Sub Verb Agrmnt

Subject-Verb Agreement
A singular subject demands a singular

verb; a plural subject demands a plural
verb. That is the simple principle behind
subject-verb agreement.
This presentation will explore some of the
difficulties we have with subject-verb
agreement and provide some notes about
avoiding agreement problems in our
writing.
1
Indefinite pronouns such as everyone and everybody
feel plural to some writers, but they are always
singular — and take a singular verb.
Everyone associated with the project is
proud to be part of the effort.
Someone has to be responsible.
Don’t be confused by phrases that come between the
subject pronoun and its verb — phrases that may
contain plural words.
Each of the project partners is responsible for
writing a chapter summary. 2
The verb that accompanies pronouns such as all and
some will be determined by whether the pronoun is
referring to something that is COUNTABLE or not.
Some of the students in the cafeteria have voted already.
Some of the grain was ruined by the flood.

“Students” is countable, but we cannot count “the grain”; it is one
lump, one quantity.
None is usually regarded as singular, but it can be used

as a plural pronoun.
None of the representatives has indicated how he or she

will vote. OR None of the representatives have indicated
3
how they will vote.
With fractional expressions (fractions or decimal
equivalents), the verb will be determined by what is
being measured: is it COUNTABLE or not.
Two-fifths of the grain is ruined.
One-half of the students were convinced that there

would be no final exams this year.
4
When two or more singular subjects are
connected by and, a plural form of the verb
is required.
He and his brother are going to London.
• EXCEPTIONS
(i) When the two singular subjects refer to the same person.
My brother and boss has to say something about
this matter.
(ii) Mathematical computation may take a singular or
a plural verb.
Two and two is four.
Two and two are four
5
Phrases such as together with, along with, and as
well as seem to join subjects, but they do not work
the same as and: they are not conjunctions.
Some of the hay in the barn, as well as some major

pieces of farm equipment, was ruined in the flood.
The major spending bill before National assembly ,

together with some other bills that are awaiting action, is
going to cost taxpayers plenty.
6
In formal writing, when either and neither appear
as a subject alone (without their sidekicks or and
nor), they are singular. This is true even though
the subject seems to be two things.
Neither of these choices appears to be satisfactory.
The purchasing office will lend me a company car

or compensate me for travel expenses. Either is fine
with me.
7
When either and neither act as
correlative conjunctions, the subject that is closer
to the verb determines the number (singular or
plural form) of the verb.
Neither the principal nor the teachers are at fault.

Either the teachers or the principal has to be
responsible for the year-end festival.
Has either the President or his aides been in touch

with you? 8
Be careful when lengthy or numerous modifying
phrases come between the subject and its verb.
Tim Berners-Lee, one of America’s most

prominent computer scientists and —as a founder
of the World Wide Web Consortium — one of the
most important figures in the development of the
Internet, has been working quietly at M.I.T. for
many years.
The fact that the plural “scientists” and “figures”
appear in this sentence has no effect on our choice of
9
a
singular verb, “has.”
Does a singular collective noun take a
singular or plural verb?
-If the collective noun refers to the group as

a unit, then it takes a singular verb.
-If it refers to the individuals in the group or

the parts that make up the group, then the
verb should be plural.
10
• The organisation (puts/put) on a
barbecue every summer.
• The flute ensemble (is/are) tuning
(its/their) instruments.
• The flute ensemble (is/are) playing at
the Kiwanis Music Festival.
• Every fall, the English class
(writes/write) book reports on (its/their)
summer reading.
11

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Subject-Verb Agreement

A singular subject demands a singular

Some of the students in the cafeteria have voted already.

Some of the grain was ruined by the flood.

None is usually regarded as singular, but it can be used

None of the representatives has indicated how he or she

Two-fifths of the grain is ruined.

One-half of the students were convinced that there

Some of the hay in the barn, as well as some major

The major spending bill before National assembly ,

Neither of these choices appears to be satisfactory.

The purchasing office will lend me a company car

Neither the principal nor the teachers are at fault.

Has either the President or his aides been in touch

Tim Berners-Lee, one of America’s most

-If the collective noun refers to the group as

-If it refers to the individuals in the group or

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