Download Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement: Singular and Plural Subjects and Verbs and more Slides English Language in PDF only on Docsity! Subject/Verb Agreement Docsity.com A singular subject needs a singular verb, and a plural subject needs a plural verb. (Reminder: The verb is the action word in the sentence. The subject is who or what does the action.) Docsity.com A verb that does not end in a single s, es, or ies is used with a plural noun. Docsity.com Examples Plural Subject Plural Verb Old Dan and Little Ann bellow The coon hounds share The two fires glow Billy’s parents fix Docsity.com The raccoon [singular subject] jumps [singular verb] into the sycamore tree. The raccoons [plural subject] jump [plural verb] into the sycamore tree. Little Ann [singular subject] is [singular verb] kind. Little Ann and Old Dan [plural subject] are [plural verb] kind. Docsity.com Wrong Billy’s biggest problem are the many sleepless nights. Right Billy’s biggest problem [singular subject] is [singular verb] the many sleepless nights. Docsity.com Which is correct? a) The hound search for mountain lions. b) The hound searches for mountain lions. Docsity.com Correct b) The hound searches for mountain lions. hound searches Docsity.com Don’t be confused by plural words that come between a singular subject and the verb. Docsity.com Wrong The topic of these books are dogs. Right The topic [singular subject] of these books is [singular verb] dogs. Docsity.com Wrong Each of the dogs hunt well. Right Each [singular subject] of the dogs hunts [singular verb] well. Docsity.com Correct a) Each of the traps needs to be set. Each needs Docsity.com Which is correct? a) The boy in the brown shoes wants a lollipop. b) The boy in the brown shoes want a lollipop. Docsity.com Correct a) The boy in the brown shoes wants a lollipop. Boy wants Docsity.com Wrong Billy, in addition to all the other boys in the mountains, grow up loving hound dogs. Right Billy [singular subject], in addition to all the other boys in the mountains, grows [singular verb] up loving hound dogs. Docsity.com Which is correct? a) Papa, as well as Mama, worries about Billy being out all night long. b) Papa, as well as Mama, worry about Billy being out all night long. Docsity.com Correct a) Papa, as well as Mama, worries about Billy being out all night long. Papa worries Docsity.com
