COS 110:COMMUNICATION
SKILLS
Subject-Verb Agreement
Richard Ayertey Lawer
Ho Technical University
rlawer@htu.edu.gh
1
INTRODUCTION
• SUBJECTS and VERBS = Basic Building Blocks of Sentences.
1. The boy kicked the ball.
2. The students left the class.
Subject
Verb
Subject
Verb
• Verbs are easier to spot than subjects because
• verbs change their form/shape to show the time of the event/action (go/went;
walk/walked; see/saw; wear/wore; come/came; eat/ate, etc)
• Most verbs denote actions
• There may be many nouns and pronouns in a single sentence which are not subjects
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Cont…
• To find the subject of a sentence, locate the verb first and ask which part of the
sentence occurs before the verb. The subject will be the noun or pronoun that
answers that question. The subject usually occurs before the verb
• Can you identify the verbs and the subjects in the following sentences?
• Kekeli signed his name in blue ink.
• John sings in Church
• Edem was absent today.
• Etornam wears fugu.
3
Persons
• In the present tense, verbs agree with their subjects in NUMBER
(singular/plural) and in PERSON (first, second, or third). The present
tense ending –s (or –es) is used on a verb if the subject is THIRD
PERSON SINGULAR. Otherwise, the verb takes NO ENDING.
• The one speaking is the 1st person; it could be plural (we) or singular (I).
• The person being spoken to is the 2nd person; it is you plural or you
singular
• The person being spoken about is the 3rd person. It could be plural
(they) or singular (he/she/it).
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RULES IN SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
• Subject-Verb Agreement simply means that the verb in the sentence must
agree with the subject of the sentence in number.
• A plural subject requires a plural verb, and a singular subject requires a singular verb.
• This agreement is reflected only in the present tense form. The other tenses do not
show any difference.
• Agreement does not manifest any difference in the other tenses., as shown in slide 5
above.
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RULES
Singular subjects require singular verbs
A singular noun (Dennis, chair, bike, cat, wind, tree)
•
•
•
•
Dennis drives his car everyday.
This building needs repainting.
My mother cooks rice.
The dog plays with its tail.
• Personal pronouns, singular, third person-(he, she, it)
•
•
•
•
He drives his car everyday.
It needs repainting.
She cooks rice.
It plays with its tail.
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Cont…
• Refrain from using pronouns as subjects unless there is a noun antecedent
previously mentioned in the same or another sentence,
• Marian participates in many baking contests. She bakes heavenly tasting
chocolate chips cookies. Marian is the antecedent of “She” in the next
sentence.
• Richard is a drag car racer. He owns several cars that he uses for the race.
• The wind increases in intensity as it moves towards the northern end of the
Philippines.
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Collective nouns taken as a unit (Eg. choir,
team, herd, family, majority, minority)
• When the collective noun is considered a unit, choose a singular
verb.
• The family prays the rosary every night.
• This herd grazes in the pasture in the morning.
• The majority has rejected the Reproductive Health Bill.
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Mass nouns (sand, water, air, gas, oil, rice,
flour, blood)
• Mass or uncountable nouns are those entities that cannot be
counted.
• These mass nouns always take a singular verb in sentences.
• The sand tickles my toes.
• The cold water refreshes the old woman’s tired body.
• Cassava flour makes the pastries flaky.
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Indefinite pronouns are singular.
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Cont…
• Mr. Abello hires three boys to help in the house. Each receives a salary of
GHC3000 per month.
• Everybody helps to make this event a success.
• Nobody knows the number combination of this safe except the general
manager.
• Everyone passes the exams
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Indefinite pronouns, (all, more, most, much ,
none, some ) when referring to mass nouns.
• Always use a singular verb when a mass noun is involved in the
use of indefinite pronouns.
• All of the water has flowed into the basin of the river.
• Most of the oil from Saudi Arabia goes to United States.
• Some of the spilled oil has reached as far as the beaches of
Cairo.
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Singular demonstrative pronouns (this, that)
• Singular demonstratives require singular verb.
