Subject-Verb Agreement
By: Garrett Meyer,
mahdi mohajerani,
Ting Dai,
Ho Lun Chung
Bones
General rule: The main thing to remember
about subject-verb agreement is that the
subject must agree with the verb in number
(singular and plural).
Basic Examples
The dog is sitting quietly.
The cats are being annoying.
The dog are playing outside.
The cats is destroying the sofa.
There are some words that are singular objects but
have two parts so they require plural verbs.
scissors, tweezers, trousers, pants, shears, and
glasses are some examples.
Incorrect: Your glasses is sitting on the table.
More Flesh
Some odd words to watch out for: civics,
mathematics, dollars, measles, and news.
•
Use singular verbs.
Example: Mathematics is not my favorite class.
•
Dollars uses a singular verb when talking about an
amount of money but a plural verb when talking
about the dollars themselves.
Examples: Five dollars is not a lot of money.
Dollars are often used instead of rubles in Russia.
Incorrect: Five dollars are not a lot of money.
Flesh
-When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more
nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a plural verb.
Example:
Correct: She and her friends are at the fair.
Incorrect: She and her friends is at the fair.
-when two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected
by or or nor, use a singular verb.
Example:
Correct: The book or the pen is in the drawer.
Incorrect: The book or the pen are in the the drawer.
Flesh
When a compound subject contains both a singular and
plural noun or pronoun joined by or or nor, the verb should
agree with the part of the subject that is nearer the verb.
Example:
Correct: The boy or his friends run every day.
Incorrect: The boy or his friends runs every day.
Expressions such as with, together with, including,
accompanied by, in addition to, or as well do not change the
number of the subject. If the subject is singular, the verb is
too.
Example:
Correct: The president, accompanied by his wife, is
traveling to india.
Incorrect: The president, accompanied by his wife, are
Flesh
•
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
be used only with a plural subject
E.g. He doesn't like it (In this case, "he" is a
singular subject and should use "doesn't")
They don't like it (In this case, "they" is a
plural and should use "don't" instead)
Flesh (Continued)
•
Note: First and second person view (I,you)
are exceptions of the previous rule. When
using first/second person view, always use
"don't"
E.g. I don't (doesn't) like it.
Flesh
•
The verb agrees with the subject ONLY, not
with a noun or a pronoun in the sentence
E.g. One of the boxes are (is) open
The team captain, as well as his players, is
(are) anxious
The people who listen to that music are (is)
few
Flesh
•
For a singular third-person subject in present
tense, the verb must have a "-s" ending
E.g. My father also live(s) in that house too.
For all other subjects, the verb does not end
in "-s"
E.g. I live(s) in that house.
•
Bones
In sentences beginning with there is or there are, the
subject follows the verb. Since there is not the
subject, the verb agrees with what follows(
principle of proximity)
ex: There...be
Either...or
Neither...nor
Not only...but also
Cardinal Sins
ex)
Incorrect: There are some food and books on
the table.
Correct: There is some food and books
on the table.
Bones
Collective nouns are words that imply more than
one person but that are considered singular and
take a singular verb.
List of collective nouns:
family, class, army, team, club, population,
family, class, army, team, club, population, enemy, party
enemy,
crowd,
crew, audience,
crowd,
crew, party,
audience,
public government,
group etc. public,
government
Flesh
Usually use the singular form of the verb:
The team runs during practice.
The committee decides how to
proceed.
The family has a long history.
My family has never been able to
agree.
Quiz
1.All my neighbors, except my father, ( ) interested in the
footsteps that night.
A. were B. was C. are D .is
2. The father as well as his three children ( ) some books
every morning.
a. read b. reads
3.The computer ,including its accesories, () shipped to the
store.
a.was b.were
4. This class, as well as the other Math classes, () boring
a.is b.are
5. Ten dollars ( ) a lot of money
a. is b.are