Subject-Verb Agreement

Some guides in making verbs agree with their subjects.

Subject - a person or thing that is being
discussed, described, or dealt with.

Verb - a word used to describe an action,

state, or occurrence, and forming the
main part of the predicate of a sentence,
such as hear, become, happen.
Subjects and verbs must AGREE with one another
in number (singular or plural).
1. A singular subject (she, Bill, car) takes a singular verb
(is, goes, shines), whereas a plural subject takes a plural
verb.

In the present tense, nouns and verbs form plurals in

opposite ways: nouns ADD an s to the singular
form; verbs REMOVE the s from the singular form.
2. A compound subject is a subject with two or more 
simple subjects.
If the elements of the compound
subject refer to one or the same
things that are closely associated, a
singular verb is used.

Example:
Spoon and fork is not used by
most barrio people.

The secretary and treasurer of

our club is Letty, my cousin.
In a compound subject, the simple subjects
are joined by words like "and," "or," or "nor"
(called coordinate conjunctions) or pairings
like "either/or" and "neither/nor" (called 
correlative conjunctions).
3. Compound subjects joined by correlatives, like
either-or, neither-nor, not only – but also, requires
singular verbs if both subjects are singular and plural
verbs if both subjects are plural.
Either the datu or the leader of the conquering fleet
expects to win.

When the simple subjects are singular, "either/or"

and "neither/nor" do not create a plural.
Neither Janet nor John have a suggestion. 
Neither Janet nor John has a suggestion. 
1. The region (consists, consist) of several
mountains.
2. The lowlands (remains, remain)
underwater.
3. The city (are, are) very populous.
4. Neither the big towns nor the small
lowlands (are, are) captured.
5. Either the datu or his brother (deserves,
deserve) the honors.
6. Not only Robert but also Johny (promise,
promises) full support for the poor child.
7. The vice-president and treasurer of the club
(are, are) my sister.
8. Sometimes the truth (hurts, hurt)
9. Speakers (observes, observe) proper pausing
and intonation.
10. The wanderers (lives, live) abundantly.