Lesson 16. Subject-verb Agreement

Lesson 16. Subject-verb Agreement

Learning ObjectivesAfter this lesson, students will be able to:

• Identify different rules of subject-verb agreement.• Determine exemptions in the rules of subject-verb

agreement.• Identify subject-verb agreement related errors in sentences

and correct them.• Complete sentences observing the rules of subject-verb

agreement.

Learning Objectives 2


Overview – Subject-verb Agreement 3

Although you are probably alreadyfamiliar with basic subject-verb agreement,this chapter begins with a full list of basicagreement rules. There is an old saying:“Opposites attract.” The rule for singular andplural verbs is just the opposite of the rule forsingular and plural nouns. Remember thiswhen you match subjects and verbs.

Subjects and verbs must AGREE withone another in number (singular orplural). Thus, if a subject is singular, its verbmust also be singular; if a subject is plural, itsverb must also be plural.


RULE 1 – A verb agrees with its subject in number.Singular subjects take singular verbs:

The car stays in the garage.The flower smells good.

RULE 2 – The number of the subject (singular or plural) is not changed by words that come between the subject and the verb.

One of the eggs is broken.

Of the eggs is a prepositional phrase. The subject one and the verb is are both singular. Mentally omit the prepositional phrase to make the subject verb-agreement easier to make.

SVA – Rules 1 & 2 4


RULE 3 – Some subjects always take a singular verb even though the meaning may seem plural.These subjects always take singular verbs:

Someone in the game was (not were) hurt.Neither of the men is (not are) working.

RULE 4 – The following words may be singular or plural – depending upon their use in a sentence – some, any, all, most.

Most of the news is good. (singular) All of the pizza was gone. (singular)Most of the flowers were yellow. (plural) All of the children were late.(plural)

SVA – Rules 3 & 4 5


each someone either anyone neither nobody

one somebody no one anybody everyone everybody

RULE 5 – Subjects joined by and are plural. Subjects joined by Or or Nor take a verb that agrees with the last subject.

Bob and George are leaving.Neither Bob nor George is leaving.Neither Bob nor his friends are leaving.

RULE 6 – There and here are never subjects. In sentences that begin with these words, the subject is usually found later on in the sentence.

There were five books on the shelf. (were, agrees with the subject book)Here is the report you wanted. (Is agrees with subject report)

6SVA – Rules 5 & 6


Exercise 1

Write the correct form of each verb in parentheses in each of the sentences below.

1. Your friend ________________ (talk) too much.2. The man with the roses ________________ (look) like your brother.3. The women in the pool ________________ (swim) well.4. ______________ (Be) each of the girls ready to leave?5. Several of the sheep ______________ (be) sick.6. Some members of the faculty ______________ (be) present.7. Either the cups or the glasses ______________ (be) in the dishwasher.8. Margo and her parents ______________ (visit) each other often.9. Neither Matt nor his brothers ______________ (be) at the party. 10. Either the workers or the boss ______________ (deliver) the merchandise.11. All of the milk ______________ (be) gone.12. Most of the seats ______________ (was) taken.

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RULE 7 – Collective nouns may be singular or plural, depending on their use in the sentence. A collective noun is a noun used to name a whole group. Following are some common examples:

The orchestra is playing a hit song. (Orchestra is considered as one unit—singular.)The orchestra were asked to give their musical backgrounds. (Orchestra is considered as separate individuals—plural)

RULE 8 – Expressions of time, money, measurement, and weight are usually singular when the amount is considered one unit.

Five dollars is (not are) too much to ask.Ten days is (not are) not nearly enough time.On occasion, however these terms are used in the plural sense:There were thirty minutes to countdown.

SVA – Rules 7 & 8

army crowd orchestra flock class herd committee jury

swarm club audience public group team United States troop


RULE 9 – Some nouns, while plural in form, are actually singular in meaning.Mathematics is (not are) an easy subject for some people.Physics is (not are) taught by Prof, Baldwin.

