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Grammar Notebook

Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule #1

Singular subjects take singular verbs

ExamplesMax eats candy. Sue eats candy.

He eats candy. She eats candy.

Rule #2

Plural subjects take plural verbs.

ExamplesMax and Sue eat candy.

They eat candy.

Rule #3

When two subjects are joined by and, the verb should be plural.

ExamplesBill washes his car.

Tom washes his car.

Bill and Tom wash their cars.

Justin and Patrick (go goes) to every home game.TRICK: If you know the subject is plural, replace the names with the plural word they. Then you can HEAR which verb sounds right!They go to every home game.

Rule #4

When two subjects are joined by or ornor, the verb should match the subject closest to it .

Examples with ORSam mows my lawn every weekend.

Kevin mows my lawn every weekend.

Either Sam or Kevin mows my lawn every weekend.

Examples with NORThe scouts were not lost.

The leader was not lost.

Neither the scouts nor the leader was lost.

Neither the leader nor the scouts were lost.

Neither Joan nor Deirdre (drinks drink) coffee.TRICK: If you know the subject is singular, replace the name with the singular word he or she. Then you can HEAR which verb sounds right!She drinks coffee.

Rule #5

A word in a prepositional phrase will not be the subject.

ExamplesEvery day one of the football players falls down.

TIP: Putting parentheses around the prepositional phrase can help you find the correct subject!Every day one (of the football players) falls down.

( was / were ) completely covered with aphids.Either Jen or Nicole ( brings / bring ) magazines to read while doing the laundry.Neither the employees nor the manager ( knows / know ) how to install a new roll of paper into the cash register.