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The Subject and Verb Agreement
The Subject and Verb Agreement
Problems occur in the present tense because one must add an -s or -es at the end of the verb when
the subjects or the entity performing the action is a singular third person: he, she, it, or words for
which these pronouns could substitute.
Notice the difference between singular and plural forms in the following examples:
Singular Plural
The student sings. (He or she
Your children sing. (They sing)
sings)
Those birds do migrate. (They
The bird does migrate. (It does)
do)
In order to find out if your subject and verb agree, you need to be able to identify the subject of
your sentence. Here are some helpful hints that will help you to decipher where your subject is
and where it is not.
Where is my subject?
• Most likely, your verb will agree with the first noun to the left of the verb:
The Supreme Court judge decides the
appropriate penalty.
Subject: judge Verb: decides
•
The committee members were satisfied with
the resolution.
Subject: members Verb: were
• Occasionally, a sentence has the subject after the verb instead of before it. This strategy
is often used for poetic effect.
Over the ripples glides a small canoe.
Subject: a small canoe Verb: glides
•
There was a well-known writer at the meeting.
Subject: a well-known writer Verb: was
• You will not find the subject in a modifying phrase (MP), a phrase that starts with a
preposition, a gerund, or a relative pronoun and that modifies the meaning of the noun or
subject under discussion.
The group of students is going on a field trip.
Subject: the group MP: of students Verb: is
•
The survey covering seven colleges reveals a
growth in enrollment.
Subject: the MP: covering Verb:
survey seven colleges reveals
•
The speaker whom you saw at the lecture is
one of the state senators from Minnesota.
Subject: the MP: whom you saw
Verb: is
speaker at the lecture
• If subjects are joined by and, they are considered plural.
The quarterback and the coach are having a
conference.
Subject: the quarterback and Verb: are
the coach having
• If subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the closer subject.
Either the actors or the director is at fault.
Subjects: actors, director Verb: is
•
Either the director or the actors are at fault.
Subjects: director, actors Verb: are
• The relative pronouns (who, whom, which, and that) are either singular or plural,
depending on the words they refer to.
The sales manager is a good researcher who
spends a great amount of time surfing the Web
for information.
Subject: the sales manager Verbs: is, spends
•
Sales managers are good researchers who
spend a great amount of time surfing the Web
for information.
Subject: sales managers Verbs: are, spend
• Indefinite pronouns (someone, somebody, each, either one, everyone, or anyone) are
considered singular and need singular verbs although they convey plural meaning.
Anyone who wants to pursue higher education
has to pass entrance exams.
Subject: anyone Verbs: wants, has
•
Everyone on the committee is welcome to
express his/her ideas.
Subject: everyone Verb: is
• A few nouns can be either plural or singular, depending on whether they mean a group
or separate individuals. These words are rarely used as plurals in modern writing.
Select one answer from the choices provided after each sentence. The word you choose
should fit the blank in the sentence. Don't use the HINT buttons unless you really need
them.
1. Either the physicians in this hospital or the chief
administrator ____ going to have to make a decision.
is
are
2. ______ my boss or my sisters in the union going to win this grievance?
Is
Are
3. Some of the votes __________ to have been miscounted.
seem
seems
4. The tornadoes that tear through this county every spring _____ more than just a nuisance.
are
is
5. Everyone selected to serve on this jury _____ to be willing to give up a lot of time.
have
has
6. Kara Wolters, together with her teammates, _________ a
formidable opponent on the basketball court.
presents
present
7. He seems to forget that there __________ things to be done before he can graduate.
are
is
8. There _______ to be some people left in that town after
yesterday's flood.
have
has
9. Some of the grain __________ to be contaminated.
appear
appears
10. Three-quarters of the students __________ against the tuition hike.
is
are
11. Three-quarters of the student body __________ against the tuition hike.
is
are
12. A high percentage of the population _________ voting for the new school.
is
are
13. A high percentage of the people _________ voting for the new school.
was
were
After each sentence select the verb form that will best fit in the blank. The explanation will
describe the process of arriving at the correct choice for that sentence. If you choose the correct
response, it might still be a good idea to consult the explanation, to see if your understanding of
the verb choice is the same as ours.
