4. Step One
Find the subject(s) of the sentence.
Example:
The topic is controversial, so the students
have strong opinions.
I am studying biology because it
has always interested me
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5. Step Two
Look for these kinds of verbs
a. Verbs in the simple present tense
b. BE verbs
c. HAVE verbs
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6. Verbs in the Simple Present
Tense
• If the subject is any noun that can be
replaced with he, she, or it, add –s to
the simple form of the verb.
The head nurse inspects the patients.
Subject Verb
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7. • If the subject is any noun that can be
replaced with they (or is the pronouns
I, we, you or they), just use the simple
form of the verb.
I / you / we / they inspect the patients.
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8. BE Verbs
• BE verbs can be used alone.
I am Bryan.
You / We / They are helpful.
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9. • BE verbs can be helping verbs
I am studying biology
You / We / They are studying biology
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10. HAVE Verbs
• HAVE verbs can be used alone.
I / You / We / They have strong opinions.
The school has helpful teachers.
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11. • HAVE verbs can be used as helping
verbs.
I / You / We / They have studied already.
It has always interested me.
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12. The following create problems:
• Pronouns such as everyone, anybody,
each, and someone seem to be plural
but are actually singular and require
singular verbs.
Someone has to answer the phone.
Each person deserves to be educated.
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13. The following create problems:
• Phrases that come between the subject
pronoun and its verb may contain
plural words and tend to be confusing.
Each of the boys deserves a prize.
Each of the basketball players
is excited about tonight’s game.
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14. The following create problems:
• When the Subject is a Quantity.
One hundred thousand light years are
One hundred thousand light years is
an extremely long time.
an extremely long time.
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15. The following create problems:
• When the Subject is a Collective
Noun.
Examples:
Observe the following sentences
The team of scientists monitors the
galaxy.
The teams of scientists disagree
about those stars.
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16. The following create problems:
• Verbs that accompany pronouns such
as all and some will be determined by
whether the pronoun is referring to
something that is COUNTABLE or not.
Some of the salt was spilled on the floor.
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17. The following create problems:
• None is usually regarded as
singular, but it can be used as a
plural pronoun.
None of the boys has helped at the game.
OR Either is correct!
None of the boys have helped at the game.
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18. The following create problems:
• When a singular and plural subject are
connected by either/or or neither/nor
put the plural subject last and use a
plural verb.
Neither Jacob nor the others are available.
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19. The following create problems:
• When either and neither appear as a
subject alone (without the words or and
nor), they are singular.
Examples:
• Either of those answers seems to be right.
• You can have the bed by the window or
the one by the door. Either is okay with
me.
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20. The following create problems:
• When the Subject Comes after its
Verb.
There is one significant reason
why men remarry.
There are many reasons
why men remarry.
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21. The following create problems:
• The expression the number is
followed by a singular verb while
the expression a number is
followed by a plural verb.
Example:
The number of people we need to hire
is thirteen.
A number of people have written
in about this subject.
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24. Directions: If the subject
and verb are in
agreement say
"correct." If they are
not, say the correct
answer
Let’s get it on!
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25. He am busy.
• Correct
• Is
• Are
• Were
• Does
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26. The students are going to
school.
• Correct
• Is
• Was
• Did
• Does
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27. Bill are going to the store
• Correct
• Were
• Is
• Did
• Does
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28. Here is the books you need for
your assignment.
• Correct
• Are
• Were
• Was
• Does
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29. Neither those women nor this one
is unfulfilled.
• Correct
• Am
• Are
• Were
• Did
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30. Everyone at the movie theater is
taking a dollar.
• Correct
• Are
• Am
• Were
• Does
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31. Everything contribute to the
problem.
• Correct
• Contributes
• Are contributing
• Were contributing
• Has contribute
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32. Either of us is capable of
doing the job.
• Correct
• Were
• Are
• Does
• Have
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33. Neither the employers nor the
union desire a strike vote.
• Correct
• Desires
• Are desire
• Has desire
• Is desire
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35. Directions:
From the two choices given
in the parentheses,
choose the correct word
that makes the subject
and verb agree.
Let’s do it!
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36. 1. (Artists, artist) need to be keen observers
2. (He, we) has been very noisy in class.
3. Here is your (paper, papers).
4. Have (you, he) ever been in love with her?
5. (You, I) are the greatest person I have ever
met!
6. (He, I) am feeling nervous right now.
7. Either of the (parent, parents) is going to
school.
8. (The number, a number) of students who
are cheating is increasing.
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