SUBJECTVERB

A G R E E M E N T

Presented By: Anunciata Trixie Peni (X-BAHASA/3)

Margaretha Inez Griandini (X-BAHASA/13)

Natalia Halim (X-BAHASA/15)Regina Levy Wiraputri (X-BAHASA/17)

Silvanny Julienne (X-BAHASA/18)

S V

BASIC PRINCIPLE: SINGULAR SUBJECTS NEED

SINGULAR VERBSPLURAL SUBJECTS NEED PLURAL

VERBS

RULES

1SUBJECT TO BE USE OF VERBS

(PRESENT TENSE) I Am -

HeShe It

Is + -s/-es

You (Singular) You (Plural) WeThey

Are -

GENERAL USE

THE LINKING VERBSADDITIONAL

Linking verbs do not express action. Instead, they connect the subject of the verb to additional information about the subject.

What are linking verbs? Example(s):

Feel, taste, look, smell, appear, grow, remain, stay, turn, seem, sound, become, prove.

2 USING ANDPlural Verbs

Example: My friend and I color the painting carefully.

My friend colors I color

3 USING EVERY

Singular Verb

Example(s):• Every man in this room is a father. • Every soldier and civilian alike deserves this

honor.

4 USING OF

Noun (P) + of + Noun (S) + Plural VerbNoun (S) + of + Noun (P) + Singular Verb

Noun (P) + of + Noun (P) + Plural VerbNoun (S) + of + Noun (S) + Singular Verb

Example(s):• The best officers of the town have already been called.• A friend of ours is a very good lawyer. • The families of the victims are the only ones permitted to visit.• An acquaintance of mine owns an even more beautiful garden.

USING ONE

One + of + N (P) + Singular Verb

Example(s):• One of my brothers has been staying in that

apartment for six years now.

5

6 USING NONE

None + of + N (P) + Singular Verb

Example(s):• None of your plans interests me.

7 USING EACH

Singular Verb

Example(s):• Each competitor is handed a number of tools. • Each parent and teacher is allowed a classroom

to talk in.

8 USING GERUND

Gerund + Verb –ing + Singular Verb

Example(s):• Swimming is what I like to do during the weekends.• I’m really sorry, but reading about bacteria is not

really my idea of a fun-filled vacation.

9 USING ADJECTIVE CLAUSE OR RELATIVE PRONOUNS

Singular VerbPlural Verb

Example(s):• The friends that I made in high school are all

incredible people. • The woman who is to be their teacher seems to

have a lot of trouble finding the classroom.

10 USING EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITY

Noun (S) + Singular VerbNoun (P) + Plural Verb

Expressions of Quantity: • Some • A lot• Two-third • A quarter • All of • Most• Many• Several • The majority

Example(s):• Some of the villagers are talking about it.• The majority of the people hate him. • A lot of my savings was stolen that night.

EoQ + of +

11 USING THE NUMBER

The number + of + N (P) + Singular Verb

Example(s):• The number of residents in this place keeps on

escalating every day.

12 USING A NUMBER

A number + of + N (P) + Plural Verb

Although the expression a number is strictly singular, the phrase a number of is used with

plural nouns (as what grammarians call a determiner). The verb should therefore be plural.

Example(s):• A number of students are waiting for the bus.• A number of people are coming to watch the

show.

13 USING THERE BE

There + be (Singular Verb) + O (Singular)There + be (Plural Verb) + O (Plural)

Example(s):• There are nineteen students inside the classroom. • There is something strange about her.

Example(s):I think these scissors are blunt.

Those trousers definitely are not going to fit him.

Nouns such as scissors, tweezers, trousers, and shears require plural verbs, because there are two parts to each of them.

USING THESE

14 USING CORRELATIVE CONJUCTIONS

These conjunctions connect two balanced clauses, phrases, or words.

What are they? • Neither…nor….• Either….or….• Not only…but also…

The subject closest to the verb determines the verb form.

If the subject closest to the verb is singular, the verb takes the singular form. If the subject closest to the verb is plural, the verb

takes the plural form.

Example(s): • Neither the students nor the teacher is happy to hear the news.• Every single night either the cat or the fighting neighbors wake me

from sleep. • Not only my parents but also my sister is joining the party.

USING NEITHER OF AND EITHER OF

Neither of / Either of + N + Singular Verb

Example(s): • Neither of the two knows about it. • Either of the cars is good for travelling.

15In informal writing, neither and either sometimes take a plural verb when these pronouns are followed by a prepositional phrase beginning with of.

USING BOTH OF

Both of + N + Plural Verb

Example(s): • Both of them are qualified to do this. • Both of us are ready for the competition.

16

USING CERTAIN PHRASES

Singular VerbREMEMBER: (the phrases) ≠ and

What are the phrases? • As well as• With• Together with• Along with• In addition to

17

Example(s):• The criminal as well as his accomplice has been tried and found guilty.• She together with my aunt is visiting my grandmother.• I along with my best friend am preparing for the finals.• My bag, in addition to yours, is being used in the trip.

USING UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS

Uncountable Noun(s) + Singular Verb

18

Example(s):• The news was read on the television this morning.• The money in the bank is meant for my son.

USING COLLECTIVE NOUNS

WARNING: PAY ATTENTION TO THE CONTEXT

19Example(s):

• The family is heading to Rome for their vacation.The family as a unit is heading to Rome.

• The family have completed their various obligations. Individuals in the family have completed their various obligations.