“Like stars on Earth, every child are special.”

Subject-Verb AgreementAgreement simply means that the subject

and verb are both singular and both plural.

Rules for Subject and Verb Agreement

1.1 Compound Subjects are always considered

plural and therefore should take a plural verb.

Ex. Melissa and Jason are lovers indeed.

1.2 If the compund subject is preceded by every

and each, a singular subject is used.

Ex. Every pre-school boy and girl was given a

hygiene kit.

1. Compound Subjects joined by and/or

1.3 If the compound subject refers to one and the

same person, a singular verb is used.

Ex. My teacher and godmother gives me a

birthday treat.

1.4 If two or more singular subjects are joined by

or/nor, they must have a singular verb.

Ex. Either Benjamin or Abraham is representing

the class in the Quizbee Contest.

1.5 When both subjects connected by or/nor are plurar, a plural verb is used.

Ex. The writers or the actors are meeting the director today.

1.6 If a part of the compound subject is singular and the other is plural, the verb agrees with the subject closer to it.

Ex. Mario, Jean or their friends aregoing to Subic.

2. Pronouns

2.1 Indefinite pronouns like anyone, someone, everyone, nobody, somebody and everybody need singular verbs.

Ex. Everyone needs a little space at home and in school.

2.2 Pronouns like few, both, several and many take plural verbs.

Ex.Both of the girls were taken to the guidance office.

2.3 Some indefinite pronouns may be singular or plural. They are all, most, any, some and none.

Ex. All of the awards are bought.

3. Confusing Noun Subjects

3.1 Nouns that are plural in form but singular in meaning take the singular verb.

Ex. Physics is a very challenging subject.

3.2 A collective noun goes with a singular verb when the group that it names percieved to be acting as single unit.

Ex: The choir gives a heavenly rendition of the Salve Regina.

3.3 When a collective noun names a group acting separetly as individuals,with each member having a different point of view, the plural verb is used.

Ex. The dance company decide about their summer training

4. The word there, as an expletive, is not considered as a subject. It agrees with the subject that follows it.

Examples:

A. There are reasons why Mr. Santos is leaving

the school.

B. There is a need for revisions in this project.

5. Intervening expressions like together with, as well as and accompanied by do not affect the number of the subject.

Examples:

A. Marasigan, together with his numbers, is

attending the conference.

B. B. My teachers, as well as the cashier, are leaving

for Macau.

6. The number calls for a singular verb; a number calls for a plural verb.

Examples:

A. I think the number of registrants today is

enough to raise the amount we needed.

B. Believe me. A number of student journalists are

taking their grievances to the streets.

7. An expression regarding time, quantity or amount is followed by a singular verb.

Examples:

A. Ten months is more than enough for you to

finish the project.

B. One thousand pesos was such a big amount

when I was in grade school.

8. In a sentence with a relative clause, the verb agrees with the antecedent of the relative pronoun.

Examples:

A. Global warming, which has created many

problems, is the topic in the Young Leaders’

Convention.

B. Mr. Tan Kee’s employees, who were chosen by

the judge, are in the conference hall now.

9. When title of books are used as a subject, they must have a singular verb.

A.New Moon is the most interesting part of

the Twilight series.

B.Avatar has won numerous citation in

Oscars.

10. A linking verb must always agree with its subject, not with the number of its predicate nominative.

A. My friendly teachers are one factor for my

perfect attendance this year.

B. One factor for my perfect attendance this year

is my friendly teachers.