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8 Making Subjects and Verbs Agree

You want readers to pay attention to your ideas, not to unexpected and co

ing word forms. Readers can be confused if the subjects and verbs of sen

don't fit together. With a singular subject, you need a singular verb; with a pl

subject, you need a plural 'verb. This agreement between subjects and ye

sometimes difficult because some word forms are unusual and some sent

are complicated. This chapter will show you how to overcome the difficulties

you edit. You'll learn

■ how to make subjects and verbs work together

■ how to recognize exceptions and handle them correctly

What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?

Subjects can be nouns or pronouns. They can be singular: representing one son, place, or thing. Or they can be plural: representing more than Likewise, the verbs that work with subjects can have singular or plural forms. singular subject goes with a singular verb and a plural subject with a pl verb. That's subject-verb agreement.

Subject-verb agreement occurs only in tenses that deal with the present with just one verb in the past tense, which we'll discuss in Chapter 19. Ri now, we'll focus on the present tense agreement.

Subjects

Since in English sentences the subject generally comes before the verb, the f the verb takes depends on its subject. So we'll begin by looking at the sin and plural forms of nouns. You will need to be able to recognize these forms order to check subject-verb agreement.

188

TIPS Nouns

iXERCISE 1 Choosing Correct Noun Forms

CHAPTER 18 Making Subjects and Verbs Agree 189

and confus-

of sentences

with a plural and verbs is

ne sentences

difficulties as

or Determining Verb Agreement with Nouns: the Rule of One -s

Plural verbs don't add an 4,but most plural nouns

Therefore, if the noun-ibject ends in -s, the verb wally should not. If the

ends in -s, the noun- ect usually should not.

gular: (no -s) + verb with -s

e student rides the bus.

tun with -s + verb (no -s) h students ride the bus.

!nting one per-tore than one. plural forms. A t with a plural

:he present and apter 19. Right

e verb, the fo ; at the singular e these forms

A singular noun, which usually doesn't end in -s, takes a verb that ends in -s:

A jaguar is an animal that runs fast.

One professional athlete owns a Jaguar—the fancy, expensive car.

A plural noun, which normally ends in -s or -es, takes a verb without an -s ending:

Jaguars are members of the cat family. Many professional athletes make millions of dollars.

The -s or -es ending for plural nouns—whether they're subjects or objects—is important, for it tells readers that you mean more than one. And the -s ending on present tense verbs is important, for it reminds readers that the subject is singular.

Both nouns and verbs add -es if they end in –s, -ss, -ch, -sh, -z, or -x.

Some of the nouns in the following sentences should be plural. Correct them by adding -s or -es endings.

Facts about Zebras

1. It's not unusual to see 1,000 zebra, together at one time.

2. They're very social animal.

3. They generally live in short grassy area or open fields.

4. A family group consists of one male (called a stallion), several female (called

mares), and many infant.

5. The female are not equal; the principal mare leads the pack and the other follow

behind her in single file.

6. And the family stays together, even when they join a large herd.

7. These striped horses are extremely brave, especially when lions and hyenas hunt

them.

8. The male often form a semicircle to protect their families.

9. The lions will sometimes escape with severe injuries, because zebras can deliver

powerful kick.

190 UNIT IV Editing with Care

EXERCISE 2 Choosing Correct Verb Forms

Decide whether the subject of the sentence is singular or plural. Then write the appro• priate present tense form of the verb supplied in parentheses.

Facts about Leopards

1. Leopards normally (hunt)

hunt at dusk and throughout the night.

2. These beautiful cats often (stay) hidden during the day or (lie)

in high branches of trees.

3. A male leopard normally (live) alone and (join) a

female only for mating.

4. Leopards' spotted bodies (make) wonderful disguises, so the big

cats attack their prey by surprise.

5. A single bite from a leopard usually (kill) its prey.

6. Then the leopard (take) its food up into a tree and has a relaxing

meal.

