Subject-Verb Agreement

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Subject-Verb Agreement

Basics of Subject-Verb Agreement

Singular Verbs

Agreement with One of

Agreement with There in the Subject Position

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Basics of Subject-Verb Agreement

Use -s/-es on a present simple tense verb with a third person singular (it, he, she) subject:

The PDA plans his schedule for him.

The farmer hopes for good weather during the harvest.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Basics of Subject-Verb Agreement

Do not use -s/-es on a present simple tense verb with a first person singular (I), second person singular and plural (you) or third person plural (they) subject:

I plan to do my PhD after 2 years of work.

The workers try hard to meet the given deadline for the special assignment.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Basics of Subject-Verb Agreement

Auxiliary verbs (be/do/have) must agree with their subjects. Singular: is/was/does/has Plural: are/were/do/have

Does the university accept mature students?

The administrators have informed all the staff about the new policy.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Basics of Subject-Verb Agreement

A sentence with a compound subject (more than one subject) takes on a plural verb.

The engineer and the architect work on the different aspects of the building.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Basics of Subject-Verb Agreement

The verb must agree with the head word of a noun phrase or clause.

The assistant assigned to this job has received a raise recently.

The assistants assigned to this job have received a raise recently.

The picture which was digitally improved was misplaced.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Basics of Subject-Verb Agreement

The modal auxiliaries do not have an -s or -d form.

The programme may work.

The programmers cannot ascertain the damage now.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Singular Subject

Use the singular verb for collective nouns when they refer to a group of people e.g. government, family, team, committee.

The new team decides who their leader is.

The government holds quarterly meetings to provide updates on the economy.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Singular Subject

Use the singular verb for uncountable nouns e.g. rain, water, furniture, equipment, research and information.

The information is updated every hour.

The equipment has just arrived.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Singular Subject

Use the singular verb for certain uncountable nouns ending with –s as they are singular in nature.

Physics/Economics/ Statistics is my favourite subject.

News about the country is unavailable currently because of the communication breakdown.

Politics is not a domain for everyone.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Singular Subject

Use the singular or plural verb with indefinite pronouns: each, every, everyone, someone, anybody, nobody,

anything, nothing. Everyone has to be present during the briefing.

Each of the steps is complicated.

Nothing escapes the investigator’s attention.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Singular Subject

Use the singular verb for gerunds that function as nouns.

Driving requires focus and quick reflexes.

Preparing for exam is tedious but rewarding.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Singular Subject

Use the singular verb with subject clauses beginning with what.

What the experts have said has proven true.

What he is currently studying applies well to the field of bioengineering.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Singular Subject

When the subject is joined by either…or OR neither…nor, use the verb form that agrees with the noun closest to it.

Either the manager or the team members are present.

Neither he nor I am aware of the changes.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Singular Subject

Use the singular or plural verb depending on the noun used with the quantifying words or phrases.

All of the students are working on the project.

All of the money has been invested in a foreign bank. (countable – singular verb)

Some samples are spoilt during the delivery.

None of the samples are faulty. (may use singular or plural verbs)

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Agreement with One of

When the noun phrase “one of the many/ several” is used, it is always used with a plural noun but the subject is singular and it takes a singular verb.

One of my partners has not arrived.

One of the examples given does not show the steps clearly.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Agreement with There in Subject Position

When the subject begins with There, the verb agrees with the noun that precedes it.

There is news of the latest cure for cancer.

There are some defeats and victories during this series of game.

Note: Uncountable nouns are always singular.

eg1471/jc/dec2008

Sources

Lane, A. and Lange, E. (1999). Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd ed.). Boston: Heinle and Heinle Publishers. Oshima, A. and Hogue, A. (2006). Writing Academic English (4th ed.). New York: Pearson Education, 184-194.

Raimes, A. (2006). Grammar Troublespots: A Guide for Student Writers (3rd ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press, 90-97.