Basic English Grammar - Subject-Verb Agreement

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

PAPERS

This paper set up to fulfill the assignment of

Subject: Basic English Grammar

Lecturer: Nadia Ma’mun.M,pd

By:

Danang Abdul Rachmansyah                  (1403046048)

EDUCATION AND TEACHER TRAINING FACULTY

STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF WALISONGO

SEMARANG

2015

INTRODUCTION

A.      Definition of Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement is a rapprochement among the Verb with the Subject in number. Namely: Singular (Single) or Plural.  The Subject can be a noun, a pronoun, or other construction that can be as a noun, gerund and infinitive like. Basically, Singular Subject (Single Subject) using a Singular Verb (Single Verb), while the Plural Subject using a plural verb.

B.       Subject-Verb Agreement ( Generally )

Generally, in the Present Tense, the Singular Verb form of the Base Form ( Basic Form ) of the verb with the added Suffix ( -s ).  As for the Plural verb with no added suffix (-s) otherwise, add the suffix-s plural subject.

Verb rule applies to the subject of a Third Person (For example: Ricky, Anna, etc.) and All Personal Pronouns (They, We = Plural & He, She, It = Singular), except I and You.  Although a Single Subject, I and You are paired with a plural verb.

Example: Subject-Verb Agreement [Subject = Bold, Verb = italic]:

1.     The sun rises.

2.     The stars shine.

3.     Leo rarely eats white bread.

4.     You go straight ahead then turn left.

But if there Helping Verb, helping verb then changed it while playing verb in the base form.  Option helping verb in the Singular - Plural is - Are, Does - Do, and Has - Have.

Example:  Subject-Verb Agreement [Subject = bold, Verb = Italic, helping verb = underline]:

1.     My boss always comes on time.

2.     They like eating out.

3.     She is cooking.

4.     I do submit the task.

5.     The manager has checked the documents.

However in the past tense, there is nothing difference in verb form on numeral (singular or plural) if there is nothing helping verb, namely: was-were.

Example: Subject-Verb Agreement [Subject = bold, helping verb = underline]:

1.     The bird was sleeping.

2.     We were roasting corn.

While in the Past Tense, there is no difference in the form of the Verb in number (Singular or plural) if there is no helping verb, namely: Was - Were.

Example: Subject-Verb Agreement [Subject = bold; linking verb = italic]:

1.     Masiva is beautiful.

2.     The children are naughty.

3.     I was a money collector.

4.     My fruits were eaten by him.

C.      Tips!!!

To make a Noun Plural, we Add –s

1.     Singular : Girl

2.     Plural : Girls

To make a Verb Plural, we take away the –s.

1.     Singular : He talks

2.     Plural : They talk

Example: (Watch the Verb Suffix)

Singular   

1.        He walks

2.        She walks

3.        It walks

4.        Joe walks

5.        The girl walks

6.        The ant walks

Plural

1.        I walk

2.        You walk

3.        We walk

4.        They walk

5.        Joe and Maria walk

6.        The girls walk

Generally, if the Subject doesn’t end in –S, the Verb will.

1.         The Girl dances.

If the Subject does end in –S, the Verb won’t.

1.         The Girls Dance

2.         The Boys Eat

D.      Identification on Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement becomes confusing when faced with issues, such as: The Subject of a collective noun, compound subject, plural form with singular meaning, and indefinite pronouns. In addition, there is also a phrase or clause that interrupts a subject and verb that can be quite confusing in the determination of his agreement.

Here's an explanation and some examples of subject-verb agreement.

