2. Keep Your Eyes Open
Althoughoften overlooked, problems with Subject-
Verb Agreement are REAL!
To
help avoid these errors, we will discuss:
How to make Subjects and Verbs agree in number,
What to do with tricky subjects like Each and Every,
What to do with compound subjects
Learn to spot and correct these errors and become a
3. Recognizing Subjects and
Verbs
Acomplete sentence must have a SUBJECT and a
VERB.
The subject is the who or what that performs the
action.
The verb is the action word.
4. Spot the Subject and Verb
The players on our side are strong.
The players on our side are strong.
Players is the subject and are is the verb.
Once you’ve identified the Subject and the Verb,
you have to make sure they agree in Number.
Singular subjects require singular verbs and plural
subjects require plural verbs.
5. What Next?
An easy way to make your subjects and
verbs agree is to think about the S.
Usually, plural nouns end with the letter S
and singular nouns do not.
Verbs are the opposite:
For the most part, singular verbs end with
the letter S and plural verbs do not.
6. Therefore . . .
The carS run, but the car runS.
The plural noun cars takes the plural verb
run. There is only one S in the pair.
The singular noun car takes the singular
verb runs. Again, There is only one S in the
pair.
7. BEWARE
Compound subjects do not end with S.
Instead, compound subjects consist of two
or more subjects joined by and.
We treat these subjects like any other plural
subject.
The student and the instructor work long
hours.
8. BEWARE
Thestudent and the instructor work long
hours.
Thesubject consists of two people.
Therefore, it is plural.
9. BEWARE
BE CAREFUL!
When subjects are joined by and and
combine to form a single thing or person,
they are treated like a singular subject.
Usea singular verb with such compound
subjects.
10. Example:
Spaghetti
and meatballs has a place on
many menus.
Spaghetti and meatballs is acting as a unit,
as a singular subject.
11. Using Each and Every
Each and Every are singular pronouns.
Therefore, they require singular verbs.
Every flying saucer was glowing.
12. Using Each and Every
BEWARE!
You always use a singular verb with each
and every, even if they precede subjects
joined by and.
Each alien hand and foot leaves a distinct
print.
13. Compound Subjects Joined
By Words Like Or
Be careful when your subjects are joined by
the following words:
or
nor
either. . . or
neither . . . nor
not only . . . but (also)
14. Compound Subjects Joined
By Words Like Or
Insuch cases, the verb agrees with the
subject nearest it.
Example:
Either the instructors or the student knows
the answer.
Try to ignore everything before the final
subject
15. Compound Subjects Joined
By Words Like Or
Either the instructors or the student knows
the answer.
The singular subject student requires the
singular verb knows.
16. What if the Subject is an
Indefinite Pronoun?
Indefinite Pronouns refer to nonspecific
people or things. They are usually singular
and require singular verbs.
17. What if the Subject is an
Indefinite Pronoun?
Thefollowing common Indefinite Pronouns
usually take singular verbs:
Another each everything nothing
anybody either neither somebody
anyone every nobody someone
anything everyone no one
something
18. What if the Subject is an
Indefinite Pronoun?
BEWARE! A few indefinite pronouns—
none, some, more, most, any, and all—can
be either singular or plural, depending on
the context.
Example:
Some of our streams are polluted; some
pollution is reversible, but all pollution is a
threat to nature
19. Making Verbs Agree With the
Antecedents of Who, Which,
and That
When Who, Which, or That starts a clause,
the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun to
which Who, Which, or That refers (its
Antecedent).
20. Making Verbs Agree With the
Antecedents of Who, Which,
and That
Thescientist will share information with the
students who work with her.
George Jones is the student who works in
the lab.
21. Using Singular Verbs with
Titles and Terms
Titlesand terms are treated as singular
subjects–even if they contain plural words.
Examples:
Les Miserables is a popular musical.
“Disciplinary measures” is a euphemism
for punishment.
22. You’ve Been Warned
See if you can spot Subject-Verb Agreement errors.
Subjects and Verbs must agree in number.
Be careful with subjects like Each and Every—these
are singular.
Pay close attention to subjects joined with words
like and and or—these subjects can be either
singular or plural.
23. Information Cited and
Paraphrased from
Troyka, Lynn Q. Quick Access: Reference
For Writers. 3rd Ed. New Jersey:
Prentice Hall, 2001.
24. Thank You for Joining Us!
You can also visit us at
the learning center
(PC 247 / AC I 160) or
call to make an
appointment with a tutor.
UP: (305) 348-2180
BB: (305) 919-5927
Notas do Editor
Introduction slide. For later– you’ve heard about them, can you spot…
This sentence is tricky because of the compound subject, which makes “side” easily confused for the subject.