Welcome to our English Class.

Subject: English 2nd Paper

Class : Six to Twelve

Topic : Subject –Verb Agreement

Time : 40 Minutes

Date : 27/10/2012

Mustafijur RahmanAssistant Teacher (English)Panchdona Sir K. G. Gupta High School

Panchdona, Narsingdi.Mobile no. 01914520877E-mail:mustafij21@gmail.com

TOPICSSubject – Verb Subject – Verb

AgreementAgreement

OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVEIn this lesson’s outcome:

The students will identify the subject & the verb.

Identify the subject and its agreement with verb in the passage correctly

write correct sentences using right form of verb

Subject – Verb Subject – Verb AgreementAgreement

Why do subjects and verbs have Why do subjects and verbs have to agree? After all, they are only to agree? After all, they are only

words!words!

What’s wrong with these What’s wrong with these sentences?sentences?

• There There isis too many too many picturespictures on the wall. on the wall.

Or this one?Or this one?• EverybodyEverybody but Julio but Julio wantwant to go home. to go home.

Or this one?Or this one?• AllAll the people the people wantswants to win the lottery. to win the lottery.

The The subjectssubjects and and verbsverbs don’t don’t agreeagree!!

How do we fix them?How do we fix them?

• There There areare too many too many picturespictures on the wall. on the wall.

A A plural subjectplural subject goes with a goes with a pluralplural verb.verb.• EverybodyEverybody but Julio but Julio wantswants to go home. to go home.

A A singular subjectsingular subject goes with a goes with a singular verb.singular verb.• AllAll the people the people plansplans to win the lottery. to win the lottery.

A A plural subject plural subject goes with a goes with a pluralplural verb.verb.

Now the subjects and verbs agree!Now the subjects and verbs agree!

What is a Subject?What is a Subject?A A subjectsubject is a part of a sentence that is being talked about. is a part of a sentence that is being talked about.Subjects are usually Subjects are usually nounsnouns and and pronounspronouns..

Remember that:Remember that:

There are 3 kinds of subjects.There are 3 kinds of subjects.

1.1. CompleteComplete – articles + noun/pronoun make up a – articles + noun/pronoun make up a complete subject.complete subject.

2.2. SimpleSimple – the articles aren’t included. – the articles aren’t included.

3.3. CompoundCompound – 2 or more subjects that have the same – 2 or more subjects that have the same verb.verb.

Examples:Examples:

MacbethMacbeth is a kinsman of King Duncan. is a kinsman of King Duncan.

**Macbeth is the simple subjectMacbeth is the simple subject..

The tragic play The tragic play was disappointing but entertaining.was disappointing but entertaining.

**The tragic play is the complete subject. The tragic play is the complete subject.

Gertrude and Claudius Gertrude and Claudius were wed after a month King were wed after a month King Hamlet died. Hamlet died. *Gertrude and Claudius is the compound subject*Gertrude and Claudius is the compound subject

What is a Verb?What is a Verb?A A verbverb is a part of speech that usually pertains to is a part of speech that usually pertains to

an action, occurrence, or a state of being.an action, occurrence, or a state of being.There are 2 kinds of verbs:There are 2 kinds of verbs:

Action Action – used to show when somebody does something.– used to show when somebody does something. Linking Linking – links the subject to an equivalent word in the sentence– links the subject to an equivalent word in the sentence

Be verbs Be verbs

*Remember that: *Remember that: NOT ALLNOT ALL be verbs are linking be verbs are linking verbs.verbs.

An action verb can be:An action verb can be:

1.1.TransitiveTransitive – – directsdirects action towards someone or action towards someone or something in the sentencesomething in the sentence

2.2.IntransitiveIntransitive – the verb – the verb doesn’t directdoesn’t direct the action the action to someone or something in the sentence.to someone or something in the sentence.

8 state of being verbs:8 state of being verbs:

IS, AM, ARE, WAS, WERE, BE, BEING, BEENIS, AM, ARE, WAS, WERE, BE, BEING, BEEN

ExamplesExamples

1.1. Antonio Antonio isis the merchant of Venice. the merchant of Venice.**the verb the verb ISIS connects the subject Antonio to the predicate connects the subject Antonio to the predicate

the merchant of Venice.the merchant of Venice.

2.2. Shylock Shylock leftleft after the trial. after the trial.

* * the verb the verb LEFTLEFT is an is an INTRANSITIVEINTRANSITIVE verb. verb.

3.3. Puck Puck spreadspread love-in-idleness on Lysander’s eyelids love-in-idleness on Lysander’s eyelids while he was asleep.while he was asleep.

*the verb *the verb SPREADSPREAD is a is a TRANSITIVE TRANSITIVE verb.verb.

4.4. The flower, love-in-idleness, The flower, love-in-idleness, isis found in the forest found in the forest**the verb the verb ISIS is is NOTNOT a linking verb in the a linking verb in the sentence. It just shows where the subject is sentence. It just shows where the subject is located.located.

