Chris' Christian Blog

Subject/Verb Agreement

"Subject/Verb Agreement" 

Today we are going to try something a little different. We have spent the past few days exploring homonyms. Today we'll take a look at subject/verb agreement. One of the most common writing mistakes occurs when somebody writes a sentence and has the subject do something in the here and now but uses a verb that is past tense.

For example: Billy's dad wants him to took a bath.

"Took" of course is the past tense of "take". Saying that Billy's dad wants him to "took" a bath doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Saying "Billy's dad wants him to take a bath", on the other hand is clear and understandable.

Today's assignment is to write three sentences in which there is improper subject/verb agreement and then write the same three sentences properly. Here are mine:

The clerk watched the customer hid the stolen product in her purse.
The clerk watched the customer hide the stolen product in her purse.

The police officer arrest the customer ften minutes later.
The police officer arrested the customer ten minutes later.

Did that man really shot at the deer?
Did that man really shoot at the deer?