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Agreement American Lit Subject and Verb Agreement Singular and Plural Subjects A singular subject must have a singular verb A plural subject must have a plural verb Example: The planets travel through space. The planet Jupiter has sixteen known moons. Intervening Phrases and Clauses A verb must agree with its subject even if a phrase or clause comes between them Example: Sam, with several of his friends, observes the sky. Your theory, as well as his ideas, lacks support. Remember: Plural with plural, singular with singular Sam/observes Theory/lacks Antecedent A word, phrase, or clause that is replaced by a pronoun or other substitutes later, or occasionally earlier, in the same or in another, usually subsequent, sentence. Ex. Jane lost a glove and she can't find it. Jane is the antecedent of she and glove is the antecedent of it. Relative pronouns as subjects Remember relative pronouns?? (who, which, that) When who, which, or that acts as a subject of a subordinate clause, its verb is singular or plural, depending on the number of its antecedent The antecedent of a relative pronoun determines its agreement with a verb EX: Sam is the only one of the trainees who has applied. Compound Subjects A compound subject joined by and is generally plural and must have a plural verb examples Wind and rain exist on Earth. Winds and rainstorms exist on Earth. Winds and rain exist on Earth. Exception to this rule-when the parts of the compound subject equal one thing and when the word each or every is used before a compound subject. Then use a singular verb. The exceptions Macaroni and cheese is an easy dish to make. Each man and woman was waving a flag. Compound Subjects Two or more singular subjects joined by or or nor must have a singular verb Example Either Jupiter or Saturn makes a fascinating topic of study. Two or more plural subjects joined by or or nor must have a plural verb Example Space probes or space shuttles provide information about space. Compound subjects If one or more singular subjects are joined to one or more plural subjects by or or nor, the subject closest to the verb determines agreement Neither atmosphere nor clouds exist on Mercury. Neither clouds nor atmosphere exists on Mercury. Confusing Subjects Hard to find subjects- When a subject comes after its verb, the verb must still agree with the subject in number A sentence in which the subject comes after its verb is said to be inverted-you can check the subject-verb agreement by mentally putting the sentence in the normal subject-verb order Which of the science reports has she read? (She has read which of the science reports?) Subjects of linking verbs a linking verb must agree with its subject, regardless of the number of the predicate nominative-the noun or pronoun that renames, identifies, or explains the subject Moon craters are one sign of meteor storms. One sign of meteor storms is moon craters. Collective Nouns a collective noun takes a singular verb when the group it names acts as a single unit The class is excited to be learning about the solar system. A collective noun takes a plural verb when the group it names act as individuals with different points of view The class are unable to decide which planets to discuss in their reports. Nouns that look like plurals Nouns that are plural in form, but singular in meaning take singular verbs Some of these nouns are singular names for branches of knowledge: acoustics, civics, economics etc. Physics is a challenging subject. (S) My lost eyeglasses were behind the sofa. (P) Indefinite Pronouns Singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs Everyone in the room needs to take off her coat. Plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs Both of these planets were formed at about the same time. For those indefinite pronouns that can be either singular or plural, agreement depends on the number of the antecedent Indefinite pronouns con’t The pronouns all, any, more, most, none, and some usually take a singular verb if the antecedent is singular and a plural verb if the antecedent is plural. Most of the cake is gone. Most of the desserts are gone. Titles A title is singular and therefore takes a singular verb. Space is a novel by James A. Michener Of Mice and Men is a book by John Steinbeck. Amounts and Measurements A noun expressing an amount or measurement is usually singular and requires a singular verb singular when expressing single units (ex: one sum of money) Twelve dollars is the price of the ticket. Thirty miles was a long distance to travel. Half of the invitations were mailed today. (P)