Other nouns under this rule:

RULE 10 – Don’t and Doesn’t must agree with the subject. Use doesn’t after he, she, it.Doesn’t he (not don’t) know how to sail?They don’t (not doesn’t) make movies like that anymore.

mumps SocialStudies

Civics Gymnastics Phonics Economics acrobatics thesis

measles Home Economics

Physics calisthenics news Statistics aesthetics Mathematics

9SVA – Rules 9 & 10


Exercise 2

Write the correct verb in the blank to the left of each sentence.

1.________Everybody (was / were) asked to be quiet.2.________ In a marathon, few of the starters (finishes / finish) the race.3.________ Sixty days (is / are) not enough time to complete the project.4.________ All of the workers (is / are) receiving their bonus.5.________ On our street (is / are) many tall trees.6.________ It (don’t / doesn’t) make any difference.7.________The value of cars and motorcycles (has / have) increased.8.________ The principal and her husband (is / are) honored guests.9.________Either the pitcher or the base runners (was / were) caught napping.10._______One of my friends (believe / believes) in E.S.P.

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11.________Have you ever heard the expression, “No new (is / are) good news?”12.________There (was / were) several dents in the car.13. ________ Louise (doesn’t / don’t) want to drive that long distance.14. ________ Either Luis or Horace (pay / pays) the bills in our house.15. ________A boy and a girl (were / was) here to see you.16. ________ The box of apples (is / are) on the porch.17. ________Some of the job applicants (is-are) expected to pass the difficult screening test.18. ________ The army (is-are) conducting maneuvers in March.19. ________ Here (come-comes) the family now.20. ________ Neither of us (is-are) going to work.


RULE 11 – Titles of single entities (books, organizations, countries, etc.) are always singular.

The Grapes of Wrath takes a long time to read.

RULE 12 – With subject and subjective complement of different number, the verb always agrees with the subject.

My favorite topic is POEMS by Longfellow.Poems by Longfellow are my favorite TOPIC.

RULE 13 – If your sentence compounds a positive and a negative subject and one is plural, the other singular, the verb should agree with the positive subject.

The department members but not the chair have decided not to teach on Valentine's Day.It is not the faculty members but the president who decides this issue.

11SVA – Rules 11, 12 & 13


Exercise 3

In the following sentences, identify if an agreement error exists, correct the error. If there is no error(s), mark the sentence as correct.

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1. Phasing out the procedures used in the 1930's, many proponents of scientific data was included in the developmentof new and better methods of pasteurizing milk.2. The process by which the majority diagnoses the problems of developing a corporate charter allow would-beexecutives to voice their opinions openly.3. By taking emphasis off the play instincts of the human race, new vigor and effectiveness is lost because recreation forthe body and for the mind is almost nonexistent.4. Rhonda Holmes is one of the scientists’ aides who have been so helpful to the committee staff.5. The high standard of the judge, the jury, and four lawyers was effectively upheld.6. Physics in my classes at Sul Ross University were very difficult for me to learn and understand.7. Neither foreign language nor an advanced English literature course are required for business school graduates at theuniversity.8. The first movie my twin sisters remember was a take-off on The Brady Bunch.9. The student who conducted the research for the last three months have determined that the amount of salesgenerated will decrease by five percent.10. The gorilla, along with two monkeys, a kangaroo, and a white bird, were seen on the deck of an old, weathered boatyesterday during a cloud-break.


Application

Complete the following sentences:

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1. My family ____________________________________________________________________2. Both I and ____________________________________________________________________3. In a debate, my favorite topic _____________________________________________________4. Movies by _____________________________________________________________________5. Neither (--) nor (--) ______________________________________________________________6. One of the ____________________________________________________________________7. _____________________________________________________ takes a long time to complete.8. Someone _____________________________________________________________________9. Most of the (--) _________________________________________________________________10. The politicians but not the citizen __________________________________________________11. Circus ________________________________________________________________________12. The main problem with (--) _______________________________________________________

The End

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Lesson 16. Subject-verb Agreement