SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT
1. Subject and predicates must agree in number
The book of poems was published in 1998.
(Grammar book, 210, Practice and Apply)
2. Compound Subjects joined by “and” ususally take a plural verb:
Georgia and Louise paint exceptionally well.
3. But sometimes a compound subject refers to one thing, so a singular
verb is used.
War and peace is the theme of the painting.
4. When compound subjects are joined by “or”, the verb should agree
with the part closest to it.
Either the ticket stubs or a photo completes your collage.
Either a photo or ticket stubs complete your collage.
(Grammar Book, 212, Concept check)
5. Subjects in Unusual Positions
•Question: Does this music video contain interesting computer
graphics?
•Here or there: Here is an on-air announcer with an enjoyable play
list.
•Inverted sentence: Around the nation is heard the sound.
Question
-Where are the desserts?
-REORDER!
-The desserts are here.
Here or There
-Here are the new bushes.
-REORDER!
-The new bushes are here.
Beginning Phrase
-Beyond the hedge lies a fishpond.
-REORDER!
-A fishpond lies beyond the hedge.
6. Prepositional phrases
-The box of chocolates is empty.
-The spread of holiday desserts was really tempting.
-The gallery of abstract paintings was an amazing sight.
(Grammar Book, 215,Concept Check)
7. Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects
Singular:
another
everybody
nothing
anybody
everyone
one
anyone
everything
somebody
anything
neither
someone
each
no one
__________________________________________________
Plural:
both
few
many
several
__________________________________________________
Both:
all
any
most
none
some
Indefinite pronouns as subjects can be singular, plural and sometimes
plural
(Grammar Book, 218, Practice and Apply)
8. Collective Nouns: names a group of people or things: group, team,
family, class, herd
Act as a group, use singular verb
The majority is satisfied with the election results.
The family is going on a trip.
The herd was looking for water when the lions came.
Act as individuals, use plural verb
The majority of the voters are young.
The soccer team are putting on their cleats.
Family are coming from all over to the reunion.
9. Singular nouns that end in s
Physics is a difficult subject for me.
The news is always depressing.
Mumps is a common childhood disease.
10. Titles are singular
The Thousand and One nights is a collection of stories.
The Outsiders is an excellent book.
The Uglies is a very popular book this year.
11. Time and Amounts
Weights, measures, numbers and time are usually singular:
Ten dollars is the price of a ticket.
Two days is the minimum time needed.
Three cups of flour is needed to make this cake.
Fractions can be plural if the subject is whole
Only three-fourths of the students are healthy.
Half of the cakes were eaten at the party.
Half of the cake was eaten at the party.
(Grammar book, 221, Practice and Apply, A)