AgreementVerbs that agree with their Subjects and Pronouns

Singular and Plural

A word that refers to one person or thing is singular in number.

A word that refers to more than one is plural in number.

Singular Examples: car, ox, this, either, he, she, it

Plural Examples: cars, oxen, these, both, they

A verb agrees with its subject in number.

Singular subjects takes a singular verb.A young woman lives next door.

This bake sale was sponsored by the Pep Club.

Plural subjects takes plural verbs.Young women live next door.

These bake sales were sponsored by the Pep Club.

VerbsSingular Plural

Is Are

Was Were

Has Have

Most verbs ending in a single –s

Most verbs not ending a single -s

Intervening Phrases

The number of the subject is not changed by a phrase following the subject.

A phrase that comes between a singular subject and its verb can easily mislead you if it contains a plural word.

Example: The counselor was very helpful.

The counselor for the senior students was very helpful.

In formal writing, singular subjects followed by these

phrases take singular verbs:

together with

as well as

in addition to

accompanied by

Example:

The singer, as well as the musicians, was pleased with the recording session.

The singer was pleased NOT musicians were pleased

Practice1. The movements, in addition to the pressure of molten rock, (causes, cause) the plates to collide.

2. The pressure of colliding plates (forces, force) the rock to bend until it breaks.

3. The cause of most earthquakes (is, are) the release of stress along the fault.

4. The Richter scale, as well as other measurements, (has, have) been used to record the magnitude of earthquakes.

5. The scientific community, especially seismologists and geologists, (is, are) studying the effects of earthquakes.

Practice Answers

1. cause

2.forces

3.is

4.has

5.is

Practice Review1. The movements, in addition to the pressure of molten rock, (causes, cause) the plates to collide.

2. The pressure of colliding plates (forces, force) the rock to bend until it breaks.

3. The cause of most earthquakes (is, are) the release of stress along the fault.

4. The Richter scale, as well as other measurements, (has, have) been used to record the magnitude of earthquakes.

5. The scientific community, especially seismologists and geologists, (is, are) studying the effects of earthquakes.

Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects

Pronouns like: everybody, someone, everything, all and none, all of which are more or less indefinite in meaning, present some special usage problems.

Some of them are always singular, some are always plural, and some others depend on the meaning of the sentence.

Singular Pronouns

Each, Either, Neither

No one, Every one, Everyone

Someone

Anybody, Somebody, Everybody

EX: Every one of the campers enjoys the summertime.

Plural Pronouns

Several

Few

Both

Many

Pronouns that Depend on Meaning

Some

Any

None

All

Most

When they refer to a singular word they are singular and vice versa.

Examples of Pronouns that Depend on

MeaningSome of the show was hilarious.

Some of the actors were hilarious.

None of the story makes sense.

None of the movies were exciting.

Indefinite Pronoun Practice

(try doing it without notes)

1. Each of the pictures (was, were) in a silver frame.

2. One of my friends (play, plays) the tuba.

3. All of our belongings (is, are) still unpacked.

4. Some of these rare books (has, have) leather covers.

5. None of the people in the theater audience (was, were) pleased with the film.

Practice Answers

1. was

2. plays

3. are

4. have

5. were

Practice Review

1. Each of the pictures (was, were) in a silver frame.

2. One of my friends (play, plays) the tuba.

3. All of our belongings (is, are) still unpacked.

4. Some of these rare books (has, have) leather covers.

5. None of the people in the theater audience (was, were) pleased with the film.

Compound Subjects

Subjects joined by the word and take a plural verb.

Singular subjects joined by or or nor take a singular verb.

When a singular and a plural subject are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject.

When subjects are joined by and but act as a unit, they take a singular verb. (ex: Macaroni and cheese is good.)

Compound Subject Practice

1. Hannah and Harmony (have been, has been) friends for years.

2. The records and the tapes (were, was) stacked on the shelf.

3. Bread and butter (comes, come) with every meal.

4. A jacket or a sweater (is, are) warm enough at night.

5. Neither the coach nor the trainer (was, were) sure of the starting time.

6. Either the singer or the musicians (is, are) off-key.

1. Hannah and Harmony (have been, has been) friends for years.

2. The records and the tapes (were, was) stacked on the shelf.

3. Bread and butter (comes, come) with every meal.

4. A jacket or a sweater (is, are) warm enough at night.

5. Neither the coach nor the trainer (was, were) sure of the starting time.

6. Either the singer or the musicians (is, are) off-key.

Practice Answers

1. have been

2. were

3. comes

4. is

5. was

6. are

Other Problems of S-V Agreement

When the subject follows the verb, as in questions and in sentences beginning with here and there, be careful to determine the subject and make sure that the verb agrees with it.

EX: There are seven vegetables in the salad.

Collective nouns may be either singular or plural. It depends on whether the speaker is thinking of the individual members or the whole group.

EX: The audience were entering the theater. (one at a time)

EX: The audience was one of the best. (as a whole)