1. SUBJECT-VERB
AGREEMENT RULES

2. GUESS
MY
FORM?

3. Plural of Mouse
?

4. Plural of Mouse
Mice

5. Plural of Veto
?

6. Vetoes
Plural of Veto

7. Plural of Vertex
?

8. Plural of Vertex
Vertices

9. Plural of Curriculum
?

10. Plural of Curriculum
Curricula

11. ?
Plural of Alumnus

12. Plural of Alumnus
Alumni

13. DEFINING THE TERMS
SUBJECT VERB

14. DEFINING THE TERMS
SUBJECT VERB
the person or
thing (a noun
or pronoun)
that does the
'action
the action or
state of
being in a
sentence

15. Subject-Verb
Agreement
Common Errors in

16. 1. Singular subjects connected by and take
plural verbs.
The percentage of employees who called
in sick and the number of employees who
left their jobs within 2 years are reflective
of the level of job satisfaction.

17. 1. Singular subjects connected by and take
plural verbs.
The percentage of employees who called
in sick and the number of employees who
left their jobs within 2 years are reflective
of the level of job satisfaction.

18. 1. My brother and I is/are studying for
the exam
2. The cat and the dog play/plays
together in the backyard.
3. The doctoral student and the
committee members write/writes
every day.

19. 1. My brother and I are studying for the
exam
2. The cat and the dog play/plays
together in the backyard.
3. The doctoral student and the
committee members write/writes
every day.

20. 1. My brother and I are studying for the
exam
2. The cat and the dog play together in
the backyard.
3. The doctoral student and the
committee members write/writes
every day.

21. 1. My brother and I are studying for the
exam
2. The cat and the dog play together in
the backyard.
3. The doctoral student and the
committee members write every day.

22. 2. If the compound subjects refer to the
same object or function as a unit, they take
singular verbs
The director and producer of the film has
won numerous awards.
Fish and chips is a popular dish in England

23. 2. If the compound subjects refer to the
same object or function as a unit, they take
singular verbs
The director and producer of the film has
won numerous awards.
Fish and chips is a popular dish in England

24. 1. The peanut butter and jelly sandwich
are/is my favorite lunch
2. The captain and coach of the team
has/have led them to victory.
3. The bride and groom is/are excited for
their wedding day.

25. 1. The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is
my favorite lunch
2. The captain and coach of the team
has/have led them to victory.
3. The bride and groom is/are excited for
their wedding day.

26. 1. The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is
my favorite lunch
2. The captain and coach of the team has
led them to victory.
3. The bride and groom is/are excited for
their wedding day.

27. 1. The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is
my favorite lunch
2. The captain and coach of the team has
led them to victory.
3. The bride and groom is excited for
their wedding day.

28. 3. When a phrase comes between the
subject and the verb, remember that the
verb still agrees with the subject, not the
noun or pronoun in the phrase following
the subject of the sentence.
The team captain, as well as his
players, is anxious.

29. 3. When a phrase comes between the
subject and the verb, remember that the
verb still agrees with the subject, not the
noun or pronoun in the phrase following
the subject of the sentence.
The team captain, as well as his
players, is anxious.

30. 1. The woman with all the dogs walk/walks
down my street.
2. The book, including all the chapters in
the first section, are/is boring.
3. Strategies that the teacher uses to
encourage classroom participation
include/includes using small groups and
clarifying expectations.

31. 1. The woman with all the dogs walks
down my street.
2. The book, including all the chapters in
the first section, are/is boring.
3. Strategies that the teacher uses to
encourage classroom participation
include/includes using small groups and
clarifying expectations.

32. 1. The woman with all the dogs walks
down my street.
2. The book, including all the chapters in
the first section, is boring.
3. Strategies that the teacher uses to
encourage classroom participation
include/includes using small groups and
clarifying expectations.

33. 1. The woman with all the dogs walks
down my street.
2. The book, including all the chapters in
the first section, is boring.
3. Strategies that the teacher uses to
encourage classroom participation
includes using small groups and
clarifying expectations.

34. 4. When a compound subject contains
both a singular and a plural noun or
pronoun joined by or or nor, the verb
should agree with the part of the subject
that is nearer the verb.
The boy or his friends run every
day.

35. 4. When a compound subject contains
both a singular and a plural noun or
pronoun joined by or or nor, the verb
should agree with the part of the subject
that is nearer the verb.
The boy or his friends run every
day.

36. 1. His friends or the boy run/runs
every day.
2. The student or the committee
members write/writes every day.
3. Either the cat or the dogs
need/needs to be fed.

37. 1. His friends or the boy runs every
day.
2. The student or the committee
members write/writes every day.
3. Either the cat or the dogs
need/needs to be fed.

38. 1. His friends or the boy runs every
day.
2. The student or the committee
members write every day.
3. Either the cat or the dogs
need/needs to be fed.

39. 1. His friends or the boy runs every
day.
2. The student or the committee
members write every day.
3. Either the cat or the dogs need
to be fed.

40. 5. The words and phrases "each," "each
one," "either," "neither," "everyone,"
"everybody," "anyone," "anybody,"
"nobody," "somebody," "someone," and "no
one" are singular and require a singular
verb.
I will offer a $5 gift card to everybody
who participates in the study.

41. 5. The words and phrases "each," "each
one," "either," "neither," "everyone,"
"everybody," "anyone," "anybody,"
"nobody," "somebody," "someone," and "no
one" are singular and require a singular
verb.
I will offer a $5 gift card to everybody
who participates in the study.

