Module 2
Lesson 7
Subject-Verb Agreement
Lesson 7
Subject- Verb Agreement
Definition: Subject-verb agreement refers
to the relationship existing between the
subject and the verb in the sentence.
A singular subject requires a singular
verb. A plural subject requires a plural
verb.
General
PSubject- VerbRule in Subject- Verb
Agreementp
Agreement
Singular subjects go with singular
verbs, and plural subjects go with
plural verbs
Please read Notes on Rules in Subject- Verb Agreement
for more detailed rules
Subject- Verb Agreement
1. A singular subject requires a singular verb.
A singular verb in the present tense is
formed by adding –s or –es to the base form
Example:
o Lucia bakes delicious chocolate chip
cookies.
o The congressman vetoes the controversial
bill.
*See notes for subjects classified as singular.
Subject- Verb Agreement
2. A plural subject requires a plural verb.
• Most plural subjects are formed by adding –s or–-
es to the base word. The verb form in the present
tense is the base form of the verb.
oThe hunting dogs chase the fleeing deer.
o Tomatoes abound during summer months.
• Nouns ending in –y usually change –y to –i before
adding the –es as a plural signal
oThe stories about fairies interest the little kids
very much.
oBangus bellies thicken with stored fish oil.
Subject- Verb Agreement
• Words derived from foreign languages such as
Greek or Latin may retain their plural forms.
o The criteria (criterion-singular) for this
contest are posted in the Intranet.
oThose heavenly phenomena (phenomenon-
singular) baffle the scientists.
• Personal and demonstrative pronouns have
different plural forms from their singular forms.
I (singular) – We (plural); He, she, It ( singular)-
they (plural)
this (singular)- these (plural); that(singular)-
those plural
Subject- Verb Agreement
o We are reviewing our notes in English.
o They prefer to sit in the back row.
o The mangoes are sweet. These come
from Guimaras.
o Did you see the big snails? Those are a
delicacy in France.
*See notes for subjects classified as
plural.
Subject- Verb Agreement
A common cause of errors are the intervening
words. Intervening words are words found between
the subject and the verb. They don’t in any way
affect the agreement between the subject and the
verb. The most common of intervening words are
composed of prepositional phrases.
oOne of the athletes sprains his knee during
the scrimmage.
The word “athletes” could be mistaken for subject
of the sentence. It is an object of the preposition
“of” and can’t be used as a subject.
Subject -Verb Agreement
.
Subject- Verb Agreement
If the underlined verb agrees with the
subject, write C as your answer. If it doesn’t,
write the correct verb that will agree with
the subject.
1) The children watches a horror movie.
2) The zipper of this pair of pants needs to
be repaired.
3) Real Madrid battles Juventus today.
4) Cheese and butter are the main
ingredients for these cookies.
Subject- Verb Agreement
5. Please choose another pair of shorts.
These is already sold.
6. The spokesman for the players call for a
forum.
7. The barangay chairman, preceding his
subordinates, conduct a house- to- house
campaign for cleanliness.
8. How happy are you today?
9. That abscess in your leg requires medical
treatment
Subject-Verb Agreement
If you got a score of 5 or less in the practice
exercise, please review the notes on
Subject-Verb Agreement before taking the
quiz.
Please look over the uploaded “Notes on
Subject-Verb Agreement” notes in Quia
and check whether there are other facts
you need to include in your Cheat Sheet.
Subject- Verb Agreement
If the underlined verb agrees with the subject,
write C as your answer. If it doesn’t, write the
correct verb that will agree with the subject.
1) The children watches a horror movie. watch
2) The zipper of this pair of pants needs to be
repaired. C
3) Real Madrid battles Juventus today. battle
4) Cheese and butter are the main ingredients for
these cookies. C
Subject- Verb Agreement
5. Please choose another pair of shorts.
These is already sold. are sold
6. The spokesman for the players call for a
forum. calls
7. The baranggay chairman, preceding his
subordinates, conduct a house- to- house
campaign for cleanliness. conducts
8. How happy are you today? C
9. That abscess in your leg requires medical
treatment C
Module 2, Lesson 7: Subject-Verb
Agreement Quiz
1. Please proceed to www. Quia.com/web
2. On the space provided, enter your log in
name and your password.
3. Under “Quiz”, please select, Module 2 Lesson
7, Quiz 1
4. Follow the instructions in the quiz.
5. Follow these same steps when you go to
succeeding quizzes after every lesson.
