Using Subject-Verb Agreement
What is subject-verb agreement?
Number
Singular subjects
Plural subjects
Intervening phrases and clauses
Indefinite pronouns
Compound subjects
Solving special agreement problems
Review A
Review B
What is subject-verb agreement?
All sentences have subjects and verbs.
Subject Verb
The storm
stormrages.
rages.
rages.
Subject
Verb
Two trees
treesbreak.
break.
break.
Subject
Verb
A blue sky
sky emerges.
emerges.
emerges.
What is subject-verb agreement?
Number
Subjects and verbs agree in number to show
that they belong together.
• A word that refers to one thing is singular.
• A word that refers to more than one is plural.
Singular
Plural
taxis
taxi
puppies
puppy
they
she
What is subject-verb agreement?
Singular subjects
Singular subjects take singular verbs.
Singular Singular
subject
verb
The horse
horse gallops
gallops
gallopsaway.
away.
away.
Singular Singular
subject
verb
He skates
He
skates
skates to
to
tothe
the
thefinish
finish
finishline.
line.
line.
What is subject-verb agreement?
Plural subjects
Plural subjects take plural verbs.
Plural
subject
Plural
verb
The horses
horsesgallop
gallop
gallopaway.
away.
Plural
subject
Plural
verb
They skate
They
skate
skate to
to the
the goal.
goal.
What is subject-verb agreement?
Intervening phrases and clauses
Sometimes a group of words comes between the
subject and the verb.
Subject
Verb
Verb
The trees provide
in the park
shade.
provide shade.
The number of the subject is usually
not determined by a word in a phrase
or clause following the subject.
Subject
Verb
The trees in the park provide shade.
What is subject-verb agreement?
Intervening phrases and clauses
Subject
Verb
That basket
basketof
of berries
berries looks
looks delicious.
delicious.
Looks agrees with basket, not berries.
Subject
Verb
Runners
inthe
therace
race
areamateurs.
amateurs.
Runnerswho
who compete
compete in
are
Are agrees with runners, not race.
What is subject-verb agreement?
On Your Own
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct form
of the verb in parentheses.
1. The dogs in that yard (barks, bark) too much.
2. That box of old toys (is, are) for the garage sale.
3. The shoes that I wore in yesterday’s game (needs, need)
new laces.
4. Audience members who arrive early for the performance
(obtains, obtain) the best seats.
5. The painting of flowers (was, were) my favorite.
[End of Section]
Subject-verb agreement and
indefinite pronouns
Indefinite pronouns refer to a person or thing
whose exact identity is unknown.
• Some indefinite pronouns are singular.
• Some are plural.
• Some may be either singular or plural
depending on how they are used.
Subject-verb agreement and
indefinite pronouns
The following indefinite pronouns are singular:
Singular Indefinite Pronouns
anybody
either
neither
one
anyone
everybody
nobody
somebody
anything
everyone
no one
someone
each
everything
nothing
something
Subject
Subject
Verb
Verb
Something
Nobody
Either
ofwas
thewas
two
waiting
wrong
students
for
with
the
is the
capable.
bus.
bike.
Subject-verb agreement and
indefinite pronouns
The following indefinite pronouns are plural:
Plural Indefinite Pronouns
both
few
many
several
Verb Subject
Are many still in line?
Subject
Verb
Both are wearing glasses now.
Subject
Verb
Several of his pawns were captured.
Subject-verb agreement and
indefinite pronouns
The following indefinite pronouns may be singular
or plural, depending on how they are used:
Singular or Plural Indefinite Pronouns
Subject
all
more
none
any
most
some
Verb
Most of the pie was eaten.
Subject
Singular when they refer
to singular words.
Verb
Most of the apples were eaten.
Plural when they
refer to plural words.
Subject-verb agreement and
indefinite pronouns
On Your Own
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct form
of the verb in parentheses.
1. Both of the performances (was, were) sold out.
2. All the leaves (has, have) changed color.
3. One of the library books (is, are) overdue.
4. (Has, Have) anybody found a house key?
5. Neither (wants, want) to leave early.
[End of Section]
Subject-verb agreement and
compound subjects
A compound subject is two or more subjects
that are joined by a coordinating conjunction and
that have the same verb.
• Subjects joined by and usually take plural verbs.
He
and Carmen enjoy skating.
Subject 1
Subject 2
Verb
Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois are in the Midwest.
Subject 1 Subject 2
Subject 3 Verb
Subject-verb agreement and
compound subjects
• Singular subjects joined by or or nor take a
singular verb.
Ayesha
or
Singular
Kathryn drives a green car.
Singular
Verb
Neither snow nor sleet is usual this time of year.
Singular
Singular Verb
Subject-verb agreement and
compound subjects
• Plural subjects joined by or or nor take a plural
verb.
Squirrels
or
Plural
raccoons eat the dog’s food.
Plural
Verb
Neither storms nor winds damage this roof.
Plural
Plural
Verb
Subject-verb agreement and
compound subjects
• When a singular and a plural subject are joined
by or or nor, the verb agrees with the nearer
subject.
Plural
Singular Verb
Neither the costumes nor the
set
is ready.
The verb is agrees with the nearer subject set.
Singular
Plural
Verb
Suzi or her cousins repair bicycles.
The verb repair agrees with the nearer subject cousins.
Subject-verb agreement and
compound subjects
On Your Own
For each of the following sentences, choose the verb that
agrees with the compound subject.
1. Jimmy or Frank (has, have) borrowed my bike.
2. Fruit and vegetables (is, are) important for a healthy diet.
3. Neither noise nor music (distracts, distract) me.
4. Christina and her sisters (enjoys, enjoy) the beach.
5. A crow or a blue jay (teases, tease) my cats.
[End of Section]
Solving special agreement problems
Subjects following verbs
In some sentences the subject comes after the
verb.
