Subject-Verb Agreement
I. Agreement in Numbers
A. A verb must agree in number with its subject. Keep in mind that singular verbs have the “s.”
I. Dog barks
II. Dogs bark
B. The subject of a sentence is never found in a prepositional phrase.
C. Phrases beginning with the words – with, together with, including, as well as, and in addition to – are not part of the subject.
D. Sample Exercises
1. The term “quarter horse” (identify, identifies) a special breed of horses developed in America
2. Quarter horses (is, are) so named because they are the fastest horses in the quarter-mile race.
3. These horses (was, were) first bred over two hundred years ago.
4. In those days, the track for races (was, were) cut through dense forests and rarely ran more that a quarter mile long.
5. Today people in America West (uses, use) this horse for work that requires quick starts and fast turns.
II. Compound Subjects
A. A compound subject has more than one subject with the same verb.
B. If the compound subject is joined by “and,” it is always plural.
C. If the compound subject is joined by “or” or “nor,” there verb should agree with the subject that is closest to the verb.
D. Sample Exercises
1. Neither a tornado nor a hurricane (has, have) not hit this small Texas town
2. Meteorologists and forecasters (is, are) ready to cope with impending twisters
3. Enormous property loss and damage last year (has, have) made everyone aware that an early warning system is necessary.
4. Either plywood or heavy cardboard (is, are) put over windows during tornadoes.
5. “Typhoon” or “Cyclone” (is, are) another name for hurricane.
III. Collective Nouns
A. A collective nouns names a group of persons or things
B. A collective noun takes a singular verb when the group is regarded as a unit.
The jury HAS been chosen for the trial
C. A plural verb is used when the members of the group are regarded as individuals acting separately.
The jury have cast their vote
D. A clue is to watch for pronouns in the sentences that give you hints as to number.
E. Sample exercises
1. A majority of the voters (has, have) selected the new mayor

2. The troup (is, are) about to begin ascent of the rugged mountains.
3. The class (was, were) discussing their opinions on the causes of inflation.
4. A squadron of fighter planes (is, are) performing for the air show.
5. The jury (argue, argues) among themselves about the defendant’s innocence.
IV. Indefinite Pronouns
A.
When indefinite pronouns are used as subjects, you must determine their number and make sure the verbs agree.
B.
Singular
Another
Anybody either nobody everybody no one each anyone
Anything everything somebody someone
C.
Plural
Both few many several neither everyone one
D.
Both
All any
E.
Sample exercises most none some
1.
All of the student council candidates (write, writes) their own speeches.
2.
None of the speeches (is, are) going to be heard until next Thursday.
3.
No one (posts, post) a campaign notice on the board until it has been approved.
4.
Some student candidates (speaks, speak) with more confidence than others.
5.
Everyone (votes, vote) secretly in a voting booth.
V. Relative Pronouns
A.
A relative pronoun stands in place of its antecedent (the word to which it refers). The verb should match the tense of the antecedent. a. Ann is the student who is the valedictorian (Student, the antecedent, is singular; the pronoun who uses “is” because student is singular.). b. Several students who have come close were disappointed. (Students, the antecedents, is plural; the pronoun who uses “have (come)” because students is plural.)
B. Common relative pronouns include: that, which, and who.
C. Sample exercises:
1. Ireland, which (is, are) one of the British Isles, is called Eire in Gaelic.
2. An acronym is an abbreviation that (is, are) also a complete word.
3. People who (was, were) opposed to slavery were called “abolitionists.”
4. The abacus, which (is, are) an ancient counting device, is popular is Asia.
5. This is the story that (takes, take) place in the year 1066.
VI. Other Agreement Problems
A.
Doesn’t
is singular;
Don’t
is plural.
She doesn’t know the answer and the others don’t either.
B.
For sentences beginning with there, here, or where, you must jump over the verb to find the subject.
There are nine players on a baseball team.

