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SUBJECTSUBJECT VERBVERB

AGREEMENTAGREEMENTWhy do subjects and verbs have toWhy do subjects and verbs have to

agree? After all, they are only words!agree? After all, they are only words!

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Whats wrong with these sentences?Whats wrong with these sentences?

ThereThere isis too manytoo many picturespictures on the wall.on the wall.

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

Or this one?Or this one?

AllAll the peoplethe people wantswants to win the lottery.to win the lottery.

TheThe subjectssubjects andand verbsverbs dont agreedont agree!!

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

ThereThere areare too manytoo manypicturespictures on the wall.on the wall.

AAplural subjectplural subject goes with agoes with a pluralplural verb.verb.

EverybodyEverybody but Juliobut Julio wantswants to go home.to go home.

AAsingular subjectsingular subject goes with agoes with a singular verb.singular verb.

AllAll the peoplethe people plansplans to win the lottery.to win the lottery.

AAplural subjectplural subject goes with agoes with a pluralplural verb.verb.

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

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To be correct, subjects and verbs must agreeTo be correct, subjects and verbs 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 wantwant to win the game.

NumberNumber is always aboutis always about SingularSingular && PluralPlural

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

The shoesThe shoes in the closetin the closet needs to be shined.needs to be shined.In the closetIn the closet is ais a prepositional phraseprepositional phrase between the subjectbetween the subject shoesshoes

and the verband the verb need.need.

To be correct, the verb should be:To be correct, the verb should be: need with no sneed with no s

The shoesThe 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 throughthroughacrossacross besidebeside forfor of of toto

aroundaround betweenbetween fromfrom off off underunder

atat byby inin onon withwith

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VerbVerb before thebefore the subjectsubject Inside the garageInside the garage areare thethe shovelshovel..

Across the borderAcross the border isis Reynosa andReynosa andProgresso.Progresso.

WhereWhere isis the instructions for thethe instructions for the XX--Box?Box?

Shouldnt they be?Shouldnt they be?

Inside the garageInside the garage isis thethe shovelshovel..

Across the borderAcross the border areare Reynosa andReynosa andProgresso.Progresso.WhereWhere areare the instructions for thethe instructions for the XX--

Box?Box?

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Indefinite PronounsIndefinite Pronouns[[--0ne words]0ne words] [[--body words]body words] [[--thing words]thing words]

oneone nobodynobody nothingnothing eacheach

anyoneanyone anybodyanybody anythinganything neitherneither

everyoneeveryone everybodyeverybody everythingeverything eithereither

someonesomeone somebodysomebody somethingsomethingAll of these indefinite pronouns are singularAll of these indefinite pronouns are singular

NobodyNobody 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 knowknowthe way. (should be knowsknows)

AllAll andand bothboth,, however, are pluralhowever, are plural

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

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Compound SubjectsCompound Subjects

Subjects joined bySubjects joined byandand usually take a plural verb.usually take a plural verb.

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

AmbitionAmbition andand luckluckwaswas Juans keys to success. (shouldJuans keys to success. (should

bebe 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 isis very private. (should be areare)

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General Rules for checking subject / verb agreementGeneral Rules for checking subject / verb agreement

When you are trying to see if the subject and verb agree,When you are trying to see if the subject and verb agree,leave out the part you dont need:leave out the part you dont need:

EveryoneEveryone in the contestin the contest wantwant to win.to win.

EveryoneEveryone wantwant to win. [wrong!: should beto win. [wrong!: should be wantswants]]

Now put the part back:Now put the part back:EveryoneEveryone in the contestin the contest wantswants to win.to win.

Say the sentence to yourself out loud, if it doesnt soundSay the sentence to yourself out loud, if it doesnt sound

right, there is a very good chance it is not right.right, there is a very good chance it is not right.

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One More Thing: Tense AgreementOne More Thing: Tense Agreement

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, butThe Present and Future are fine, but

once you start in a tense, STAY there!once you start in a tense, STAY there! Yesterday we decided that tomorrowYesterday we decided that tomorrow

we will go shoppingwe will go shopping is correct. (Past & is correct. (Past &Future together)Future together)

We went to the store and buy foodWe went to the store and buy food. is. isnot correct. (Past & Present together) Itnot correct. (Past & Present together) Itshould beshould be boughtbought notnot buy.buy.