Download Subject/Verb

English II
Grammar:
Subject Verb Agreement
Subject-Verb Agreement

A verb must agree with its subject in person
and number.
She learns.

They learn.
Note: Add an s to a singular verb to make it
agree with a singular noun.
Subject-Verb Agreement

Do not mistake a word in a prepositional
phrase for the subject of a sentence.
The color of the roses pleases us.
The flowers for the bouquet are pretty.
Agreement with linking verbs,

Do not be confused by a predicate
nominative* that is different in number
from the subject. Only the subject affects
the number of the linking verb.
The last course was strawberries with cream.
*A predicate nominative is a noun that
follows a linking verb and points back to
the subject to identify it further.
Agreement in inverted
sentences, p. 616

In an inverted sentence—a sentence in
which the subject follows the verb—take
care in locating the simple subject and make
sure that the verb agrees with the subject.
Near the trees sleeps the camper.
Near the trees sleep the campers.
 There
 Here
is a camper on the mountain.
comes the last runner
 There
are campers on the
mountain.
 Here
come the last two runners.
 Does
 Do
 Is
that eagle live in the mountains?
those mountains contain eagles?
the tent pitched in the right place?
 Are
the tents pitched in the right place?
Collective nouns, p. 618

A collective noun names a group. Consider a
collective noun singular when it refers to a group
as a whole. Consider a collective noun plural
when it refers to each member of a group
individually.
The squadron of planes soars.
The squadron land one at a time.
The crowd cheers.
The crowd rush to find their seats.
Special subjects, p. 618

Certain nouns that end in –s, such as
mumps, measles, and mathematics take
singular verbs.
Mathematics interests many people.
Mumps is a very contagious disease.
Special subjects, p. 618

Certain other nouns that in in –s, such as
scissors, pants, binoculars, and eyeglasses,
take plural verbs.
The scissors were defective.
Your pants are so cool!
Special subject, p. 618

Many nouns that end in –ics may be
singular or plural, depending upon their
meaning.
Politics is often interesting.
His politics are shameless.
Special subjects, p. 619

When a noun of amount refers to a total that is
considered as one unit, it is singular. When it
refers to a number of individual units, it is plural.
Four dollars is a fair price.
Four dollars are on the sidewalk.
Special subjects, p. 619

A title is always singular, even if a noun
within the title is plural.
Little Women delights readers of all ages.
Cakes and Bagels is my favorite bakery.
Agreement with Compound
Subjects, p. 620

A compound subject that is joined by and or
both…and is plural unless its parts belong to
one unit or they both refer to the same person or
thing.
Both the book and the movie are enjoyable.
Ham and eggs is my favorite breakfast.
Her husband and partner consults her. (One
person is both husband and partner.)
Agreement with Compound
Subjects, p. 620

With compound subjects joined by or or nor
(or by either…or or neither…nor), the verb
always agrees with the nearer subject.
Neither the lawyer or the clients are talking
Either the lawyer or the client is talking.
Agreement with Compound
Subjects, p. 620

When many a, every, or each precedes a
compound subject, the subject is considered
singular.
Many a man, woman, and child knows
hunger.
Every eagle, owl, and parrot fascinates me.
Each eagle and owl is soaring.
Intervening Expressions, p.
621

If a singular subject is linked to another
noun by an intervening expression, such as
accompanied by, as well as, in addition to,
plus, or together with, the subject is still
considered singular.
Water, in addition to food, is essential on a
camping trip.
Rain, accompanied by wind and thunder, is
predicted for tomorrow.
Indefinite Pronouns as
Subjects, p. 623

A verb must agree in number with an
indefinite pronoun subject.
 All the ones, bodies, things are singular.
Anything, everyone, nobody, one, anybody
When we checked, everything was as it
should be.
Some, most, all, none, and any may be used
singularly or plural depending on their use
in the sentence.
All of the money is gone.
Most of the students were in favor of the field
trip.