1. 01/30/15 BUS 142 Report Writing 1
Rules for Subject-VerbRules for Subject-Verb
AgreementAgreement
Report Writing
By Wang Xiang Yong

2. 01/30/15 BUS 142 Report Writing 2
DefinitionDefinition
Verb agreement is making the present tense
verb agree in number with its 3rd
person
subject
EX: The student studies hard.
EX: The students study hard.

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Rule 1—Ignore prepositionalRule 1—Ignore prepositional
phrases when locatingphrases when locating
subjectssubjects
Only one of the company executives has
insurance.
We wonder if the invoice for the two
shipments is lost.
All employees but Tom are to report early.

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Rule 2—TRule 2—Therehere andand herehere areare
not subjects.not subjects.
There are four candidates for the position.
Here is the fuel oil consumption report.

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Rule 3—Beware invertedRule 3—Beware inverted
orderorder
Attending the conference are salesman
from four states.
Have the product specifications been
submitted?
Subject-verb-object order is not in every sentence.

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Rule 4—Subjects joined byRule 4—Subjects joined by
andand take a plural verbtake a plural verb
Carolyn and her brother work at Baker’s.
The proposed law and its amendment are
before the legislature.

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Rule 5—Make verbs agreeRule 5—Make verbs agree
with the closest subject whenwith the closest subject when
joined byjoined by oror oror nornor
Neither the supervisor nor the clerks know
the order number.
Either Leslie or you are in charge of
ordering supplies.

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Rule 6—Know which indefiniteRule 6—Know which indefinite
pronouns are singular andpronouns are singular and
which are pluralwhich are plural
Always Singular
Anyone, anybody, anything,
each, either, every,
everyone, everybody,
everything, many a, neither,
nobody, nothing, no one ，
someone, somebody,
something ，
another ， little
Always Plural
Both
Few
Many
Several

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Indefinite pronouns that can be singular or
plural depending on reference
Any
All
More
Most
Some
None
( 后跟可数名词 C 复数即为复，不可数名词 UC 即为单）

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ExamplesExamples
Either of the two applicants is satisfactory.
Everybody in the lottery has an equal
chance of winning.
A few of the workers are applying for stock
shares.

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ExamplesExamples
Neither of the dictionaries is available.
Most of the letters are finished.
Most of the work is completed.

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Rule 7—Collective nouns mayRule 7—Collective nouns may
be singular or pluralbe singular or plural
(depending on whether action(depending on whether action
is one action or multipleis one action or multiple
actions.actions.
Our faculty has approved the proposal.
The council were sharply divided over
appropriations.

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Rule 8—Amounts, quantitiesRule 8—Amounts, quantities
and measures are singular.and measures are singular.
Twenty dollars is more than I can afford.
Three gallons of water was spilled on the
floor.

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Rule 9--Individual units thatRule 9--Individual units that
can be counted are pluralcan be counted are plural
Three working days are required to repair
your car.
Five bushels of apples were left in the
warehouse.

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Rule 10—Fractions andRule 10—Fractions and
portions may be singular orportions may be singular or
plural as subjects.plural as subjects.
 Two-thirds of the cassettes are flawed.
 Over half of the contract was ratified.
 Part of the delegates are in favor of the plan.
 Part of the proposal is ambiguous.

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Rule 11—Distinguish betweenRule 11—Distinguish between
“the number” and “a number”“the number” and “a number”
The number as a subject takes a singular
verb.
A number takes a plural verb.

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ExamplesExamples
The number of secretaries is declining.
A number of orders were lost.