Rule 1:
 Basic
Principle: Singular subjects (nouns) need
singular verbs; plural subjects need plural verbs.
 The
key is to correctly identify the subject of the
sentence, and decide if it is singular or plural. Then,
match the verb to the subject.
A

singular subject takes a verb that ends in s or es
The test measures critical thinking skills.
A
plural subject takes a verb that does not end in s
or es

The tests measure critical thinking skills.
Tutorial
Exercise 1
Wants
1. Billy _______________
to buy a new skateboard.
(want, wants)
Want
2. Those two boys _______________
to buy new
skateboards. (want, wants)
Cooks
3. Grandpa _______________
a hamburger for dinner.
(cook, cooks)
Cook
4. Grandma and Grandpa _______________
dinner
together. (cook, cooks)
Growl
5. The dogs _______________ when the mail carrier
comes. (growl, growls)
Rule 1:
3. The pronouns each, either, neither, one, everyone,
no one, nobody, anyone, anybody, someone,
everybody, and much are singular and will require a
verb with an -s ending.
Examples: Everyone in the class is going on the trip.
Neither teacher plans to cover the entire
textbook.
Rules 2 & 3
The pronouns several, few, both, many, and others
are plural and require a verb without an -s ending.
Examples:
Several of my friends work in the library.
Many on the honor roll study long hours.
Rule
1: some, any, none, all, and most may be
The pronouns
either singular or plural.
Examples:
Some of the cake was eaten.
All of the contestants were present.
Compound Subjects
Rule # 4
When a sentence has two or more subjects joined by
and, treat it like a plural subject. That means a verb
without an s is needed.
Examples: Students and teachers park in front of the
auditorium.
have
Pizza, cake and ice cream _______(has/have) always
been his favorite foods.
Rule 1:
Exception: If the nouns joined by the word and are a
single unit, treat it like a singular subject.
Macaroni and cheese is being served.
Compound Subjects
Rule # 5
When a sentence has two or more subjects joined by
or, or nor, choose a verb that agrees with the subject
closest to it.
Examples:
Fudge or cookies are a good choice for dessert.
Neither Tammy nor her sister likes to travel.
Rule 1:
is
Cookies or fudge _______
a good choice for desert.
likes
Neither her sister nor Tammy _________to
travel.
Compound Subjects:
Exercise 2
1. Ben and Pete (want, wants) to buy a new computer.
2. The color and style (is, are) important to most teenagers.
3. The price or warranty (is, are) not as important as other
factors.
4. Neither a new television nor stereo (interest, interests) Ben
and Pete.
5. The manager and sales clerk (try, tries) to convince them
to buy an expensive model.
Delayed Subjects
Often, the subject of a sentence will come after the
verb. A simple way to identify the subject is as follows:
1. First identify the verb
2. Then ask the question "Who or what...?"
These steps may help you select the subject of most
sentences.
Other points to remember:
 The subject is never within a prepositional phrase.
 To find the subject of a question, turn the question
into a statement.
 The words there and here are never the subjects.
Delayed Subjects :
Exercise 3
Instructions: underline the subject once and the verb twice.
1. There are almost seven million books in the Library of
Congress.
2. How much are these bananas?
3. Where is Mary's brother?
4. There were thousands of people at the parade.