Handout 1 - Subject Verb Agreement

Term 3_Grammar 7
Handout 1
Subjects and Verbs must AGREE with one another in number (singular or plural).

Singular Subject = Singular Verb
Plural Subject = Plural Verb
Remember that singular verbs usually end in (s) or (es),

but plural verbs usually do not.
Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

1. Add (-s) or (-es) to the verb if the subject is in the singular third person.
Examples:
Tessa represents the excellent students.
He believes in love at first sight.
2. If the elements of the compound subject refer to one and the same things that are closely associated, a singular verb is
used.
Example:
The secretary and treasurer of our club is Letty, my cousin.
3. Two singular subjects (compound subject) connected by “or” or “nor” take singular verb; two plural subjects (compound
subject) connected by “or” or “nor” take plural verb.
Examples:
Thelma or Mary dances gracefully.
Either the girls or the boys perform well in the class.
Neither the father nor the son accepts the plan.

Neither the fathers nor the sons accept the plan.
4. For two subjects (compound subjects) that differ in number connected by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject
nearer/nearest to it.
Examples:
Either the father or the sons were so thankful.
Either the sons or the father was so thankful.

Neither the doctor nor the nurses show impoliteness.
Neither the nurses nor the doctor shows impoliteness.
Term 3_Grammar 7
Handout 1

5. The expressions “there is” and “here is” must be followed by a singular noun; the expressions “there are” and “here are”
must be followed by a plural noun.
Examples:
There is a beautiful lady living in the new house.
There are three lovely kids sitting on the bench.
Here is the letter that I received.

Here are your test papers.
6. Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by phrases like: along with, as well as, besides, together with, etc.
These words and phrases are not part of the subject. The verb agrees with the subject of the sentence, not with the words
that come between the subject and verb
Examples:
My mother, together with her sisters, plays piano.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her shaking.
7. Indefinite Pronouns: Singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs.

Always Singular:
Each of the players was cited for excellence.
Everyone on the team has left for the day.
One of the players needs a replacement.
*Everybody, Anybody, Nobody, Anyone, Someone, Somebody
NOTE: Subjects preceded by every or many a(n) take singular verbs.
 Every takeoff and landing is cleared with the tower.
 Many a runner finishes a marathon long after the winner.
8. Titles: A title is singular and takes a singular verb.

Example: The Grapes of Wrath is Steinbeck’s best novel.
9. Measurement:
Expressions of measurement such as length, weight, capacity, and area are usually singular when considered as
one unit.
Examples:
• Two and fifty-four hundredths centimeters equals one inch.
• Seven pounds was the baby’s weight at birth.
• Ninety miles is the distance between Florida and Cuba.
When the subject indicates a fraction, percent, or part, the verb agrees with the noun in the ‘of the phrase.’
Examples:
•Fifty percent of the pies are gone.
•Two-thirds of the pie is gone.
Term 3_Grammar 7
Handout 1
10. Plural-Looking Nouns: Nouns that are plural in form but singular in meaning agree with singular verbs .
civics gymnastics mumps summons electronics physics
economics mathematics news molasses measles genetics
Singular:
Mathematics is an exciting subject for some.
The news today is good.
NOTE
• Many nouns ending in –ics, such as acoustics, athletics, ethics, politics, and tactics, may be
either singular or plural in meaning.
Examples:
•Who said, “Politics is the art of the possible”? (Singular)
• Are your politics like those of your parents? (Plural)
11. The number vs. A number

The number =singular A number =plural
The number of dogs in his house is increasing.

A number of dogs are found in his house.
12. Collective Nouns: Collective nouns that emphasize the unity of a group takes singular verbs; collective noun that
stresses the several group members take plural verbs
Examples:
The cast rehearses every night from six to nine.
The cast go their separate ways after rehearsals every night.
13. Plural Subjects: As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects or when they are connected by “and ”.
Examples:
A car and a bike are my means of transportation.
Annie and Annika join the poster-making contest.
My friends eat balot, a Filipino street food.
14. The pronouns all, any, more, most, none, and some take a singular verb if the antecedent is singular and a plural verb if
it is plural.
Singular: Some of the stew is spoiled.
Plural: Some of the cars are expensive.

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Term 3_Grammar 7

Subjects and Verbs must AGREE with one another in number (singular or plural).

Remember that singular verbs usually end in (s) or (es),

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

Neither the father nor the son accepts the plan.

Here is the letter that I received.

7. Indefinite Pronouns: Singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs.

8. Titles: A title is singular and takes a singular verb.

11. The number vs. A number

The number of dogs in his house is increasing.

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