42. 1. Someone has/have forgotten to
turn off the lights.
2. Each one of the books
belongs/belong to a different
genre.
3. No one likes/like to be criticized.

43. 1. Someone has forgotten to turn off
the lights.
2. Each one of the books
belongs/belong to a different
genre.
3. No one likes/like to be criticized.

44. 1. Someone has forgotten to turn off
the lights.
2. Each one of the books belongs to a
different genre.
3. No one likes/like to be criticized.

45. 1. Someone has forgotten to turn off
the lights.
2. Each one of the books belongs to a
different genre.
3. No one likes to be criticized.

46. 6. Adjectives used as nouns with the
article 'the' are plural
The jobless are searching for
employment opportunities.
The unemployed receive government
benefits.

47. 6. Adjectives used as nouns with the
article 'the' are plural
The jobless are searching for
employment opportunities.
The unemployed receive government
benefits.

48. 1. The deaf use/uses sign language to
communicate.
2. The rich enjoys/enjoy their wealth.
3. The poor need/needs assistance.
4. The blind uses/use guide dogs for
assistance.

49. 1. The deaf use sign language to
communicate.
2. The rich enjoys/enjoy their wealth.
3. The poor need/needs assistance.
4. The blind uses/use guide dogs for
assistance.

50. 1. The deaf use sign language to
communicate.
2. The rich enjoy their wealth.
3. The poor need/needs assistance.
4. The blind uses/use guide dogs for
assistance.

51. 1. The deaf use sign language to
communicate.
2. The rich enjoy their wealth.
3. The poor need assistance.
4. The blind uses/use guide dogs for
assistance.

52. 1. The deaf use sign language to
communicate.
2. The rich enjoy their wealth.
3. The poor need assistance.
4. The blind use guide dogs for
assistance.

53. 7. Doesn't is a contraction of does not and
should be used only with a singular
subject. Don't is a contraction of do not
and should be used only with a plural
subject. The exception to this rule appears
in the case of the first person and second
person pronouns I and you. With these
pronouns, the contraction don't should be
used.

54. She doesn't understand the
concept.
You don't have to worry about it

55. She doesn't understand the
concept.
You don't have to worry about it

56. 1. John doesn’t/don’t know the answer.
2. The cat don’t/doesn’t like to be
petted.
3. They don’t/doesn’t agree with your
decision.
4. The birds doesn’t/don't sing at night.

57. 1. John doesn’t know the answer.
2. The cat don’t/doesn’t like to be
petted.
3. They don’t/doesn’t agree with your
decision.
4. The birds doesn’t/don't sing at night.

58. 1. John doesn’t know the answer.
2. The cat doesn’t like to be petted.
3. They don’t/doesn’t agree with your
decision.
4. The birds doesn’t/don't sing at night.

59. 1. John doesn’t know the answer.
2. The cat doesn’t like to be petted.
3. They don’t agree with your decision.
4. The birds doesn’t/don't sing at night.

60. 1. John doesn’t know the answer.
2. The cat doesn’t like to be petted.
3. They don’t agree with your decision.
4. The birds don't sing at night.

61. 8. In sentences beginning with "there is" or
"there are," the subject follows the verb.
Since "there" is not the subject, the verb
agrees with what follows.
There are three cars parked outside.
There is a pen and a notebook on the
desk.

62. 8. In sentences beginning with "there is" or
"there are," the subject follows the verb.
Since "there" is not the subject, the verb
agrees with what follows.
There are three cars parked outside.
There is a pen and a notebook on the
desk.

63. 1. There are/is many books on the
shelf.
2. There are/is an apple on the table.
3. There are/is birds chirping in the
trees.
4. There are/is a problem that needs
to be solved.

64. 1. There are many books on the shelf.
2. There are/is an apple on the table.
3. There are/is birds chirping in the
trees.
4. There are/is a problem that needs
to be solved.

65. 1. There are many books on the shelf.
2. There is an apple on the table.
3. There are/is birds chirping in the
trees.
4. There are/is a problem that needs
to be solved.

66. 1. There are many books on the shelf.
2. There is an apple on the table.
3. There are birds chirping in the
trees.
4. There are/is a problem that needs
to be solved.

67. 1. There are many books on the shelf.
2. There is an apple on the table.
3. There are birds chirping in the
trees.
4. There is a problem that needs to be
solved.

68. That’s All!

69. EXERCISES!

70. 1. Your friendship over the years and your
support (has/have) meant a great
deal to us.
2. Hamilton Family Center, a shelter for teenage
runaways in San Francisco,
(offers/offer) a wide variety of services.
3. The main source of income for Trinidad
(is/are) oil and pitch.

71. 4. The chances of your being promoted (is/are)
excellent.
5. There (was/were) a Pokémon card stuck to the
refrigerator.
6. Neither the professor nor his assistants
(was/were) able to solve the mystery of
the eerie glow in the laboratory.
7. Many hours at the driving range (has/have) led us
to design golf balls with GPS locators in them.

72. 8. Discovered in the soil of our city garden (was/were) a
button dating from the
Civil War dating from the turn of the century.
9. Every year, during the midsummer festival, the smoke
of village bonfires
(fills/fill) the sky.
10. The story performers (was/were) surrounded by
children and adults eager to
see magical tales.

73. Thank You!