• That was his house
• This car is rented.
• This is the man.
• Plural demonstratives require plural verbs
• Those were his houses.
• These cars are rented.
• These are the men.
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Fractions of a unit or mass nouns.
• The fractions must be written in words.
• Fractions are considered singular; so use a singular verb.
• Three fourths of the earth’s surface is covered with water
• One half of the deceased’s estate was donated to several
charities.
• Two thirds of the salad was served to the guests.
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Measurements (volume, distance, length)
• Measurements (volume, distance, length) time, quantities and sums of
money are considered as a unit.
•
•
•
•
•
Ten liters of gasoline is the capacity of this tank.
Forty kilometers demands much endurance from a marathon runner.
Three yards is not enough for a long gown.
Two cups of milk is needed for this recipe.
Ten million in one’s possession makes a person worry about his safety.
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Percentage of a unit or mass noun
• Percentage of a unit or mass noun (The percentage must be written
in words). Percentages always take a singular verb.
•
•
•
•
Twenty one percent of our atmosphere consists of oxygen.
Thirty percent of our income goes to taxes.
Ten percent is the discount given for this item.
Twenty five of the students reads very well.
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Personal pronoun You whether singular or
plural
•
•
•
•
•
Personal pronoun You, whether singular or plural, takes a plural verb.
Ex. You write with such an enviable pen.
You are managing your business extremely well.
You have recovered from your ailment.
You are the hope of our land. (addressed to the youth – Plural in sense)
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All plural personal pronouns (we, they)
• All plural personal pronouns (we, they) in present, present progressive,
past progressive and present perfect tenses.)
•
•
•
•
•
•
We celebrate Asogli festival.
They prefer to watch comedy rather than drama.
We are having a garage sale.
They are experiencing power outages these days.
We were enjoying ourselves at your party last night.
They were shooting the movie “Tiktik” in our place last month.
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The Personal Pronoun ‘I’ takes ‘am’/ ‘was’/
‘have’
• The personal pronoun I in the present tense, and present perfect tense,
except with the verb “to be” in present progressive tense .
• Ex. I work at a call center for a living.
• I have received your message.
• BUT: I am studying for my master’s degree.
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Indefinite pronouns (all, none, most, some)
when they refer to count nouns
• Indefinite pronouns (all, most, some), when they refer to count nouns,
always take plural verbs.
• All of the boys were wearing their nose masks during the orientation.
• Some of the girls are preparing for their foundation day.
• Most of us have experienced grief at certain times in our lives.
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Plural indefinite pronouns (both, few, many,
others, several)
• Plural indefinite pronouns such as (both, few, many, others,
several) always take plural verbs.
•
•
•
•
Both of them are members of the school football team.
Few have responded to the call for a meeting,
Others are watching the game at the pay per view channel.
Many favour this brand of milk product.
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Collective nouns taken individually (plural)
Notional Concord
• Collective nouns taken individually are considered plural; hence they
require a plural verb.
•
•
•
•
•
The herd are scattered all over the pasture.
A battalion of policemen disperse the crowd with tear bombs.
The jury are divided in their decision about the case.
The choir are entering the stage one by one.
The family are government workers
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Adjectives used as a subject
• Adjectives that are used as subjects are considered plural and therefore,
require plural verbs.
•
•
•
•
The young enjoy life to the fullest degree.
The needy line the street next to the church
The intelligent possess qualities many of us don’t have.
Note: Public can be an adjective or a noun. As a noun, it is classified as
collective noun.
The public (noun- a unit) deserves transparency in the acts of public( adj.) servants.
The public (as individuals) have the freedom to vote whoever they choose.
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Fractions of Quantity
• Here, the verb agrees with the noun that is close to the verb. So if the noun that comes
after the pre position ‘of ’ is plural, the verb must also be plural.
• Two thirds of the people in the world live in extreme poverty.
• One half of the pies have been sold.
• Quantities, sums of money taken individually
• A hundred Cedis in bills of five are scattered on the road.