No	Point	Subject-Verb Agreement	Contoh Subject-Verb Agreement
1.	Collective Noun	Collective noun is a noun that is used to declare a name set (consisting of more than one member). As a subject, the noun is singular or plural can be context dependent. If members do the same set simultaneously, then the noun is considered as a unified subject with a singular verb. Conversely, when a member of a collection of individual acts, it is considered as a plural subject with a plural verb anyway.	The team is going on holiday now. [Artinya: Para anggota team sedang pergi berlibur (bersama-sama) sekarang.] The teams are going on holiday now. [Artinya: Para anggota tim sedang berlibur (masing-masing) sekarang.]
		If there are Two or More Subjects joined by “   and “, the Subject must be Plural, so the Verb will not get an “–s”.	Michel and her brother go to school by bus. (Michel dan kakak laki-lakinya pergi ke sekolah dengan bus.)
		If the compound subject using OR or NOR consists of Singular and Plural pronouns or noun, the verb follows the subject closest to it position, either before or after.	The woman or her friends eat lunch here every Monday. atau Her friends  or the woman eats lunch here every Monday.
		If the compound subject consists of a subject (Singular or Plural) positive and negative, then the verb follows the positive.	The staffs but not the manager has received their salaries. (Para staff tapi tidak sang manager telah menerima gaji.)
2	Subject to the plural form but the meaning is singular	Because some seem plural noun has the ending (-s), but actually significantly singular, because only refer to one thing. The noun requires a singular verb anyway. Can be proved by substitution of the noun with the "it" that feels more make sense than "they". Noun, Among others : News, Dollars ( when talking about the amount ) Names of diseases, such as: measles, mumps, etc. Noun with the ending (-ics), such as: mathematics, statistics, physics, etc. But the ending ( -ics ) can also be a plural noun meaning if it is not regarded as a branch of science, but each one part of a whole. Example: Statistics	Measles is one of the most contagious diseases among young children. (Campak adalah satu dari penyakit paling menular diantara anak kecil.) Five dollars a day is not enough for a wife and two children. The statistics show that the quantity education rate for aged 16 - 18 years has decreased dramatically.
3	Indefinite Pronoun	Neither and Either is a singular pronoun although it seems to refer to two things. Indefinite pronouns such as : Anybody / Anyone, Each, Everybody / Everyone, Somebody / Someone, and Nobody / No-one Is also a singular pronoun that followed a singular verb?	Neither is bad. ( Tidak satupun dari keduanya buruk ) Everybody likes English. ( Setiap orang menyukai bahasa inggris ) Someone has sent her the anonymous letter. ( Seseorang telah mengiriminya surat anonim )

E.       Possibility

Sometimes.. Several words come between the subject and the verb.

Example:

1.    The student, though she had lots of problems in other schools, Finds / Find her new school easily.

2.    The student, though she had lots of problems in other schools, finds her new school easily.

3.    The student finds her new school easily.

1.    The students in my class study / studies hardly.

2.    The students in my class study hardly

3.    The students study hardly.

Relative Pronouns (Who / Which / That) can be either singular or plural, depending on the word they refer to.

Example:

1.    The student who works hard will succeed.

2.    The students who work hard will succeed.

F.       If you get a Problem!!!

1.         First, identify whether or not you have problems with subject-verb agreement.

2.         If you don’t have any problems with this, don’t worry about it!!!

But if you do have problems......

a.         Identify the verb.  Ask who or what is doing it. This will identify the subject.

b.        Say them together and make sure that they match in terms of number.

Let’s Try The Exercises!!!

Ø Directions: 

Select one answer from the choices provided after each sentence. The word you choose should fit the blank in the sentence.

Ø Exercise :

1.        Either the physicians in this hospital or the chief administrator ____
(is / are) going to have to make a decision.

2.        ______ (is / are) my boss or my sisters in the union going to win this grievance ?

3.        Some of the votes __________  ( seem / seems ) to have been miscounted.

4.        The tornadoes that tear through this country every spring _____
(is / are) more than just a nuisance.

5.        Kara Walters, together with her teammates, _________ 
( Present / Presents ) a formidable opponent on the basketball court.

Let’s we try the Next Exercises!!!

Ø Directions: 

In the paragraph below, the words in BOLD maybe incorrect, maybe Correct. In the space immediately after each such word, indicate if they are correct (with a C) or incorrect (with an I).

Ø Exercise :

Everyone who have (C / I) 1 ever been to a graduation know (C / I) 2 How exciting it can be for the graduates. In our town, nearly the whole population come (C / I) 3 each year. There is (C / I) 4 one thing that both graduates and guests enjoys (C / I) 5 the awarding of scholarships. This ceremony, along with the closing exercises, make (C / I) 6 Attending the graduation worthwhile. Several of the students who receives (C / I) 7 Awards plan (C / I) 8 to attend the community college. Many former graduates is (C / I) 9 grateful for opportunities that such an award provide (C / I) 10.

THE ANSWER!!!

Ø Answer :

1.    You're Right!  ( Is )
When subjects are connected by or, the subject closer to the verb (which is, in this case, singular) determines the number of the verb. 

2.    You're right! ( Is )
Again, the subject closer to the verb
(my boss) determines the number of the verb.

3.    You're Right! ( Seem )
Some is the subject in this sentence; it is Plural because the word votes make it a countable indefinite pronoun.

4.    You're Right! ( Are )
The subject is Tornadoes.  You were not confused by the words and phrases that came between the subject and its verb.

5.    You're Right! ( Presents )
The subject is not compounded by phrases such as along with, together with, and as well as.

Ø Answer :

1.   I
2.   I
3.   I
4.   C
5.   I
6.   I
7.   I
8.   C
9.   I
10. I

REFERENCES

Azar, Betty Schramfer & Hagen, Stacy A.2013.Understanding and Using English Grammar.United States of America:PEARSON Longman

Jaya, Alexander Mongot.2012.English Revolution.Jepara:MAWAR PRESS

Mr. S, Hadi.English Map Concept.Pare:BESWAN and Book Store.