Download Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement
Rule #1
 Singular

subjects take singular verbs.
Ex. The dog barks.
• In most (not all) cases, singular verbs end in “s”.
 Plural

subjects take plural verbs.
Ex. The dogs bark.
• In most (not all) cases, plural nouns end in “s”.
Compound Subjects
 In
most cases, two subjects joined by
“and” will take a plural verb.

Ex. The teacher and the students enjoy
having days off.
 EXCEPTION:
If the two subjects are
considered to be one unit, they will take a
singular verb.

Ex. Spaghetti and meatballs is her favorite
dinner.
Compound Subjects
 When
subjects are joined by “or”,
“neither/nor”, “not only/but also”, etc., use
the subject that is closest to the verb to
determine whether the verb should be
singular or plural


Ex. Neither the boys nor their sister does the
laundry.
Ex. Neither the girl nor her brothers do the
laundry.
Collective nouns
 Collective
nouns (such as team, class, and
committee) that work as subjects may take
either singular or plural verbs depending
on whether they are working as a group or
individually.


Ex. The jury is expected to return the verdict
this afternoon.
Ex. The jury are expressing opposing
viewpoints about the case.
Indefinite Pronouns
 Indefinite
pronouns fall into three
categories:



Those that are always singular
Those that are always plural
Those that can be singular or plural
Indefinite Pronouns (group 1)
 The
following indefinite pronouns always
take a singular verb:


Everyone, everybody, everything, nobody, no
one, nothing, somebody, someone,
something, anybody, anyone, anything, each,
either, neither, and one.
Ex. Each of the players likes going to practice.
Indefinite Pronouns (group 2)
 The
following indefinite pronouns always
take a plural verb:


Many, several, and few
Ex. Several of the cookies were eaten before
the party.
Indefinite Pronouns (group 3)
 The
following indefinite pronouns can be
either singular or plural, depending on
what they are referring to:



None, some, most, all, any, a lot, and half
Ex. Some of the people are going boating.
Ex. Some of the money is missing.
Reminders
 Remember
that your subject will NEVER
be “there” so be careful with unusual word
order in your sentences.


Ex. There are some papers on the desk.
Ex. There is a spider on the wall.
 Remember
that nouns like mumps,
measles, news, mathematics, and
economics take singular verbs.
More reminders
 Nouns
that end in “s” but are actually only
one object take plural verbs.

Ex. Pants, pliers, and scissors
 Remember
to check carefully for subjects
that are separated from the verb by words
or phrases.

Ex. John, as well as his two friends, works at
the pizza parlor.