SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

GENERAL RULE:If the subject is singular, the verb should be singular.

If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.

The students are sitting outside the building.

Plural

Plural

Mang Ato is a clown.

Singular

Singular

RULE # 1. An intervening phrase or clause does not affect the subject verb agreement.

The actor most admired by the students is on stage.

Singular

Singular

1.The climate of both countries ( is , are)very good.

2.The old books in the attic (was, were)thrown away.

3. A carton of grapes from Cebu (was, were) delivered.

4. The vegetables in the stew ( is, are ) tasty.

5. My uncle, as well as my cousins(is, are ) coming.

A car or a bus is the only means of travel there.

Neither my mother nor my sister is happy about the situation.

STUDY THE GIVEN SENTENCES.

singular subjects joined by or / nor.

RULE # 2. Two or more singular subjects joined by or or nor must have a singular verb.

Only the fathers or the mothers are to be invited.

The teachers or the parents go with the students.

Plural subjects joined by or / nor

RULE # 3. Two or more plural subjects joined by or or nor must have plural verb.

RULE # 4. If one or more singular subjects are joined to one or more plural subjects by or or nor, the subject closest to the verb determines agreement.

Neither David nor my parents are going with us.

Singular

plural plural

RULE # 5. A compound subject joined by and is generally plural and must have a plural verb.

plural

One boy and one girl are the finalists.

Compound subjects

Exceptions: If the parts of a compound subject add up to one thing, the compound subject is singular, it should take a singular verb.

Ham and eggs is a hearty breakfast.

Compound subject add up to one thing singular

Every dog and cat was inoculated.

If the compound subject is preceded by every or each , a singular verb is required.

Compound subject singular

1. Both my boss and her partner ( collect, collects) old coins.

2. Tina or Kathy (plan, plans) to represent us.

3. Neither Jack nor Tim ( want, wants) to make the delivery.

4. Dark clouds and rain (has, have) been forecast today.

5. Fruits and vegetables (provide, provides) many minerals.

6. Spaghetti and meatballs (is, are) her favorite dish.

7. A train or several buses( is, are) available on Sundays.

8. Both the twins and Nida ( is, are) visiting Grandmother.

9. Either my uncle or my parents ( phone, phones) each week.

10. The president and owner of the company ( talk, talks) about the problem.

RULE # 6. A subject that comes after its verb must still agree with it in number.

At the bottom of the hill are two black horses.

Here is the revised edition of that book.

subjectsingular plural

RULE # 7. A linking verb must agree with its subject, regardless of the number of its predicate nominative.

The loud stereos are one reason for his

complaints.

subject

Predicatenominative

verb

Rule #8. Doesn't is a contraction of does not and should be used only with a singular subject. Don't is a contraction of do not and should be used only with a plural subject.

The boy doesn’t want to go to the church.

singularsingular

Exceptions

In the case of the first person and second person pronouns I and you, the contraction don't should be used.

I Don’t Like it.

subject verb

Rule #9. The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are singular and require a singular verb.

Verb

Everybody knows Mr. Jones.

subject

Note: All, none, some may take either a singular or a plural verb according to their meaning.All of the delegates are here.

All hope of regaining his last prestige is lost.

All of the delegates are here.

plural

singular

All hope of regaining his last prestige is lost.

Rule #10. Nouns such as civics, mathematics, dollars, measles, and news require singular verbs.News is on at six.

subject verb

Rule #11. When a relative pronoun is used as a subject of the verb, verb must agree in person and number with the antecedent of the pronoun.

He is one those men who talk much and think little.

Verb

Relative pronoun

antecedent plural

Rule #12. Some nouns like pants, trousers, jeans, shears, scissors, tweezers, and pliers are always plural.

The scissors are in my bag.

Subject Verb

Rule #13. When a collective noun such as audience, army class committee, company, family, flock, swarm, group, herd, jury, team denotes a collection regarded as a unit, it requires a singular verb.

The audience is big.

Subject

Verb

Exception: When it refers to persons or things included in the collections, it requires a plural verb.

The audience were of different opinions about the merits of the play.

SubjectVerb

Rule #14. Nouns denoting quantity and amount such as number, half, part, portion, and plenty may take a singular or plural verb according to their meaning.