Subject—Verb Agreement

Rule: A verb must agree with its subject in number.

A singular subject requires a singular verb.

A plural subject requires a plural verb.

S at the end of a VERB means it is singular.

(fall) The leaf __________ . The leaves __________ .

(blow) The wind __________ . The winds __________ .

(do) The team __________ . The teams __________ .

(buy) The man __________. The men __________.

(go) A boy ___________ . You __________. They __________.

(win) A girl __________. You __________. I __________ .

Interrupting Words

The agreement of a verb with its subject is NOT changed by any interrupting

words. NEVER look for the subject of a sentence in a prepositional phrase,

participial phrase, adjective clause, or parenthetical expression.

Examples: 1. Constant use by heavy trucks (causes, cause) damage to the road.

prepositional phrase

2. The linemen, as well as the quarterback, (is, are) worth watching.prepositional phrase

3. A clock carved entirely of wood pieces (was, were) constructed participial phrase

in 1753 by Benjamin Banneker.

4. Billions of barrels of oil (lies, lie) under the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

5. Salt in our bodies (tends, tend) to draw water from body tissue.

6. The towels that were in the dryer (feels, feel) warm.

7. Kevin, not one of his brothers, (delivers, deliver) our newspaper.

8. Rich deposits of iron ore (was, were) helpful in developing the steel industry in the United States.

Compound Subjects

Compound subjects will be joined by either and or or / nor.

Examples: Mom and Dad peanut butter and jelly

Either Tom or Amanda Coke or Sprite

Every mother and father Each boy and girl

Neither my sister nor my brother

Both Jack and Jill

Subjects Joined by And

Rule: A compound subject joined by and is considered plural.

Example: Both James and Sue (is, are) going.

Exception #1 If the subject joined by and refers to one person or one thing, the verb must be singular.

Examples: Cheese and crackers (is, are) a good snack.

A famous inventor and scientist (was, were) Benjamin Franklin.

Exception #2 A compound subject beginning with each or every is considered singular, so the verb must be singular.

Examples: Each song and dance (has, have) been carefully chosen.

Every book and magazine (was, were) inventoried.

Subjects Joined by Or or Nor

Rule: If a compound subject is joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the SUBJECT CLOSER TO THE VERB.

1 2 Examples: Jan or Susan (is, are) bringing dessert.

#2 subject is closer to the verb. Choose is.

1 2Neither the teachers nor the coach (has, have) left.

#2 subject is closer to the verb. Choose has.

1 2Either the cheerleaders or the sponsor (decides, decide) on the routine for the pep rally.

#2 subject is closer to the verb. Choose decides.

Practice with Compound Subjects

If the subject is joined by and:Choose the plural verb, unless the subject is one thing or person or unless each / every appears in front of the subject.

If the subject is joined by or / nor:Choose the verb that agrees with the subject closer to the verb.

1 21. Neither the oak nor the maples (has, have) shed any leaves.

1 22. Both Russia and Canada (is, are) neighbors of Alaska.

1 23. Either David or his brother (was, were) chosen to speak at the rally.

1 24. Every car and truck (is, are) going to need a new inspection sticker.

1 25. The computer and the printer (costs, cost) less than $1000.

1 26. Each tree and bush (suffers, suffer) from the heat and lack of rain.

1 27. The club’s treasurer and secretary (was, were) Alicia.

1 28. Country and western (has, have) become our favorite music.

1 29. Peanut butter and jelly (is, are) my favorite sandwich.

1 210. Brett and he (likes, like) camping.

1 211. Mark or Donna (knows, know) the address.

1 212. Neither our phone nor our doorbell (was, were) working.

1 213. (Does, Do) Mrs. Smith or the Campbells live here?

1 214. (Does, Do) the Campbells or Mrs. Smith live here?

1 215. Neither the roast nor the potatoes (is, are) done.

Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects

NOTE: Either and neither may or may not be the subject of the sentence. Carefully identify the subject when you are deciding what form of the verb to use.

NEITHER as an ADJECTIVE, not the subject: Neither animal has been fed.

NEITHER as a CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTION, not the subject:

Neither the cows nor the pigs have been fed yet.

NEITHER is the subject of the sentence:

Neither of the animals has been fed.

NOTE:

A subject preceded by every or many a(n) takes a singular verb.

