This presentation is brought chomp! to you by Grammar Bytes!, chomp! 2012 by Robin L. Simmons.

This presentation is brought chomp! to you by Grammar Bytes!, chomp! 2012 by Robin L. Simmons.

Subject-Verb Agreement Do I need an s at the end of the verb? Or should I leave the s off?

This presentation covers maintaining agreement between subjects and verbs.

A subject-verb agreement item on an objective test might look like this...

Sample Item The The foods foods that that provide provide good good nutrition nutrition is is are A B often the least tasty; a hamburger and fries, on the other hand, satisfy the tongue but C clog clog the the arteries. arteries. A. A. provides provides B. B. are are C. C. satisfies satisfies D. D. No No change change is is necessary. necessary. Does Is needs to be disagreement the plural are, happen at which option B provide, is, or fixes. satisfy?

Agreement in a Nutshell The elephant trumpets for a peanut. elephant = singular subject trumpets = singular verb The elephants trumpet for peanuts. elephants = plural subject trumpet = plural verb

In the present tense, singular verbs end in the suffix s; plural verbs do not.

Two [or more] singular nouns joined by and make a plural subject. The chicken wing and pork rib sit untouched on Ruth s plate. Because there s no s at the end of sit, you know it s a plural verb.

When each or every precedes two [or more] singular nouns joined by and, you have a singular subject. Every chicken wing and pork rib sits untouched on Ruth s plate. Because there is an s at the end of sit, you know it s a singular verb.

In this situation, no matter how many singular nouns you join with and, the subject is still singular. Every chicken wing, pork rib, slice of pepperoni pizza, hotdog, hamburger, steak, and fried shrimp sits untouched on Ruth s plate. X X X X X I m a vegetarian! X

Use caution with these three conjunctions: either or, neither nor, and not only but also. Not only the employees boss but also but her also their boss employees wishes the shift wish the shift would the would shift end. would end. end. If You ll you have flip the two subjects, but so only that the employees closer one is next in this to the case verb, then boss wish counts! will work!

These indefinite pronouns are always singular [even when they seem plural]. Each, either, neither Anyone, anybody, anything Everyone, everybody, everything No one, nobody, nothing Someone, somebody, something

Everyone on Earth = more than one person billions of people, in fact. The word everyone, however, is still singular.

Beware interrupting phrases. As well as Along with Together with Including In addition to Especially The squirrel as well as the pigeons keeps an eye an eye on on Sammy, the the sneaky sneaky cat. cat. Bad kitty! This sentence might sound right, but it is completely wrong!

Beware inverted word order. Here is are the the onions you you need need for for the the chili. chili. In In the the refrigerator is the is are jalapeño the the jalapeño peppers peppers you you might you want might to want add. to add. Here and there are never the subjects. Cross through prepositional phrases to find the real subject!

Quick Test Directions: In the items that follow, choose the option that corrects an error in the underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose No change is necessary. Show me what you know.

Item 1 In the cabinet is are the the tools that that you you will will need to to In the cabinet is the tools that you will need to A unclog the bathroom sink; I have found that a B plunger and a prayer often do the trick. C A. are A. are B. has B. has C. does C. does D. No change is necessary. D. No change is necessary.

Item 2 Here are the books that Thomas and Darlene Here are the books that Thomas and Darlene A need for their research, and here is are the the earplugs B that you ll require once they both doze off in C boredom and start snoring. boredom and start snoring. A. is A. is B. are B. are C. dozes C. dozes D. No change is necessary. D. No change is necessary.

Item 3 Jasmine and Rodney have decided to double the Jasmine and Rodney have decided to double the A number of cupcakes that they are baking since B everyone loves moist cake and chocolate frosting. C A. has A. has B. is B. is C. loves C. loves D. No change is necessary. D. No change is necessary.

Item 4 Not Not only only those those students students but but also also their their professor professor look looks forward forward to to to the the the final final exam; exam; everyone everyone has has A B exciting vacation plans that start next Monday. C A. A. looks looks B. B. have have C. C. starts starts D. D. No No change change is is necessary. necessary.

Item 5 At At the the pet pet store, store, each each iguana, iguana, mouse, mouse, and and gerbil gerbil try try tries to to to climb climb the the the walls walls of of of its its its glass glass cage cage while while A humans hover outside like giant predators who are B C ready ready to to strike. strike. A. A. tries tries B. B. hovers hovers C. C. is is D. D. No No change change is is necessary. necessary.

Item 6 Tyrone, as well as his cousins, hopes that Grandma Tyrone, as well as his cousins, hope that Grandma A brings her famous brownies and peach pie pie that B drip with generous scoops of of vanilla ice cream. C A. hopes A. hopes B. bring B. bring C. drips C. drips D. No change is necessary. D. No change is necessary.

Item 7 Either Either the the dogs dogs or or the the cat cat sleep sleeps on on on the the the bed bed while while A everyone is out; Lorraine always finds an B C indentation indentation in in the the center center of of her her comforter. comforter. A. A. sleeps sleeps B. B. are are C. C. find find D. D. No No change change is is necessary. necessary.

Item 8 Meryl, Meryl, together together with with her her friends friends Beatrice Beatrice and and Laverne, Laverne, plans plans a daily daily trip trip for for ice ice cream, cream, for for these these women women A have discovered that the calories is are worth seeing B C Theo Theo scoop scoop their their servings servings with with his his muscular muscular arms. arms. A. A. plan plan B. B. has has C. C. are are D. D. No No change change is is necessary. necessary.

Item 9 The scissors are sharp, so neither the cousins nor The scissors are sharp, so neither the cousins nor A Timmy is allowed to play with them, even when the B boys needs to to finish a a school project. C A. is A. is B. are B. are C. need C. need D. No change is necessary. D. No change is necessary.

Item 10 Each fork, spoon, and knife are is scarred from the the Each fork, spoon, and knife are scarred from the A disposal since Drew refuses to to check the drain B before he throws the the switch. C A. is A. is B. refuse B. refuse C. throw C. throw D. No change is necessary. D. No change is necessary.

Grammar Bytes! chomp! provides additional handouts chomp! and exercises on subject-verb agreement. Go to chompchomp.com!

Bad kitty! The End.