Subject Verb Agreement

SUBJECT - VERB AGREEMENT RULES
A. Agreement in Person and Number

The verb must agree with its subject in person and number. If the subject of
the sentence is singular, the verb must also be in the singular. If the subject is in
the first person, the verb must also be in the first person. If the subject is in the
second or third person, the verb must agree.
Example:
1. He doesn’t know the answer. (correct – subject and verb are in third person)
He don’t know the answer. (incorrect – lack of agreement)
2. You were invited to the meeting. (correct – subject and verb are in the
second person)
You was invited to the meeting. (incorrect – lack of agreement)
B. Agreement of Verb with Compound Subject

The parts of a compound subject are usually connected by and, or, nor,
either-or, and neither-nor. Usually, when two or more subjects are connected by
and, the subject is plural and requires a plural verb. The following examples have
compound subjects:
Example:
1. Mary and Jane are taking Spanish.
2. The president and the vice-president speak at every meeting.
In the first sentence, the two parts of the compound subject are connected by
and. The compound subject is plural and takes a plural verb, are. In the second
sentence, the two parts of the compound subject are also connected by and. The
subject takes the plural of the verb which is speak.
There is one exception to the “and” rule. Sometimes the two subjects
connected by and form a unit. In this case, the subject is regarded as singular
and takes a singular verb.
Example:
1. Bacon and eggs is a popular combination. (Verb is singular.)
2. The Stars and Stripes flies overhead. (Verb is singular.)
When two subjects connected by and refer to the same person of thing, the
subject is singular.
Example:
1. His companion and friend is very devoted to him. (same person)
2. The secretary and treasurer was present at the meeting. (same person)
By placing the word his before friend and the word the before treasurer, you
clearly indicate that there are two individuals.
C. Subject Connected by ‘Or’ or ‘Nor’

When two singular subjects are connected by the word or, the subject is
singular. The sentence means either the one or the other. It does not mean
both. The same rule applies when nor is used to join two singular subjects. Either
or and neither nor follow the same rule.
Example:
1. Mary or Jane is going to the fashion show. (the one or the other)
2. Neither the man nor the boy was responsible. (neither the one nor the other)
When one of the subjects connected by or, nor, either or, neither nor is
singular and the other is plural, the verb agrees with the subject that is nearer to
it. If both subjects are plural, the verb is also plural.
Example:
1. Neither the boy nor the men were responsible. (Verb is plural)
2. Neither the men nor the boy was responsible. (Verb is singular)
3. Neither the men nor the boys were responsible. (Verb is plural)
In the first sentence, the plural subject is nearer to the verb. In the second
sentence, the singular subject is nearer to the verb. The third sentence, both
subjects are plural. When one of the subjects is singular and the other is plural, you
should put the plural subject nearer to the ver. It makes the verb plural and sound
better.
Example:
1. Either I or they are responsible for the small attendance.
This sentence would sound better if it were written as follows:
Example:
1. Either I am responsible for the small attendance, or they are.
D. Agreement of Verb with Collective Nouns

A collective noun is a noun that represents a group or a collection of objects
usually considered as a unit. Words like crowd, troop, herd, people, flock, and
jury are collective nouns.
A collective noun that is singular in meaning requires a singular verb. A
collective noun that is plural in meaning requires a plural verb.
If the collective noun in a particular sentence represents the individuals
acting as a unit, the noun is singular. If the sentence indicates clearly that the
individuals are acting separately, the noun is plural. The following examples will
help you see this distinction.
Example:
1. The committee is opposed to the plan. (acting as a unit)
2. The board of directors is in session. (as a unit)
3. The jury returned its verdict. (as a unit)
4. The jury have returned to their homes. (as individuals)
5. The family have given their contributions. (as individuals)
In most cases where the individuals composing a group are acting separately,
it is better to use such expressions as the members of the jury, the members of
the family, etc. these expressions sound better and clearly indicate that the
individuals are acting separately.
Example:
1. The members of the jury have returned to their homes.
2. The people in the audience were waving their hands.
E. Intervening Phrases
Sometimes the subject is followed by prepositional phrases or such
expressions as accompanied by, in accordance with, together with, as well
as, including, etc. The subject of the sentence is not affected in any way by the
introduction of such phrases. You will never find the subject of the sentence in a
prepositional phrase or in any one of the expressions listed in the following
sentences.
Example:
1. A package (of books) was delivered today.
2. Materials (for the building) have been shipped.
3. Important papers, as well as his will, were found in his desk.
4. The checks, including a statement, were mailed today.
In the first sentence, the subject is the word package. Since package is
singular, the verb must be singular. In the second sentence, the subject is the word
materials. Since the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. The prepositional
phrases, of books, and for the building, do not affect the number of the subject.
The subject of the third sentence is papers which is plural. The verb must also
be plural to agree with the subject. The group of words, as well as his will, does
not affect the number of the subject. In the fourth sentence, the expression,
including a statement, does not affect the number of the subject. The subject is
checks, which is plural. The verb must also be plural, to agree with the subject.
F. Agreement of Subject with Contractions

