Created by April Turner UWF Writing Lab Rules of Thumb for SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon

Rule 1 Use a verb ending in –s if your subject is a he, she, or it. Use a verb ending in –s if your subject is a he, she, or it. Singular subjects include, but are not limited to, these: Singular subjects include, but are not limited to, these: –Singular nouns: A list of phone numbers is available. A list of phone numbers is available. A major problem is smokers. A major problem is smokers. –Singular indefinite pronouns: Each of us has a key. Each of us has a key. –Subjects preceded by each, every, or many a: Every Tom, Dick, and Harriet has an opinion. Every Tom, Dick, and Harriet has an opinion.

Singular Subjects, cont. –Subjects preceded by the number of: The number of students attending college is very high. The number of students attending college is very high. –Titles/names of companies, books, plays, movies, etc.: The Centers for Disease Control is in Atlanta, Georgia. The Centers for Disease Control is in Atlanta, Georgia. –Gerunds: Recycling telephone directories helps save landfill space each year. Recycling telephone directories helps save landfill space each year. –Relative pronouns referring to singular antecedents: Ora is the only one in the group who smokes. Ora is the only one in the group who smokes. –Subjects joined by or, nor, either…or, or neither…nor: Neither the players nor the coach was present. Neither the players nor the coach was present.

Rule 2 Use a verb that does not end in –s if your subject is a they. Use a verb that does not end in –s if your subject is a they. Plural subjects include, but are not limited to, these: Plural subjects include, but are not limited to, these: –Subjects joined by or, nor, either…or, or neither…nor: Neither the coach nor the players were present. Neither the coach nor the players were present. –Plural indefinite pronouns: Both of us have a key. Both of us have a key.

Plural Subjects, cont. –Plural nouns: The scissors are lying on the desk. The scissors are lying on the desk. –Subjects preceded by a number of: A number of students are majoring in law. A number of students are majoring in law. –Relative pronouns referring to plural antecedents: He is one of the millions of people who smoke. He is one of the millions of people who smoke.

Rule 3 Ignore prepositional phrases: Ignore prepositional phrases: –A list of phone numbers is available. Ignore there and here at the beginning of a sentence: Ignore there and here at the beginning of a sentence: –There are three books on the censored list. Ignore appositives: Ignore appositives: –They each have a ticket. Ignore words synonymous with the subject: Ignore words synonymous with the subject: –Clothes are her passion.Her passion is clothes.

Rule 4 Some subjects may be singular or plural depending on the meaning of the subject. Some subjects may be singular or plural depending on the meaning of the subject. –Some of the food is cold. –Some of the vegetables are cold. –The cast was congratulated. –The cast were practicing their lines. –Fifteen minutes is a long time. –Fifteen minutes remain. –Statistics is a difficult course. –Divorce statistics are alarmingly high.

Let’s Practice!!! The sheriff along with two of her deputies (were, was) checking licenses at the North Road exit. The sheriff along with two of her deputies (were, was) checking licenses at the North Road exit. WAS WAS Some of the lots in our subdivision (was, were) not for sale. Some of the lots in our subdivision (was, were) not for sale. WERE WERE Here (is, are) the transistors and diodes that you purchased for your repair shop. Here (is, are) the transistors and diodes that you purchased for your repair shop. ARE ARE Genetics (is, are) very difficult for beginning students to understand. Genetics (is, are) very difficult for beginning students to understand. IS IS

More Practice!!! The number of girls in my football club (was, were) surprising. The number of girls in my football club (was, were) surprising. WAS WAS A number of the swimmers (is, are) going to the state competition. A number of the swimmers (is, are) going to the state competition. ARE ARE There (is, are) some error messages showing up in my program. There (is, are) some error messages showing up in my program. ARE ARE Neither Betty nor Jane (type, types) more than fifty words per minute. Neither Betty nor Jane (type, types) more than fifty words per minute. TYPES TYPES