Subject-Verb Subject-Verb AgreementAgreementThe RulesThe Rules

Rule #18aRule #18a

A word that refers to one person, place, A word that refers to one person, place, thing, or idea is thing, or idea is singularsingular in number. A in number. A word that refers to more than one is word that refers to more than one is pluralplural in number.in number.

Sing.:Sing.: book, theory, either, it, one, city book, theory, either, it, one, city Plural: Plural: books, theories, both, they, two, citiesbooks, theories, both, they, two, cities Both nouns and pronouns have number.Both nouns and pronouns have number.

Rule #18bRule #18b

A verb should agree in number with its A verb should agree in number with its subject.subject. Singular subjects take singular verbs. Singular subjects take singular verbs.

In her spare time, the In her spare time, the lawyer tutors college college students.students.

Is the next essay the next essay assignment due soon? due soon? Plural subjects take plural verbs.Plural subjects take plural verbs.

In their spare time, the In their spare time, the lawyers tutor college college students.students.

Are the next essay the next essay assignments due soon? due soon?

Rule #18b (continued)Rule #18b (continued)

When a gerund phrase or an infinitive When a gerund phrase or an infinitive phrase is the complete subject of a phrase is the complete subject of a sentence, the entire phrase is considered sentence, the entire phrase is considered singular and therefore takes a singular singular and therefore takes a singular verb!verb! Tutoring college students occupies much of much of

the lawyer’s spare time. the lawyer’s spare time. To write several essay assignments is is

difficult.difficult.

Rule #18b (continued)Rule #18b (continued)

In a verb phrase, the In a verb phrase, the firstfirst helping verb helping verb agrees in number with the rest of the agrees in number with the rest of the subject. subject. The The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was

designed by Maya Lin. by Maya Lin. (singular subject and singular verb phrase)(singular subject and singular verb phrase) The The Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the and the

Civil Rights Memorial were designed by by Maya Lin.Maya Lin.

Rule #18cRule #18c

The number of a subject is not changed The number of a subject is not changed by a word in a phrase or clause following by a word in a phrase or clause following the subject.the subject. The The poems are by various students in the by various students in the

class.class. The The poems in this collection in this collection are by various by various

students in the class.students in the class.

Review: 18a, 18b, & 18cReview: 18a, 18b, & 18c

Rule #18a:Rule #18a: A word that refers to one person, A word that refers to one person, place, thing, or idea is place, thing, or idea is singularsingular in number. A in number. A word that refers to more than one is word that refers to more than one is pluralplural in in number.number.

Rule #18b:Rule #18b: A verb should agree in number with A verb should agree in number with its subject.its subject.

Rule #18c:Rule #18c: The number of a subject is not The number of a subject is not changed by a word in a phrase or clause changed by a word in a phrase or clause following the subject.following the subject.

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Rule #18dRule #18d

Some indefinite pronouns are singular, Some indefinite pronouns are singular, some are plural, and some can be some are plural, and some can be singular or plural depending on how they singular or plural depending on how they are used.are used.

Rule #18d (continued)Rule #18d (continued)

SingularSingular anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, anybody, anyone, anything, each, either,

everybody, everyone, everything, neither, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, somebody, nobody, no one, nothing, one, somebody, someone, somethingsomeone, something

Example: Example: Did anything happen while I was out? while I was out? Example: Example: Somebody in this room in this room wants no no

homework tonight.homework tonight.

Rule #18d (continued)Rule #18d (continued)

PluralPlural both, few, many, severalboth, few, many, several Both of the schools of the schools offer an excellent an excellent

sports program.sports program. Few of Mr. Mathews’ students of Mr. Mathews’ students miss

English class.English class. Several of my notebooks of my notebooks have gone

missing..

Rule #18d (continued)Rule #18d (continued)

Singular OR PluralSingular OR Plural all, any, more, most, none, someall, any, more, most, none, some Their number changes based on the Their number changes based on the

words to which they refer.words to which they refer. S:S: All of the worksheet of the worksheet seems simple. simple. P: P: All of the problems of the problems seem simple. simple. Try worksheets 107 and 108 now!Try worksheets 107 and 108 now!

