Subject Verb Agreement

Rules of Agreement

A verb should agree with its subject in number

1. Singular subjects take singular verbs.My grandfather trains dogs.The senator is in favor of the bill.She owns and operates a video store.

Write your own sentence with a singular subject and verb.

Rules of Agreement

2. Plural subjects take plural verbs.

My grandparents train dogs.Many senators are in favor of the bill.They own and operate a video store.

Write your own sentence with a plural subject and verb.

Rules of AgreementThe verb agrees with its subject, even when the verb precedes the subject.Here is a copy of my report.Here are two copies of my report.

Where is Tanner?Where are Tanner and his brother?

Let’s practice This song was performed by The Beatles. The players have been practicing since noon.

Grammar BytesLet’s practice a little more

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Phrases and ClausesThe number of the subject is not changed by a phrase or a clause following the subject.

This CD is by Bob Marley.This CD of songs is by Bob Marley. Poe was a major influence in the Dark Romantic genre.Poe, who wrote The Raven and other books of poems, was a major

influence in the Dark Romantic genre.

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hotpotatoes/sva03.htm

Indefinite PronounsThe following indefinite pronouns are

singular: one, anybody, anyone, each, either, everybody, everyone, neither, nobody, no one, somebody, and someone.

Neither of the books contains any illustrations.

Everyone in the Spirit Committee is wearing red.

Indefinite PronounsThe following indefinite pronouns are plural: both, few, many, and several.

Both of the poems were written by Walt Whitman.

Many of the students run cross country.

Indefinite PronounsThe following indefinite pronouns may be singular or plural: all, any, most, none, and some.

Some of her artwork is beautiful.Some of her paintings are beautiful.

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hotpotatoes/sva04.htm

When and is involvedSubjects joined by and usually take a plural verb.Basil and thyme are plants of the mint family.If the compound subject names a single person or thing, the subject takes a singular verb.The secretary and treasurer is Gretchen.Grilled chicken and rice is the restaurant’s specialty.

When or is involved

Singular subjects joined by or or nor take a singular verb.

Either Juan or Jeff wants to see the movie.Has your mother or father met your teacher?

Or and nor

When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject nearer the verb.

Neither the performers nor the director was eager to rehearse the scene again.

Neither the director nor the performers were eager to rehearse the scene again.

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Rules of AgreementCollective Nouns and Problem Nouns

Collective Nouns

Collective nouns may be either singular or plural.

The band practices every day.The band buy their own uniforms.

A flock of geese is flying over.The flock of geese are joining together in

a V-shaped formation.

Amounts

An expression of an amount may be singular or plural.Five thousand bricks is a heavy load for this truck.Five thousand brick are what we need.

One fourth of the student body is employed part-time after school.One fourth of the students are employed after school.

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Organizations

The name of an organization, though plural in form, usually takes a singular verb.

The United Nations was formed in 1945

The U.S. Marines is a separate branch of the Department of the Navy.

Plural Nouns, Singular Verbs

Many nouns that are plural in form are singular in meaning.

***The following nouns always take singular verbs.civics genetics

mumpseconomics mathematics newselectronic measles physics

Plural Verbs

***The following nouns always take plural verbs.

binocularspliers shearseyeglasses scissors trousers

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