subject verb agreement

1. SUBJECT – VERB
AGREEMENT

2. RULE #1
A verb agrees with its
subject in number.
(A singular subject takes a
singular verb; a plural
subject takes plural verb.)

3. RULE #2
The number of the
subject (singular and plural)
is NOT changed by a phrase
or a clause that separates
the subject from the verb.

4. RULE #2 EXAMPLES
1. One of the eggs is broken.
2. The ozone layer which has holes
absorbs most of the ultraviolet
radiation.
3. Radio waves with short wavelength
penetrate the atmosphere and are used
to communicate with spacecraft.

5. RULE #3
Some subjects always
take a singular verb even
though the meaning may
seem plural.

6. These subjects ALWAYS take
singular verbs:
Each Either Neither
One No one Everyone
Someone Anyone Nobody
Somebody Anybody
Everybod
y

7. RULE #3 EXAMPLES
1. Someone in the game was
(not were) hurt.
2. Neither of them is (not are)
working.

8. RULE #4
a. The following words
may be singular or plural,
depending upon their use
in a sentence:

9. All Any More
Most None Some
These subjects may take
SINGULAR OR PLURAL verbs:

10. RULE #4a EXAMPLES
1. Most of the news is
good.(singular)
2. Most of the flowers were
yellow. (plural)

11. RULE #5
The following
indefinite pronouns are
PLURAL:

12. Both Few
Many Several
These subjects take PLURAL verbs
ONLY:

13. RULE #5 EXAMPLES
1. Both are impressive.
2. Many of his pitches blaze
past the batter.

14. RULE #6a
Compound subjects
joined by and use plural
verbs.

15. RULE #6a EXAMPLES
1. The boys and the girls are
here.
2. Bob and George are leaving..

16. RULE #6b
Compound subjects
connected by and , and are
closely related or refer to
the same person or thing
use singular verbs.

17. RULE #6b EXAMPLES
1. Bread and butter is good
food.
2. My classmate and bestfriend
is coming to dinner.

18. RULE #6c
When or, nor, neither –
nor, either – or connect two
subjects, a verb agrees with
the nearest subject.

19. RULE #6c EXAMPLES
1. Neither Bob nor George is
leaving.
2. Neither Bob nor his friends
are leaving.

20. RULE #7
There and here are
never subjects, the
subject is usually found
later on in the
sentence.

21. RULE #7 EXAMPLES
1. There are new discoveries
every minute of the day.
2. Here is a basket of apples
for you.

22. RULE #8
A collective noun used to
denote a UNIT uses a
SINGULAR VERB. It takes
a PLURAL VERB when it is
used to refer to
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF
A GROUP.

23. Following are some common
examples:
Army Crowd Orchestra
Audience Flock Public
Class Group Swarm
Club Herd Team
Committee Jury troop

24. RULE #8 EXAMPLES
1. The orchestra is playing a
hit song. (as one unit – singular)
2. The orchestra were asked to
give their musical backgrounds.
(as separate individuals – plural)