ENGLISH 1

MS. ALMIE B. PANAGUITON

 SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
Number
-refers to the two forms of a word:
singular or plural.
The Number of Nouns
The Number of Pronouns
The Number of Verbs
 The Number of Nouns
NOUNS
SINGULAR PLURAL SINGULAR PLURAL

record records child children

tax taxes goose geese

 The Number of Pronouns
PRONOUNS
SINGULAR PLURAL SINGULAR or
PLURAL
I We
you
He, she, they
it
The Number of Verbs
VERBS
SINGULA PLURAL ALWAYS SINGULAR
R
I see. We see.
I am. I was.
He has They
seen. have He is. He was.
seen.
Singular and Plural Subjects

Basic Rule:
A singular subject must
have a singular verb.
A plural subject must have
a plural verb.
 A phrase or clause that interrupts
a subject and its verb does not
affect s-v agreement.

The actor most admired by the students is

on stage.
The two raccoons that were being chased
by our dog were last seen climbing a tree.
Two or more singular subjects
joined by or or nor must have a
singular verb.
A car or bus is the only means of
travel upstate.

Beth or Anthony is going to win.

 Two or more plural subjects
joined by or or nor must
have a plural verb.
Only the fathers or the mothers
are to be invited.
The men or the women are
participating in the event.
If one or more singular subjects are
joined to one or more plural subjects
by or or nor, the subject closest to the
verb determines agreement.

Neither David nor my parents are

coming with us.
Either the twins or Sam is joining the
parade.
 A compound subject joined by
and is generally plural and must
have a plural verb.
One boy and one girl are the finalists.
Two boys and two girls were chosen.
 A subject that comes after
its verb must still agree with
it in number.
At the bottom of the hill are two
silos.
On the top of the hill are two
tractors.
A linking verb must agree
with its subject, regardless of
the number of its predicate.
 The loud stereos are one reason for his
complaints.
 Speeding cars are one reason for the accident
rate.
A collective noun takes a
singular verb when the group it
names acts as a single unit.
The orchestra is playing at Symphony
Hall tonight.

The football team has been invited to

a bowl game.
A collective noun takes a
plural verb when the group it
names act as individuals with
different points of view.
The jury have been unable to agree
on a verdict.

The faculty have been discussing

the new policy.
Nouns that are plural in form
but singular in meaning agree
with singular verbs.

Mathematics is an exciting subject

for some.

The news today is good.

Singular indefinite pronouns
take singular verbs.

Each of the players was cited for

excellence.

Everyone on the team has left for the

day.
Indefinite Pronouns
another much

anybody neither
anyone nobody
anything no one
each nothing
either one
everybody other
everyone somebody
everything someone
little something
Plural indefinite pronouns take
plural verbs.

Both of the students were

reprimanded.

Many of the performers were at

the party.
Indefinite Pronouns

both
few
many
others
several
The pronouns all, any, more,
most, none, and some take a
singular verb if the antecedent
is singular and a plural verb if it
is plural.
Some of the stew is spoiled.

Some of the cars are expensive.

Indefinite Pronouns
singular or plural
all
any
more
most
none
some
A title is singular and takes a
singular verb.
AtlanticBrief Lives is a useful
reference.
The Grapes of Wrath is
Steinback’s best novel.
A noun expressing an amount
or measurement is usually
singular and requires a singular
verb.
 Seventy-nine cents is the price for two.
 Four feet was the height of the chain link fence.
 Three quarters of the bushel of fruit was wasted.
 Half of the chickens were sold.
 The number vs. A number
1. The number of people lined up for
tickets was/were four hundred.
2. A number of
suggestions was/were made.
3. There is/are a number of important
announcements in the bulletin.
4. Here is/are the number of milk shakes
you requested.
The number vs. A number
 The expression the number is followed by
a singular verb while the expression a
number is followed by a plural verb.
 Examples:
 The number of people we need to hire is thirteen.
 A number of people have written in about this subject.