Download Rule 20. Arithmetic operations take the singular verb form.

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23 Rules of
Subject-Verb Agreement
In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements in
English 8
(English for Specific Purposes)
Submitted by:
Matre, Pauline Mae M.
BSEd- III
Submitted to:
Ms. Josie C. Asinas
Instructor
Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
Rule 1. Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs. Nouns ending in s are
usually plural; verbs ending in s are usually singular.
Example:
The boy works hard. (singular)
The boys work hard. (plural)
Rule 2. The numbers of the subject is not usually affected by phrase between the subject and the
verb. (For exceptions see no. 9)
Example:
The row of the bushes was planted to form a privacy screen. (singular)
The boats by the dock need repair. (plural)
Rule 3. The verb agrees with the subject, not the predicate nominative.
Example:
The steaks were the biggest expense.
The biggest expense was the steaks.
Rule 4. If a sentence asks a question or begins with there or here, you must be careful to locate the
subject and make the verb agree with it.
Example:
What is the title of your project?
There are thirty-five pages in this chapter.
Here are the ingredients for the recipe.
Rule 5. Doesn’t, isn’t and wasn’t are singular and must be used with singular subjects. Don’t, aren’t
and weren’t are plural and must be used with plural subjects.
Example:
That car wasn’t made in America.
Jerry doesn’t know the answer.
Rule 6. Titles of literary works, work of art, organizations, cities, and countries are usually singular
even if they are plural in form.
Example:
General Motors is a huge corporation.
Pickwick Papers is a novel written by Charles Dickens.
Rule 7. The following words are usually singular although plural in form: mumps, measles, rickets,
molasses and news.
Example:
Measles was once a dreaded disease.
The news is not always accurate and objective.
Rule 8. Collective nouns may be either singular or plural.
Example:
The jury has been dismissed. (singular)
The jury were unable to agree among themselves. (plural)
Rule 9. Expressions stating amounts (fractions, measurements, money, and time) may be either
singular or plural. They are singular when the amount is considered a unit. They are plural when the
amount is regarded as separate amounts.
Example:
Two-thirds of the milk was spilled on the floor. (singular)
Two-thirds of the peanuts were gone. (plural)
Rule 10. Words that end –ics may be singular or plural depending on their meaning.
Example:
a.
When words that end in –ics refer to a course or study or to science, they are
singular.
Example:
Mathematics is a pure science.
b. When it do not refer to a course of study or to science, it is plural.
Example:
His ethics are not what they should be.
Rule 11. Compound subjects joined by and take a plural verb. (For exceptions see no. 16)
Example:
Joe and Jacob were here today.
Rule 12. When a compound subjects is joined by or, nor, either…or, or neither…nor, the verb agrees
with the nearer subject.
Example:
Either her helpers or the librarian is there to assist you.
Either the librarian or her helpers are there to assist you.
Rule 13. These indefinite pronouns are singular and take a singular verb: each, either, neither, one,
everyone, everybody, no one, nobody, anyone, anybody, someone, somebody.
Example:
Everyone in the room is working toward a definite goal.
Neither of the contestants was well prepared.
Rule 14. These indefinite pronouns are plural and take a plural verb: both, few, several and many.
Example:
Many of the flowers are in full bloom.
Several of the workers are receiving safety awards.
Rule 15. These indefinite pronouns may be either singular or plural: some, any, none, all, and most. To
determine the number of these words, look at the context of the sentence.
Example:
All of the land was cultivated.
Most of the seeds were carefully planted.
Rule 16. Use a singular verb with a compound subject that refers to one person or one thing or to
something that is generally considered as a unit---that is, plural in form but singular in meaning.
Example:
The artist and inventor was given a standing ovation.
Cheese and crackers is my favorite snack for recess.
Rule 17. The verb agrees with the affirmative, not with the negative subject.
Example:
You, not I, are accountable for the loss of the book.
Rule 18. Nouns occurring in sets of two take the singular when the noun pair is present, but plural
when the pair is absent regardless of whether one pair or more is being referred to.
Example:
A pair of trousers is on the seat. (singular)
Ted’s trousers are on the seat. (plural)
Rule 19. A number of takes the plural verb, but the number of takes the singular verb.
Example:
A number of students have dropped that subject.
The number of students in this university is five thousand.
Rule 20. Arithmetic operations take the singular verb form.
Example:
Three plus four is seven.
Two times nine equals eighteen.
Rule 21. Use a singular verb with a single or a compound subject modified by every, many a, or many
an. Every and many a (or many an) are adjectives that emphasize separateness when the modify
subjects. EVERY ACTIVITY means “every single activity” not “all activities”; MANY AN ACTIVITY
means that each activity should be considered separately.
Example:
Many a hiker has failed to reach the top of the mountain.
Rule 22. Because the phrase one of those is usually followed by an adjective clause, the verb of the
clause should agree in number with the antecedent of the subject of the clause.
Example:
Ruth is one of those girls who enjoy gardening.
Ruth is the only one of those girls who enjoys hiking.
Rule 23. When the subject and the predicate nominative are different in number the verb agrees
with the subject.
Example:
The biggest problem is the demonstrations.
Demonstrations are a problem.