Rule #18eRule #18e

Subjects joined by Subjects joined by andand usually take a plural usually take a plural verb.verb.

English and and French are the official languages the official languages of Canada.of Canada.

Sarah and and Allison seem to be friends. to be friends. This is true only when two people, places, This is true only when two people, places,

things, or ideas are named. If the things, or ideas are named. If the andand names names only one person, place, thing, or idea, the only one person, place, thing, or idea, the subject takes a singular verb. (i.e. macaroni subject takes a singular verb. (i.e. macaroni and cheese)and cheese)

Rule #18fRule #18f

Singular subjects joined by Singular subjects joined by oror or or nornor take take a singular subject.a singular subject.

A A fleece or a or a sweater is warm enough for warm enough for tonight.tonight.

Neither the Neither the teacher nor the nor the student knows the guest speaker. the guest speaker.

Either Either Ms. Molloy or or Mrs. Hals reads the the locker break announcements.locker break announcements.

Rule #18gRule #18g

When a singular subject and a plural When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by subject are joined by oror or or nornor, the verb , the verb agrees with the subject nearer the verb.agrees with the subject nearer the verb.

Either the Either the students or the or the teacher is wrong about the date of the dress down.wrong about the date of the dress down.

Either the Either the teacher or the or the students are wrong about the date of the dress down.wrong about the date of the dress down.

ReviewReview

Rule #18e:Rule #18e: Subjects joined by Subjects joined by andand usually take usually take a plural verb.a plural verb.

Rule #18f:Rule #18f: Singular subjects joined by Singular subjects joined by oror or or nornor take a singular subject.take a singular subject.

Rule #18g:Rule #18g: When a singular subject and a When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by plural subject are joined by oror or or nornor, the verb , the verb agrees with the subject nearer the verb.agrees with the subject nearer the verb.

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Special Problems in Special Problems in Subject-Verb Subject-Verb AgreementAgreementExceptions to the RulesExceptions to the Rules

Rule #18hRule #18h

The contractions The contractions don’tdon’t and and doesn’tdoesn’t should agree with their subjects.should agree with their subjects.

He doesn’t (does not) live here anymore.He doesn’t (does not) live here anymore. Is doesn’t (does not) look like snow.Is doesn’t (does not) look like snow. Ann Marie doesn’t (does not) know about Ann Marie doesn’t (does not) know about

the big surprise.the big surprise. I don’t (do not) think it will snow all winter.I don’t (do not) think it will snow all winter.

Rule #18iRule #18i

When the subject follows the verb, find When the subject follows the verb, find the subject and make sure that the verb the subject and make sure that the verb agrees with it.agrees with it.

Here Here isis the the moviemovie I borrowed. I borrowed. Here Here areare the the moviesmovies I borrowed. I borrowed. There was an accident on the Parkway.There was an accident on the Parkway. There were two accidents on the There were two accidents on the

Parkway.Parkway.

Rule #18i (continued)Rule #18i (continued)

Nota beneNota bene: The contractions : The contractions here’shere’s, , there’sthere’s, , when’swhen’s, and , and where’swhere’s incorporate incorporate the verb is. Contractions such as these the verb is. Contractions such as these should only be used with singular should only be used with singular subjects!!!subjects!!!

Here’s (Here is) your book.Here’s (Here is) your book. When’s (When is) the next liturgy?When’s (When is) the next liturgy?

Rule #18jRule #18j

A collective noun may be either singular or A collective noun may be either singular or plural, depending on its meaning in a sentence.plural, depending on its meaning in a sentence.

The singular form of a collective noun names a The singular form of a collective noun names a group of people or things.group of people or things.

Examples of collective nouns: army, assembly, Examples of collective nouns: army, assembly, audience, band, class, club, committee, crowd, audience, band, class, club, committee, crowd, family, fleet, flock, group, herd, jury, public, family, fleet, flock, group, herd, jury, public, squadron, staff, swarm, team, troopsquadron, staff, swarm, team, troop

Rule #18j (continued)Rule #18j (continued)

A collective noun is singular when it A collective noun is singular when it refers to the group as a unit.refers to the group as a unit. The The class meetsclass meets on A, B, D, and E Days. on A, B, D, and E Days. The The team has wonteam has won the county meet. the county meet. The The fleet sailsfleet sails tomorrow morning. tomorrow morning.

