SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Singular Subjects Take S’s on Their Verbs;Plural Subjects Do Not.

SINGULAR

The cat wants to go outside.The cat doesn’t go outsideThe cat is outside.The cat was outside. The cat has food outside.

PLURALThe cats were outside.The cats don’t go outside.The cats were outside.The cats are outside.The cats have food outside.

EXCEPTIONMost verbs have the same form for the singular and Plural in the PAST TENSE.

Example: The baby burped. The babies burped.

Choose the correct verb.

1. Cinco de Mayo (is, are) an important Mexican holiday.2. Some people (watches,watch) these celebrations in Los Angeles, California.3. In them, heroes’ lives (has, have) been recorded.4. (Does, do) Jack know the answer to number 3?5. We (was, were) finishing our narratives.6. Her sister (has, have) the CD.7. They (run, runs) together everyday.8. Mario (want, wants) the last piece of cake.

RULE: The subject is NEVER in a prepositional phrase.

EXAMPLES:

People throughout history have been fascinatedby the moon.

Photography from lunar-orbiting vehicles shows features on the moon’s surface.

Choose the correct verb/verbs.

9. The dog with the large fangs ( was, were) frightening.10. The women in the parade ( wear, wears) long flowing gowns.11. The cake with the brightly colored candies ( is, are) delicious. 12. The shoes in Belk’s ( was, were) too expensive.

SINGULAR INDEFINITE PRONOUNSANYBODY SOMETHINGANYONE ANYTHING EITHEREVERYBODY NEITHEREVERYONE EACHEVERYTHINGNOBODYNO ONENOTHINGONESOMEBODY SOMEONE

PLURAL INDEFINITE PRONOUNSBOTHSEVERALMANY FEW

SINGULAR OR PLURALALLANYMOREMOSTNONESOME

Choose the correct verb.

13. One of the bees outside my window ( is, are) humming.

14. A bag of sausages, together with canned ham, always ( make, makes) a lovely wedding gift.

15. Each of the children (has, have) curly hair.

16. Horatio, along with several of his friends, (suffers, suffer) from ingrown toenails.

17. Many of the vicious squirrels (pelt, pelts) acorns at unsuspecting joggers along the bike path.

18. Neither of the space aliens (need, needs) glasses.

19. Several of the boy scouts (is, are) roasting plump, juicy possums over the campfire.

20. No one on my block (believe, believes) his plant will grow.

21. Everyone in the family (eats, eat) pizza on Saturday.

22. None of us (likes, like) that kind of salad dressing.

24. Some of Mr. Green’s tomatoes (is, are) prize winners!

25. Most of the salad (was, were) greens.

26. All of my classmates ( listens, listen) to them.

27. Most of their music (is, are) enjoyable.

28. Everybody (was, were) welcome at the skating party.

29. A few of them ( reaches, reach) full size.

30. None of Jana’s effort ( is, are) wasted.