Contractions are verbs that have been shortened by the omission of the
letters is indicated by the use of an apostrophe. Many persons make mistakes in
agreement of subject and verb when they use contractions. The use of the
contractions don’t and ain’t are responsible for a great many of these errors.
Although the word ain’t is frequently heard in informal conversion, most
educated persons consider its use incorrect and unacceptable.
Do not use ain’t for am not, are not, or isn’t. The contraction aren’t
should be used for are not. There is no contraction for the words am not.
Example:
1. I am not interested in the position. (not ain’t)
2. We are not going to the theater. (not ain’t)
3. We aren’t going to the meeting. (not ain’t)
4. Isn’t this a beautiful day! (not ain’t)
Another error commonly made is the use of don’t for doesn’t. Don’t is a
contraction for do not. It should not be used in the third person, singular. The
expressions, it don’t, he don’t and she don’t are incorrect. Do not misuse them
for it doesn’t, he doesn’t, and she doesn’t.
Example:
1. It don’t make any difference. (incorrect)
2. It doesn’t make any difference. (correct)
3. He don’t belong to our union. (incorrect)
4. He doesn’t belong to our union. (correct)
G. Agreement of Verb with Indefinite Pronouns

The indefinite pronouns one, no one, anyone, everyone, someone,
anybody, nobody, everybody, somebody, each, either, and neither are
singular. Since these pronouns are singular, they take a singular verb.
Example:
1. Only one of the candidates is eligible. (singular verb)
2. Each of these bags has been examined. (singular verb)
3. Neither has lost his ticket. (singular verb)
4. Somebody is responsible for the accident. (singular verb)
5. Anyone has the right to offer criticism. (singular verb)
6. Nobody has access to the vault. (singular verb)
When many a, each, and every are used to introduce a sentence and
function as adjectives the subject is singular.
Example:
1. Many a man whishes that he had gone to college.
2. Each window and door was locked securely.
3. Every man, woman, and child is expected to report.
The indefinite pronouns several, few, both and many are always plural.
Example:
1. Several were called to the platform. (plural verb)
2. A few were opposed to the bill. (plural verb)
3. Both were anxious to receive the award. (plural verb)
4. Many in the audience objected to his speech. (plural verb)
The indefinite pronouns some, none, any, and all are singular or plural
according to the meaning of the sentence. When these words refer to a quantity
or a mass taken as a whole, they are generally considered as singular. When they
refer to a number, they are regarded as plural in meaning.
Example:
1. Some are going by plane. (more than one – plural)
2. Some of the ice cream is left. (mass or quantity – singular)
3. Are any of the men going by plane? (more than one – plural)
4. Is there any gasoline in the tank? (mass or quantity – singular)
5. None of these apples are ripe. (more than one – plural)
6. We needed a ball but none was available. (not one – singular)
7. All of the gasoline has been sold. (mass or quantity – singular)
8. All of the women have brought gifts. (more than one –plural)
Some nouns are plural in form, but singular in meaning. Examples of nouns
that take a singular verb are mumps, measles, news, summons, physics, and
mathematics.
Example:
1. Physics is a very interesting subject. (verb is singular)
2. The news this week is starting. (verb is singular)
3. Measles is a contagious disease. (verb is singular)
4. Mathematics was his favorite study. (verb is singular)
H. Special Cases of Agreement

1. Words like pants, trousers, pliers, scissors, shears, and tongs are plural
and take a plural verb. When the word pair is used as the subject, the subject is
regarded as singular and takes a singular verb.
Example:
1. The scissors are very sharp. (plural)
2. A pair of scissors was left on the desk. (singular)

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SUBJECT - VERB AGREEMENT RULES

A. Agreement in Person and Number

B. Agreement of Verb with Compound Subject

C. Subject Connected by ‘Or’ or ‘Nor’

D. Agreement of Verb with Collective Nouns

F. Agreement of Subject with Contractions

G. Agreement of Verb with Indefinite Pronouns

H. Special Cases of Agreement

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