Irregular Plurals. Some nouns are irregular and do not form plurals by adding -s or -es to the base word. Here are a few examples:

Singular Plural

wife wives

child children

woman women

mouse mice

tooth teeth

phenomenon phenomena

crisis crises

medium media For Remembering Nouns That Have Identical Some other nouns have identical singular and plural forms, such as these: Singular and Plural Forms Many (but not all) nouns sheep fish deer trout offspring that have the same singular + plural forms are, the names of fish: Still other nouns have only plural forms: salmon, cod, perch, tuna, pike, and halibut. clothes scissors pants shorts jeans

EXERCI

Finally, a few nouns are singular even though they end is -s:

mathematics physics (and all other nouns ending in -ics) news

hen write the appro-

ut the night.

the day or (lie)

a

sguises, so the big

a nd has a relaxing

m plurals by adding

s, such as these:

)ffspring

eans

-s:

n -ics) news

For each subject in parentheses, write a present tense sentence. Make sure the sub-ject and verb agree.

1. (His teeth) His teeth are very white.

T CHAPTER 18 Making Subjects and Verbs Agree 191

2. (The child)

3. (The women)

4. (The phenomenon)

5. (Several sheep)

6. (My clothes)

Pronouns as Subjects A pronoun takes the place of a noun. Like a noun, it can be singular or plural and can serve as the subject of a verb:

Singular + Verb Plural + Verb

First person: I run we run

Second person: you run you run

Third person: he

she

it

runs

runs

runs

they run

Notice that only the third person singular pronouns (he, she, and it) require a verb ending in -s:

he she works, eats, itches, yawns, wiggles, giggles it

EXERCISE 3 I Writing Sentences With Irregular Nouns as Subjects

EXERCISE 4 Choosing Present Tense Verbs

Look at the pronoun subject of each sentence. Then write the present tense form of the verb in parentheses. Make sure the subject and verb agree.

1. We (know) know how to form plurals of nouns.

2. She (wear) running shoes to class.

3. They (own) a lovely house in the suburbs of Atlanta.

4. He Icomb) his hair with his left hand.

5. It often (rain) through my roof in the spring.

6. You (know) how to charm people.

7. I always (write) correct sentences in these exercises.

For Remembering about Compound Subjects: The Rule of And When two subjects are joined by and, the verb needs to be plural. Subject and subject = verb without -s.


Subjects Joined by And Any combination of nouns and pronouns joined by and also makes a plura: subject, which is called a compound subject. Note the following examples:

Subject Verb without -s

a pencil and a piece of paper

Juan and I go, make, seem

ice cream, cake, and candy .1 A compound subject, like a plural noun or pronoun, requires a plural verb.

Only the word and joins two subjects. Or, nor, and prepositions such as withal in do not make a compound subject:

The little old lady with seven dogs is a grandmother. (Only the woman is a grandmother—not the seven dogs.)

One in a million people is talented enough to play professional soccer. (Only one is talented enough—not a million.)

Dark clouds or thunder is not a sure sign of rain. (Or signals a choice be-tween the two subjects; it doesn't join them. The sentence means "dark clouds are not" or "thunder is not" —and the verb agrees with the second and last choice.)

Fruit or vegetables are a healthy snack. (Again the verb agrees with the second and last choice.)

Compare these three sentences:

Maria, along with her friend, works part time on weekends. (Only Maria is the subject of this sentence.)

Maria and her friend work part-time on weekends. (And joins the two subjects of this sentence.)

Neither Maria nor her friend works full time on weekends. (Nor signals a negative choice, and the verb agrees with the second and last choice.)

Decide whether the subject of each sentence is singular or plural. Then write the* propriate present tense form of the verb in parentheses.

1. The silver earring and the gold ring (belong) to me.

2. That brown jacket and yellow tie (go) together beautifully.

3. Five scoops of ice cream with two bananas, nuts, and syrup (make)

EXERCISE 5 Forming Agreement with Compound Subjects

LE VE

E)- ciz biz pro Die

sr

For

A cc shot It lir with whit lette: ca edit, langi he or Same 1. D(

'ttl

ha 2. 113(

CO SO all we its wi

a delicious treat.