SINGULAR indefinite pronouns:

anybody, everybody, nobody, somebody

anyone, everyone, no one, someone, one

each = one; either = one; neither = not one

Choose the SINGULAR verb, the one with an S.

Example:

Every parent is looking on proudly.

Many a hopeful performer has gone to Broadway in search of fame.

Examples:

1. One of the class workers (was, were) asked to join the committee.

2. Neither of my friends (is, are) from Rockwall originally.

3. Everyone (needs, need) to bring both books to class.

4. Every one of the windows (has, have) been broken by hail.

5. Either of the applications (does, do) merit attention.

6. Each of my sisters (sings, sing) in the choir.

What is wrong in this sentence from a newscast?

Coming up, you will learn why the police think

each of the carjackings are related.

Examples:

These indefinite pronouns may be singular or plural:

some, none, any, all, most

1. None of the tests (was, were) graded.

None of the pie (was, were) left.

2. Some of the spaghetti (is, are) gone.

Some of my friends (is, are) gone.

3. All of the sugar (has, have) been used up.

All of my books (has, have) my name in them.

4. (Has, Have) any of the shipment arrived?

(Has, Have) any of the shipments arrived?

Subjects in Inverted Order

Be careful about identifying the subject in questions, sentences beginning with here and there, and other inverted sentences.

1. (Does, Do) they know the price?

(Does, Do) he know the price?

2. (There’s, There are) several photos included in the article.

(There’s, There are) an article with several photos.

3. (Here’s, Here are) the answers to the exercise.

(Here’s, Here are) the answer to the problem.

4. Hidden in the back of the closet (was, were) Kevin’s present.

Hidden in the back of the closet (was, were) Kevin’s presents.

5. (Was, Were) the dog fed today?

(Was, Were) the dogs fed today?

Use these with singular subjects:

doesn’t, isn’t, wasn’t, hasn’t.

Use these with plural subjects:

don’t, aren’t, weren’t, haven’t.

Examples: The game (doesn’t, don’t) begin until noon.

(Don’t, Doesn’t) plants give off oxygen?

A verb agrees with the subject of the sentence, not with the predicative nominative.

Examples: Peanuts (is, are) a good source of protein.subject predicate nominative

The major cleanup problem (is, are) bottles and paper. subject predicate nominatives

Words Expressing an Amount

Rule: A subject that expresses an amount, a weight, or a measurement is usually singular.

Examples: Ten miles (is, are) too far to walk in a short time.

Twelve dollars (was, were) too much to pay for that movie.

Rule: If an amount tells how much, it is singular.

If an amount tells how many, it is plural.

Half of the meeting (was, were) devoted to questions.

(How much of the meeting?)

Half of the members (was, were) not present.

(How many of the members?)

The number of… A number of…

Use a singular verb with the number of:

The number of girls in our school (is, are) increasing.

Use a plural verb with a number of:

A number of girls (is, are) planning to attend the banquet.

Singular Nouns That Have a Plural Form:molasses, measles, economics, physics,

gymnastics, social studiesExamples: Mumps (is, are) a dangerous disease.

Physics (was, were) his major in college.

Use a singular verb fortitles of books, other literature, and works of art.

The name of a country, a city, or an organization usually takes a singular verb, even if it is plural in form.

Examples: Seven Gothic Tales (was, were) written by Isak Dinesen.

The Solomon Islands (has, have) a small population.

Carrier Computers (is, are) having a sale.

RELATIVE PRONOUNS

When the relative pronoun that, which, or who is the subject in an

adjective clause, the verb in the clause agrees with the word to

which the relative pronoun refers.

Example:

A corps de ballet is a group of ballet dancers that perform together.

(That refers to dancers and therefore requires the plural verb

perform.)

Example:

The Dutch painter Piet Mondrian, who was part of an art movement

known as de Stijl, was fond of the colors red, yellow, and blue.

(Who refers to Piet Mondrian and therefore requires the singular verb

was.)

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NOTE: When preceded by one of + a plural word, the relative pronoun takes a plural verb.

Example:

Melba is one of those players who always (tries, try) their best.

All of the players TRY their best, not just Melba.

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NOTE: When preceded by the only one of + a plural word, the relative

pronoun takes a singular verb.

Example:

Melba is the only one of those players who always (tries, try) her best.

Melba is the only player who TRIES her best.