SUBJECT-VERB
AGREEMENT
Creative writing 3
Introduction
A singular subject demands a singular verb;
a plural subject demands a plural verb. That
is a simple principle behind subject-verb
agreement.
Recognizing Subjects and
Verbs
A
complete sentence must have a
SUBJECT and a VERB.
 The
subject is the who or what that
performs the action.
 The
verb is the action
SUBJECT SEPARATED FROM THE
VERB

It is very often that the subject and verb are separated. They
will be separated by a prepositional phrase, but it has no effect
on the verb.
Subject + prepositional phrase + verb
EXAMPLEs OF SUBJECT
SEPARATED FROM THE VERB
1.
2.
The danger of forest fires is not to be taken lightly.
Several theories on this subject have been
proposed.
EXAMPLEs OF SUBJECT
SEPARATED FROM THE VERB
3.
4.
The study of languages is very interesting.
The effects of that crime are likely to be
devastating
WORDS THAT ALWYS TAKE SINGULAR
VERBS AND PRONOUNS
Any +
singular
noun
Some +
singular
noun
Every +
singular
noun
Anybody Nobody Somebody everybody
Each
Anyone
Either*
No one
Someone
everyone
anything nothing something everything
Neither*
WORDS THAT ALWYS TAKE SINGULAR
VERBS AND PRONOUNS
 *Either & neither are singular if they are not used
with or and nor.
 *Examples:
• Everybody who has not purchased a ticket should
be in this line.
• Something was under the house.
WORDS THAT ALWYS TAKE SINGULAR
VERBS AND PRONOUNS
•
•
•
•
If either of you takes a vacation now, we will not
be able to finish the work.
Anybody who has lost his ticket should report to
the desk. ( note the singular pronoun )
No problem is harder to solve than this one.
Nobody works harder than John does.
None/no
• None can take either a singular or plural verb
on the noun which follows it.
None + of the + non-count noun +
singular verb
Example:
•None of the counterfeit money has been
found
None + of the + plural count noun + plural
verb
Example:
None of the students have finished the exam yet.
• No can take either a singular or plural verb
depending on he noun which follow it.
No + singular noun/ non-count noun + singular
verb
Example:
No example is relevant to this case.
No + plural noun + plural verb
Example:
No examples are relevant to this case
Either/Neither
• When either or neither are followed by or and nor
the verb may be singular or plural depending on
whether the noun following or and nor is singular
or plural. If or or nor appears alone, the same rule
applies.
Either/neither + noun + or/nor + plural noun +
plural verb
Example:
• Either John or his friends are going to the beach.
plural noun
plural verb
• Neither John nor his friends are going to the beach.
Either/neither + noun + or/nor + singular
noun + singular verb
• Neither John nor Bill is going to class today.
• John or George is bringing the car.
singular noun singular verb
GERUND AS SUBJECT
 If a sentence
beginshim
withwhat
verbhe
+ ing
Knowing
her has made
is. or Gerund, the
must also be singular.
Dieting is very popular today.
Not studying has caused him many problems.
Washing with a special cream is recommended for
scalp infections.
Being cordial is one of his greatest assets.
Writing many letters makes her happy.
COLLECTIVE NOUNS

Words indicating a number of people or animals are
singular. The following nouns are usually singular. In
some cases they are plural if the sentence indicates
that the individual members are acting separately.
Congress
Family
Group
Committe class
e
organizati
on
Team
Army
Club
Crowd
Governm
ent
Jury
Majority*
minority
public
 *Majority
can be singular or plural. If it is
alone , it is usually singular. But if it is
followed by a plural noun, it is usually
plural.
 Compare these examples:
 The majority believes that we are in no
danger.
 The majority of the students believe him to
be innocent.
Examples of Collective Nouns






The committee has met, and it has rejected the
proposal.
The family was elated by the news.
The crowd was wild with the excitement.
Congress has initiated a new plan to combat inflation.
The organization has lost many members this year.
Our team is going to win the game.
Collective Nouns Indicating
Group of Certain Animals

They mean the same as group and thus are considered
singular
Flock of birds/
sheep
School of fish
Herd of cattle
Pride of lions
Pack of dog




Example:
The flock of birds is circling overhead.
The herd of cattle is breaking away.
A school of fish is being attacked by sharks.
COLLECTIVE NOUNS
INDICATING TIME, MONEY,
MEASUREMENT
Twenty –five dollars is too much to pay for that shirt.
 Those used as a whole so that they are considered
Fiftysingular.
minutes isn’t enough time to finish this test.
Twenty dollars is all I can afford to pay for that
recorder.
two miles is too much to run in one day.
A NUMBER OF / THE NUMBER
OF
A number of + plural noun + plural
verb
the number of + plural noun + plural
verb
Examples:
A number of students are going to the class picnic.
The number of days in a week is seven.
A number of the applicants have already been interviewed.
The number of residents who have been questioned on this matter is quite small.
NOUNS THAT ARE ALWAYS
PLURAL








The following nouns are always considered plural. They
cannot be singular. In order to speak of them as singular,
one must say: “a pair of…….”
scissors
shorts
pants
jeans
trousers
Glasses
Pliers
tweezers
Compare these examples:
The pants are in the drawer.
A pair of paints is in the drawer.
The pliers were on the table.
The pair of pliers was on the table.
These scissors are dull.
This pair of scissors is dull
tongs
THERE IS/ THERE ARE

The sentences that begin with the existential there, the subject is
actually after the verb.
There is/there was/there has been + singular subject ( or non
count noun )
There are/there were/there have been + plural subject

Examples:
There is a storm approaching.
singular
singular
There have been a number or telephone calls today.
plural
plural
There was an accident last night.
Exercise. Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct
.
1. Each number in a binary system are formed from only two symbols.
A
B
C
D
2. Scientists at the medical center is trying to determine if there is a relationship between
A
B
C
saccharine and cancer.
D
3. On the rim of the Kilauea volcano in the Hawaiian Islands are a hotel called the Volcano Hotel.
A
B
C
D
4. Only with a two-thirds vote by both houses are the U.S. Congress able to override a presidential
A
B
C
veto.
D
5. Five miles beyond the hills were a fire with its flames reaching up to the sky.
A
B
C
D
6. The contracts signed by the company has been voided because some stipulations were not
A
B
C
D
met.
7. The box of disks for the computer have been misplaced.
A
B
C
D
8. It is impossible to believe that somebody actually admire that man.
A
B
C
D