Subject
There (was,
were
were) no messages
messages for
foryou.
you.
When the subject follows the verb . . .
1. Find the subject.
2. Make sure that the verb agrees with it.
Solving special agreement problems
Subjects following verbs
Subjects also appear after verbs in questions.
Compound subject
When
(does,
do do) Sue
Sue and
andIIsing
singour
ourparts?
parts?
1. Find the subject.
2. Make sure that the
verb agrees with it.
Remember that subjects joined by and
usually take plural verbs.
Solving special agreement problems
Collective nouns
A collective noun may be singular or plural,
depending on its meaning in the sentence.
Singular
Verb
The herd was stranded by the
flood.
Plural
Verb
The herd were separated from
each other by the rising waters
Singular when it
refers to the
group as a unit
Plural when it
refers to parts of
the group or to
individual
members.
Solving special agreement problems
Expressions of amount
An expression of amount may be singular or
plural, depending on how it is used.
• Singular when the amount is thought
of as a unit.
Two thirds of the bread was eaten.
• Plural when it is thought of as separate parts.
Two thirds of the slices
were eaten.
Solving special agreement problems
Plural forms
Some nouns that are plural in form take singular
verbs.
Plural Forms That Take Singular Verbs
civics
gymnastics
molasses
economics
linguistics
mumps
electronics
mathematics
news
genetics
measles
physics
Subject
SubjectVerb
Verb
Gymnastics
The
molasses
isin
a this
sportcake
thattastes
requires
toobalance.
strong.
Solving special agreement problems
Plural forms
Some nouns that refer to single items take plural
verbs.
binoculars
pants
shears
eyeglasses
pliers
slacks
Olympics
scissors
trousers
Verb
Subject
When were the Olympics last in Japan?
Subject
Verb
The scissors are not very sharp.
Solving special agreement problems
Titles
Even when plural in form, titles of a creative
work—books, songs, movies, or paintings—
usually take singular verbs.
Subject
Verb
“St. Louis Blues” was written
by W. C. Handy.
Subject
Verb
As You Like It, one of Shakespeare’s comedies, is
being performed next weekend.
Solving special agreement problems
On Your Own
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct form
of the verb in parentheses.
1. Where (is, are) the pliers?
2. Measles (was, were) a common childhood illness.
3. Six weeks (remains, remain) until the end of the school
year.
4. “Send in the Clowns,” by Stephen Sondheim, (seems,
seem) sad to me.
5. The fleet (has, have) entered the harbor.
[End of Section]
Solving special agreement problems
Every
A subject preceded by every takes a singular verb.
Subject
Verb
Every dog in the neighborhood is
barking.
Subject
Verb
Every junior and senior was
invited to the dance.
Subject
Verb
Every man, woman, and child needs
clean air and water.
Solving special agreement problems
Don’t and doesn’t
The contractions don’t and doesn’t
should agree with their subjects.
Don’t is the contraction of
do not. Use it with I and you
and with all plural subjects.
They
You
We
I don’t know how to solve the problem.
Don’t
The teachers
the teachers
don’t have a meeting today.
today?
Don’t litter!
(You is the understood subject.)
Solving special agreement problems
Don’t and doesn’t
Doesn’t is the contraction of does not. Use it with
all singular subjects except I and you.
Singular
Plural
I
don’t
we
don’t
you
don’t
you
don’t
he/she/it
doesn’t they
don’t
She
Doesn’t
Thedoesn’t
boathe
doesn’t
have
play soccer
a have
ride home?
a
anymore.
radio.
Solving special agreement problems
Subjects and predicate nominatives
A verb always agrees with the subject, but not
necessarily with the predicate nominative.
Plural
subject
?
Singular predicate nominative
Quick reflexes (is,are
are) one requirement for this job.
Are agrees with the plural subject reflexes, not with
the singular predicate nominative requirement.
Singular
subject
?
Plural
predicate nominative
One requirement for this job (is, is
are) quick reflexes.
Is agrees with requirement, not with reflexes.
Solving special agreement problems
Relative pronouns
When the relative pronoun that, which, or who
is the subject of an adjective clause, the verb
in the clause agrees with the noun to which the
relative pronoun refers.
Subject
Verb
adjective clause
Subject
Verb
Enrique goes
, whotowas
the born
sameinschool
PuertoasRico,
my sister.
goes to the same school as my sister.
1. The relative pronoun who refers to Enrique.
2. Enrique is a singular noun and takes a singular
verb, goes.
3. Who, the subject of the adjective clause, takes the
singular verb was.
Solving special agreement problems
On Your Own
For each of the following sentences, choose the correct form
of the verb in parentheses.
1. Every window and door (needs, need) to be replaced.
2. This book, which (was, were) on one of the shelves at the
library, is rare.
3. Her house (don’t, doesn’t) have a fireplace.
4. The main attraction at the museum (is, are) the fossils.
5. The man who (owns, own) the building drives a blue car.
[End of Section]
Review A
Provide the correct form of the verb in parentheses.
1. The flock ________ in a V-shaped formation. (fly)
2. Neither Drama nor Band ________ rehearsal after school
today. (have)
3. The children who ________ in the park every day live in
the neighborhood. (play)
4. Most of the liquid __________ when heated. (evaporate)
5. ________ we have to finish this assignment today? (do)
Review B
For each of the following sentences, if the subject and verb
do not agree, write the correct form of the verb. If the verb
already agrees with the subject, write C.
1. None of the sports equipment are missing.
2. He and his friends don’t like that kind of music.
3. Do anyone want a glass of juice?
4. News travel quickly in the hallways of the school.
5. The box of carving tools were in the basement.
[End of Section]
The End