Download Chapter Eleven - Clark College

Chapter 11
Subject-Verb
Agreement
McGraw-Hill/Irwin
Business English at Work, 3/e
© 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
General Principles of
Subject-Verb Agreement
A verb must agree with its subject in–
Person
Number
a) first
b) second
c) third
a) singular
b) plural
PP 11-2
Singular Subject—Singular Verb
Use a singular verb with a singular subject.
Add s or es to a present part of a verb when
the subject is third-person singular.
Use the simple subject to determine the
correct verb form.
an employee decides
I speak
she plans
experience brings
he reaches
you agree
the telephone buzzes
it taxes
PP 11-3
Plural Subject—Plural Verb
Use a plural verb with a plural subject.
Do not add s to a plural verb used with a plural subject
(a plural noun is formed by adding s or es, but this is
not true with the plural form of a verb).
Use the simple subject to determine the correct verb
form.
the managers agree
employees cooperate
the Johnsons own
they decide
members disagree
we discuss
PP 11-4
Pronoun You—Plural Verb
Use a plural verb with both the secondperson singular or second-person plural
subject you.
you determine
you both work
you think
you are
you are all qualified
PP 11-5
Linking Verbs
A linking verb should agree with its subject, not
its subject complement (predicate noun or
pronoun).
Time management skills were the first workshop
topic at our company retreat.
Compliments are a way to start a conversation.
PP 11-6
Intervening Words and Phrases
The verb must agree with the subject, not with
the object of the prepositional phrase that
appears between the subject and the verb.
My lack of experience keeps me from accepting a
leadership role.
The items on the agenda determine the length of
our meetings.
The members of our team work well together.
PP 11-7a
Intervening Words and Phrases
continued
Disregard modifying phrases such as along with, in
addition to, together with, accompanied by, as
well as, and in conjunction with.
Use commas to set aside these modifying phrases
when they are placed between the subject and the
verb.
Patti, along with several other committee members, prepares
our agenda.
Patience, in addition to the ability to listen, plays an important
part in success.
PP 11-7b
Compound Subjects
Joined by And
Use a plural verb with a compound subject
joined by and or both . . . and.
The manager and team members meet every
week.
Both Rachel and Rick work in the evenings.
Use a singular verb with a compound subject that
refers to the same person or thing.
My friend and coworker has participated in
panel discussions on teamwork.
PP 11-8
Compound Subjects
Joined by Or or Nor
Make the verb agree with the subject nearer the
verb when a compound subject is joined by or
or nor or by either . . . or or neither . . . nor.
Either Penny or Zola is expected to replace
Maurey on the committee.
Neither the supervisor nor the committee
members were available after 5 p.m.
PP 11-9
Compound Subjects With Many a,
Many an, Each, and Every
Use a singular verb when the words many a,
many an, each, and every immediately precede
a compound subject connected by and. The
subject that follows one of these four expressions
is considered singular; the verb must agree.
Many a staff meeting and brainstorming session
has resulted in numerous creative ideas.
Every supervisor and department manager needs
good communication skills.
Each workshop participant and observer receives
feedback in a timely manner.
PP 11-10
Indefinite Pronouns That Require
Singular Verbs
Use a singular verb when the subject is one of
the following singular indefinite pronouns.
anybody
anyone
anything
each
either
everybody
everyone
everything
neither
no one
nobody
nothing
one
somebody
someone
something
Someone in our department commutes from Santa
Rosa.
One of our team members always reacts strongly to
recommendations that appear costly.
PP 11-11
Indefinite Pronouns That Require
Plural Verbs
Use a plural verb when the subject is one of
the following indefinite pronouns: both, few,
many, others, and several.
Several of our employees like to organize our retreat.
Many of our Web site changes are the result of
customers’ suggestions.
Both of the team meetings are scheduled for Friday.
PP 11-12
Indefinite Pronouns That Require Either
Singular or Plural Verbs
 Use a singular or plural verb when the indefinite
pronouns all, any, more, most, none, and some
are used as subjects. The form of the verb depends
on whether the pronoun refers to something singular
or something plural.
Most of our employees have leadership training.
Some of our work reflects recommendations by
customers.
PP 11-13
Collective Nouns That Require a
Singular Verb
Use a singular verb to refer to a group as one
unit.
This particular accounting team is extremely
accurate.
The public relations group responds quickly to any
questions about company operations.
The hiring committee has selected a candidate.
PP 11-14
Collective Nouns That Require a
Plural Verb
Use a plural verb to refer to group members
acting as individual members of the group.
Reword the sentence to avoid awkward
construction.
The team are selecting meeting dates for next
year.
At Mission Hills Mortgage, a peer counseling
group help workers with work-related
problems.
PP 11-15
Publications
Use a singular verb when the name of a
publication such as a book, magazine,
software application, or newspaper is used
as a subject.
The Insider publishes our company
announcements.
The Internet Guide reviews Web sites.
PP 11-16
Companies, Institutions, and
Organizations
Use a singular verb when the name of a
company, an institution, or an organization is
used as a subject of a sentence.
Marriott International Inc. emphasizes the
ability to work as a member of a team.
Gateway Technical College makes teamwork a
part of each class.
PP 11-17
Money, Time Periods, Numbers,
and Measurements
Use a singular verb with money,
measurements, time periods, or numbers
when referring to one total amount or unit.
Two hours is the time limit for all staff meetings.
Twenty dollars is the donation expected from
each employee.
PP 11-18
Fractional Amounts—
Singular Verbs
Use a singular verb with expressions such as
the majority of, a part of, a portion of, a
percentage of, or one-half of when the noun
that follows the word of is singular.
The majority of our team is in support of the
software update.
A small percentage of our meeting time involves
socializing.
PP 11-19
Fractional Amounts—
Plural Verbs
Use a plural verb with expressions such as a
majority of, a part of, a portion of, a
percentage of, or one-half of when the noun
that follows the word of is plural.
A majority of my colleagues support the proposal.
A large percentage of company computers have
project management software.
PP 11-20
A Number/The Number
Use a plural verb with the subject a number.
A number of the members of this committee
are eager to reorganize the department.
Use a singular verb with the subject the
number.
The number of accounting employees
increases as our business expands.
PP 11-21
Sentences Beginning with
Here and There
Locate the subject in a sentence that begins
with here or there. The verb should agree
with the subject.
There are five candidates for the manager’s
position.
Here is the agenda for the meeting.
PP 11-22
Questions
Locate the subject in a question, and make the
verb agree with the subject.
Do you agree with the recommendations of
the committee?
Why are you attending the leadership
seminar in New York?
PP 11-23
Nouns Ending in ics
Use a singular verb with a noun that ends in ics
when the noun refers to one topic of study.
Statistics is a course that helps analyze data.
Use a plural verb with a noun that ends in ics
when the noun refers to more than one idea or
item such as qualities or activities.
The statistics from our Web site are valuable in
analyzing our customers’ needs.
PP 11-24
Plural Nouns
Use a plural verb with such nouns ending in s
as assets, dues, earnings, goods, grounds,
odds, proceeds, savings, and thanks when
these nouns are used as subjects.
The odds were against us, but we advocated for
more support staff.
No dues are required from members of teams.
PP 11-25
Gerund Phrases
Use a singular verb when a gerund phrase is
the subject of a sentence.
Completing leadership training takes
commitment.
Assuming leadership roles is important for all
employees.
PP 11-26