THE RULES ON SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

GENERALIZATION:

A verb agrees with its subject in number and in person. Here are the rules on agreement of subject
and verb

1. A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural

 He sings the Philippine National Anthem with an orchestra.
 They sing the Philippine National Anthem with an orchestra.

2. The number of the subject is not changed by a prepositional phrase after it.
 One of the major types of literature is the drama.
 The colors of the rainbow amaze the little girl.

3. The indefinite pronouns anybody, anyone, each, either, everybody, neither, nobody, no one,
one, somebody, and someone are singular.
 Nobody is stopping the men.
 Someone was arrested.

4. The words a few, many, both, and several take plural verbs.
 Both enjoy singing the song.
 Many like the drama presentation.

5. When the words some, any, none, and all are followed by a phrase, the verb agrees with the
phrase.
 Some of the money was donated to charity.
 All of the seats have been taken..

6.1 Nouns plural in form but singular in meaning such as news, civics, economics, mathematics,
physics and measles take a singular verb.
 Today’s news is encouraging.

 Mathematics is an exact science.

6.2 Meanwhile, nouns plural in form and plural in meaning such as scissors, trousers, pants
take a plural verb.
 The scissors are on the table.
*The pair of scissors is on the table.

7. Agreement with compound subjects

a) A compound subject connected by and generally takes a plural verb.
 My classmate and my neighbor watch me perform.
b) Compound subjects that are closely related or that refer to the same person or thing
take a singular verb.
 Rice and fish is their usual meal.
 My classmate and neighbor watches me perform.
c) A compound subject involving the use of each or every takes a singular verb.
 Each boy and girl has a role in the drama.
d) Compound subjects joined by either-or and neither-nor take singular or plural verbs
depending upon the nearer subject.
 Either the director or the actors are expected to receive the trophy.
 Neither the actors nor the director is following the lines closely.
8. Intervening words or phrases like together with, in addition to, as well as, including, and similar
constructions following the subject do not affect the number of the subject.
 Mr. Cruz, together with his children, is in the audience.
9. Words or phrases expressing periods of time, weight, measurement, and amount of money are
usually regarded as singular.
 Two months is such a short time to finish the shooting of the whole movie.
 Twenty thousand pesos was needed to produce the show.
10. Fractions may take singular or plural verbs depending on the of-phrase.
 Two-thirds of the script is finished.
 Three-fourths of the contestants were sent home.
11. Collective nouns take singular verbs when they are used to denote a unit; they take plural verbs
when used to refer to the individual members of the group.
 The crew is prepared.
 The crew are discussing the scene.
12. When the subject and the predicate noun are of different numbers, the verb agrees with the
subject, not with the predicate pronoun.
 The truck’s load is computers and other audio-visual equipment.
 Computers and other audio-visual equipment are the truck’s load.
13. The expression “the number” takes a singular verb; the expression “a number” takes a plural
verb.
 The number of characters was reduced.
 A number of new talents were given a contract.
14. The title of a book, song, and movie, even when plural in form, takes a singular verb.
 Short Plays for Children is worth reading.
 Heneral Luna intensifies Unoh’s sense of nationalism.
15. There is/was is followed by a singular noun; there are/were is followed by a plural noun.
 There is a God who sees everything.
 There are practices that are difficult to change.