Definitions
What is a subject?
It is who or what is doing the action.
Subject: Singular subjects
Base verb or do we add an "s"?
Singular verb (verb + s)
Emma and Lily (enjoy / enjoys) reading mystery novels together.
Emma and Lily enjoy reading mystery novels together.
What is the plural of "foot"?
It is feet.
The sound of the waves (is / are) calming at night.
The sound of the waves is calming at night.
What is a verb?
It is the action of the sentence.
Subject: Plural subjects
Base verb or do we add an "s"?
Plural verb (base verb)
Both the teacher and the students (was / were) excited for the field trip.
Both the teacher and the students were excited for the field trip.
What is the plural of "person"?
It is people.
The box of old books (was / were) found in the attic.
The box of old books was found in the attic.
In grammar, what does agree mean?
It is when words fit together.
Compound subjects with ‘and’
Singular or plural verb?
Do we use the base verb or add an "S"?
Plural verb (base verb)
Neither the coach nor the players (is / are) happy about the postponed game.
Neither the coach nor the players are happy about the postponed game.
Paired nouns take singular or plural verbs?
They take plural verbs.
The news about the elections (has / have) surprised everyone.
The news about the elections has surprised everyone.
When we talk about singular, we talk about how many subjects?
One subject
Compound subjects with ‘or/nor
How do we determine the verb?
The closest subject agrees
The cat and the dog (has / have) been chasing each other all morning.
The cat and the dog have been chasing each other all morning.
Which is a subject in two parts?
-notebook
-desk
-headphones
-glass
It is headphones.
The number of applicants (is / are) increasing every year.
The number of applicants is increasing every year.
When we talk about plural, we talk about how many subjects?
Two or more subjects
Subject: Uncountable nouns
Do we use singular or plural verb?
Singular verb
Either my parents or my brother (is / are) going to pick me up from school.
Either my parents or my brother is going to pick me up from school.
Neither the team’s captain nor the player (seems / seem) ready for the final match.
Neither the team’s captain nor the player seems ready for the final match.
A bouquet of roses and lilies (was / were) placed on the teacher’s desk.
A bouquet of roses and lilies was placed on the teacher’s desk.