Download Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement
Keep Your Eyes Open

Although often overlooked, problems with Subject-Verb
Agreement are REAL!

To help avoid these errors, we will discuss:
How to make Subjects and Verbs agree in number,
What to do with tricky subjects like Each and Every,
What to do with compound subjects
What are infefinite pronouns

Learn to spot and correct these errors and become a
believer.
Recognizing Subjects and
Verbs

A complete sentence must have a SUBJECT and a
VERB.

The subject is the who or what that performs the
action.

The verb is the action word.
Spot the Subject and Verb

The players on our side are strong.
 The players on our side are strong.

Players is the subject and are is the verb.
Once you’ve identified the Subject and the Verb,
you have to make sure they agree in Number.
 Singular subjects require singular verbs and plural
subjects require plural verbs.

What Next?

An easy way to make your subjects and
verbs agree is to think about the S.
 Usually, plural nouns end with the letter S
and singular nouns do not.
 Verbs are the opposite:
 For the most part, singular verbs end
with the letter S and plural verbs do not.
Therefore . . .

The carS run, but the car runS.

The plural noun cars takes the plural verb
run. There is only one S in the pair.

The singular noun car takes the singular
verb runs. Again, There is only one S in the
pair.
Indefinite Pronouns and SV
Agreement
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
SINGULAR
each
anybody
somebody
nobody
everybody
one
anyone
everyone
someone
neither
either
nothing
anything
everything
something
–
–
–
–
–

PLURAL
both
several
few
many
-all
For instance
S
S
Each of the boys rides a bike to school
S
S
One of the cats is sick.
Try this:
S
Anyone can break (his or her) arm.
More practice
P
P
Both of the girls play softball.
P
P
Many of the kids play in the park.
All of the ponies (walk, walks) at the circus.
BEWARE

Compound subjects do not end with S.
 Instead, compound subjects consist of two
or more subjects joined by and.
 We treat these subjects like any other plural
subject.

The student and the instructor work long
hours.
BEWARE

The student and the instructor work long
hours.

The subject consists of two people.
Therefore, it is plural.
BEWARE

BE CAREFUL!

When subjects are joined by and and
combine to form a single thing or person,
they are treated like a singular subject.

Use a singular verb with such compound
subjects.
Example:

Spaghetti and meatballs has a place on
many menus.

Spaghetti and meatballs is acting as a unit,
as a singular subject.
Using Each and Every

Each and Every are singular pronouns.

Therefore, they require singular verbs.

Every flying saucer was glowing.
Using Each and Every
BEWARE!
 You always use a singular verb with each
and every, even if they precede subjects
joined by and.
 Each alien hand and foot leaves a distinct
print.
Compound Subjects Joined
By Words Like Or


Be careful when your subjects are joined by
the following words:
or
 nor
 either . . . or
 neither . . . nor
 not only . . . but (also)
Compound Subjects Joined
By Words Like Or

In such cases, the verb agrees with the
subject nearest it.

Example:
Either the instructors or the student knows
the answer.

Try to ignore everything before the final
subject
Compound Subjects Joined
By Words Like Or

Either the instructors or the student knows
the answer.

The singular subject student requires the
singular verb knows.
What if the Subject is an
Indefinite Pronoun?

Indefinite Pronouns refer to nonspecific
people or things. They are usually singular
and require singular verbs.
What if the Subject is an
Indefinite Pronoun?

The following common Indefinite Pronouns
usually take singular verbs:

Another each
everything
anybody either neither
anyone every
nobody
anything everyone no one
nothing
somebody
someone
something
What if the Subject is an
Indefinite Pronoun?


BEWARE! A few indefinite pronouns—
none, some, more, most, any, and all—can
be either singular or plural, depending on
the context.
Example:
 Some of our streams are polluted; some
pollution is reversible, but all pollution is a
threat to nature
Making Verbs Agree With the
Antecedents of Who, Which,
and That

When Who, Which, or That starts a clause,
the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun to
which Who, Which, or That refers (its
Antecedent).
Making Verbs Agree With the
Antecedents of Who, Which,
and That

The scientist will share information with the
students who work with her.

George Jones is the student who works in
the lab.
Using Singular Verbs with
Titles and Terms


Titles and terms are treated as singular
subjects–even if they contain plural words.
Examples:
 Les Miserables is a popular musical.
 “Disciplinary measures” is a euphemism
for punishment.
You’ve Been Warned

See if you can spot Subject-Verb Agreement errors.

Subjects and Verbs must agree in number.

Be careful with subjects like Each and Every—these
are singular.

Pay close attention to subjects joined with words
like and and or—these subjects can be either
singular or plural.
Information Cited and
Paraphrased from
Troyka, Lynn Q. Quick Access: Reference
For Writers. 3rd Ed. New Jersey:
Prentice Hall, 2001.
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
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