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The verb change form not only in tense but also in person and number. The person and number of a
verb determined by the person and number of its subject.
A verb is singular in form when it end in-s or es, for example walks , rings, plays, calls, describes ,
catches, does, chooses, loses.
The root or base form of the verb is referred to as its plural form . It is used with all kinds of subject s
except the third person, singular which call for the s-form.
Rules of Subject Verb Agreement in Standard English
1. Subjects and verbs must agree in number. This is the cornerstone rule that forms the background
of the concept.
Example
a. He asks many questions about his work.
b. We ask for help every day.
c. The dog growls when he is angry.
d. The dogs growl when they are angry.
2. Each , everyone, everybody, everyone, someone, somebody, anyone, anybody, nobody, no one,
either, and neither are singular. They take singular verbs.
Example:
a. Every loyal Filipino must do his share.
b. Nobody except juniors is admitted to the course.
c. Either of these two cars is a good bargain.
d. Neither my sweater nor your jacket is in the car.
e. Each, as far as I have been able to judge, has something to offer.
3. Dont get confused by the words that come between the subject and verb; they do not affect
agreement.
The dog, who is chewing on my jeans, is usually very good.
4. Prepositional phrases between the subject and verb usually do not affect agreement.
Example:
The colors of the rainbow are beautiful.
5. A. Singular subject s joined by or or nor require a singular verb.
Example: a. Neither my niece nor my nephew expects to go to Davao.
b. Either Mary or Jane is behind all this.
B. Plural subjects joined by or or nor require a plural verb.
Example: Neither the foreman nor the workers are here.
C. If two subjects connected by either or or neither nor differ in person or number the verb agrees
with the nearer subject.
Example:
a. Either the workers or the owner is responsible. responsible.
b. Either the owner or the workers are responsible.
c. Neither the midwife nor the twins are ready.
6. When sentences start with there or here, the subject will always be placed after the verb, so
care needs to be taken to identify it correctly.
Example: There is a problem with the balance sheet.
Here are the papers you requested.
7. Subjects dont always come before verbs in questions. Make sure you accurately identify the
subject before deciding on the proper verb form to use.
Examples: Does Lefty usually eat grass?
Where are the pieces of this puzzle.
8. Compound subjects joined by and normally require plural verbs.
Examples:
a. His coat and cap are lying on the bed.
b. A horse and a carabao are in the pasture.
c. The cow and the pig are jumping over the moon.
9. The verb is singular if the two subjects separated by and refer to the same person or thing.
Examples: Red beans and rice is my moms favorite dish.
Bread and butter is my breakfast.
10. Indefinite pronouns such as every, no, everybody, etc. typically take singular verbs.
Examples: Everybody wants to be loved.
No smoking or drinking is allowed.
Every man and woman is required to check in.
11. The only time when the object of the preposition factors into the decision of plural or singular
verb forms is when noun and pronoun subjects like some, half, none, more, all, etc. are followed by
a prepositional phrase. In these sentences, theobject of the preposition determines the form of the
verb.
Examples: All of the chicken is gone.
All of the chickens are gone.
12. The pronoun you even if it refers to one person require a plural verb.
Examples: