joined by “and”

Mark and Mary enjoy listening to their iPODS.Joe and Sue went outside so they could film the

movie.

• When INDEFINITE PRONOUNS are the antecedent it still must agree with other pronouns in number and gender

SINGULAR = Everyone pass his or her paper to the front.

PLURAL= Both walk their dog in the afternoon.

Use the same subject-verb agreement rule when the antecedent can be both singular and plural:

Look inside the prepositional phrase to determine number ONLY with INDEFINITE PRONOUNS

SINGULAR = All (of the class) passed its papers forward.

PLURAL = All (of the students) passed their papers forward.

Practice Sentences1. One of the girls wants me to help (her, them.)2. Each swimmer returned (his/her, their) towel.3. Each student should know what (he/she, they)

must do.4. If anybody wants to go (he/she, they) should

call the office.5. Neither Ralph nor Isaac brought (his/her, their)

guitar to the party.

6. The cast of the play is trying on (his/her, their) costumes.

7. Everyone praised (his/her, their) child’s efforts.

8. Both Kate and Catherine carry (her, their) backpack(s) home.

9. One of the girls brought (her, their) track shoes to class.

10. Neither Kate nor Sue finished (her, their ) report.

GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

• Pronouns – words that are used in place of one or more nouns or pronouns

• The word that a pronoun stands for (or refers to) is called its antecedent

• Antecedents are nouns (or sometimes pronouns) in the sentence.

• Antecedents usually come before the pronoun in the same sentence.

• Antecedents sometimes appear in the sentence just before the one with the pronoun.

• A personal pronoun MUST agree with its antecedent in number and gender

Under Indefinite Pronouns beside “BOTH”**Only look inside the prepositional phrase to

determine the number of the subject

1. Use a singular pronoun to refer to two or more singular antecedents joined by “or”

2. Use a plural pronoun to refer to two or more antecedents joined by “and”