Subject Verb Agreement

SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

GENERAL RULE:

If the subject is singular, the verb should be singular. If the subject is

Plur al

Plur al

The students are sitting outside the building.

Singul ar Mang Ato is a clown. Singu lar

An intervening phrase or clause does not affect

RULE # 1.

Singul ar The actor most

admired by the students is on stage. Singul

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.

STUDY THE GIVEN SENTENCES. A

car or a bus is the only means of travel there.  Neither my mother nor my sister is happy about the situation.

singular subjects joined by or / nor.

Two or more singular subjects joined by or

RULE # 2.

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

Two or more plural subjects joined by or or nor must

RULE # 3.

If one or more singular subjects are joined to one or more plural subjects by or or

RULE # 4.

Singu lar  Neither

David nor my parents are going with us. plural

plural

RULE # 5. A

compound subject joined by and is generally plural and

Compound subjects

One boy and one girl are the finalists. plural

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

nd eggs is a hearty brea

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

singular

y dog and cat was inocul

1. B oth my boss and her partner ( col lect, col lects ) ol d coi ns. 2. Ti na or Kathy (p lan, pl ans) to represent us. 3. Ne ith er J ack nor Ti m ( wan t, wants) t o m ake the deli ve ry. 4. D ark cl ouds and rai n (has, have) been forecast today .

6. Spagh et ti a nd meat bal ls (is, a re ) her fav orite di sh. 7. A trai n or sever al bu ses( is, ar e) avai labl e on Sunda ys. 8. Bo th t he tw ins and Nida ( is, are ) vi si ti ng Gr andm ot her . 9. Either my uncl e or my pa re nts ( phon e, pho nes) ea ch wee k. 10. T he pr es ident and o wner

subject that comes after its verb must still agree with it

RULE # 6. A

At the bottom of the hill are two black horses. singular

plural

subject

Here is the revised edition of that book.

linking verb must agree with its subject, regardless of the number of

RULE # 7. A

subject

The loud stereos are one reason for his verb complaints. Predicate nominative

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 Rule #8.

singular

singular

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

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

I

Don’t Like it.

The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody, Rule #9.

subject

Everybody knows Mr. Jones.

Verb

All, none, some may take either a singular or a plural verb according All of the delegatesto aretheir meaning. here. Note:

All hope of regaining his last prestige is lost.

plural All of the delegates are here. All hope of regaining his last prestige is lost.

singular

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

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

Relative pronoun antecedent

plural

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

Verb

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

The scissors are in my bag.

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

Subject

The audience is big. Verb

Exception: When it refers to persons or things included in the collections, it requires a Verb plural verb. Subject The audience were of different opinions about the merits of the play.

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