Chapter 14: Subject-Verb Agreement
Subjects and verbs have to agree in number:
– If you have a singular subject, then you must use a
singular verb form.
– If you have a plural subject, you must use a plural
verb form.
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Singular subject, singular verb: My sister (singular subject) lives (singular verb) in
Monterey, California.
Plural subject, plural verb: Eleanor, Doug, and Curt (plural subject) live (plural verb)
in Portland, Oregon.
Singular subject, singular verb: That movie (singular subject) is (singular verb) too
violent for my daughter to watch.
Plural subject, plural verb: Those movies (plural subject) are (plural verb) too violent
for me to watch.
Chapter 14: Subject-Verb Agreement
Pronouns as Subjects
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Pronouns can be used as subjects, and they must agree in number with verbs.
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Singular pronoun, singular verb: I (singular pronoun) make (singular verb) the
best omelet in town.
Singular pronoun, singular verb: He (singular pronoun) plays (singular verb)
soccer very well.
Singular pronoun, singular verb: She (singular pronoun) performs (singular verb)
like a trained athlete.
Plural pronoun, plural verb: We (plural pronoun) need (plural verb) a new
refrigerator.
Plural pronoun, plural verb: They (plural pronoun) understand (plural verb) the
situation.
Chapter 14: Subject-Verb Agreement
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Special Problems with Agreement
When you are checking for subject-verb agreement, you can find the subject of
the sentence by first eliminating the prepositional phrases.
Remember: Nothing in a prepositional phrase can be the subject.
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Place parentheses around prepositional phrases to find the subject:
Example: One (of my oldest friends) is a social worker.
Subject is singular: One
Verb is singular: is
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Example: My sister, (along with her husband), is planning a trip to Bolivia.
Subject is singular: sister
Verb is singular: is
Chapter 14: Subject-Verb Agreement
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Compound subjects are subjects joined by and, or, and nor.
Plural verbs are used when compound subjects are joined by and.
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Jan and Bruce (compound subject) are (plural verb) homeowners.
A bakery and a pharmacy (compound subject) are (plural verb) down the street.
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When compound subjects are joined by or, either…or, neither…nor, not
only…but also, the verb form agrees with the subject closest to the verb.
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Either the parents or the son (son is singular subject) walks (singular verb) the
dog every morning.
Either the son or the parents (parents is a plural subject) walk (plural verb) the
dog every morning.
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Chapter 14: Subject-Verb Agreement
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Indefinite pronouns always take a singular verb.
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Indefinite Pronouns
one
nobody
nothing
anyone
anybody
anything
someone
somebody
something
everyone everybody
everything
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each
either
neither
Everyone (singular subject) in town gossips (singular verb) about the scandal.
Each (singular subject) of the boys is (singular verb) talented.
One (singular subject) of their biggest concerns is (singular verb) crime in the
streets.
Neither (singular subject) of the cats is (singular verb) mine.
Chapter 14: Subject-Verb Agreement
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Checklist for making subjects and verbs agree:
1. Subjects and verbs should agree in number: singular
subjects get singular verb forms; plural subjects get
plural verb forms.
2. When pronouns are used as subjects, they must
agree in number with verbs.
3. Nothing in a prepositional phrase can be the subject
of the sentence.
4. Compound subjects joined by and are usually plural.
5. When subjects are joined by or, either…or,
neither…nor, or not only…but also, the verb form
agrees with the subject closest to the verb.
6. Indefinite pronouns always take singular verbs.
7. Collective nouns usually take singular verbs.
Chapter 14: Subject-Verb Agreement
Exercises
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Identify and correct the sentences to make the subjects and verbs agree.
Q.
A.
Each of the bunnies by the flowers have a fluffy tail.
Each of the bunnies by the flowers has a fluffy tail.
Q.
A.
Everyone in Miss Clark’s class are well behaved.
Everyone in Miss Clark’s class is well behaved.
Q.
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Abraham and Bob has been to the county fair.
Abraham and Bob have been to the county fair.
Chapter 14: Subject-Verb Agreement
Exercises
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Identify and correct the sentences to make the subjects and verbs agree.
Q.
A.
Neither of the children’s stores have dresses that fit my sister.
Neither of the children’s stores has dresses that fit my sister.
Q.
A.
Something in the basket full of dirty clothes are making a noise.
Something in the basket full of dirty clothes is making a noise.
Q.
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Only one of the children are still on the bus.
Only one of the children is still on the bus.
Chapter 14: Subject-Verb Agreement
Exercises
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Choose the correct verb to agree with the subject.
Q.
A.
The family (is, are) vacationing in London this spring.
The family (is, are) vacationing in London this spring.
Q.
A.
Everything on this diet (is, are) good for you.
Everything on this diet (is, are) good for you.
Q.
A.
Each member of the class (were, was) given a test today.
Each member of the class (were, was) given a test today.
Chapter 14: Subject-Verb Agreement
Exercises
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Choose the correct verb to agree with the subject.
Q.
A.
The committee (has, have) a great celebration at the end of the summer.
The committee (has, have) a great celebration at the end of the summer.
Q.
A.
Everything on those shelves (is, are) on sale.
Everything on those shelves (is, are) on sale.
Q.
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They (has, have) the notes from the last class.
They (has, have) the notes from the last class.