SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

Subject verb agreement can be one of the more challenging aspects of writing.
While short clauses provide for an easily identifiable subject, longer clauses with extensive
phrases can make proper subject verb agreement more of a challenge.
The first and most important rule in subjet !erb a"reement is that the !erb must a"ree
#ith the intended number of the subjet$
To accomplish that task, follow two occasionally not so simple tasks.
1. dentify the real subject
!. "etermine whether subject is singular or plural
The first step is often made difficult by phrases and#or sentence structure that work to obscure the
true subject.
$repositional phrases are one of the main culprits in the misidentification of the true
subject of the clause. %emember, objects cannot be subjects, so the object of a preposition
cannot be a subject of a clause.
o &mong the constitutional rights we cherish is freedom.
&'()* is a preposition+ therefore, %*,TS is the object of the
preposition. -%.."(' is the subject of the sentence.
o The "roup of protesters is blocking the entrance to the building.
(- is a preposition+ therefore, $%(T.ST.%S is the object of the
preposition. *%(/$ is the subject of the sentence and it is singular.
o The annual rituals of the group confuse the neighbors.
(- is a preposition+ therefore, *%(/$ is the object of the preposition.
%T/&0S is the subject of the sentence and it is plural.
$arenthetical phrases can also work to obscure the true subject. $hrases such as 1as well
as,1 1such as,1 1along with,1 1rather than,1 1accompanied by1 and 1including1 introduce
items that are )(T considered when determining whether a verb is singular or plural.
o The %ui&, as well as all workbook exercises, #as collected.
2/3 is the subject. The parenthetical expression does not affect the
verb.
o ,is ja'et, not his shirt or his socks, always seems to match his slacks.
4&56.T is the subject. t is singular. The parenthetical expression does
not affect the verb.
o ,er birthday elebration, together with the upcoming holiday, ma'es for a very
full calendar.
5.0.7%&T() is the subject. The parenthetical expression does not
affect the verb.
o The president and !ie president, accompanied by the board of directors, plan
to vote against changing the company bylaws.
$%.S".)T and 85. $%.S".)T are the subject. The verb is plural.
.xpletives 9There, ,ere: are false subjects. "isregard them completely when determining
the subject that the verb must agree with.
o There are fewer students in this class.
The true subject in this sentence is ST/".)TS.
o (fficer, here is the person was telling you about.
The true subject in this clause is $.%S().
()R*S T+AT ARE A,(A-S A S.NGU,AR SUBJECT/
-irst it might be helpful to remember that the singular form of all verbs except to be and to ha!e
is formed by adding 1s1 or 1es.1 -or example; dives, runs, answers and crashes, presses and
tosses.
When used as a subject or adjective these indefinite pronouns are always singular and,
therefore, they take singular verbs.
another anybody anyone anything .ach each one
either .very everybody everything 'uch
neither )obody no one nothing (ne other
somebody something someone
These pronouns may be used as subjects, and they take a singular verb.
.veryone has been invited.
She said that something #as all she wanted for her birthday.
The "emocratic leadership suggested two solutions but neither #as
acceptable to the committee chair.
When they are used as adjectives, the noun they modify always takes a singular verb
)either solution #or's for the committee chair.
.ach tragedy "i!es the population given less time to recover from the
previous shock.
The number<<when used as subject of a sentence 9an organi=ed unit:>takes a singular
verb.
o The number of tenants without heat is increasing.
Subjects that stand for definable units of money, measurement, time, organi=ation, food
and medical problems always take singular verbs.
o Six months is not enough time.
o -ive thousand dollars is the minimum bid.
o ,am and eggs is my favorite meal.
Singular subject followed by phrases such as together with and as well as take singular
verb.
o The tax measure, together with its amendments, has passed.
When all parts of a compound subject are singular and refer to same person or thing.
o The head of the expedition and mayor of the village #as the same person.
When the subject is followed by the phrase 1the only one of.1
o 4ake is the only one of the runners who has finished.
o BUT: 4ake is one of those runners who ha!e finished.
9n this case, 4ake is one of many ?those@ runners. The verb 1have1 agrees with
1those runners1 not with 4ake.:
()R*S T+AT ARE A,(A-S 0,URA, SUBJECT/
When a compound subject is joined by a coordinating conjunction 9and:, it always takes a
plural verb if the subjects refer to different persons or things and if the subject cannot be
considered a unit.
o Aour investments and property are sure to increase in value.
ndefinite pronouns 9both, few, many, several: always take plural verbs.
o 7oth are acceptable choices.
1& number1 as the subject of a sentence always takes plural verbs.
o & number of tenants are in the building.
5ertain plural subjects always take plural verbs.
o The news media are under attack. 9singular of media; medium:
()R*S T+AT ARE E.T+ER S.NGU,AR )R 0,URA, SUBJECT/
When the parts of a compound subject are joined by
or, but, either ... or, neither ... nor, not only ... but also
the !erb must a"ree #ith the subjet nearest to the !erb$
o )either the (regon players nor the coach #as overconfident.
o )either the (regon coach nor the players #ere intimidated by &ri=ona.
5ollective nouns and certain plural words may take singular or plural verbs<depending on
the meaning in the sentence.
TEST/ f the word indicates persons or things working together as an identifiable unit, a
singular verb is used.
o The jury #as seated at B a.m. 91t1 was seated.:
o BUT: The jury #ere being interviewed by the media.
9refers to individual members of the jury+ could be rewritten as; 1The jurors
were ... 1:
o $olitics is a hot topic. 9politics as a single topic:
o BUT: The mayorCs politics are offensive.
9politics as several actions over time:
The pronouns any, none or some and the nouns all and most;
1. take singular verbs when they refer to a unit or Duantity
1. Some of the money #as missing. 9a bag of money:
!. take plural verbs when they refer to number, amount or individuals
1. Some of the gold coins #ere missing. 9a series of coins:
E. 1)().1;
a. 1)o Single (ne1+ 1)ot (ne1<<Singular
)one of the gold coins #as missing. 9not one of the coins:
b. 1)o Two1 or 1)o &mount1<<$lural
)one of the goods #ere missing. 9no amount of the goods:
)one of the forests #ere destroyed. 9no amount of the forests:
When subject is a fraction or a word such as half, part, plenty, rest, its intended number is
suggested by the object of the preposition that follows it.
o Three<fourths of the enemyCs army is wounded.
o Three<fourths of the enemyCs soldiers are wounded.