Subject Verb Agreement

SUBJECT – VERB AGREEMENT
RULES
TYPES OF VERBS
Rule 1. Number Agreement
Subjects and verbs must agree in number. This is the cornerstone rule that forms the
background of the concept. And, only the subject affects the verb! Nothing else matters
.
• The dog growls when he is angry.
• The dogs growl when they are angry.
Rule 2. Words Between Subject and Verb
Subordinate clauses and prepositional phrases that come between the subject and verb
don't affect their agreement.
Ex.
The dog, who is chewing on my jeans, is usually
very good.
The colors of the rainbow are beatiful.
Rule 3. There or Here
When sentences start with "there" or "here," the subject will always be placed after the verb.
Some care needs to be taken to identify each part correctly.
Example:
There is a problem with the balance sheet.
Here are the papers you requested.
Rule 4. Subject After Verb in Questions
Subjects don't always come before verbs in questions. Make sure you accurately identify the subject
before deciding on the proper verb form to use.
Example:
Where are the pieces of this puzzle?
Where is the key I left on the desk?
Rule 5. Joined by And
If two subjects are joined by "and," they typically require a plural verb form.
Example
The cow and the pig are jumping over the

moon.
Billy and Jake are going to the movies.
Rule 6. Two Subjects Separated by And
The verb is singular if the two subjects separated by "and" refer to the same person or
thing as a whole.
Example:
Red beans and rice is my mom's favorite dish.
Spaghetti and meatballs is a great meal.
Rule 7. Each, Every and No
If the word "each," "every" or "no"
comes before the subject, the verb is
singular.
Example:
No smoking or drinking is allowed.
Every man and woman is required to check in.
Rule 8. Multiple Subjects Connected With Conjunction
If the subjects are both singular and are connected by
the words "or," "nor," "neither/nor," "either/or," or "not
only/but also," the verb is singular. If the subjects are
both plural and are connected by the words "or," "nor,"
"neither/nor," "either/or," or "not only/but also," the
verb is plural.
Example:
Either Jessica or Christian is to blame for
the accident
Not only dogs but also cats are available at

the animal shelter.
Rule 9. Singular and Plural Subjects Connected
by Conjunction
If one subject is singular and the other is plural
and the words are connected by the words "or,"
"nor," "neither/nor," "either/or," or "not
only/but also," use the verb form of the subject
that is nearest the verb.
Examples:
Either the bears or the lion has escaped from
the zoo.
Neither the lion nor the bears have escaped
from the zoo.
Rule 10. Units of Measure
The singular verb form is usually reserved for units of measurement or time.
Example:
Four quarts of oil was required to get the car
running.
Ten minutes is enough time to get there.
Rule 11. Object of the Preposition
The only time the object of the preposition decides
plural or singular verb forms is when noun and pronoun
subjects like "some," "half," "none," "more," or "all" are
followed by a prepositional phrase. Then the object of
the preposition determines the form of the verb.
Example:
All of the chicken is gone.
All of the chickens are gone.
*Preposition is of
Rule 12. Infinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns typically take singular
verbs. The exceptions to the rule include
the pronouns "few," "many," "several," and
"both." These always take the plural form.
Example:
Everybody wants
to be loved.
Few were left alive
after the flood.
Rule 13. Gerunds
When gerunds are used as the subject of a
sentence, they take the singular form of
the verb. However, when they are linked
by "and," they take the plural form.
Example:
Standing in the water was
a bad idea.
Swimming in the ocean and
playing drums are my
Hobbies.
Rule 14. Collective Nouns
A collective noun, such as "team" or "staff," can
be either singular or plural depending upon the
rest of the sentence. Typically, they take the
singular form, as the collective noun is treated
as a cohesive single unit.
Example:
The herd is
stampeding.
The flock is
flying south.
Rule 15. Titles of Books
Titles of books, movies, novels, and other similar works are treated as singular and take a
singular verb.
Example:
The Burbs is a movie starring Tom Hanks.
Gone With the Wind is my favorite movie of all

time.
EXCEPTIONS
• "Anyone," "everyone," "someone," "no one," and
"nobody" always require singular verbs.
• "Neither" and "either" require singular verbs even

though they seem to be referring to two separate
things.
• Words that indicate portions of a whole, such as

"percent," "fraction," "some," "none," and
"remainder," require a singular verb only if the object
of the preposition is singular.
EXCEPTIONS
• "Who," "that," and "which" can be singular or plural, according
to the noun directly in front of them.
• The phrase introduced by "as well as" or "along with" modifies

the earlier word but doesn't compound the subjects.
• Modifiers between the subject and verb do not affect whether

the verb is singular or plural.
• Just because a word ends in -s doesn't automatically make it

plural.
EXCEPTIONS
• When a sentence compounds a positive and a
negative subject and only one is plural, the
verb should agree with the positive subject.
Example:
The department members but not the chair
have decided not to teach on Valentine’s Day.

Subject Verb Agreement

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Subject Verb Agreement

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Subject Verb Agreement

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

SUBJECT – VERB AGREEMENT

The cow and the pig are jumping over the

Not only dogs but also cats are available at

Gone With the Wind is my favorite movie of all

• "Neither" and "either" require singular verbs even

• Words that indicate portions of a whole, such as

• The phrase introduced by "as well as" or "along with" modifies

• Modifiers between the subject and verb do not affect whether

• Just because a word ends in -s doesn't automatically make it

You might also like