SAINT JOSEPH COLLEGE, MAASIN, LEYTE

Maasin City, Southern Leyte

UNIT III: SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

WHAT IS SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT?

The term `subject-verb agreement’, just like the name suggests, refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb. This is
mainly with reference to singular and plural nouns/pronouns that act as subjects. According to the Collins Dictionary, “concord
refers to the way that a word has a form appropriate to the number or gender of the noun or pronoun it relates to. For example, in
‘She hates it’, there is concord between the singular form of the verb and the singular pronoun ‘she’.”
The general rule of subject-verb agreement according to Garner’s Modern English Usage is “to use a plural verb with a plural subject,
a singular verb with a singular subject”. This rule holds true for most cases. However, there are exceptions to this rule.

RULES OF SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT WITH EXAMPLES

The concept of subject-verb concord matters the most when using the present tenses. The simple past and simple future tenses
have the same verbs used irrespective of the subject in the sentence. Knowing and following the rules of subject-verb agreement will
help you write error-free sentences. Go through the following rules and also go through the examples to understand how each rule
is applied.

RULE 1. A singular subject goes with a singular verb.

Incorrect Saira play the guitar every day.

Correct Saira plays the guitar every day.

RULE 2. A plural subject goes with a plural verb.

Incorrect They plays the guitar every day.

Correct They play the guitar every day.

RULE 3. If in a sentence two or more nouns or pronouns are connected using “and” then the verb used will be plural. 

Incorrect Rahul and Anekha is siblings.

Correct Rahul and Anekha are siblings.

RULE 4. If in a sentence two or more nouns or pronouns are connected using “either/or and neither/nor” then the verb used will
be singular.  

Incorrect Your class teacher or the principal sanction your leave application.
Correct Your class teacher or the principal sanctions your leave application.

RULE 4.1. The verb in an or, either/or, or neither/nor sentence agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to it.

Examples:

1. Neither the plates nor the serving bowl goes on that shelf.

2. Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on that shelf.

RULE 5. When there is one subject and more than one verb, the verbs throughout the sentence must agree with the subject.

Examples:
Interviews are one way to collect data and allow researchers to gain an in-depth understanding of participants.
An assumption is something that is generally accepted as true and is an important consideration when conducting a doctoral study.

RULE 6. A singular subject/pronoun uses “does not” while a plural one uses “do not”. However, there is an exception to this rule.
This rule of Subject-Verb Agreement explains that “Do not” is used with the singular pronouns “I” and “You” instead of “does
not” as it ideally should be. 

Incorrect She do not eat ice cream

Correct She does not eat ice cream

Incorrect They does not eat ice cream.

Correct They do not eat ice cream.

EXCEPTION:

Incorrect I does not eat ice cream

Correct I do not eat ice cream

RULE 7. In case a sentence has an additional phrase, the verb should always agree with the subject of the statement and not be
influenced by the pronouns or nouns of the additional phrase. 

Incorrect This book, as well as all the other books of this writer, are boring.
Correct This book, as well as all the other books of this writer, is boring.

RULE 8. Sentences with pronouns such as anybody, anyone, no one, somebody, someone, everybody, everyone, nothing and
nobody are treated as singular subjects and will therefore use a singular verb.
Examples:

1. Nobody has understood anything.

2. Everyone was happy with the outcome.
3. Nothing fits me well.
4. No one finds the movie interesting.

RULE 9. Nouns like civics, mathematics, dollars, measles, and news use singular verbs.

Examples:

1. Mathematics is my favorite subject.

2. Civics is a textual subject.
3. Mathematics is universally considered difficult by children of all classes.

Here, in the case of currency there is an exception. When you are talking about a specific amount of money for something, you have
to use a singular verb whereas when considering currencies themselves, you have to use a plural verb.

1. Ten dollars for that vase is a lot of money.

2. Dollars are used instead of rubles in Russia.
3. Ten thousand rupees is not a big amount these days.
4. Rupees have not been Indian currency forever; they used gold coins long back.

RULE 10. In English, there is a set of nouns called Plurale Tantum which doesn’t have a singular form like trousers, scissors, pants,
etc. Such nouns always use a plural verb. 

Incorrect Those black trousers is mine

Correct Those black trousers are mine.

RULE 11. Abstract nouns and uncountable nouns are considered as singular subjects, so make sure you use a singular verb along
with it.
Examples:

1. Honesty is the best policy.

2. Love makes people do crazy things.
3. Good friendship keeps your mind and body healthy.

RULE 12. The number of subjects is not influenced by expressions like accompanied by, in addition to or including. If the subject is
singular, the verb will also be singular and it will remain so irrespective of such expressions. 

Incorrect Neha, accompanied by her sister, are going to perform today.

Correct Neha, accompanied by her sister, is going to perform today.

RULE 13. When you have sentences that begin with ‘here’, ‘there’, ‘this’, ‘that’, ‘those’, ‘these’, etc., always remember that the
subject follows the verb and therefore the verb has to be conjugated with reference to the subject.
Examples:

1. Here is your book.

 2. There lies your shirt.
3. That was a great movie.
4. There have been many changes in the timetable.

RULE 14. The verb is singular if the two subjects separated by "and" refer to the same person or thing as a whole.

1. Red beans and rice is my mom's favorite dish.

2. Spaghetti and meatballs is a great meal.

RULE 15. When the subject refers to a period of time, distance or a sum of money, use a singular verb.
Examples:

1. 1267 kilometres is too long for us to travel in half a day.

2. 10 years is not considered optimum to go on the water slide.
3. Don’t you think 1000 rupees is a little too much for a portrait?

RULE 16. The next rule is based on the use of collective nouns as subjects. Remember that when you have a collective noun as the
subject of the sentence, the verb can be singular or plural based on the sentence and the context.
Examples:

1. My family is settled in Australia.

2. All groups of participants have arrived.

RULE 17. In sentences that have adjectives such as ‘all’, ‘a lot of’, ‘lots of’ or ‘some’ are used along with nouns to form a phrase
that acts as the subject of the sentence, the verb is used according to the noun just before it.

Examples:

1. All of my dresses have become tight.

2. A lot of food is left out.
3. Some of the books are torn and damaged.

RULE 18. When a sentence begins with ‘each’ or ‘every’ as the subject, it is considered singular and so the verb has to be singular
too.
Examples:

1. Each student has been asked  to provide a consent letter.

2. Every teacher, parent and student is expected to work together.

RULE 19. The use of ‘have’ and ‘has’ in the present perfect tense, the present perfect continuous tense and as a main verb is also
dependent on the subject. All singular subjects use ‘has’ and all plural subjects use ‘have’.
Examples:

1. I have a younger brother.

2. You have taken the wrong cut.
3. Swetha has a pet dog.
4. William Shakespeare has written around 37 plays.
5. Finn has been waiting to talk to you about the test results.

Prepared by:

REMEDIOS ABIERA BIANES, LPT