SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

Basic Rule:
A singular subject takes a singular verb, whereas a plural subject takes a plural verb.

RULE 1:
 Two or more singular subjects joined by and take a plural verb.
o The ranger and the camper see the bear.
o A car and a bike are my means of transportation.
BUT
o Bread and butter is my favorite breakfast (single unit).
o The principal and professor is in his office.

RULE 2:
 Two singular subjects connected by or, either/or, or neither/nor require a singular subject.
o My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today.
o Neither Juan nor Carmen is available.

Rule 3:
 For correlative conjunctions, verb agrees with the noun nearest to the verb.
o Either my friend or my classmates are expected to help me with my project.
o Neither my friends nor my classmate is expected to help me with my project.

Rule 4:
 Collective nouns may take either a singular or plural verb depending on the meaning.
o The club is meeting today.
o The couple are separating this week.

Rule 5:
 Inverted sentences. The true subject follows the verb and not here or there.
o There are four hurdles to jump.
o There is a high hurdle to jump.
o Here are the keys.
o Here is your book.

Remember:
o There’s a lot of people here today. There are a lot of people here today.

Rule 6:
 When subject is separated from the verb by words such as along with, as well as, besides, not, ignore them and use a verb that agrees with the subject.
o The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.
o Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her shaking.

Rule 7:
 Use singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as a unit.
o Three miles is too far to walk.
o Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
o Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
BUT
o Ten dollars were scattered on the floor.
o The five peso coins are on the table. Taken individually
o Twenty peso bills were taped on the wall.

Rule 8:

 OF-PHRASE. Fractions, percentages and portions (a lot, a majority, some, all) take a singular verb when modifying a non-count noun and a plural when
they modify a plural noun.
o A lot of pie has disappeared.
o A lot of the pies have disappeared.
o A third of the city is unemployed.
o A third of the people are unemployed.
o Twenty percent of the student population is not joining the fieldtrip.
o Twenty percent of the students are not joining the fieldtrip.

Rule 9:
 Some nouns are regularly plural in form, but singular in meaning.

News Physics politics mumps Mathematics tubeculosis

o The recent news is exciting.
o Mathematics is repelling to many students.

Remember the differences in meaning:

o Statistics is offered every year at the college. (school subject)
o The statistics show that the candidate will win. (individual pieces of information)
Rule 10:
Indefinite pronouns.

SINGULAR PLURAL EITHER (depends on the noun)

No -body BFSOM SAMAN
Some -one
Any -thing Both Some
every Few All
Other Several Most
Another Others Any
Each Many None
One

Singular:
o Each sees the value of the course.
o Everybody has gone to the movies.
o Nothing seems right about our relationship.
o Another is on the way.

Plural:
o Many have answered the invitation for Friday morning.
o A few are not coming at all.
o Several indicate that they will be late.

Either:
o Some of the milk is spilled.
o Some of the cookies are eaten.

Rule 11:
 Prepositional phrases. Don’t confuse with the prepositional phrase that comes between the subject and the verb.
o The car with many riders was speeding around the curve.
o A bouquet of flowers is very beautiful.

Rule 12:
 Nouns occurring in sets of two take the plural verb.

pants shoes scissors shorts binoculars glasses

o My glasses are missing.

o These shoes are expensive.
BUT with the presence of PAIR:
o This pair of shoes is expensive
o A pair of scissors is very cheap.

Rule 13:
 A number normally takes a plural verb. The number takes the singular.
o A number of parents are coming for the meeting.
o The number of signatories is substantial to merit approval of the motion.

Rule 14:
 A sentence that contain the phrase many a requires a singular verb.
o Many a child dreams about becoming famous one day.

Rule 15:
 Titles of books, movies, novels, etc. are treated as singular and take a singular verb.
o The Burbs is a movie starring Tom Hanks.
o The song Greenfields brings nostalgia to people of my generation.