EVERY VERB MUST AGREE WITH ITS SUBJECT

SingularSubject

PluralVerb

PluralSubject

SingularVerb

Watch the present tense verb Watch the present tense verb endings!endings!

Singular Singular o I walkI walko You walkYou walko He/She/It walk sHe/She/It walk s

o Joe walk sJoe walk so The girl walk sThe girl walk s

PluralPluralo We walkWe walko You walkYou walko They walkThey walk

o Joe and Maria Joe and Maria walkwalk

o The girls walkThe girls walk

Remember these three Remember these three irregular verbs:irregular verbs:

SingularSingular PluralPluralo DODO

o He doHe doeess They doThey do

o HAVEHAVEo She haShe hass They haveThey have

o BEBEo He iHe iss They areThey areo She waShe wass They wereThey were

Tip for present Tip for present tense tense

subject-verb subject-verb agreement:agreement:

If the subject does end in -s, the verb won’t.

Generally, if the subject doesn’t end in -s, the verb will.

The girl dances.

No -s on subject

-s on verb

The girls dance.

-s on subject

No -s on

verb

Compound subjects joined Compound subjects joined by by andand

o If there are two or more If there are two or more subjects joined by subjects joined by andand,, the the subject must be plural, so the subject must be plural, so the verb will not end in verb will not end in -s.-s.

o Example:Example:o The boy and the girlThe boy and the girl dance. dance.

(= (= TheyThey dance.) dance.)

No -s on verb

Compound subjects Compound subjects joined by joined by oror

o If there are two or more subjects joined by If there are two or more subjects joined by oror, , the the verb agrees with the part of the subject closest to verb agrees with the part of the subject closest to it. it.

o Examples:Examples:o The The professor or professor or the students the students walkwalk the halls. the halls.

o The The students or students or the professor the professor walkswalks the the halls.halls.

What about indefinite What about indefinite pronouns?pronouns?

o An indefinite pronoun does not refer to a An indefinite pronoun does not refer to a specific person, place, or idea.specific person, place, or idea.

o EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES:oSomeoneSomeone is waiting for you. is waiting for you.oAnythingAnything can happen at this school. can happen at this school.oManyMany of his questions were of his questions were answered.answered.

oSeveralSeveral of my disks are damaged. of my disks are damaged.

A few indefinite pronouns are plural.

many

several

few

both

some

These will all take plural verbs.

Many of the students have A’s.

Few of the students are discouraged.

Most indefinite pronouns are singular.

Most singular indefinite pronouns

begin with and end with

some -body

any -one

every -thing

no

Examples of singular Examples of singular indefinite pronouns:indefinite pronouns:

DoesDoes anybodyanybody here like grammar? here like grammar?

EverybodyEverybody loves grammar!loves grammar!

IsIs anybodyanybody lying? lying?

No oneNo one is lying!is lying!

Well, Well, someonesomeone is stretching the truth! is stretching the truth!

EachEach of the students denies that. of the students denies that.

To be correct, subjects and verbs To be correct, subjects and verbs must agree…must agree…

They must agree in NUMBER:NUMBER:•SingularSingular subjectssubjects go with singularsingular verbs.verbs.

•EveryoneEveryone wantswants to win the lottery.

•Plural subjectsPlural subjects go with pluralplural verbs.verbs.

•AllAll the players want want to win the game.

•NumberNumber is always about is always about SingularSingular & & PluralPlural

What causes problems with S/V What causes problems with S/V agreement?agreement?• Words between the Words between the subjectsubject and the and the verb:verb:

The shoes The shoes in the closetin the closet needs to be shined. needs to be shined.In the closetIn the closet is a is a prepositional phraseprepositional phrase between the between the

subject subject shoesshoes and the verb and the verb need.need.To be correct, the verb should be: To be correct, the verb should be: need with no “s”need with no “s”

The shoes The shoes in the closetin the closet need to be shined. need to be shined.

Common PrepositionsCommon Prepositions

aboutabout beforebefore duringduring insideinside overover

aboveabove belowbelow exceptexcept inin througthroughh

acrossacross besidebeside forfor ofof toto

arounaroundd

betwebetweenen

fromfrom offoff underunder

atat byby inin onon withwith

VerbVerb before the before the subjectsubject……• Inside the garage Inside the garage areare the the shovelshovel..• Across the border Across the border isis Reynosa Reynosa

and Progresso.and Progresso.• Where Where isis the instructions for the the instructions for the

X-Box?X-Box?

Shouldn’t they be…?Shouldn’t they be…?

•Inside the garage Inside the garage isis the the shovelshovel..•Across the border Across the border areare Reynosa and Progresso.Reynosa and Progresso.•Where Where areare the instructions the instructions for the for the X-Box?X-Box?