3 a plural verb. tions such as with or


Collaborative Activity 1

Checking Agreement

Write five sentences. 5. The clothes on the bed, on the floor, and on top of the dresser Leave blank spaces for verbs. Make the subjects (belong) to my teenage son. as varied as you can. Exchange papers with a 6. The use of compound subjects (become) quite easy to

classmate and fill in the master with a little practice. blanks with appropriate present tense verb forms. Discuss your answers.

Special Present Tense Verbs

lso makes a plural ring examples:

4. After sixty-two years of marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson (look)

at each other with great affection—although they can't see too well.

ly the woman is a

3ional soccer.

als a choice be-means "dark

with the second

The verbs to be, to do, and to have deserve special attention because they occur so often and take unusual forms. You need to know those forms well to make sure they agree with their subjects.

To Be

To be (is, am, are) is the most common verb in the English language:

grees with the

For Using Contractions

Acontraction is a shortened form of a verb. It links to another word with an apostrophe [1, which replaces the omitted letters. Examine be verbs carefully as you write and edit, especially if your first language does not include he or does not use it in the same way as English does. 1. Don't leave off the 's, the

'm, or the 're. Change "He happy" to "He's happy."

2, Don't confuse the contractions with s , ,t,ricl-alike or look-alilo• words: we're with were, you're with your, if with its, and they're with their or there.

The photographs are beautiful.

I am beautiful in all of them.

It often serves as a linking verb, preceding an - ing word in verb phrases:

s.

I am looking for a good job.

Julio is looking for a good place to nap.

(Nor signals a last choice.)

Here are the present tense forms of to be and their contractions (that is, their shortened forms with apostrophes replacing omitted letters):

Negative Subject Verb Contractions contractions

I am I'm

ral. Then write the ap-

he, she, it is he's, she's, it's isn't (or singular noun)

we, you, they are we're, you're, they're aren't (or plural noun)

to me.

together beautifully.

Hake)

Collaborative Activity 2

Discussing Your Editing Compare your answers to Exercise 7 with a classmate. Were any errors especially difficult to detect? Report your results to the whole class.


EXERCISE 6 I Writing To Be

Write both the correct full form of the verb to be and its contraction with an approon• ate pronoun in each of these sentences. When the subject is a noun or a ccmpouns subject, change it to a pronoun.

1. Joe io ( He's ) talking to Mr. Williams.

2. I ( ) intelligent, rich, and extremely modest.

3. School ( ) a pleasure and a joy for me.

4. My dog ( ) smarter than my brother.

5. My colleague and I ( ) happy to meet you.

6. You ( ) in the right room.

7. The students ( ) going to be late.

EXERCISE 7 Correcting Errors with To Be

Read this draft. There are seven mistakes in the use of the verb to be. Correct these mistakes by finding the subjects, making the verbs agree, and fixing errors in the to be contractions. The first error has been corrected for you.

More Facts about Leopards

is (1)A leopard ,sa very resourceful hunter. (2)When its hunting in the grasslana

Africa, the big cat kills many large animals. (3) In the forest areas, there also sma

mammals that the leopard eats, such as hares, monkeys, and squirrels, as well E

reptiles, such as frogs, and fish. (4) Its typical for a female leopard to give birth town

to three cubs. (5)There kqpt in isolated areas, like bushes or small caves. (6)Their

much darker than adults, which are usually spotted. (7) Female leopards very coo

cerned mothers who leave their infants only when they have to. (8) When the cubsare

about two years old, they leave their mother and go out on their own.

To Do

The verb to do (do, does) serves as a helping verb in most present tense question; and negative statements. The helping verb needs to agree with its subject, ass' the following examples:

Do you play the guitar?

He doesn't work on Sundays.

Ippropn• : mpound

11•••■■•• •

rect these o rs in the


Here are the present tense forms of to do:

Subject Verb Negative verb Negative contractions

I, we, you, they do do not don't

he, she, it does does not doesn't

The negative forms of do/does create the most problems. Many people say and write, "He don't," instead of "He doesn't"—a common but very serious gram-matical error. Remember that does is the correct form with he, she, or it.