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1. Carlos is the only one of those students who __________ lived up to the potential described in
the yearbook.
has
have
Responses:
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2. The International Club, as well as the Choral Society and the Rowing Club, __________ to
submit a new constitution.
need
needs
Responses:
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3. One of my best friends _____________ an extra on Seinfeld this week.
are
is
Responses:
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4. Not only the students but also their instructor ________ been called to the principal's office.
have
has
Responses:
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5. Most of the milk _____ gone bad. Six gallons of milk _______ still in the refrigerator.
have ---- is
Responses:
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6. Each and every student and instructor in this building __________ for a new facility by next
year.
hope
hopes
Responses:
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7. The students and instructors each ________for a new facility by next year.
hopes
hope
Responses:
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8. Rice and beans, my favorite dish, __________ me of my native Puerto Rico.
remind
reminds
Responses:
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9. A large number of voters still ___________ along straight-party lines.
votes
vote
Responses:
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10. Four years _______ a long time to spend away from your friends and family.
are
is
Responses:
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11. Politics __________ sometimes a dirty business.
are
is
Responses:
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12. To an outsider, the economics of this country ________ to be in disarray.
seem
seems
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Basic The basic rule states that a singular subject takes a singular verb,
Rule. while a plural subject takes a plural verb.
NOTE: The trick is in knowing whether the subject is singular or
plural. The next trick is recognizing a singular or plural verb.
Rule As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when
6. they are connected by and.
Rule Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by words such as
7. along with, as well as, besides, or not. Ignore these expressions
when determining whether to use a singular or plural verb.
NOTE: Apparently, the SAT testing service considers none as a singular word
only. However, according to Merriam Webster's Dictionary of English Usage,
"Clearly none has been both singular and plural since Old English and still is.
The notion that it is singular only is a myth of unknown origin that appears to
have arisen in the 19th century. If in context it seems like a singular to you, use
a singular verb; if it seems like a plural, use a plural verb. Both are acceptable
beyond serious criticism" (p. 664).
Rule The expression the number is followed by a singular verb while the
10. expression a number is followed by a plural verb.
Rule When either and neither are subjects, they always take singular
11. verbs.
Rule The words here and there have generally been labeled as adverbs
12. even though they indicate place. In sentences beginning with here or
there, the subject follows the verb.
Rule Sometimes the pronoun who, that, or which is the subject of a verb in
14. the middle of the sentence. The pronouns who, that, and which
become singular or plural according to the noun directly in front of
them. So, if that noun is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural,
use a plural verb.
1. Choose the sentence in which the subjects and verbs have been correctly identified and
in which the subjects and verbs agree. The subjects are in bold and the verbs are
underlined.
A) At the end of the story, they was living happily
ever after.
2. Choose the sentence in which the subjects and verbs have been correctly identified and
in which the subjects and verbs agree. The subjects are in bold and the verbs are
underlined.
A) Al and Eli go to the beach to surf with
their friends.
3. Choose the sentence in which the subjects and verbs have been correctly identified and
in which the subjects and verbs agree. The subjects are in bold and the verbs are
underlined.
A) When Al and Eli arrive, they find that their friends has
waxed their boards.
B) When Al and Eli arrive, they find that their friends has
waxed their boards.
C) When Al and Eli arrive, they find that their friends have
waxed their boards.
D When Al and Eli arrive, they find that their friends have
) waxed their boards.
4. Choose the sentence in which the subjects and verbs have been correctly identified and
in which the subjects and verbs agree. The subjects are in bold and the verbs are
underlined.
A) The group of children from that school has never
seen the ocean.
B) If our staff members don't quit picking at each other, we will not
meet our goals.
C) If our staff members don't quit picking at each other, we will not
meet our goals.
6. Choose the sentence in which the subjects and verbs have been correctly identified and
in which the subjects and verbs agree. The subjects are in bold and the verbs are
underlined.
A) Either Gary or I am responsible for
allocating the funds.
7. Choose the sentence in which the subjects and verbs have been correctly identified and
in which the subjects and verbs agree. The subjects are in bold and the verbs are
underlined.
A) Neither she nor they were willing to predict the
election results.
8. Choose the sentence in which the subjects and verbs have been correctly identified and
in which the subjects and verbs agree. The subjects are in bold and the verbs are
underlined.
A) Nora is one of the candidates who are worthy
of my vote.
9. Choose the sentence in which the subjects and verbs have been correctly identified and
in which the subjects and verbs agree. The subjects are in bold and the verbs are
underlined.
A) Nora, of all the candidates who are
running, is the best.
10. Choose the sentence in which the subjects and verbs have been correctly identified and
in which the subjects and verbs agree. The subjects are in bold and the verbs are
underlined.
A) My problem, which is minor in comparison with others, exists because I
dropped out of high school.