• Five kilos of rice are packaged to be given to flood victims.
• Percentage of count nouns
• Five percent of the boys are absent due to laziness.
• Eighty five percent of the taxpayers do not pay their taxes accurately.
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Singular subjects connected by and require a
plural verb
• Helen and Robert are getting married this December.
• The weed and the rice plant compete with each other for food.
• The teacher and his students get together in perfect harmony
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EXCEPTIONS TO THE AGREEMENT
RULES
• Singular subjects connected by and but are preceded by Each or Every take on a
singular verb.
• Each chair and table at the kindergarten classrooms has been painted with pastel
colors.
• Every bush and tree in the orchard receives an appropriate amount of fertilizer.
• Each senator and congressman obtains an allocation for his countryside
development fund.
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Cont…
• Singular subjects connected by and but are preceded by Many a take
on a singular verb.
• Many a man and a woman has found out that life is not always a bed
of roses.
• Many a moment and event in our lives imprints itself indelibly in our
memory.
• Many a grass and shrub gets trampled by rushing feet.
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Singular subjects connected by and but refer to
only one thing or person take on a singular verb.
• The manager and owner of the corner grocery store orders vegetables from a
nearby farm. [the same person]
• BUT: The manager and the owner of the corner grocery store order
vegetables from a nearby farm. [they are different people]
• My mother and closest confidant boosts my self-esteem in many ways.
• BUT : My mother and my closest confidant boost my self-esteem in many
ways.
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Food considered as a unit take on a singular verb.
• Akple and fish is the standard Ghana meal.
• Spaghetti and meatballs makes a delicious and filling snack.
Numbers when added together take on a singular verb
• Eight and five makes thirteen.
• Twelve and thirteen equals twenty five.
Cliches take on a singular verb
• To have and to hold often appears in wedding invitations.
• Forever and ever is a hyperbole (exaggeration).
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Singular subjects connected by or… nor,
either… or, neither …nor, not only… but also,
require singular verbs
• James or Johann has reported the accident to the manager.
• Either Aku or Adwo tops the examination for the scholarship.
• Not only Yawa but also his brother works in their father’s
construction firm.
• Neither rain nor snow slows the letter carrier.
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Subjects connected by or or nor, either… or, neither
…nor, not only… but also, not …but that differ in
person or in number will have the verb agreeing with
the nearer subject.
•
•
•
•
Neither Etornam nor her parents were notified of the loss. [Proximity Concord]
Either the girls or their teacher has borrowed the tape recorder. [Proximity]
Not star but planets are visible on a night like this.
Singular subjects connected by correlative conjunction both ... and will require a
plural verb.
Both your adviser and your subject teacher believe that you’re the best candidate for
class president.
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INTERVENING WORDS PHRASES OR
CLAUSES
• Intervening words, phrases or clauses do not in any way affect the agreement
between the subject and the verb.
Adverb
• Aku’s Mother always bakes a chocolate cake for our birthday.
• Channel 5 sometimes shows movies early in the afternoon.
• My father oftentimes brings us novelties from his trips abroad.
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Cont…
Appositive - a word or phrase directly following the noun it modifies.
• The focal point of the garden, (the giant cabbage roses), has attracted a
lot of visitors.
The appositive”roses” is plural. The plural appositive does not affect the
relationship between point, singular subject and has attracted, singular verb.
• Our mother’s favourite pre-occupation, collecting coins, usually irritates
our father.
• “collecting coins” is the appositive to pre-occupation
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Prepositional Phrase (the most common intervening phrase)
• The work of the masons requires a thorough knowledge of structural
rocks.
• The old love letters (from her long-lost love) are kept inside an antique
jewellery box.
• The leader of the rebels refuses to accept the terms of the truce.
Present participial phrase
• The players, following the coach’s order, practise until 7 o’clock on
Fridays.
• The old man selling the colourful balloons usually stays in front of the
elementary school.
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Singular subjects connected by or… nor,
either… or, neither …nor, not only… but also,
require singular verbs
• James or Johann has reported the accident to the manager.
