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Subject/Verbubject/VerbAgreementgreement
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Subject/Verbubject/VerbAgreementgreement When subjects and verbs agree, they matchWhen subjects and verbs agree, they match
in number and person.in number and person.
In other words, singular subjects requireIn other words, singular subjects require
singular verbs and plural subjects matchsingular verbs and plural subjects matchplural verbs;plural verbs; third person subjects requirethird person subjects require
the third person form of the verb.the third person form of the verb.
My brotherMy brother
buysbuys
old bicyclesold bicycles
to repair.to repair.
My brothersMy brothers
buybuy
old bicyclesold bicycles
to repair.to repair.
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In English, regular verbs take theIn English, regular verbs take the
same form for singular and pluralsame form for singular and plural
exceptexceptfor the third-person singularfor the third-person singularform of the verb.form of the verb.
The -s, or -es ending on a verbThe -s, or -es ending on a verb
designates a singular verb.designates a singular verb.
In fact, nouns and verbs are theIn fact, nouns and verbs are theopposite where plural endings areopposite where plural endings are
concerned.concerned.
Subject/Verbubject/VerbAgreementgreement
The boy walks.The boy walks. The boys walk.The boys walk.
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A subject agrees with its verb noA subject agrees with its verb no
matter how far apart the two are.matter how far apart the two are. DoDo
notnotbe distracted by nouns orbe distracted by nouns orpronouns placed between the subjectpronouns placed between the subject
and verb.and verb.
The ducks on the lake behind theThe ducks on the lake behind the
school swim in large groups.school swim in large groups. A list of required readings is mailedA list of required readings is mailed
to entering freshmen.to entering freshmen.
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A compound subject that is linked by theA compound subject that is linked by the
conjunction conjunction andand requires a plural verb. requires a plural verb.
Both the college newspaper and theBoth the college newspaper and theliterary magazine fail to attractliterary magazine fail to attract
experienced staff.experienced staff.
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A compound subject linked by theA compound subject linked by the
conjunctionconjunction orororor nornor requires arequires a
singular verb.singular verb. Either the dean or his assistantEither the dean or his assistant
addresses the freshmen class.addresses the freshmen class.
Neither geology nor astronomy isNeither geology nor astronomy is
required for my major.required for my major.
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Indefinite pronounsIndefinite pronouns refer torefer to
indefinite persons or things andindefinite persons or things and
usually require a singular verb.usually require a singular verb. Each of the volunteers tutors for atEach of the volunteers tutors for at
least three hours every week.least three hours every week.
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If a collective noun acts as aIf a collective noun acts as a
single unit, it takes a singularsingle unit, it takes a singular
verb.verb. My entire family is coming forMy entire family is coming for
homecoming weekend.homecoming weekend.
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When normal word order isWhen normal word order is
inverted and the subject followsinverted and the subject follows
the verb, the subject and verbthe verb, the subject and verbmust agree.must agree.
Standing at the door with grins onStanding at the door with grins on
their faces were the cheerleaders.their faces were the cheerleaders.
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Note:Note:Sentences that begin withSentences that begin with
therethere oror herehere have the subjecthave the subject
follow the verb.follow the verb. There are three branches ofThere are three branches of
government: judicial, executive ,government: judicial, executive ,
and legislative.and legislative.
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Movies in todaysMovies in todaysmarket makes amarket makes a
great deal ofgreat deal of
money.money.
IncorrectIncorrectIncorrectIncorrect
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Movies in todaysMovies in todaysmarketmarket makemake aa
great deal ofgreat deal of
money.money.
RevisedRevisedRevisedRevised
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The AmericanThe Americanaudiences paysaudiences pays
for tickets atfor tickets at
the theaterthe theater
and for cable atand for cable at
home.home.
IncorrectIncorrectIncorrectIncorrect
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The AmericanThe Americanaudiencesaudiences paypay forfor
tickets at thetickets at the
theater and fortheater and for
cable at home.cable at home.
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The internationalThe international
market, whichmarket, whichincludes dozensincludes dozens
of countries,of countries,
produces evenproduces even
more profit.more profit.
CorrectCorrectCorrectCorrect
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Films are veryFilms are very
expensive toexpensive tomanufacture, somanufacture, so
American studiosAmerican studios
createcreate far morefar more
films than otherfilms than other
countries.countries.
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There is manyThere is many
advantages toadvantages to
seeing a movieseeing a movie
in the theater ratherin the theater rather
than watchingthan watching
a video at home.a video at home.
IncorrectIncorrectIncorrectIncorrect
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ThereThere areare manymany
advantages toadvantages toseeing a movieseeing a movie
in the theaterin the theater
rather thanrather than
watching a videowatching a videoat home.at home.
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The dark theaterThe dark theaterand the enormousand the enormous
screen take thescreen take the
movie viewer tomovie viewer to
another world.another world.
CorrectCorrectCorrectCorrect
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The backgroundThe backgroundmusic in moviesmusic in movies
play an importantplay an important
role.role.
IncorrectIncorrectIncorrectIncorrect
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The backgroundThe backgroundmusic in moviesmusic in movies
playsplays an importantan important
role.role.
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Not everyone inNot everyone inthe entertainmentthe entertainment
fields agree aboutfields agree about
the quality ofthe quality of
movies.movies.
IncorrectIncorrectIncorrectIncorrect
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Not everyone in theNot everyone in the
entertainment fieldentertainment fieldagreesagrees about theabout the
quality of movies.quality of movies.
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Neither the use ofNeither the use of
subtitles nor blacksubtitles nor blackand whiteand white
photographyphotography
demonstrate thedemonstrate the
preferences of mostpreferences of mostAmericans.Americans.
IncorrectIncorrectIncorrectIncorrect
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Neither the use ofNeither the use of
subtitles nor blacksubtitles nor blackand whiteand white
photographyphotography
demonstratesdemonstrates thethe
preferences of mostpreferences of mostAmericans.Americans.
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McGra Hill C i ht 2005 b Th M G Hill C i I All i ht d
AnyAny
Questions?Questions?