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September 27, 2016 Writing Tip of the Week Subject-Verb Agreement—Part 1 Agreement is matching the form of one word to another. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs. 1. A Subject and Its Verb Must Agree Even When They Are Separated by Other Words. Sometimes the simple subject is separated from the verb by other words. Make sure the verb agrees with the subject and not with another noun that falls between. Incorrect Homer’s custom-made towels imprinted with the trademark “Disco Stu” logo is for sale. Correct Homer’s custom-made towels imprinted with the trademark “Disco Stu” logo are for sale. The verb should read are because the subject of the sentence is towels, not logo. ***Intervening words that begin with expressions such as accompanied by, as well as, in addition to, with, together with, or along with do not change the number of the subject, because these expressions are considered prepositions and not coordinating conjunctions. Correct The defendant’s voracious appetite, as well as his unusually large mouth, makes me think, “tis not a man…tis a remorseless eating machine.” 2. Two or More Subjects Joined by And Usually Take a Plural Verb. The rule does not change even if one or all of the subjects are singular. Correct Homer and Barney are drinking buddies. Exception Occasionally two or more parts of a subject make up one idea or refer to one person or thing. In such cases use a singular verb. Correct Mr. Burns’s heir and beneficiary is to be Mr. Smithers. 3. Subjects Joined by Or or Nor Take Verbs That Agree with the Part of the Subject Nearest to the Verb. Correct Neither Apu nor the members of the NRA are in favor of Homer having a gun. Correct Neither the members of the NRA nor Apu is in favor of Homer having a gun. 4. Most Indefinite Pronouns Take Singular Verbs. The most common indefinite pronouns are: all, any, anyone, anybody, each, either, everyone, everybody, everything, neither, nobody, no one, none, somebody, someone, and something. Correct Everybody drinking beers at Moe’s has been arrested at least once for being drunk in public. Exception A few indefinite pronouns—none, all, most, some, any, and half—may take either a singular or plural verb depending on the noun to which they refer. Correct Half of Homer’s brain has turned to hops. Correct Half of the beers are in Homer’s stomach. Adapted from: The New St. Martin’s Handbook—Lunsford & Connors The Legal Writing Handbook—Oates, Enquist, & Kunsch Prepared by Chris Dunn