Subject-verb Agreement

1. Singular subject( He, She, It)

requires singular verb
Ex. a) Andrew spends most of his
time with his family.
b) Aiza studies her lesson at the
library.
c) She studies her lesson at the
library.
2. Plural subjects ( I, You, We,
They) take plural form of the
verb.
Ex. a) They worry about too
many things in their lives.
b) Professional athletes train
regularly.
3. The verb agrees with the
subject in the sentence, not with
the noun in the intervening
phrase.( together with, as well
as, along with, including the)
Ex. a) The governor, as well as
the mayors, is going to attend
the cocktail party.
b) The teachers, together with
Sister Carmela, are sure to
attend the party.
c) Henry, along with his
parents, was surprised by the
coming of his sister.
4. The indefinite pronouns such as
each, anyone, everyone, someone,
no one, and nobody are always
singular and take singular verb.
Ex. 1. Everyone in class has done
the activity.
2. Anyone who wishes to succeed
must work hard.
The indefinite pronouns all
and some may be singular or
plural depending on whether
what they referring to is
countable or uncountable.
Countable- plural
Uncountable- singular
Ex.
a) Some of the sugar is
missing.
b) Some of the pies are gone.
The indefinite pronoun none
can either be singular or plural
depending on what they refer
to in the sentence.
Ex. a) None of the guests are
in formal attire.
b) None of the apple pies
were eaten.
c) None of the toxic
waste has leaked.
6.Use does and doesn’t
with singular subjects.
1. Doesn’t Ralph like
mathematics?
2. Mark does his project.
7. Use do and don’t with
plural subjects including
pronouns I, you, we and they.
Ex.
1. They don’t understand
what I’m saying.
2. Do my cousins allow to
join?
8. Compound subjects
connected by and require
the base form of the verb.
If the subjects refer to the
same person, thing or idea,
use the –s form
Ex.
1. Luis and Anton join us in
our practice every day.
2. My sister and my friend
greet me happy birthday.
3. My friend and classmate
calls me often.
9. Sums of money or periods
of time require singular verbs.
Ex.
a)Sixty pesos is a high price for
a drink.
b) Ten years is the maximum
sentence for that offense.
10. The relative pronoun who,
that, and which refer to a
noun preceding them. If the
subject with a relative
pronoun is singular, use
singular verb. If it is plural, use
plural verb.
a) It is broccoli that prevents
cancer.
b) The piano, which is Leah’s
favorite musical instrument, is
now in the stock room.
c) My parents, who traveled to
different places, give us many
gifts.
11. The indefinite pronouns
neither and either are singular,
therefore, they require
singular verbs.
Ex. a)Either of the two photos
is fine with me.
b) Neither option was
acceptable for Jena.
However, when the pronouns
neither and either are used
with the conjunctions nor and
or respectively, the subject
nearer/closer to the verb
determines the form of the
verb.
Ex. a) Neither the guard nor the
policemen arrest the criminals.
b) Either the lawyer or the
owners of the house are going to
make the final decision.
c) Either the parents or the maid
prepares the girl’s snacks.
12. The expression the number
takes a singular verb; the
expression a number takes a
plural verb.
Ex. The number of participants
does not indicate a large
attendance.
A number of students are joining
the outdoor activity.
13. Titles of books, songs,
stories, movies, etc. require
singular forms of verbs.
Ex. 1. Angels and Demons has
been criticized by many.
14. When a sentence begins with
expletive there and here, the
verb agree with the subject that
follows.
Ex. There go Mr. Cruz’s students
with the principal.
There is one poem I would like to
read.
Here are some letters from
your mother.

Here is my grandfather’s old

house.
15. When an adjective is used
as a subject, the verb must be
plural.
Ex. The poor are oftentimes
depressed.
The humble demonstrate
good values.
16. In inverted sentences, the
verbs must agree with the
subjects nearest them.
Ex.
a) Along the beach stand
different beautiful cottages.
b) Inside the room cries a cute
puppy.
17. When each and every are
used to precede a subject, it
requires a singular verb.
Ex.
a) Each teacher is given
Christmas bonus.
b) Every doctor or nurse cares
18. Plural indefinite pronouns
take plural verb. ( few, both,
several, many, etc.)
Ex.
a)Many people participate in the
parade.
b)Both of my parents are
working abroad.
19. If a fraction is used as a subject,
it requires singular or plural verbs
depending on the number of of-
phrase.
Ex.
a) Two-thirds of the bananas are
ripe.
b) One-half of the bar soap costs
20. The expression many a
when used to precede a
subject requires a singular
verb.
Ex. Many a man loves Diana.
Many a citizens is appreciative
of arts and culture.
21. Collective nouns such as
crew, faculty, class, team, choir,
etc. usually take singular verbs
when the speaker refers to the
group as a WHOLE, but take the
plural verbs when the speaker
refers to the INDIVIDUAL
MEMBERS.
Ex.
a) The orchestra plays for the
audience nightly.
b) The class goes to the speech
laboratory.
c) The orchestra are bringing
their instruments home.
d. The class go home after
classes.
22. Mathematical abstractions
require the –s form of the verb.
Ex.
a) Two times nine equals
eighteen.
b) Five plus three is eight.
c) Twenty four minus four equals
twenty.
23. Compound subjects joined by
and regarded as one requires
singular form of the verb.
Ex.
a) Spoon and fork is used in eating.
b) Ham and cheese is my favorite
breakfast.
c) Rice and fish makes a good diet.
24. Compound subjects composed
of a negative and an affirmative
part require verbs which agree
with the affirmative.
Ex.
a) Not the coach, but the players
need stamina.
b) The teacher, not the students,
arrives late in class.
25. Expressions of amount or
quantity preceding plural nouns
referring to time and distance
require singular verbs.
Ex.
a)Five miles is far enough.
b) Three days was spent in
making my project.
26. Some nouns are plural in
form but singular in meaning
like news, measles, mumps,
civics, politics, physics,
athletics, economics,
mathematics, intramurals,
ethics, etc. take the –s form of
the verb.
Ex.
a) Civics teaches the duties of
citizenship.
b) The news is really
depressing.
27. Some nouns are both plural in
form and plural in meaning. These
nouns require the –s form of the
verb.
Ex.
a) These tweezers belong to him.
b) Her jeans are tight.
28. A subject with a word or
expression that indicate
percentage or portion takes
either singular or plural verbs
depending on the number of
the noun in the of-phrase that
follows it.
Ex.
a) A large percentage of the voting
population consists of the youth.
b) Forty percent of the senior citizens
are in favor of changing the policy.
c) Half of the class attends the
symposium.
d) Half of the teachers attend the
seminar.