Subject / Verb Agreement

Things to Remember

--The subject cannot be found in a

prepositional phrase. Take out all

prepositional phrases before

locating the subject.

Examples:

A bus of students is going to the game

tonight.

The cry of the captives was ignored.

Workbook pg. 112

--Intervening Expressions

If the following expressions are used in a sentence, they do not change the number of the subject. In other words, they will not add to (or take away from) the subject.

Be careful of these expressions:

accompanied by as well as in addition to plus together with

Ex: Water, in addition to food, is absolutely necessary for the camping trip.

• Workbook pg. 113

1. A report for one of my history classes is about Elizabeth Keckley, an African American who became the dressmaker for and confidante of First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln.

2. Keckley in her early years were enslaved in Virginia.

3. A daughter of her owners were fond of Keckley and brought her to live with her in St. Louis.

4. Keckley’s talents in the art of dressmaking was so considerable that she was able to help support the family of her owner.

5. In 1855 Keckley, with the help of loans from her customers, was able to purchase her freedom.

6. To me, Keckley’s irrespressible longings for freedom and dignity seem extraordinary.

7. Keckley’s faith in herself and in her abilities were rewarded, for she moved to Washington, D.C., and became the dressmaker of President Lincoln’s wife.

8. Keckley, as a personal friend of the Lincolns, was privy to many family matters at the White House.

9. Her opinions about the White House was published in 1868 in a book entitled Behind the Scenes.

10. The success of this determined woman continue to inspire people today.

• --Using indefinite pronouns

Singular indefinite pronouns

anyone anybody anything everyoneeverybody everything

someonesomebody something no one nobody nothing

one each either neither

Ex: Somebody ___ going to get into trouble. Everyone __________ to study tonight.

Plural indefinite pronouns

both few manyseveral

Ex: Both of the boys _____ going to the

game tonight.

The following pronouns can be singular or plural:

all none some most any

--Look at the nouns they are replacing to decide whether they are singular or plural.

Example: All of the game ____ on television tonight. All of my friends ______ going to the game tonight. Most of my books _____ in my locker at school. Most of my homework _____ completed.

Complete workbook pp. 114-115

--Using and

If the words joined by and refer to only one person or thing, then use a singular verb.

Ex: The writer and illustrator _______ Sue

Smith.

Cheese and crackers _____ my favorite snack.

--Using either / or and neither / nor

If the word or or nor is used in a sentence,

make the verb agree with the closer

subject.

Ex: Neither my parents nor my sister ______

going to the game tonight.

Neither my sister nor my parents ______

going to the game tonight.

--Collective nouns are words that name groups of people or things. Sometimes they are singular, but sometimes they are plural.

If the word is thought of as a unit, use a singular verb.

If the word is thought of as different individuals,

use a plural verb.

Ex: The crowd cheers for the home team.

The crowd rush to find their seats.

Ex: The crowd cheers for the home team. (all together)

The crowd rush to find their seats. (different seats)

The faculty goes to the game. (all together)

The faculty do not agree where to sit. (different opinions)

You try…….

1. Our team (is, are) determined to win.

2. The jury (has, have) reached a verdict.

3. Our tennis team (has, have) gone to their rooms for a siesta.

4. The band (is, are) tuning their instruments.

Ex. 1 from the handout:

1. The cast of the play (was, were) taking individual curtain calls.

2. A flock of starlings (settles, settle) in the treetops.

3. The committee (was, were) not in agreement on zoning regulations.

4. By sunset the fleet of tall ships (was, were) sailing into Boston Harbor.

5. A school of bluefish (was, were) chasing smaller fish.

6. In the auditorium the faculty (was, were) seated at the ends of rows.

7. A collection of paperweights (was, were) displayed in the museum case.

8. Every day this week the orchestra (has, have) practiced for the next concert.

9. For a month a family of raccoons (has, have) been appearing at dusk, one by one.

10.The pride of lions (was, were) silent and still during the heat of the day.

Ex. 2 from the handout:

1. In the trees a group of bluejays (was, were) squabbling.

2. The club (was, were) meeting on Wednesday afternoons.

3. The last couple to leave the game (was, were) Gerry and Jack.

4. After the verdict was announced, the jury (was, were) dismissed.

5. Before the game began, the team (was, were) in a good mood.

6. The faculty (was, were) having a series of meetings.

7. Settling on roofs and telephone wires (was, were) a flock of birds.

8. A family of mallards (has, have) been living on that island.

9. All around the British Isles (was, were) scattered the Spanish fleet.

10.The jury (has, have) disagreed about the evidence.

From w.b. pg. 11811. The faculty is in their classrooms.

12.My whole family were eager to meet its new neighbor.

13. A large number has received their rebates in the mail.

14. skip

15. The jury is silently filing one by one into the jury box.

16.The club welcome Ms. Perez, our guest speaker.

17. Is staff given discounts on supplies?

18.A majority of the students have met with their guidance counselors.

19.A flock of geese are flying overhead.

20.The local police squad protects the entire neighborhood.

Other Reminders

--Make the verb agree with the subject, not the predicative nominative.

Ex: The last course was strawberries with cream.

My favorite part of the musical is the duets.

You try:

Gold pens (was, were) the women’s prize.

The team members (is,are) a pleasure to the coach.

--Make sure the sentence is in natural order. Natural order is when the subject comes first.

You may need to “flip” questions before finding the subject.

Ex: Were you at the game Friday night?

You were at the game Friday night.

Do those mountains contain eagles?

Those mountains do contain eagles.

You try. . .find the subject—

(Was, Were) Tom helping with the game?

(Is, Are) electric cars becoming more popular?

--The words here and there can NEVER be the subject of a sentence.

Do not make the verb agree with the words here or there.

Ex: There is a game on television.

Here is the game on the radio station.

You try—

Here (is, are) the prettiest floats in the parade.

There (is, are) only fifty tickets left.

--The word you will always take the plural verb.

Ex: You are not going to the game tonight.

--The word he or she will always take a singular verb.

Example: He doesn’t.

(NOT: He don’t. = He do not.)

She doesn’t.

(NOT: She don’t. = She do not.)

You try—

The book (doesn’t, don’t) belong to Tom.

A book about snakes (doesn’t, don’t) interest Tom.

He (doesn’t, don’t) like books about spiders, either.

Test practice: place commas where needed; if no comma is needed, write C in the blank.

1. On the table by the window is a lovely flower arrangement that my husband sent to me.

2. With five seconds on the clock Tom raced down the court and shot the winning basket.

3. Carlos ducked under the large desk to escape the falling brick from the top of the building.

4. At many high schools students recycle plastic milk bottles and discarded papers.

Read each sentence and correct subject-verb agreement where needed. If the sentence is written correctly, write C in the blank.

5. The mother, as well as her daughter, are leaving for the airport in fifteen minutes.

6. The hobby of many tractor enthusiasts are collecting and racing old model tractors.

7. There goes two antique tractors on their way to the rally.

8. The pattern in the stones seem intricate.

Special Problems

--How much? or How many?

Words that express an amount, a measurement, or a weight usually take a singular verb. They are thought of as a single unit.

Ten miles is too far to walk.

Hint: If it tells how much = singular verb

If it tells how many = plural verb

Ex: Half of the class _____ going to the game.

(how much of the class?)

Half of the players _____ on the team.

(how many of the players?)

--The number of or a number of

the number of = singular verb

a number of = plural verb

Ex: The number of students going to the game is

very low. A number of students are going to the game.

--Each, every, and many a

If the word each or every or many a comes before a compound subject, then use a singular verb.

Ex: Every man and woman (is, are) asked to vote.

Each tree and bush (is, are) infested with bugs.

Many a woman and child (was, were) hungry.

--Relative pronouns: that, which, and who

When you use the word that, which, or who as a subject in an adjective clause,

the verb in the clause will agree with the word that, which, or who is replacing.

Ex: Mr. Roy is the architect who designs buildings.

Iguanas are the only lizards that like to swim.