Download Subject Verb Agreement

Subject Verb Agreement
2009-2010
I Agree!

The subject and verb in a sentence must
agree in number.


Both must be singular or both must be plural
Notice the difference between singular and
plural forms in the following examples:
Example:
The student sings. (He or she sings)
Singular
The children sing. (They sing.)
Plural
 The number of the noun determines the
number of the verb.
Identifying the subject
The subject of a sentence is the
person, place, thing, or idea that is
doing or being something.
 You can find the subject of a sentence
if you can find the verb.
 Ask the question, "Who or what 'verbs'
or 'verbed'?" and the answer to that
question is the subject.

Identifying the subject
Where is my subject?
 Most likely, your verb will agree with
the first noun to the left of the verb.

 The
Supreme Court judge decides the
appropriate penalty.
Subject is judge
 Verb is decides
 Singular or plural?

Subject never part of a phrase
The group of students is going on a
field trip.
 The group of students is going on a
field trip.
 The survey covering seven colleges
reveals a growth in enrollment.
 The survey covering seven colleges
reveals a growth in enrollment.

Compound Subjects

If subjects are joined by and, they are
considered plural and need a plural
verb.
The quarterback and the coach are
having a conference.
 The quarterback and the coach are
having a conference.

Or or Nor
If subjects are joined by or or nor , the
verb should agree with the closer
subject.
 Either the actors or the director is at
fault.
 Either the actors or the director is at
fault.

Indefinite Pronouns





Somebody, Someone, Each, Either one,
Everyone, Anyone
Indefinite Pronouns are considered singular
and need singular verbs although they
convey plural meaning.
Anyone who wants to pursue higher
education has to pass an entrance exams.
Everyone on the committee is welcome to
express his/her ideas.
Everyone on the committee is welcome to
express his/her ideas.
It depends
A few nouns can be either plural or
singular, depending on whether they
mean a group or separate individuals.
 Examples:
 The jury is sequestered.
 The jury are having an argument.

Plural or Singular
A few subjects look plural but are really
singular or vice versa.
 The news of the discovery is
spreading.
 The mass media have publicized the
facts.
 The mass media have publicized the
facts.

Sources

Escalas, Maggie. "LEO: Subject Verb
Agreement". St. Cloud State
University. 11/18/09
<http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/grammar/s
ubverag.html>.