Rule 16:
 Use were if the sentence is in subjunctive mood (express hypothetical, wishful, imaginary…)
o I wish it were Friday.
o She requested that he raise his hand.
o If Joe were here, you’d be sorry.

Rule 17:
 Relative clauses cause subject-verb agreement. To avoid this, identify the clause immediately and locate the true subject.
o A dog that loves its owners deserves a reward.
o The computer menu, which contains five items, allows us variety.
o Anyone who sees his or her friends runs to greet them.

BUT take note of ONE and ONLY ONE.

o She is the only one among the applicants who has qualified for the said position.
o She is one of the applicants who have qualified for the said position.
SPOT THE ERRORS

These are errors in the sentences below in terms of subject-verb agreement. Mark X in the sentences which contain errors.

1. There are billions of people in the world, and I still can’t find a boyfriend.
2. The students, including Melanie, wants to go on a field trip.
3. Each of the children want a cookie.
4. A number of students has passed the test.
5. A lot of sound views was advanced during the discussion.
6. Either my friend or my classmates are expected to help me with my project.
7. More than half of the cake is eaten.
8. That pair of Lee jeans are expensive.
9. The Syntax Files is good reading for those in linguistics.
10. One solid evidence is enough to prove his dishonesty.
11. The statistics shows that a lot of women are getting pregnant at the age of 20s.
12. Alice is the only one of the graduate students who have finished her master’s degree in a short time.
13. Three years are a long time to wait for a family member from abroad to come home.
14. One-third of the population are male.
15. None of the students has done his homework.
16. All of the water are gone.
17. The number of students who failed are thirty.
18. Either the master of the slaves are going to prison.
19. Many a hiker are lost on their way back.
20. My family wants to visit me when I go to college.

1. There are billions of people in the world, and I still can’t find a boyfriend.
2. The students, including Melanie, wants to go on a field trip.
3. Each of the children want a cookie.
4. A number of students has passed the test.
5. A lot of sound views was advanced during the discussion.
6. Either my friend or my classmates are expected to help me with my project.
7. More than half of the cake is eaten.
8. That pair of Lee jeans are expensive.
9. The Syntax Files is good reading for those in linguistics.
10. One solid evidence is enough to prove his dishonesty.
11. The statistics shows that a lot of women are getting pregnant at the age of 20s.
12. Alice is the only one of the graduate students who have finished her master’s degree in a short time.
13. Three years are a long time to wait for a family member from abroad to come home.
14. One-third of the population are male.
15. None of the students has done his homework.
16. All of the water are gone.
17. The number of students who failed are thirty.
18. Either the master of the slaves are going to prison.
19. Many a hiker are lost on their way back.
20. My family wants to visit me when I go to college.
CHOOSE YOUR BET!
Which of the two sentences has a correct subject-verb agreement?
A Every one of the shirts has a green collar.
B Every one of the shirts have a green collar.

CHOOSE YOUR BET!

Which of the two sentences has a correct subject-verb agreement?
A This singer, along with few others, play the harmonica on stage.
B This singer, along with a few others, plays the harmonica on stage.

CHOOSE YOUR BET!

Which of the two sentences has a correct subject-verb agreement?
A Sandals and towels are essential gear for a trip to the beach.
B Sandals and towels is essential gear for a trip to the beach.

CHOOSE YOUR BET!

Which of the two sentences has a correct subject-verb agreement?
A The president or the vice president are speaking today.
B The president or the vice president is speaking today.

CHOOSE YOUR BET!

Which of the two sentences has a correct subject-verb agreement?
A Either the sculpture or the paintings are in the museum today.
B Either the sculpture or the paintings are in the museum today.

CHOOSE YOUR BET!

Which of the two sentences has a correct subject-verb agreement?
A The coat or the hats are in that closet.
B The coat or the hats is in that closet.

CHOOSE YOUR BET!

Which of the two sentences has a correct subject-verb agreement?
A Neither she nor I is getting the lunch special.
B Neither she nor I are getting the lunch special.
C Neither she nor I am getting the lunch special.

