Subject-Verb Agreement

Agreement of Subjects and Verbs

- A verb must agree with its subject in number.
Number refers to the form of a word that indicates whether it is singular or plural. A singular subject
indicates one and requires a singular verb. Plural subjects indicate more than one and require plural
verbs. With most regular verbs, and -s or -es to form the singular.
Examples:
The athlete exercises. (Singular)
The athletes exercise. (Plural)

- An exception to the rule occurs with the pronouns I and you.. Both require the form of a verb
without -s or -es, even when you refers to one person. The only exception is be- when I is the subject,
the verb form is am.
Example: I love animals.
You are my best friend.

- Whether functioning as main verbs or auxiliary verbs, be, have, and do change in form to show
agreement.
Examples:
I am happy. (Singular) We are happy (Plural)

- When be, have, and do are used as auxiliary verbs, they indicate the number of a verb phrase. Notice
that the following main verbs do not change form.
Examples:
He has seen the movie. (Singular)
They have seen the movie. (Plural)

- Note that were is plural except in two cases: first, when its subject is the second-person singular
personal pronoun, you; and second, when it is the verb in a statement that is contrary to fact.
Examples: If I were a lottery winner, I would buy you that car.

Intervening Phrases
- The simple subject is never in a prepositional phrase.
Example:
The foliage on the trees provide shade. (Singular)
The spices in the food are tasty. (Plural)

- If a singular subject is linked to another noun by a phrase, the subject is still considered singular.
Expressions such as accompanied by, as well as, in addition to, plus, and together with introduce
phrases that modify the subject without changing its number.
Example: Paula, along with her friends, goes to the mall.

Agreement with compound subjects

- A compound subject that is joined by and or both and is plural unless its parts belong to one unit or
they both refer to the same person or thing.
Examples:
The lion and the tiger are roaring. (Plural)
Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite type of sandwich. (Singular)

- With compound subjects joined by or or nor (or by either… or or neither.. nor), the verb agrees with
the subject closer to it.
Examples:
My dog or my cat is responsible for this mess. (Singular)
Either the dog or the cats are responsible for this mess. (Plural)
Agreement with special subjects
-When a collective noun subject refers to a group as a whole, it requires a singular verb. When a
collective noun subject refers to each member of a group individually, it requires plural verb.
Example:
His family is from Italy. (singular)
His family are getting haircuts today.

- When deciding the number of the verb needed for a collective noun subject, look for the pronouns
its and their. When a collective noun is referred to by its, the collective noun requires a singular verb.
When a collective noun is referred to by their, the collective noun needs a plural verb.
Examples:
The committee submits its report. (Singular)
The committee sign their names. ( Plural)

Special Nouns
- Certain nouns that ends in s, such as mathematics, molasses, and news, require singular verbs.
Examples:
Mathematics is my favorite subject.
The news was good.

- Certain other nouns that end in s, such as scissors, pants, binoculars, and eyeglasses require plural
verbs.
Examples:
The scissors were sharp.
Your eyeglasses need cleaning.

- Many other nouns that end in s, such as mumps, measles, ethics, statistics, and politics, depending
on the meaning, may require either a singular or a plural verb. In general, if the noun refers to a
whole, such as a disease or a science, it requires a singular verb. If it refers to qualities, activities, or
individual items, it requires a plural verb.
Examples:
Measles is a childhood disease. (Singular)
Measles cover the sick child’s body. (Plural)

Nouns of amount
- When a plural noun of amount refers to one unit, it acts as a singular subject. When it refers to
individual units, it acts as a plural verb.
Examples:
Three dollars is not too much. (Singular)
Three dollars are on the table. (Plural)

- When a fraction or a percentage refers to a singular word, it requires a singular verb. When it refers
to a plural word, it requires a plural verb.
Examples:
One-fourth of the cookie dough is in the bowl. (Singular)
One-fourth of the cookies are in this box. (Plural)

- Units measurement usually require singular verbs.

Example:
Ten kilometers works out to one myriameter.

- A title of a creative work always acts as a singular subject, even if a noun within the title is plural.
Example:
“Glory Days” describes high school experiences.

- The names of countries and cities require singular verbs.

Example:
New Orleans hosts Mardi Gras every spring.

Indefinite Pronouns
Singular- another, anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither,
no one, nothing, one, somebody, someone, something.

Plural- both, few, many, others, several

- Singular indefinite pronouns require singular verbs. Plural indefinite pronouns require plural verbs.
Examples:
Singular- Everybody is going to the concert.
Plural- Few have the patience she has.

- The number of the pronouns in the last group depends on the words to which they refer. If the
pronoun refers to a singular word, then it requires a singular verb. If the pronoun refers to a plural
word, it requires plural verb.
Examples:
Singular- Most of the pie was eaten.
Plural- Most of the cookies were still there.

- The indefinite pronouns any and none can be singular subjects even when they refer to a plural
word. It depends on whether you are thinking of each thing separately of several things acting as one
group.
Examples:
Any of these bikes is ready.
Any of these bikes are ready.
None of these pens has a cap.
None of these pens have caps.

Agreement in Inverted Sentences

In an inverted sentence, the subject follows the verb.

- Inverted sentences often begin with prepositional phrases. Don’t mistake the object of the
preposition for the subject.
Examples:
Singular- Across the seas sails the young immigrant.
Plural- In the jungle roar the lions.

In the sentences beginning with there and here, the subject follows the verb. The words there and
here never function as the subject of a sentence.
Examples:
Singular- Here comes the bus.
There goes your friend.
Plural- Here come the buses.
There go your friends.

- In questions, an auxiliary verb usually comes before the subject. Look for the subject between the
auxiliary verb and the main verb.
Examples:
Singular- Does that woman teach English?
Plural- Do those women teach English?

Agreement with Subject, not Predicate Nominative

- Don’t be confused by a predicate nominative that is different in number from the subject. Only the
subject affects the number of the linking verb.
Examples: The first act was jugglers.
Airline tickets were the first prize.