Subject Verb Agreement Using Singular Subjects

Subject Verb Agreement Using Singular Subjects

Jackson Watkins P.4

According to the Purdue Owl English website, anytime a verb is used, the subject and verb must agree in number. So for a singular subject, the following verb must be singular aswell. When dealing with singular subjects not in the first person, this usually involves adding -es or -s to the verb (example 1). This rule does not apply in first person (example 2). The most common verb in subject verb agreement is "to be." In singular form you always use is (example 3), or am (example 4) for first person. In the past tense, add -ed to the verb to make it agree to a singular subject (example 5), with a few exceptions (example 6). In the future tense simply use the word "will" or "to be +ing" in its respective form (examples 7, 8, and 9).

1. That man over there works all day.2. I work all day.3. Gary Busey is crazy.4. I am also crazy.5. The child attended the Penn State football camp.6. The firefighter ran out of the building.7. She will watch the news.8. I am skiing this weekend.9. Jossi Wells is skiing this weekend.

According to actstudent.org, grammar and ussage is 16% of the writing grade. The first section directly says "Questions in this category test your understanding of agreement between subject and verb." You will need to know how to match the verbs in your writing to the respective subject, which comes naturally to most people.

Use on ACT

The Tale of Mr. Morton

http://www.mce.k12tn.net/english/la_verb_tenses.gif

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtDwgQd8tTI