CHAPTER 5

Subject-Verb Agreement

Wedding Traditions
Every region and culture has its own traditions. A popular
wedding tradition in the United States involves the wedding
guests cheering as the newlyweds get in their car and drive
away. Decorating the married couple’s getaway car has been a
popular tradition for many years. The couple’s friends and family
typically write the words “Just married” on the back windshield
of the car. Floral arrangements on the car are also quite
common. There is also an interesting custom that involves tying
aluminum cans to the back of the car. The origin of tying cans to
wedding cars is not known, but there are many different
theories. According to one suggestion, the tradition comes from
the 13th and 14th centuries in England. As the bride and groom
went away in their carriage, wedding guests threw their shoes at
them. Hitting the vehicle with a shoe was good luck. Later,
people began tying shoes to the car instead of throwing them.
No one wants to destroy a good pair of shoes, so instead of
shoes, people began tying cans to the getaway car.
 Basic Subject-Verb Agreement

For third person singular verbs in the present tense, use verb + -s/-es.
The tradition comes from the 13th and 14th centuries in England.

Two or more subjects connected by and require a plural verb.

The couple’s friends and family typically write “Just married” on the car.

Expressions with every and each are followed by singular nouns. Even
when there are two or more nouns connected by and, the verb is singular.
Every region and culture has its own traditions.
More Basic Subject-Verb Agreement

Sometimes a phrase or clause separates a subject from its verb.

These interrupting structures do not affect basic agreement.

A popular wedding tradition that is found in many different cultures

involves the wedding guests cheering as the newlyweds leave.

Floral arrangements on the car are also quite common.

A gerund used as the subject of the sentence requires a singular verb.

Hitting the vehicle with a shoe was considered good luck.
A lot of modern brides are choosing to drop some of
these old-fashioned wedding traditions from their
ceremonies. One of the traditions is throwing the
bride’s bouquet. According to superstition, when the
bride tosses her bouquet to a crowd of single
women, the one who catches it will be the next to get
married. There are several alternatives to this
tradition. A number of brides are ignoring the
tradition completely and keeping the bouquet. Some
brides prefer to split the bouquet into smaller
arrangements and give them to important women,
such as their mother, grandmother, and mother-in-
law. The number of times that the bride splits the
bouquet is her decision.
With most expressions of quantity, the verb is
determined by the noun that follows of.

A lot of modern brides are choosing to drop old-

fashioned traditions from their wedding
ceremonies. (brides = plural)

Some of the flowers are pink. (flowers = plural)

Some of the bouquet is pink. (bouquet = singular)

A number of is an expression of quantity. It is always
followed by a plural noun + plural verb. The number
refers to one specific number. It takes a singular verb.

A number of brides are ignoring the tradition.

(A number of brides = A lot of brides)

The number of times that the bouquet is split is up to the bride.

(The number = a specific number)

The subject follows be when there is used.

There is a “Just Married” sign on the back of the car.

a sign = singular

There are several cans tied to the car.

several cans = plural

PRACTICE 1 – Complete the sentences with the simple
present form of the verb in parentheses.
1. There ______
are (be) many different ways to celebrate a wedding.
2. A number of couples _________
choose (choose) to blend traditional wedding

customs with modern ones.

is
3. There _____ (be) often a multi-layered cake at wedding celebrations.
varies
4. The number of guests ________ (vary) from wedding to wedding.
receives
5. At some weddings, each of the guests ____________ (receive) a
party
favor, such as a box of chocolates or a candle.
involves
PRACTICE 2 – Ask Your Partner.
1. What are some important wedding traditions in your culture?

2. How much does a wedding usually cost?

3. Who is responsible for paying for the wedding expenses?

4. Who is responsible for planning the wedding?

5. What do all weddings have in common?

6. How is each wedding unique?

7. What is the typical number of guests at a wedding?

8. Are there any new wedding traditions in your culture?