EXERCISE 8 Writing Negative Statements with To Do

Write the appropriate negative contraction of to do (doesn't or don't) in each sen-tence. You will first need to determine whether the subject is singular or plural.

Facts about Lions

assland of

also small

as well as

birth to one

a s. (6)Their

s very con.

he cubs are

1. Lions may attack other animals, but they usually other.

don't bother each

2. They're actually rather social animals. A lion live alone but in a group of two to forty others called a pride.

3. However, one male rules the pride, and the rest of the animals certainly

have the same rights as he does.

4. He is first in mating, and other lions eat until he's finished with his meal.

5. Lionesses are chiefly responsible for hunting for food. The females

receive this assignment because the male is lazy; his big, furry

mane is simply too easy for prey to recognize.

6. In the wild, a 350-pound lion will eat 45 pounds of food daily. However, a lion

eat nearly as much in captivity—usually only 10 to 15 pounds

a day.

7. The biggest threat to lions come from other animals; it comes

from human hunters and poachers.

To Have

You use to have as a simple verb:

I have homework to do.

Bozena has two brothers in Poland.

And you use it as a helping verb, which also needs to agree with its subject:

I have worked on my laboratory report for a week.

Tuyet Ahn hasn't ever failed an examination.

questions ibject, as in


Here are its present tense forms:

Negative

Subject Verb Contractions contractions

I, we, you, they have I've, we've, haven't, don't have you've, they've

he, she, it has he's, she's, it's hasn't, doesn't have

Don't confuse have and has with had—the past tense form of the verb.

EXERCISE 9 Writing To Have

Write the appropriate present tense form of to have — affirmative or negative—i sentence. You will first need to determine if the subject is singular or plural.

Facts about Baboons

1. Baboons have their homes in African forests and mountains.

2. A typical baboon colony as many as fifty members.

3. At night a baboon climbs a tree or cliff, where it a place to E

4. Baboons often travel as much as six miles from their spots, but they usually

several sleeping spots within their territory.

5. Baboons (negative) much protection from their enemies,

especially leopards—and humans.

6. Therefore, each baboon to be very careful.

7. If an enemy approaches, the baboon (negative) any time to as it runs to hide.

8. It to climb a tree; but if no trees are nearby, the male baboor

gather together, scream loudly to scare away their enemies, and fight fiercely if

necessary.

9. Baboons a very strong social organization.

Special Problems with Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is more difficult with certain kinds of sentenc words. We'll examine those situations in this section.

Questions The subject normally comes before the verb in a sentence, alerting you I form of the verb that follows. But in questions, the verb comes first. This

•

; ative —in each ural.


order can produce errors fn agreement, especially with plural subjects. Here's an example:

Incorrect: Does Maria and Orlando want to go with us?

You may think that the verb agrees with Maria, the word that immediately fol-lows. But this sentence has a compound subject. Orlando needs to be included in the verb, too. The sentence needs to be rewritten:

Correct: Do Maria and Orlando want to go with us?

have

t have

rb.

a ins.

P lace to sleep.

i sually

emies,

ny time to lose

Ile baboons will

: fiercely if

ing you to the first. This word

EXERCISE 10 Writing Verbs in Questions

Write the correct present tense form of to do or to be in each of the following sen-tences. You will first need to determine whether the subject is singular or plural.

1. Are Luis and Luisa practicing for the burrito-eating contest?

2. seven children, three dogs, four cats, and a slightly confused goat too

much to take care of?

3. you know the way to the stadium?

4. Mrs. Smith and Dr. Grant coming to the festival?

5. a woman with triplets have three times the fun?

6. the solution to all the problems difficult to find?

7. these sentences easy to write?

Sentences That Begin with There Expressions that begin with there also place the verb before the subject. Use there is or there are, depending on the subject, or subjects, that follow. These sentences are correct:

There's a child sleeping on our couch.

