1. A compound subject connected by AND generally takes a plural verb.

Example: Mouse and keypad are parts of a computer.

2. Two subjects that are closely related to each other or that refer to the same
person or thing take a singular verb.

Example: Patience and determination is my weapon against problems.

3. Compound subjects joined by either...or and neither...nor take singular or plural

verbs depending upon the nearer subject to the verb.
Example:

Either the project or the assignment is due today.

Neither the document nor the test papers are missing.

4. Subjects separated by a word not, the verb agrees with the affirmative.
Example:

The
The
The
The

child not the mother shows more compassion to the beggar.

books not the wallet are missing.
teachers not the principal attend the symposium.
guests not the teacher are in the hall.

5. When a singular subject is connected by or or nor to a plural subject, put the

plural subject last and use a plural verb.
Example:

The serving bowl or the plates are taken to the dining room.
The student or the teachers write a letter to the mayor.

RULES ON SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT- . INDEFINITE PRONOUNS

6. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS such as each, either, neither, nonr, everybody, no one,
nobody, anybody take a singular verb.

Everyone is training hard.

Each has a special diet.
No one complains about the schedule.
Nobody wants to lose in the game.

7. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS such as a few, many, both, and several take a plural
verb.

Few of the varsity complain about the rules.

Both of the coaches encourage them.
Several of us watch their games at the Astrodome.
Many of us here support them.

8. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS such as some, any, none, and all when followed by a
phrase, the verb agrees with the object of the phrase.

Most of the training was hard.

Some of the cake is fondant.
Most of the varsities are fourth year students.
Some of the players are young.

SPECIAL AND COLLECTIVE NOUNS

9. Special nouns that are plural in form but singular in meaning such as physics,
economics, mathematics, measles, civics, and news take a singular verb.
Example:

The news is about loving and living.

Economics is applied in everyday life.

9a. ABSTRACT NOUNS such as beauty, courage, loyalty, faith, love, and others when
used as subject in the sentence, they take a singular verb.
Examples:

Beauty is useless, character is the best.

Love is a many splendor thing.

10. Nouns that are always plural in form and meaning take a plural verb.
Example:

Leas new pants fit her.

Scissors are indispensable in every Household.
The contents of the letter hurt me.
aborigi
nes

amen
ds

annals

asset
s

antipo
des

scissor
s

thank
s

spectac
les

vesp
ers

matins

nuptial
s

oats

premis
es

bello
ws

billiard
s

dregs

gallo
ws

tongs

11. Adjectives used as a subject are plural in meaning and therefore they take a
plural verb. Example:

The rich are not always happy.

The meek are rewarded in heaven.
Happy are the poor for the kingdom of God is theirs.

12. Collective nouns usually take a singular verb when it denotes a unit. It may take
a plural verb when the noun refers to the members of the group.
Example:

The team works hard for the award.(The team works as a group)
The team argue on who is their best contender for the MVP award.( the
members of the group argue among themselves)
A flock of migratory bird was seen in the nearby swamp.
Some flocks of birds were seen in the different swamps across the country.
The flocks of birds come from the different countries in the south.

D. NUMBERS, INTERVENING WORDS AND TITLES

13. The expression a number takes a plural verb while the expression the number
takes a singular verb.
Example:

A number of students come to school late.

The number of the late comers increases every quarter.

14. Words expressing periods of time, weights, measurements, and amounts of

money usually take singular verb.
Example:

Seven years is quite a long time to wait for his return.

Ten kilos of chicken is not enough for 60 persons.
Two billion pesos is quite big for a simple road project.

15. Fractions may take singular of plural verbs depending on the of-phrase.
Example:

Two-thirds of the students prepare the assignment.

b. Two-thirds of the project is ready for
evaluation.
Three-fourths of the population does not have a decent job
Three-fourths of the pies have been already sold.

16. Intervening words like together with, in addition to, as well as, including, and
similar constructions following the subject do not affect the number of the subject.
Example:

The teacher, together with the students, submits a petition against the result
of the contest.
The judges, as well as the committee, convene come up with a resolution.

17. The title of a book, poem, story or movie, Take a singular verb. Example:

Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs when made as a movie was a sure hit.