Subject Verb Agreement

The Rule

A verb must agree with its subject in

number and person

A singular subject takes a singular verb

A plural subject takes a plural verb

With most verbs, the only change in form to indicate agreement in

person occurs in the present tense. An –s (or –es) is added to the base form of the verb when its

subject is third-person singular.

Example

SingularShe speaks.

He exercises.She pitches

PluralThey speak.

They exercise.They pitch.

Avoid mistaking a word in a prepositional

phrase for the subject of a sentence

Example

The concerns of Dr. Anagnos did not stop Annie from traveling to

Alabama.

Predicate Nominative (PN)

Follows a linking verb and describes the

subject of the sentence.

Do not be confused by a predicate nominative that is different in number from the

subject. Only the subject affects the number of the linking verb.

Predicate Nominative (PN)

ExampleS: The lightest crate is two tons.

P: Recent studies on the behavior of wild animals are his topic for the day.

An inverted sentence is a sentence in which the subject follows the verb. In these sentences, be

careful when locating the subject, and make sure the subject agrees

with the verb.

Inverted Sentences

Examples

SINGULAR:

In the jungle roars the lion.PLURAL:

In the jungle roar the lions.

Collective NounsA collective noun names a group.

EXAMPLES:familyteamclasscommittee

A collective noun is singular when it refers to a group as a whole.

A collective noun is plural when it refers to each member of the group

individually.

Examples1. SINGULAR: His family arrives.

2. PLURAL: His family are well.

3. SINGULAR: The committee decides.

4. PLURAL: The committee sign their names.

Special Nouns

Certain nouns that end in –s, such as mumps, measles,

and mathematics, take singular verbs.

S: Mumps is a disease.

Special NounsCertain other nouns that end in

–s, such as scissors, pants, binoculars, and eyeglasses,

take plural verbs.

P: The scissors were sharp.

Special NounsMany nouns that end in –ics may be

singular or plural, depending upon their meaning.

S: Statistics is an interesting subject.

P: Statistics show that women live longer than men.

Nouns of AmountWhen a noun of amount refers

to a total that is considered as one unit, the noun is

singular.S: Three dollars is not too much

money for that book.

Nouns of Amount

When a noun of amount refers to a number of

individual units, the noun is plural.

S: Three dollars are on the table.

TitlesA title is always singular, even

if a noun within the title is plural.

S: The Miracle Worker is the story of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan.

Compound SubjectsA compound subject that is joined by and or both…and

is plural unless its parts belong to one unit or the

parts both refer to the same person or thing.

ExamplesP: The lion and the tiger

are roaring.

Both skiing and skating are fun.

S: Peanut butter and jelly is a favorite combination.

His friend and companion accompanies him.

Compound Subjects

Compound subjects joined by or or nor (or by either…

or or neither…nor), the verb always agrees with

the subject nearer the verb.

Compound SubjectsP: Neither the lion nor the tigers are roaring.

S: Either the lion or the tiger is roaring.

Neither the lions nor the tiger roars.

Compound SubjectsWhen many a, every, or each precedes a

compound subject, the subject is considered singular.

S: Many a giraffe and elephant lives in the nature preserve.

Every chair, bench, and table was taken.

Each lion and tiger is roaring.

Intervening Expressions

Some expressions, such as accompanied by, as well as, in

addition to, plus, and together with, introduce phrases that modify the

subject but do not change its number. These expressions do not

create compound subjects.

Examples1. Margaret , accompanied by her

date, was the first girl to dance.

2. The pianist, as well as the guitarist, the saxophonist, and the lead singer, is late.

3. Her course load, plus her extracurricular activities, was a lot to handle.

Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects

A verb must agree in number with an indefinite pronoun subject.

There are three groups of indefinite pronouns: always singular, always

plural, and singular or plural.

Singular Indefinite Pronouns

Singular indefinite pronouns always take singular verbs.

1. Everybody is going to the rodeo.

2. No one in the audience looks upset.

Plural Indefinite Pronouns

Plural indefinite pronouns always take plural verbs.

P: Both of the children are in school this morning.

P: Many of the books were donated to the library.

Singular or PluralA pronoun from the group labeled

“singular or plural can be either singular or plural, depending on the

noun to which it refers.

S: Some of the dessert is left.

P: Some of the commuters were caught in the rainstorm.

THE END!