SUB JE CT

VERB
AGR EEM ENT
 GENERAL RULE:
If the subject is
singular, the
verb should be
singular.
If the subject is
Singul
ar
Mang Ato is a clown.

Singu
lar
 Plur Plur
al al
The students are
sitting outside the
building.
 An
RULE # 1.

intervening
phrase or
clause does
not affect
 Singul
ar
The actor most
admired by the
students is on
stage.
Singul
 Two or
RULE # 2.

more
singular
subjects
joined by or
 subject verb

A car or a bus is the

only means of travel
there.
Only the fathers or the
mothers are to be
invited.
The teachers or the
parents go with the
students.
Plural subjects joined by or / nor
 Two or
RULE # 3.

more plural
subjects
joined by or
or nor must
 If one or
RULE # 4.

more singular
subjects are
joined to one or
more plural
subjects by or or
 Singu
lar
• Neither David nor my
parents are going with
us.
plural plura
l
RULE # 5. A
compound
subject joined
by and is
generally
plural and
 Compound subjects

One boy and one girl

are the finalists.

plural
 Exceptions:
If the parts of a
compound subject add up
to one thing, the
compound subject
Compound subject add up
is
singular,
to one thing it should take a
singular
singular verb.
nd eggs is a hearty brea
 If the compound subject
is preceded by every or
each , a singular verb is
required.
Compound subject singular

y dog and cat was inocul

1.Both my boss
and her partner
(collect, collects)
old coins.
2. Tina or Kathy
(plan, plans) to
represent us.
3. Neither Jack
nor Tim (want,
wants) to make
the delivery.
4. The old books
in the attic
(was, were)
thrown away.
5. The climate of
both countries (
is , are) very
good.
1. Dark c lo uds a nd
rain (h as, h ave )
been fo recast
today.
2. Fruit s a nd
vegeta ble s
(pro vid e,
3. Sp agh et ti an d
mea tb all s (i s,
are ) her f avo ri te
dis h.
4. A tra in or
se ver al bu ses (
is, a re ) a va ila ble
on Su nd ays .
5. Bo th th e t wi ns
and N ida ( is ,
are ) vis it in g
Gr and mo the r.
6. Ei the r my un cle
or my p are nt s
(ph on e, ph on es)
eac h
7. A car to n o f
gr ape s fro m
Ceb u (wa s,
we re) d eli ve red .
8. Th e v eg eta bl es
in th e ste w ( i s,
ar e ) ta st y.
9. Th e p re sid ent
and o wn er of th e
com pa ny
(ta lk ,ta lk s) ab out
the p rob le m.
10. M y u nc le, a s
we ll as my
cou si ns (i s,a re )
com in g