• Either Kwami or Komla tops the examination for the scholarship.
• Not only Sedinam but also her brother works in their father’s
construction firm.
• Neither rain nor snow slows the letter carrier.
• Either the man or his father sleeps at the hotel.
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Subjects connected by or or nor, either… or, neither …nor, not
only… but also, not …but that differ in person or in number
will have the verb agreeing with the nearer subject. (Proximity
Concord)
• Neither Dzidzor nor her parents were notified of the loss.
• Either the girls or their teacher has borrowed the tape recorder.
• Not star but planets are visible on a night like this.
• Neither the lecturer nor her students were absent today
• Not only the women but also the pastor also fails to attend evening
services.
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Singular subjects connected by correlative
conjunction both ... and will require a plural
verb
• Both your adviser and your subject teacher believe that
you’re the best candidate for class president
• Both the driver and his passenger were frightened by the
police.
• Can you add your own examples?
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Kinds of intervening words, phrases or clauses
• Intervening words, phrases or clauses do not in any way affect the
agreement between the subject and the verb.
• My sister always bakes a chocolate cake for our birthday.
• Channel 5 sometimes shows movies early in the afternoon.
• Yawa’s father oftentimes brings us gifts from his trips abroad.
• The intervening adverbs do not affect the agreement between the subject
and the verb.
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Appositive - a word or phrase directly following the
noun it modifies- does not affect the agreement.
• 1 The focal point of the garden, the giant cabbage roses, has attracted a
lot of visitors.
• The appositive”roses” is plural. The plural appositive does not affect
the relationship between point, singular subject and has attracted,
singular verb.
• Mrs Segbefia’s favorite pre-occupation, collecting coins, usually irritates
father.
• “collecting coins” is the appositive to pre-occupation, and does not
affect the agreement.
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Prepositional Phrase (the most common
intervening phrase) does not affect the
agreement.
•
•
•
•
•
•
The work of the masons requires a thorough review.
The works of the mason require a thorough review.
The love letters, from her long-lost love, are kept inside a jewellery box.
The love letter, from her long-lost love, is kept inside a jewellery box.
The leader of the rebels refuses to accept the terms of the truce.
The leaders of the rebels refuse to accept the terms of the truce
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Participial phrases occurring as an intervening
phrase do not affect agreement.
• The players, following the coach’s order, practise until 7 o’clock on Fridays.
• The old man, selling the colourful balloons, usually stays in front of the
elementary school.
• The antique statue of the Blessed Virgin, taken by the thieves, was
mysteriously returned to its niche a week later.
• The students, led by their principal, are joining the campaign for the
greening of the countryside.
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Intervening Adjective clauses do not affect the agreement
• The girls that Mr Agbo is coaching for an Olympic medal swim fifty laps
everyday.
• Melissa, whom the basketball players have chosen as their muse, excels in many
curricular activities.
•
•
•
•
•
The room which was swept by the students has been locked.
The rooms which were swept by the student have been locked.
The books that were stolen by the thief have been returned.
The book that was stolen by the thief has been returned.
I hope you still remember your lesson at SHS on clauses.
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Inverted Sentences DO NOT affect
agreement
• Take note that in inverted sentences ,the verb, especially the helping or auxiliary
verb, comes before the subject.
• (Here) comes the bride.
• Normal order of the sentence is: The bride comes (here) .
• Here come the bride and her entourage.
• Normal order of the sentence is: The bride and her entourage come (here).
• Why is that girl crying?
• Normal order of the sentence is: That girl is crying. Why?
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Is Anne happy in her new job?
Are the girls excited about meeting Manny Pacquiao in person?
Are your parents attending the meeting?
Is Jake starring in this movie?
Has Emmanuel completed his requirements for graduation?
Behind the clouds lies a vast blue sky.
Inside that cabinet rests the envelop.
Hidden among the brown leaves is a solitary quail egg.
Taken in captivity are the members of the Al’ Qaida break-away band.
