1. A verb must agree with its
subject in number.
2. Number refers to whether a word is
singular – naming one – or plural –
naming more than one.
3. A singular subject takes a singular
verb.
 For example:
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That boy follows a trail. (singular
subject, singular verb)
4. A plural subject takes a plural verb.
For Example:
Those boys follow a trail. (plural
subject, plural verb.)
5. A Compound subject is made up of
two or more simple subjects joined by
a conjunction such as “and, or, nor.”
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6. A compound subject whose
subjects are joined by “and” usually
take a plural verb.
For Example:
The radio and the CD player are
both playing.
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Sometimes a compound subject joined by
“and” is used as a singular unit and takes a
singular verb.
Example: Macaroni and cheese is one of my
favorite meals.
Here the word macaroni and cheese is acting as
one word because the two words together
create one specific idea, so it takes a singular
verb.
7. When the parts of a compound subject
are joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb
should agree with the compound part
closest to the verb.
For Example:
Either Picasso or the impressionists are
good subjects for a term paper.
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There are five situations when the subject is in an
unusual position and difficult to match with the verb.
1. Question – Does your house have a big yard? (verb/subj)
2. Here and There – Here are the new bushes. (verb/subj)
3. Inverted Sent. – Up to the plate, walked the batter.
(verb/subj)
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4. Pred. Nouns – The delight (of the gardener) is the old
rosebushes. (rosebushes – pred. noun, not subject)
5. Prep. Phrases – This pot (of flowers) blooms in spring.
The subject is never part of a prep. Phrase. Block out
any words between the subject and verb.
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Find the verbs in this paragraph that do not agree
with their subjects. Write the numbers of the
sentences in which you find agreement problems.
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(1) Mr. Johnson love swamps. (2) Therefore, on our field
trip we went to Green Swamp. (3) Most of us would
have chosen a day at the beach. (4) According to Mr.
Johnson, the neatest things happens in swamps. (5) He
have lectured more than once on the topic of
metamorphosis. (6) His examples has been caterpillars
turning into butterflies and tadpoles turning into frogs.
An indefinite pronoun does not refer to a
specific person, place, thing, or idea.
When used a subjects, some indefinite
pronouns are always singular. Others are
always plural, and then others can be
singular or plural depending on how
they are used.
Each, Either, Neither, Another, and all the
One’s, Body’s, and Things.
For Example:
(Singular Subject)
(Singular Verb)
Neither of the books was in the library.
When singular indefinite pronouns are
used as subjects, they take a singular verb.
Boys fight mainly sissies! –ORBoth, Few, Many, Several
For Example:
Many of the videotapes are new.
When plural indefinite pronouns are
used as subjects, they take a plural verb.
Some, Any, None, All, Most can be singular
or plural.
If the pronoun refers to a single person or thing,
it takes a singular verb. If it refers to more than
one person or thing, it takes a plural verb. You
have to say: Most of what? All of what? None of what?
For Example:
All of these books were approved. (books/plural)
All of the reading list was approved. (list/sing.)
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1. Everybody (enjoys, enjoy) our school’s art fair.
2. Most of the artworks (is, are) quite good.
3. Something always (makes, make) students smile.
4. Yet one (has, have) no need to fear humiliation.
5. None of the artists (gets, get) upset.
6. None of the criticism (is, are) mean-spirited.
7. Everyone (understands, understand) that artists should be
encouraged.
8. Some (takes, take) longer to develop their talent.
9. Each of us (has, have) the right to express himself or herself
in art.
10. All of the fairs (is, are) conducted in this spirit
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When collective nouns, nouns
ending in “s”, titles, and numerical
expressions are used as subjects, it
can be difficult to tell whether they
take singular or plural verbs.
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Collective nouns name groups of
people or things.
Common Collective Nouns:
Group, crowd, crew, herd, flock,
public, family, club, class, faculty,
team, choir
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Many collective nouns take singular or plural
verbs, depending on how they are used. When
a collective noun refers to people or things
acting as a group, it takes a singular verb.
Example: The faculty sponsors an art exhibit
each year.
When a collective noun refers to people or
things acting as individuals, it takes a plural
verb.
Example: The faculty disagree on the rules of
the exhibit.
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Some nouns that end in “s” or “ics” look plural, but
actually refer to a singular concept. When used as
subjects, they take a singular verb.
Singular Nouns with Plural Forms
Measles
Politics
Genetics
Ceramics
Linguistics
Forensics
Mechanics
Molasses
News
Civics
Physics
Mumps
Pediatrics
Mathematics
Economics
Example: Ceramics is the art of making objects from
clay.
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Titles of works of art, literature, and music are
singular. Even a title consisting of a plural
noun takes a singular verb.
Example: Sunflowers is a famous painting by
Vincent van Gogh.
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Words and phrases that express weights,
measures, numbers, and lengths of time are
often treated as singular.
Measures and Amounts
Measures – seven pounds, two-cups
Amounts – three hours, nine dollars
Example: Four years seems like a long time.
A fraction can take a singular or plural verb,
depending on whether it refers to a single part or
to a number of items.
Example: Five-sixths of the canvas is blank. (the
fraction refers to one part of the canvas.)
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1. Three years (seems, seem) a short amount of time
to finish the Vietnam Memorial.
2. Two-thirds of the paintings (is, are) abstract.
3. Economics (is, are) always a concern in designing a
large project.
4. About eight months (is, are) how long it actually
took to construct the memorial.
5. The public (lines, line) up to view the wall.
6. “Heroes in Black Stone” (is, are) a song.
7. Politics (is, are) not the point of the wall.
8. A committee of sculptors and architects (is, are) to
be congratulated for choosing such a tribute.