There are two children asleep on our bed. (NOT There is two children . . .)

There are no places left for us to sleep.

Write the correct present tense form of to be in each sentence.

1. There are many people who want to study computers.

2. There two things that you need to know: Be smart and be careful. •

3. There a soccer ball, a can of deodorant, and a tuxedo in the back seat

of the car.

f sentences


Collaborative Activity 3 4. There

5. There

6. There

a few rules that no one can break.

a lot of food left from the party.

no more sentences to complete in this exercise.

Collective Nouns

class orchestra the United Nations

committee faculty the French

2. My family

3. The police

4. The British

5. IBM

6. The staff

Writing the Forms of To Be Write six sentences—three questions and three statements—beginning with there. Leave the verbs blank. Use a variety of singular and plural subjects. Then exchange papers with a classmate and fill in the blanks with present tense forms of to be. Discuss your answers.

For Using Collective Nouns If you were educated in a British school system, be careful. British English tends to treat collective nouns as plurals: "Harrod's Department Store are having a sale." American English tends to treat collective nouns as singular: "Safeway is having a sale."

A collective noun represents a collection of two or more persons, things, a ideas:

Most collective nouns are singular:

The class is hearing a lecture on economics.

The hockey team wins most of its games.

A few collective nouns are always plural:

The words police and faculty: The police patrol this area often.

All nationalities: The Dutch are thrilled about playing in the World Cup.

The word staff, however, can be either singular or plural, depending on the con. text in which it is used.

EXERCISE 12 I Writing Sentences with Collective Nouns

Write present tense sentences in which the collective noun subject agrees with the verb.

1. The collaborative group usually reviews the material before moving on to the

next subject .

ct agrees with the

l oving on to the

ding on the con-


Noncount Nouns Except in a few unusual cases, noncount nouns (water, homework, furniture, and so on) are always singular. They cannot end in -s, and the verb that agrees with them should end in -s. Of course, count nouns (one chair or six chairs, and so on) can be singular or plural.

EXERCISE.13 Writing Sentences with Count Nouns and Noncount Nouns

Decide whether each word in parentheses is a count noun or a noncount noun. Make the count nouns plural. Then write a present tense sentence for each noun. Make the noun the subject of the sentence. The noncount nouns, of course, will require a singu-lar verb form. You may wish to place a word like some before the noncount nouns.

1. (water) The water in the bathtub is cold.

2. (homework)

3. (parent)

4. ( money)

5. (evidence)

6. (fact)

7. (furniture)

8. (help)

9. (idea)

10. (advice)

11. (information)

Indefinite Pronouns Indefinite pronouns (pronouns that don't refer to a definite person, place, or thing) are always singular. There are four categories of indefinite pronouns:

ions, things, or

n.

World Cup.

Some Every Any No

somebody everybody anybody nobody

someone everyone anyone no one

something everything anything nothing

EXERCISE 15 I Using Correct Subject-Verb Agreement •

not difficult to determine.

2. A person with eleven dogs (be)

3. The members of this crew (do)

not bored very often.

all of the work on board the ship.

Calla

Work;


EXERCISE 14 Writing Sentences with Indefinite Pronouns

Complete each sentence, using a present tense verb.

1. Everybody loves pizza, hamburgers, fried chicken, tacos, and weight - loss diets

2. Someone

3. Anyone

4. Somebody

5. Nobody

6. There no one who

Phrases between the Subject and the Verb A prepositional phrase sometimes comes between the subject and the verb. Don't let it confuse you. For example, which verbs should you use in the follow. ing sentences?

The woman with seventeen children (need/needs) a little help.

The shape and size of the ring (is/are) unusual.

Be sure that you aren't distracted by nouns or pronouns in prepositional phrases. The choice of the correct form will be clear when you draw a lint through the prepositional phrase:

The woman with-seventeen-ehildren needs a little help.

The shape and size of-the-ring are unusual.

Be aware of potentially misleading prepositional phrases as you edit.

