Exploring Writing - Gary Robert Muschla 2011

Exercise 2.9 Agreement
Subject-Verb Agreement
Part 2. Writing the Draft

A subject and verb of a sentence must always agree. In the present tense, singular subjects require the singular form of verbs. Plural subjects require the plural form of verbs. In the past tense the forms of verbs are the same for singular and plural subjects. The only exception is the verb be. The singular past tense form of be is was and the plural past tense form is were.

Exercise 2.9 Agreement

Study these examples:

✵ Tim walks to school each day. (present tense)

✵ Tim and Sancho walk to school each day. (present tense)

✵ Tim walked to school yesterday. (past tense)

✵ Tim and Sancho walked to school yesterday. (past tense)

Find the subjects and verbs in the sentences. In the present tense, the singular subject Tim requires the singular form of the verb walk, which is walks. The plural subjects Tim and Sancho require the plural form, walk. When using the past tense, both singular and plural subjects use the same form, walked. For additional practice with subject-verb agreement, do Worksheet 2.16 at the end of this section.