11. Choose the sentence in which the subjects and verbs have been correctly identified and
in which the subjects and verbs agree. The subjects are in bold and the verbs are
underlined.
A) His dogs, which is kept outside, bark all
day long.
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We have seen how the Subject and Verb agreement in a sentence is must.
Here we can see few more rules which govern the agreement between the Verb and
the Subject.
Example-1:
• Every boy and every girl is given the admission ticket to the show.
In this sentence, the Subject is ‘Every boy and every girl’. Although this Subject
contains two nouns and they are connected by the conjunction ‘and’, we have to
use only a singular verb ‘is’, because the subject implies every one of all the
students.
Example-2:
In this sentence also, the Subject is treated as singular, so the verb is also singular.
Examples:
• Every teacher and every student has got his share of the balance amount.
• Every boy and every girl in this class has applied for TOEFL.
• Every man and every woman has come forward to donate some money to this
organization.
2. Few nouns which are plural in form but singular in meaning take only
the singular verb.
Examples:
3. The Subjects ‘pains’ and ‘means’ take either singular or plural verb. But
the construction should be consistent.
Examples:
Both these sentences are correct forms but when you use a particular form, you
have to use that form consistently throughout the particular writing.
• The means to rich is a not a secret.
Examples:
Example-1:
• India is one of the few countries which have their own traditions.
The Subordinate Clause in this sentence takes plural verb while the Main Clause
takes only a singular verb. Because the Subject of the Subordinate Clause ‘which’
here means only the word ‘countries’ which comes before it. So, the Subordinate
Clause takes a plural verb.
Examples:
• Is you brother one of the two hundred people who have become the members of
this organization?
Examples:
• The neighbor, with his wife and children, is watching the football match on
television.
• Neither my bank balance nor the amount I borrowed is sufficient to meet the
expenditure.
• A good college record as well a good score in GMAT is required for admission in
MBA.
• Not only an excellent preparation but also very good presentation in TOEFL is
must to score more marks in it.
• Neither of these two movies was rated as outstanding, but each had an absorbing
story.
Choose the correct verb in each sentence below. Then click the "Check My Work"
button to view the correct answers.
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1. Emily and Greg ( comes, come) to my house every Friday for lunch.
7. The lacrosse team ( hopes, hope) to win the tournament next week.
10. Even though the students like the class, a few ( thinks, think) that it is too
complicated.
Check My Work Reset
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Choose the correct verb in each sentence below. When you have finished, click on the
"Check My Work" button to view the correct answers.
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3. Most of the sand ( is, are) wet from the high tide.
4. Either the two kittens or the puppy ( sits, sit) in my lap while I watch television.
5. A subject of great interest ( is, are) rainforests.
7. The team members ( is, are) arguing over the defense tactics.
10. The mayor and the governor ( hopes, hope) that the bill will soon become a
law.
Check My Work Reset
Answer Key
Subject-Verb Agreement - Exercise 2
1. The correct answer is is. Mumps (is, are) not common among adults. Refer to Rule
#8 on the subject-verb agreement page.
Your answer: is
2. The correct answer is are. Viruses from third world countries (is, are) a major
concern. Refer to Rule #9 and Rule #1 on the subject-verb agreement page.
Your answer: are
3. The correct answer is is. Most of the sand (is, are) wet from the high tide. Refer to
Rule #2 on the subject-verb agreement page.
Your answer: are
4. The correct answer is sits. Either the kittens or the puppy (sits, sit) in my lap while I
watch television. Refer to Rule #4 on the subject-verb agreement page.
Your answer: sits
5. The correct answer is is. A subject of great interest (is, are) rainforests. Refer to
Rule #9 and Rule #1 on the subject-verb agreement page.
Your answer: is
6. The correct answer is is. Hansel and Gretel (is, are) a famous children's story.
Refer to Rule #7 on the subject-verb agreement page.
Your answer: is
7. The correct answer is are. The team members (is, are) arguing over their defense
tactics. Refer to Rule #6 on the subject-verb agreement page.
Your answer: are
8. The correct answer is were. The economics of the trip (was, were) pleasing. Refer
to Rule #8 on the subject-verb agreement page.
Your answer: was
9. The correct answer is are. Why (is, are) your parents going to Africa for a vacation?
Refer to Rule #5 on the subject-verb agreement page.
Your answer: are
10. The correct answer is hope. The mayor and the governor (hopes, hope) that the
bill will soon become a law. Refer to Rule #3 on the subject-verb agreement page.
Your answer: hope
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