Subject-Verb Concord

English for Academic and Professional Purposes

Mr. Mark Anthony G. Lacsinto

 Group
Activity

GRAMMAR REVIEW THROUGH

JEOPARDY GAME
Basic
Rule

SINGULAR SUBJECT = SINGULAR VERB

PLURAL SUBJECT = PLURAL VERB

 Basic
Ruleattract.”
“Opposites

The rule for singular and plural verbs is just

the opposite of the rule for singular and
plural nouns.
NOUNS VERBS
SINGULAR – teacher SINGULAR – smells
PLURAL – teachers PLURAL – smell
 Basic
Rule
EXAMPLES:

Singular subject = singular verb:

The car stays in the garage.

Plural subject = plural verb:

The flowers smell good.
Rule #1
Two singular subjects connected by either/
or or neither/ nor require a singular verb.

EXAMPLES:

 Neither Jimmy nor Sandra is available.

 Either Joshua or Lyka is coming with us
today.
Rule #2
Subjects joined by and are plural. Subjects
joined by or or nor take a verb that agrees with
the last subject.

EXAMPLES:

 Bob and George are leaving.

 Neither Bob nor George is leaving.
 Neither Bob nor his friends are leaving.
Rule #3
Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb
by words such as along with, as well as, besides,
or not. Ignore these expressions when determining
whether to use a singular or plural verb

EXAMPLES:

 The politician, along with the newsmen, is

expected shortly.
 Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause
of her shaking
Rule #4
The pronouns each, everyone, everybody,
anyone, anybody, someone, and somebody
are singular and require singular verbs. Do
not be misled by what follows of.

EXAMPLES:

 Each of the girls sings well.

 Everyone is excited with the Christmas break
Rule #5
With words that indicate portions – percent, fractions,
part, majority, some, all, none, remainder, etc. – you must
look at the noun in your of phrase (object of the
preposition) to determine whether to use a singular or
plural verb. If the object of the preposition is singular, use
a singular verb. If the object of the preposition is plural,
use a plural verb.

EXAMPLES:

 Fifty percent of the pie has disappeared.

 Fifty percent of the pies have disappeared.
 One-third of the city is unemployed.
 One-third of the citizens of Manila are unemployed
Rule #6
When either and neither are subjects, they
always take singular verbs.

EXAMPLES:

 Neither of us is new to the culture of rape

in the Philippines
 Either of them is qualified for the position
Rule #7
The words here and there are never
subjects because they are not nouns. In
sentences beginning with here or there the
true subject follows the verb.

EXAMPLES:

 There are several articles I still have to read.

 Here is the program for tomorrow’s meeting.
Rule #8
Use a singular verb with sums of money or
periods of time.

EXAMPLES:

 I think five years is the minimum sentence

for robbery.
 Ten thousand pesos is a high price to pay
 Rule #9
Sometimes, the pronouns who, that, or which is
the subject of the verb in 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.

EXAMPLES:

 Salma is the scientist who writes the reports.

Rule #10
Collective nouns such as team and staff
may be either singular or plural depending
on their use in the sentence.

EXAMPLES:

 The staff is in a meeting.

 The staff members are in disagreement
about the findings.