Indefinite PronounsIndefinite Pronouns[-0ne [-0ne

words]words][-body [-body words]words]

[-thing [-thing words]words]

oneone nobodynobody nothingnothing eacheach

anyoneanyone anybodyanybody anythinganything neitherneither

everyoneeveryone everybodyeverybody everythingeverything eithereither

someonesomeone somebodysomebody somethingsomething

All of these indefinite pronouns are singularAll of these indefinite pronouns are singularNobodyNobody havehave a clue about what they are doing. (should be hashas)

Everything areare ready for the party. (should be isis)

NeitherNeither Fred, nor Ed, nor Ted knowknow the way. (should be knowsknows)All All andand bothboth, , however, are pluralhowever, are plural

AllAll of them wantswants to go. (should be wantwant)

Compound SubjectsCompound Subjects• Subjects joined by Subjects joined by andand usually take a plural verb. usually take a plural verb.

Diet Diet andand exerciseexercise isis ways to be healthy. (should be ways to be healthy. (should be areare))

AmbitionAmbition and and luckluck was was Juan’s keys to success. Juan’s keys to success. (should be (should be werewere))

Who, Which and ThatWho, Which and ThatIf they stand for singular wordssingular words, who, which and that take singular verbssingular verbs:

Rebecca is a personperson who areare very private. (should be isis)

If they stand for plural wordsplural words, who, which and that take plural verbsplural verbs:

Joel is one of those peoplepeople who is is very private. (should be areare)

Evaluation

IncorrectIncorrectIncorrectIncorrect

MoviesMovies in in today’stoday’smarket market makesmakes a a great deal of great deal of money. money.

MoviesMovies in in today’stoday’smarket market make make a a great deal of great deal of money. money.

RevisedRevisedRevisedRevised

The The American American audiences audiences payspaysfor tickets at for tickets at the theater the theater and for cable and for cable at home.at home.

IncorrectIncorrectIncorrectIncorrect

The American The American audiences audiences paypay for for tickets at the tickets at the theater and theater and for for cable at home.cable at home.

RevisedRevisedRevisedRevised

The The internationalinternationalmarket, market, which which includes includes dozens dozens of countries, of countries, producesproduces even even more profit.more profit.

CorrectCorrect

Films are very Films are very expensive to expensive to manufacture, so manufacture, so American studiosAmerican studioscreatescreates far more far more films than other films than other countries.countries.

IncorrectIncorrectIncorrectIncorrect

Films are very Films are very expensive to expensive to manufacture, so manufacture, so American studiosAmerican studioscreate create far more far more films than other films than other countries.countries.

RevisedRevisedRevisedRevised

There There is is many many advantages toadvantages to seeing a seeing a movie movie in the theater in the theater rather than rather than watching watching a video at a video at home. home.

IncorrectIncorrectIncorrectIncorrect

There There are are many many advantages to advantages to seeing seeing a movie in the a movie in the theater theater rather than rather than watching watching a video at home. a video at home.

RevisedRevisedRevisedRevised

The dark theaterThe dark theaterand the enormousand the enormousscreen screen taketake the themovie viewer to movie viewer to another world.another world.

CorrectCorrect

The background The background music in moviesmusic in moviesplayplay an important an importantrole.role.

IncorrectIncorrectIncorrectIncorrect

The The background background music in music in moviesmoviesplaysplays an an importantimportantrole.role...

RevisedRevisedRevisedRevised

The music The music createscreatesa mood and gives aa mood and gives asignal of somethingsignal of somethingto come.to come.

CorrectCorrect

Not everyone in Not everyone in the entertainment the entertainment fields fields agree agree aboutabout the quality ofthe quality of movies.movies.

IncorrectIncorrectIncorrectIncorrect

Not everyone in theNot everyone in theentertainment fieldentertainment fieldagrees agrees about the about the quality of movies.quality of movies.

RevisedRevisedRevisedRevised

Neither the use ofNeither the use ofsubtitles nor blacksubtitles nor blackand white and white photography photography demonstratedemonstrate the the preferences of preferences of mostmostAmericans.Americans.

IncorrectIncorrectIncorrectIncorrect

Neither the use ofNeither the use ofsubtitles nor blacksubtitles nor blackand white and white photography photography demonstrates demonstrates the the preferences of preferences of mostmostAmericans.Americans.

RevisedRevisedRevisedRevised

One More Thing: Tense One More Thing: Tense AgreementAgreement

• Tense is all about time.Tense is all about time.• Usually we write in the Past tense.Usually we write in the Past tense.• The Present and Future are fine, The Present and Future are fine,

but once you start in a tense, but once you start in a tense, STAY there!STAY there!

• ““Yesterday we decided that Yesterday we decided that tomorrow we will go shoppingtomorrow we will go shopping” is ” is correct. (Past & Future together)correct. (Past & Future together)

• ““We went to the store and buy We went to the store and buy foodfood.” is not correct. (Past & .” is not correct. (Past & Present together) It should be Present together) It should be boughtbought not not buy.buy.

HOME work

She and her friends is/are at the fair.The book or the pen is /are in the drawer.

One of the boxes is /are openThe team captain, as well as his players, is/are anxious.The woman with all the dogs walks/walk down my street.

Five dollars is/are a lot of money.The family has/have a long history.Each of these hot dogs is /are juicy.

THANKS YOU!