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Compound subjects in which one is used affirmatively and
the other negatively, will have the verb agreeing with the
subject used affirmatively
• Yao, not I, is making the presentation for our project.
• I, not Yasmin, am making a presentation for our project.
When the subject and the linking verb complement differ in number, the verb agrees
with the subject and not with the linking verb complement
• Sharon’s studies and her budding career as a writer are her main pre-occupation these
days.
• Sharon’s main pre-occupation these days is her studies and budding career as a writer
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Words that are plural in form but singular in meaning take on singular
verbs.( news, measles, chassis, mumps, viscus, abacus, atlas, abscess, aegis,
genesis, apparatus, neurosis, etc)
• The chassis of your car needs treatment against rust.
• The abscess in your leg has accumulated a lot of pus
Words ending in –ICS are singular in meaning if they refer to a subject, a
branch of science or a field of concentration.
• Tactics 102 is taught during Third Year in PMA. (subject)
• Military tactics teaches a soldier to penetrate the mind of the enemy.
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• Some nouns may be construed as singular or plural according to context. (ashes,
wages, amends, remains, accommodation, archives, bowels, communications, goods,
wood, information, advice, knowledge, barracks, crossroads, means, species, usually
collective nouns)
• Amends to compensate for the loss of his belongings was given to Mr. Cruz.
• Amends are distributed to the family* of the victims of landslide due to mining activities.
• The wages for sin is death.
• Series is singular when used to refer to a set of things even if it is followed by the
preposition of and a plural noun
• A series of competitive games will be shown in Sports Network on Saturday
• Series takes on a plural verb when it refers to two or more sets of things
• Three series of political sorties are planned by the Liberal Party next week.
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Titles of books, essays, movies, plays, musical compositions, paintings or other such
works, that are plural in form, take on a singular verb.
• The Three Musketeers was written by Alexander Dumas. (Title of a book)
• The heroes of our days eulogises the former President.
Names of groups, organizations or countries that are plural in form, take on a singular
verb.
• The United Nations has sent peacekeeping forces to Iraq.
• The Netherlands is a land of dikes.
Some nouns take on only plural verbs.(clothes, fireworks, scissors, trousers,* credentials,
earnings, headquarters, etc.)
• Nina’s clothes are badly sewn.
• The magnificent fireworks have awed the onlookers.
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The expression “the number” takes on a singular verb while “a number” takes on plural
verb.
• The number of high school graduates opting to take up nursing has grown to
enormous proportions.
• A number have chosen nursing as a career because it’s the fastest way to go abroad.
“The contents” when used as a subject takes on a singular verb if it refers to quality or
mass noun and a plural verb when it refers to quantity or count nouns.
• The contents of the chest were (are) old clothes. (plural noun)
• The contents of the chest was (is) Grandma’s wedding dress.(a unit)
• The contents of the bottle was (is) strawberry jam. (mass noun)
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Relative pronouns who, that, which will take on the number of the word they refer to.
• This is the group of islands that attract thousands of tourists. (This refers to group;
that refers to islands). The speaker is taking the individual members of the group, not
the whole group (notional concord)
• I have brought the boy who has painted this wall. (who refers to boy)
• In sentence constructions containing one of and only one of, in which a relative
pronoun is subject of the verb in the subordinate clause, the verb agrees with the
antecedent of the relative pronoun.
• He is one of the soldiers who never get tired of patrolling. (He belongs to the
soldiers who never get tired of patrolling) [who refers to the soldies]
• He is the only one of the candidates who is willing to debate the issues. (who refers to
one)
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CONCLUSION
• In this lesson, on subject verb agreement, we have considered the various rules
that speakers of English apply in forming grammatical sentences. As shown in
the discussions of the various rules, there are instances of irregularities that
learners of English, especially in English as a second language learning contexts,
face. It behoves on us, learners, to always pay attention to these rules and
instances whereby the rules are violated. Remember that your language is your
bargaining power; your ability to speak good English adds value to yourselves and
increases your marketability.
• The rule of thumb, therefore, is practice, practice, practice, always practice.
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