C.
Certain words are nouns in plural form that have a singular meaning and use a singular verb.
News, measles, mumps, molasses.
D.
Words of amount and time are usually considered to be single units and use singular verbs.
Thirty minutes is a long time to wait.
E.
The title of a work of art is considered singular, even if it contains plural words.
Roots is a book by Alex Haley.
F.
Sample exercises:
1.
An orchestra (consist, consists) of a large group of musicians.
2.
There (is, are) at least seventy-five players in a symphony orchestra.
3.
Over one-half of the orchestra (play, plays) a stringed instrument.
4.
Romeo and Juliet (is, are) a favorite among members of a symphony.
5.
The conductor often (gets, get) involved in the music and (doesn’t, don’t) try to hide his emotions.
6.
News of celebrity guest conductors (travel, travels) quickly from one music-lover to another.
7.
For example, (doesn’t, don’t) Gershwin’s tunes always draw a good crowd?
8.
Three hours (is, are) a long time to wait in line for tickets.
9.
However, there (is, are) season tickets available.
10.
Surprisingly, just fifty dollars (buy, buys) a season ticket.
VII. More Practice Exercises
1.
You, Gerald, and the Joneses (was, were) all in the first car.
2.
(Was, Were) you playing tennis with Joe and Bill last night.
3.
These lights beams (travel, travels) in all directions.
4.
Linden trees, otherwise known as lime, (grow, grows) 120 feet tall.
5.
Maps, rare books, and that ancient manuscript (require, requires) special care.
6.
Each and every one of you (has, have) a vote in the school election.
7.
The New York Times (print, prints) international and financial news.
8.
Many hands (make, makes) light work.
9.
Our candidate’s majority throughout these elections (represent, represents) confirmation of his policies.
10.
Our team or your team (goes, go) through to the final.
11.
In the closet (hang, hangs) the trousers.
12.
Beside the three-lane highway (stands, stand) an old house.
13.
What (is, are) your suggestions for cleaning up the ally?
14.
The Smith family (doesn’t, don’t) live there anymore.
15.
The family (was, were) proud of its traditions.
16.
The junior choir always (sing, sings) at the spring concert.
17.
A committee from our class (plan, plans) the annual picnic.
18.
Sometimes the school orchestra (practice, practices) in the gym.
19.
Seeds, given the right weather, (become, becomes) plants.
20.
Into a ten-gallon hat (fits, fit) approximately three quarts.

Subject-Verb Agreement Practice
1.The lane for bicycles (is, are) on the west side of the road.
2. A truckload of bananas (have, has) spilled onto the highway.
3. My recipe for brownies (is, are) unbeatable.
4. Two pieces of the puzzle (is, are) missing.
5. Several people, including Marion, (has, have) never tried skiing.
6. Peanuts or popcorn (make, makes) a good snack.
7. Warm gloves and a down jacket (is, are) important for winter sports.
8. Both fog and rain (have, has) inspired painters and poets.
9. Tolerance and honesty (is, are) not always easy to practice.
10. Neither cardinal nor chickadees (fly, flies) south for the winter.
11. (Has, Have) any ice cream bars melted?
12. All of the snow (has, have) been blowing into huge drifts.
13. Everyone in the stands (cheer, cheers) when the teams enter the stadium.
14. Both lacrosse and jai alai (require, requires) agility.
15. Another of those old Westerns (is, are) on tonight.
16. It (doesn’t, don’t) take long to learn this dance.
17. He (doesn’t, don’t) remember much about the accident.
18. There (is, are) a swinging bridge across Capilano canyon.
19. Where (is, are) the rental canoes?
20. Here (is, are) several abandoned miners’ huts.
21. “A stitch in time saves nine” (is, are) a saying procrastinators should remember.
22. John is one of those people who always (remember, remembers) one’s birthday.
23. The Treaty of Versailles (was, were) signed at the end of World War I.
24. There are many people in our town who (hope, hopes) that the Gropius Building will be declared a historic landmark.
25. Both Japan and the United States (possess, possesses) high-speed factories.
26. The North Star is one of the stars that (make, makes) up the Little Dipper.
27. Old Times by Harold Pinter (is, are) one of his later plays.
28. Ninety-two miles per hour (was, were) the highest wind speed of 1985’s hurricane
Gloria.