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Graphics for this handout were produced by Michelle Hansard )
1. When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a plural verb.
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Directions: Underline the subject(s) and then circle the correct verb choice.
A. He and his sisters (is/are) in the kitchen.
B. She and her mother (is/are) on the soccer field.
C. Write a complete sentence with a subject that has two or more nouns or pronouns that are connected by the word and:
2. When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or or nor, use a singular verb.
Directions: Underline the subject(s) and then circle the correct verb choice.
A. The car or the boat (is/are) parked in the driveway.
B. The cat or the dog (is/are) a domestic animal.

C. Write a complete sentence that has two or more singular nouns or pronouns that are connected by the words or or nor:
3. When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearer the verb.
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Directions: Underline the subject(s) and then circle the correct verb choice.
A.
The teacher or her students (walk/walks) to school.
B. The students or their teacher (walk/walks) to school.
C. Write a complete sentence that has a compound subject that contains both a singular and a plural pronoun joined by the words
or or nor:
4. Doesn't is a contraction of does not and should be used only with a singular subject. Don't is a contraction of do not and should be used only with a plural subject. The exception to this rule appears in the case of the first person and second person pronouns I and you. With these pronouns, the contraction don't should be used.

Directions: Underline the subject(s) and then circle the correct verb choice.
A. Maria (don’t/doesn’t) like tomatoes.
B. Raneesha and Jose (don’t/doesn’t) like to walk to school.
C. Write a complete sentence that has the word doesn’t in it:
D. Write a complete sentence that has the word don’t in it:
5. Do not be misled by a phrase that comes between the subject and the verb. The verb agrees with the subject, not with a noun or pronoun in the phrase.
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Do Now
Directions: Underline the subject(s) and then circle the correct verb choice.
A.
One of the books (is/are) missing a chapter.

B.
Ms. McDonald, as well as her students, (is/are) happy.
C.
The movie, including the scene where the dog reads a poem,
(is/are) strange.
D.
The neighbor with all of the cats (live/lives) across the street.
E.
Write a sentence with a phrase that comes between the subject and the verb:
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How Much Do I Know?
Directions: Underline the subject(s) and then circle the correct verb choice.
1. Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.
2. Xavier (is/are) twelve years old.
2. Brendan and I (is/are) best friends.
3. The boys or the girl (is/are) not allowed to go into the kitchen.
4. The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.
5. George and Tamara (doesn't, don't) want to see that movie.
6. Michelle (doesn't, don't) know the answer.
7. One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.
8. One of my best friends (live/lives) in Japan.
9. The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.
10. The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours to watch.
11. The pilot, as well as the passengers, (is/are) relaxed.
12. The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win.

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6. The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody,
anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are singular and require a singular verb.
7. Nouns such as civics, mathematics, dollars, measles, and news require singular verbs.
Note: the word dollars is a special case. When talking about an amount of money, it requires a singular verb, but when referring to the dollars themselves, a plural verb is required.
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8. Nouns such as scissors, tweezers, trousers, and shears require plural verbs. (There are two parts to these things.)

9. In sentences beginning with there is or there are, the subject follows the verb. Since there is not the subject, the verb agrees with what follows.
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10. Collective nouns are words that imply more than one person but that are considered singular and take a singular verb, such as: group,
team, committee, class, and family.
In very few cases, the plural verb is used if the individuals in the group are thought of and specifically referred to.
11. Expressions such as with, together with, including, accompanied
by, in addition to, or as well do not change the number of the subject.
If the subject is singular, the verb is too.

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Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.
1. Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.
2. Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.
3. The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.
4. Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.
5. George and Tamara (doesn't, don't) want to see that movie.
6. Benito (doesn't, don't) know the answer.
7. One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.
8. The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.
9. The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours to watch.
10. The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win.
11. Either answer (is, are) acceptable.
12. Every one of those books (is, are) fiction.
13. Nobody (know, knows) the trouble I've seen.
14. (Is, Are) the news on at five or six?
15. Mathematics (is, are) John's favorite subject, while Civics (is, are)
Andrea's favorite subject.
16. Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie these days.
17. (Is, Are) the tweezers in this drawer?
18. Your pants (is, are) at the cleaner's.
19. There (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag. Now there (is, are) only one left!
20. The committee (debates, debate) these questions carefully.

21. The committee (leads, lead) very different lives in private.
22. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, (greets, greet) the press cordially.
23. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, (is, are) in this case.
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Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.
1. Annie and her brothers are at school.
2. Either my mother or my father is coming to the meeting.
3. The dog or the cats are outside.
4. Either my shoes or your coat is always on the floor.
5. George and Tamara don't want to see that movie.
6. Benito doesn't know the answer.
7. One of my sisters is going on a trip to France.
8. The man with all the birds lives on my street.
9. The movie, including all the previews, takes about two hours to watch.
10. The players, as well as the captain, want to win.
11. Either answer is acceptable.
12. Every one of those books is fiction.
13. Nobody knows the trouble I've seen.
14. Is the news on at five or six?
15. Mathematics is John's favorite subject, while Civics is Andrea's favorite subject.
16. Eight dollars is the price of a movie these days.
17. Are the tweezers in this drawer?
18. Your pants are at the cleaner's.
19. There were fifteen candies in that bag. Now there is only one left!
20. The committee debates these questions carefully.
21. The committee lead very different lives in private.

22. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, greets the press cordially.
23. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, are in this case.
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