Subject Vĺerb

Agreement
By Kisha Mae Calaurian
#1-A. IF TWO SUBJECTS ARE JOINED BY “AND”,
THEY TYPICALLY REQUIRE A PLURAL VERB.

•The puppy and the lady are friends.

The student and the teacher are talking.

B. IF TWO SUBJECTS ARE SEPARATED BY “AND” REFER TO THE SAME THING,
THE VERB IS SINGULAR.

Spaghetti and meatballs is my

favorite pasta dish.

Ham and cheese is his favorite

sandwich.
The new president and CEO arrives in
an hour.
Ham and eggs is a popular breakfast
dish.
#2.IF A SUBJECT IS MODIFIED BY THE WORDS “EACH” OR
“EVERY” THAT SUBJECT IS SINGULAR AND WILL TAKE A
VERB FORM THAT ENDS IN “S.”

Each boy and girl has to

take the test.

Every frog and toad turns

into a prince.
#3-A. IF BOTH SUBJECTS ARE SINGULAR AND CONNECTED BY OR, NOR,
NEITHER/NOR, EITHER/OR AND NOT ONLY/BUT ALSO, THE VERB IS SINGULAR.

Amanda or Hannah has stolen the

scarecrow.

Not only the guitar player but also the

drummer was soaked with sweat.
B. IF BOTH SUBJECTS ARE PLURAL AND CONNECTED BY THE
WORDS OR, NOR, NEITHER/NOR, EITHER/OR, AND NOT
ONLY/BUT ALSO, THE VERB IS PLURAL

COOKIES OR BROWNIES ARE

NICE TREATS FOR YOUR
TEACHER.
NOT ONLY THE STUDENTS BUT
ALSO THE TEACHERS HAVE TO
UNDERGO VACCINATION
C. IF ONE SUBJECT IS SINGULAR AND ONE PLURAL
AND ARE CONNECTED BY THE WORDS OR, NOR,
NEITHER/NOR, EITHER/OR, AND NOT ONLY/BUT ALSO,
USE THE SUBJECT THAT IS NEAREST THE VERB.

Either my sisters or my mom has sent me a present

Not only Bob but also the Smiths want some
hamburgers for supper.
#4. MOST INDEFINITE PRONOUNS TAKE
SINGULAR VERBS.

One * Everybody is happy.

Neither * No one has a dime.
Either * Nothing was going to help.
#.5 THE SUBJECT OF A VERB IS NEVER IN A
PREPOSITIONAL* OR VERBAL PHRASE.
THEREFORE, YOU MUST ISOLATE THE PHRASE
AND FIND THE PROPER SUBJECT.

The mother duck with all of her little ducklings

walks to the store.
The mother duck including all her ducklings
walks to the store.
The mother duck (with all of her little
ducklings) walks to the store.
The mother duck (including all her ducklings)
walks to the store.
Thank you!!!
Godspeed...