Cross out the prepositional phrase between the subject and the verb, determine whether the subject is singular or plural, and then write the appropriate present tens: verb form.

1. The reason for all the papers, cans, and other garbago in the-par-lc (be) Prepa two w two w nouns prono

4. The hard work of the engineers, drafters, carpenters, and electricians prepo the su

(have) contributed to creating a beautiful new campus. relativ verbs paper and fil preser

CHAPTER 1 8 Making Subjects and Verbs Agree 201

5 diets

the verb. Le follow-

5. An enormous box of pizzas, French fries, garlic bread, onion rings, and nachos

usually (disappear) about fifteen minutes after Mario and his friends

see it.

6. The cause of most deaths from fires (be) smoke inhalation.

Relative Clauses In relative clauses, the subject pronouns who, which, or that relate back to the word or words immediately before the clause. That means the verb in the relative clause has to agree with the same word or words:

I want to introduce you to the man who owns this palace.

Be sure to see the movie Toy Story, which is playing at the Center Cinema.

My teenage son needs to pick up the banana peels, apple cores, and hamburger buns that are rotting on his bedroom floor.

However, whom, which; or that can also function as the object in a relative clause. In this case, the verb agrees with the subject of the relative clause:

0 s v Here is the young man whom you are going to teach English. (That is, you are going to teach him English.)

You'll love the specialty of the house, which Chef Alberto makes from fresh tuna and tomatoes. (That is, Chef Alberto makes it.)

positional .aw a line

EXERCISE 16 I Writing Verbs in Relative Clauses

Complete each sentence using a present tense verb.

1. I want a car that looks like a million dollars but costs about a thousand.

determine resent tense

"41laborative Activity 4 2. Ludmilla is looking for a man who

is

ship.

!locking on Agreement ',pare ten sentences — 3. These are my new friends, who i4D with collective nouns, 'o with noncount vs, two with indefinite 4. I need a dog that nuns, two with positional phrases after

lsubject, and two with ulive clauses. Leave the 5. Mrs. Rich has a new eight -carat diamond, which

;ts blank. Exchange s with a classmate

lilt in the blanks with 6. To fix this car, you need a set of tools that ent tense verbs. uss your answers.


IN SUMMARY Present Tense Subject-Verb Agreement

• Almost all plural nouns end in -s or -es (if the singular form already ends

in -s, -ss, -ch, -sh, -z, or -x), but the verbs that agree with them do not; al-most all singular nouns do not end in -s, but the verbs that agree with them do.

• The pronouns he, she, and it and all singular nouns agree with verbs end-

ing in -s. • All other subject pronouns (I, we, you, and they) and all plural nouns agree

with verbs that do not end in -s. • All compound subjects (two or more subjects joined by and) are plural

and agree with verbs that do not end in -s. • In questions and sentences beginning with there, the subject follows the

verb and determines agreement. • All indefinite pronouns and noncount nouns are singular. • Most—but not all—collective nouns are singular. • The word or words proceeding subject pronouns who, that, or which in

relative clauses determine the verb agreement. But when whom, that, or which functions as an object, the subject follows it and determines verb agreement.

13: Con Disc Corr with your repo-entir.

EDITING FOR MASTERY MastE

Mastery Exercise 1 Correcting Noun and Verb Errors

The passage contains sixteen errors in subject-verb agreement, noun plurals, missinc verbs, and incorrect contractions with to be. The first error has been correcteditt you. Find and correct the remaining errors.

Some Facts about Cats

(1) Ever since the Egyptian, made cats their pets 4,000 years ago, cats always been

i mportant to humans as rodent killers. (2)Today some cat still earn their living as rat

killers, and a few others works in TV commercials. (3) However, the main job of a cat

these days are to be a good companion—and kind owner—of its pet humans.

(4) A cat is very smart, but it don't learn the way a dog does. (5) Some tests of

intelligence shows that the cat is smarter than the dog. (6) However, a cat won't allow

itself to be trained. (7) As everyone know, a cat will obey its owner only when it's in the

mood.

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