CHOOSE YOUR BET!

Which of the two sentences has a correct subject-verb agreement?
A Everybody at the party was enjoying the food.
B Everybody at the party were enjoying the food.

CHOOSE YOUR BET!

Which of the two sentences has a correct subject-verb agreement?
A Each of the dancers twirls brilliantly.
B Each of the dancers twirls brilliantly.

CHOOSE YOUR BET!

Which of the two sentences has a correct subject-verb agreement?
A More than half of the basketball court is used for volleyball practice.
B More than half of the basketball court are used for volleyball practice.

CHOOSE YOUR BET!

Which of the two sentences has a correct subject-verb agreement?
A Six dollars is too much to pay for a gumdrop.
B Six dollars are too much to pay for a gumdrop.

CHOOSE YOUR BET!

Which of the two sentences has a correct subject-verb agreement?
A The water polo team have won the state championship for the second time.
B The water polo team has won the state championship for the second time.

CHOOSE YOUR BET!

Which of the two sentences has a correct subject-verb agreement?
A The skier is one of those who compete nationally.
B The skier is one of those who competes nationally.

CHOOSE YOUR BET!

Which of the two sentences has a correct subject-verb agreement?
A A number of suggestion was made.
B A number of suggestion were made.
Homework

Underline the correct verb in the sentence.

1. One of the most intelligent students who (score, scores) full marks (is, are) John.
2. The price of these jeans (is, are) reasonable.
3. The books borrowed from the library (is, are) on my desk.
4. The boy who won the two medals (is, are) a friend of mine.
5. Bread and butter (is, are) daily food.
6. The famous singer and composer (has, have) arrived.
7. Collecting match boxes (is, are) one of his favorite pastimes.
8. The quality of the candies (is, are) poor.
9. Neither his father nor his mother (plays, play) mahjong.
10. None of my friends (was, were) there.
11. Many a student (has, have) made the same mistake.
12. Gold, as well as platinum (has, have) recently risen in price.
13. Ten tons (is, are) a heavy load.
14. One of the books (has, have) been missing.
15. Jimmy, along with his co-teachers, conduct a cleanliness campaign in the barangay.

Homework

Underline the correct verb in the sentence.

1. One of the most intelligent students who (score, scores) full marks (is, are) John.
2. The price of these jeans (is, are) reasonable.
3. The books borrowed from the library (is, are) on my desk.
4. The boy who won the two medals (is, are) a friend of mine.
5. Bread and butter (is, are) daily food.
6. The famous singer and composer (has, have) arrived.
7. Collecting match boxes (is, are) one of his favorite pastimes.
8. The quality of the candies (is, are) poor.
9. Neither his father nor his mother (plays, play) mahjong.
10. None of my friends (was, were) there.
11. Many a student (has, have) made the same mistake.
12. Gold, as well as platinum (has, have) recently risen in price.
13. Ten tons (is, are) a heavy load.
14. One of the books (has, have) been missing.
15. Jimmy, along with his co-teachers, conduct a cleanliness campaign in the barangay.

Homework

Underline the correct verb in the sentence.

1. One of the most intelligent students who (score, scores) full marks (is, are) John.
2. The price of these jeans (is, are) reasonable.
3. The books borrowed from the library (is, are) on my desk.
4. The boy who won the two medals (is, are) a friend of mine.
5. Bread and butter (is, are) daily food.
6. The famous singer and composer (has, have) arrived.
7. Collecting match boxes (is, are) one of his favorite pastimes.
8. The quality of the candies (is, are) poor.
9. Neither his father nor his mother (plays, play) mahjong.
10. None of my friends (was, were) there.
11. Many a student (has, have) made the same mistake.
12. Gold, as well as platinum (has, have) recently risen in price.
13. Ten tons (is, are) a heavy load.
14. One of the books (has, have) been missing.
15. Jimmy, along with his co-teachers, conduct a cleanliness campaign in the barangay.