Subject-Verb Agreement

Keep Your Eyes Open Although often overlooked, problems with Subject- Verb Agreement are REAL! To help avoid these errors, we will discuss: How to make Subjects and Verbs agree in number, Learn to spot and correct these errors and become a believer.

Recognizing Subjects and Verbs A complete sentence must have a SUBJECT and a VERB. The subject is the who or what that performs the action. The verb is the action word.

Spot the Subject and Verb The players on our side are strong. The players on our side are strong. Players is the subject and are is the verb. Once you’ve identified the Subject and the Verb, you have to make sure they agree in Number. Singular subjects require singular verbs and plural subjects require plural verbs.

What Next? Important Notes! An easy way to make your subjects and verbs agree is to think about the S. Usually, plural nouns end with the letter S and singular nouns do not. Verbs are the opposite: For the most part, singular verbs end with the letter S and plural verbs do not.

Therefore... The carS run, but the car runS. The plural noun cars takes the plural verb run. There is only one S in the pair. The singular noun car takes the singular verb runs. Again, There is only one S in the pair.

1.The world (change, changes) so rapidly that we can hardly keep up. 2. People (is, are) often ten or twenty years behind the times in their knowledge of the world. 3. Life (is, are) very complicated. 4. The students in my class (has, have) very poor work habits. 5. All of the children (was, were) hunting Easter eggs in the garden.

Everybody (has,have) finished the race. Sandy (get,gets) up early on weekdays. Some of the students (is,are) reading books. Richard (have, has) always been one of my best students. The Johnsons (is,are) moving to Darlington next month. Somebody (has, have) telephoned and asked for you.

If a subject is plural, the verb must have a plural form, and if the subject is singular, the verb must have a singular form. Ignore prepositional phrases. The rose in the vase is wilted. The roses in the vase are wilted. The man in the woods lives alone. (ignore in the woods) The length of these boats is twenty feet (ignore of these boats)

BEWARE Compound subjects do not end with S. Instead, compound subjects consist of two or more subjects joined by and. We treat these subjects like any other plural subject. The student and the instructor work long hours.

BEWARE The subject consists of two people. Therefore, it is plural.

BEWARE When subjects are joined by and and combine to form a single thing or person, they are treated like a singular subject. Use a singular verb with such compound subjects. Spaghetti and meatballs has a place on many menus. Spaghetti and meatballs is acting as 1 unit, as a singular subject.

If the subjects are joined by or look at the word closest to the verb to choose the correct form. The teacher or the students are bringing snacks. The students or the teacher is bringing snacks.

If subjects are joined by and you will use a plural form unless the two items describe the same person or thing. The coach and the umpire were at home plate. The creator and director of Schindler’s List is Stephen Spielberg. Both the cha-cha and the rumba are Cuban dances. Macaroni and cheese is my favorite snack.

Using Each and Every Each and Every are singular pronouns. Therefore, they require singular verbs. Every flying saucer was glowing.

Using Each and Every BEWARE! You always use a singular verb with each and every, even if they precede subjects joined by and. Each alien hand and foot leaves a distinct print.

Compound Subjects Joined By Words Like Or Be careful when your subjects are joined by the following words: or nor either... or neither... nor not only... but (also)

Compound Subjects Joined By Words Like Or In such cases, the verb agrees with the subject nearest it. Example: Either the instructors or the student knows the answer. Try to ignore everything before the final subject

Compound Subjects Joined By Words Like Or Either the instructors or the student knows the answer. The singular subject student requires the singular verb knows.

What if the Subject is an Indefinite Pronoun? Indefinite Pronouns refer to nonspecific people or things. They are usually singular and require singular verbs.

What if the Subject is an Indefinite Pronoun? The following common Indefinite Pronouns usually take singular verbs: Another each everything nothing anybody either neither somebody anyone every nobody someone anything everyone no one something

What if the Subject is an Indefinite Pronoun? BEWARE! A few indefinite pronouns— none, some, more, most, any, and all—can be either singular or plural, depending on the context. Example: Some of our streams are polluted; some pollution is reversible, but all pollution is a threat to nature

Making Verbs Agree With the Antecedents of Who, Which, and That When Who, Which, or That starts a clause, the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun to which Who, Which, or That refers (its Antecedent).

Making Verbs Agree With the Antecedents of Who, Which, and That The scientist will share information with the students who work with her. George Jones is the student who works in the lab.

Using Singular Verbs with Titles and Terms Titles and terms are treated as singular subjects–even if they contain plural words. Examples: Les Miserables is a popular musical. “Disciplinary measures” is a euphemism for punishment.

You’ve Been Warned See if you can spot Subject-Verb Agreement errors. Subjects and Verbs must agree in number. Be careful with subjects like Each and Every—these are singular. Pay close attention to subjects joined with words like and and or—these subjects can be either singular or plural.