REVIEW SUBJECT AND VERB AGREEMENT

Subject-Verb Agreement Review

Like socks, the subject and predicate of a sentence have to match
and agree. (Tressler and Shelmadine,1951) The subject (a noun or a
pronoun) tells us the focus of the sentence while the verb makes a
statement about it. With correct subject-verb agreement, the relationship between these two
important sentence parts is unified thus making the idea of the sentence easier to understand.
Essential to mastering the rules governing subject-verb agreement are the following Verb
Basics.
Helping Verbs
to be- am, is, are, was, were
to do - do, does, did to have – has, have, had
Sensory Words Verbs - look, feel, taste etc.

Know the Rules!

1. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular.
Example:
She writes every day.
2. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.
Example:
They write every day.
3. When the subject of the sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns
connected by and, use a plural verb.
Example:
The doctoral student and the committee members write every day.
4. When there is one subject and more than one verb, the verbs throughout the
sentence must agree with the subject.
Example:
Interviews are one way to collect data and allow researchers to gain in-depth
understanding of participants.
5. Intervening words like together with, in addition to, along with, as well as, including
and similar constructions following the subject do not affect the number of the subject.
Examples:
The student, as well as the committee members, is excited.
Strategies that the teacher uses to encourage classroom participation include using
small groups and clarifying expectations.
6. When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by "or" or "nor," use a
singular verb.
Example:
The chairperson or the CEO approves the proposal before proceeding.
7. When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun
joined by "or" or "nor," the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is closest
to the verb. This is also called the rule of proximity.
Examples:
The student or the committee members write every day.
The committee members or the student writes every day.
8. The words and phrases "each," "each one," "either," "neither," "everyone,"
"everybody," "anyone," "anybody," "nobody," "somebody," "someone," and "no one"
are singular and require a singular verb.
Examples:
Each of the participants was willing to be recorded.
Neither alternative hypotheses was accepted. I will offer a 5000php gift card to
 everybody who participates in the study.
No one was available to meet with me at the preferred time.
9. Non-count nouns take a singular verb.
Examples:
Education is the key to success.
Diabetes affects many people around the world.
The information obtained from the business owners was relevant to include in the study.
The research I found on the topic was limited.
10. Some countable nouns in English such as earnings, goods, odds, surroundings,
proceeds, contents, and valuables only have a plural form and take a plural verb.
Examples:
The earnings for this quarter exceed expectations.
The proceeds from the sale go to support the homeless population in the city.
Locally produced goods have the advantage of shorter supply chains.
11. In sentences beginning with "there is" or "there are," the subject follows the verb.
Since "there" is not the subject, the verb agrees with what follows the verb.
Examples:
There is little administrative support. There are many factors affecting teacher
retention.
12. A collective noun acting as a single unit takes a singular verb. However, the plural
verb is used when the individual if the focus is on the individuals in the group.
Examples:
The group meets every week.
The committee participate in various volunteer activities in private lives.
13. In the present tense, verbs agree with their subjects in NUMBER (singular/plural)
and in PERSON (first, second, or third). The present tense ending –s (or –es) is used on
a verb if the subject is THIRD PERSON SINGULAR. Otherwise, the verb takes NO
ENDING.
14. A few indefinite pronouns such as All, Any, None and Some may be singular or
plural DEPENDING on the noun or pronoun they refer to.
Examples:
Some of the apples were sold.
Some of the flour was spilled.
15. Titles of works, story, article or establishment, even when plural in form, takes a
singular subject
Example:
BSP Enterprises is owned by Mr. Santos.
16. Adjectives used as subjects take plural verbs.
Example: The brave are honored.
17. Fractions may take singular or plural verbs depending on the of-phrase.
Examples:
Two-thirds of the school’s population speaks Pangalatok.
Two-thirds of the children are in grade school.
18. Words or phrases expressing periods of time, weight, measurement and amounts of
money are usually regarded as singular.
Examples:
Five years is a long engagement period.
Five thousand pesos is the prize money.
19. The expression the number takes a singular verb; the expression a number takes a
plural verb.
Examples:
The number of applicants is big.
A number of applicants are very young.
20. Nouns plural in form but singular in meaning.
Example: Statistics is showing an increase in inflation.