Rule #18j (continued)Rule #18j (continued)

A collective noun is plural when it refers A collective noun is plural when it refers to the individual members or parts of the to the individual members or parts of the group.group. The The classclass usually usually bringbring their laptops with their laptops with

them. (members bring separate laptops)them. (members bring separate laptops) The The team have votedteam have voted on this year’s MVP. on this year’s MVP.

(members voted separately)(members voted separately) The The fleet dropfleet drop anchor when they arrive in the anchor when they arrive in the

port. (ships drop separate anchors) port. (ships drop separate anchors)

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Rule #18kRule #18k

An expression of an amount An expression of an amount (measurement, percentage, fraction, etc.) (measurement, percentage, fraction, etc.) may be singular or plural, depending on may be singular or plural, depending on how it is used.how it is used. Fifty dollars isFifty dollars is all we have raised so far. (unit all we have raised so far. (unit

is one amount)is one amount) Fifty dollars wereFifty dollars were left down in the cafeteria. left down in the cafeteria.

(amount refers to separate dollars) (amount refers to separate dollars)

Rule #18lRule #18l

Some rare nouns that are plural in form Some rare nouns that are plural in form take singular verbs, and some nouns that take singular verbs, and some nouns that suggests “a pair” take plural verbs.suggests “a pair” take plural verbs. Physics happensPhysics happens to be my favorite subject. to be my favorite subject. Mr. Mathews’s Mr. Mathews’s scissors havescissors have gone missing! gone missing!

Rule #18mRule #18m

Even when in plural form, the titles of Even when in plural form, the titles of creative works (such as books, songs, creative works (such as books, songs, movies, or paintings) and the names of movies, or paintings) and the names of countries, cities, organization generally countries, cities, organization generally take singular verbs.take singular verbs. The OutsidersThe Outsiders is is a popular book. a popular book.

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Rule #18nRule #18n

A verb agrees with its subject, but not A verb agrees with its subject, but not necessarily with its predicate nominative.necessarily with its predicate nominative.

Predicate nominative: a noun following a Predicate nominative: a noun following a linking verb that provides information about the linking verb that provides information about the subject.subject.

Good writing Good writing skills skills areare one requirement for one requirement for college admission.college admission.

The The highlighthighlight of the movie of the movie waswas the numerous the numerous explosion scenes.explosion scenes.

Rule #18oRule #18o

Subjects preceded by Subjects preceded by everyevery or or manymany a(n)a(n) take singular verbs.take singular verbs.

Every studentEvery student isis responsible for not responsible for not getting banned from the network.getting banned from the network.

Many a freshman Many a freshman worriesworries about missing about missing the bus home. the bus home.

Rule #18pRule #18p

When the relative pronoun When the relative pronoun thatthat, , whichwhich, or , or whowho is the subject of an adjective clause, is the subject of an adjective clause, the verb in the clause agrees with the the verb in the clause agrees with the word to which the relative pronoun refers.word to which the relative pronoun refers.

London, London, which which isis the capital of the United the capital of the United Kingdom, is often covered in fog.Kingdom, is often covered in fog.

I know some penguins I know some penguins who who oweowe me a me a couple of favors.couple of favors.

Rule #18pRule #18p

When the relative pronoun is preceded When the relative pronoun is preceded by by one ofone of + a plural word, it takes a plural + a plural word, it takes a plural verb.verb. Spain is Spain is one of the nations that one of the nations that borderborder

France.France. Religion is Religion is one of the classes that one of the classes that are takenare taken

by IHA freshmen.by IHA freshmen. Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet is is one of the works one of the works readread

during freshman year.during freshman year.

Rule #18pRule #18p

When the relative pronoun is preceded When the relative pronoun is preceded by the only one of + a plural word, it by the only one of + a plural word, it takes a singular verb.takes a singular verb. The Vatican is The Vatican is the only one of the European the only one of the European

nations that nations that isis inhabited solely by men.inhabited solely by men. New Jersey is New Jersey is the only one of the United the only one of the United

States that States that hashas abolished the death penalty abolished the death penalty since its reinstatement. since its reinstatement.

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