1. UWF Writing Lab Rules of Thumb for SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon 1 Created by April Turner Revised by Savanna Richter (9/29/09) Revised by Mamie Webb Hixon June 26, 2010

2. ”Grammar operates on the principle that if it sounds right, it is probably wrong.” -Author Unknown When Jill gets a brilliant idea, she always say something worth hearing. When Jill gets a brilliant idea, she always say something worth hearing. Do either of you have a pencil? Do either of you have a pencil? He is one of the millions of Americans who smokes. He is one of the millions of Americans who smokes. Every man, woman, and child on the cruise ship were issued a life jacket. Every man, woman, and child on the cruise ship were issued a life jacket. The media is not invited to the Senator’s press conference. The media is not invited to the Senator’s press conference. Each of the applicants have already been notified. Each of the applicants have already been notified. The faculty is still debating the issue among themselves. The faculty is still debating the issue among themselves. Either the class officers or the faculty advisor make the final decision. Either the class officers or the faculty advisor make the final decision. 2

3. 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 such as each, one, either, neither, and pronouns ending with -one, -body, and -thing: Each of us needs a key. Each of us needs 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. 3

4. 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: Either the class officers or the faculty advisor makes the final decision. Either the class officers or the faculty advisor makes the final decision. 4

5. Singular Subjects, cont. Some words ending in –ics Acoustics requires an understanding of mathematics. Certain words borrowed from Greek and Latin criterionmediumphenomenon The main criterion for passing this course is attendance. Fractions are affected by the prepositional phrase: if the object of the prepositional phrase is singular, then the fraction is considered singular; if the object is plural, the fraction is plural. One half of the computers are not working. One half of the paper is well written. 5

6. Singular Subjects, cont. Some nouns ending in –s: news, measles, mumps, hiccoughs, etc. Some nouns ending in –s: news, measles, mumps, hiccoughs, etc. Measles, best known for its skin rash, is a very rare contagious disease that usually affects children. AIDS causes severe damage to the immune system.  Terms of quantity The Democratic majority favors the bill. 6

7. Singular Subjects, cont. In most cases, the easiest and most effective method for determining the subject and its corresponding verb is to ignore intervening words. The manager, along with her co-workers, usually submits her timesheet on time. Samantha, together with her sorority sisters, raises funds for charitable events. 7

8. Singular Indefinite Pronouns each everybodyeveryone nobodysomeone everything somethingneither anybody anyone no oneanything somebodyeither one nothing 8

9. Examples Two of my favorite sitcoms are Everybody Loves Raymond and Everybody Hates Chris. Two of my favorite sitcoms are Everybody Loves Raymond and Everybody Hates Chris. Neither of the passengers was wearing a seatbelt. Neither of the passengers was wearing a seatbelt. Each of the restaurants on the boardwalk serves breakfast. Each of the restaurants on the boardwalk serves breakfast. 9

10. Collective Nouns Singular when referring to the group as a unit Singular when referring to the group as a unit juryteamcommittee juryteamcommittee Choirbandfaculty Choirbandfaculty Crewcastfamily Crewcastfamily The jury has made its decision. The faculty selects the students who will be recognized at the Honors Convocation. 10

11. 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: Either the faculty advisor or the class officers make the final decision. Either the faculty advisor or the class officers make the final decision. –Plural indefinite pronouns: several, few, both, many Both of us have a key. Both of us have a key. 11

12. Plural Subjects, cont. –Plural nouns ending in -s: clothes, sunglasses, scissors, manners, jeans, jalousies, tights, Venetian blinds 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. 12

13. Plural Subjects, cont. Subjects joined by “and” and “both... and” Beach residents and mobile home residents worry about thunderstorms and greatly fear tornadoes and hurricanes. Both a teller and a guard operate the drive-in window at the bank. Some words ending in –ics Gloria’s politics are left of the center. 13

14. Collective Nouns as Plural Collective Nouns Collective Nouns The family have set separate vacation itineraries.  Terms of quantity The majority of Republicans are opposed to the Health Care Reform Act. 14

15. Rules Continued 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 – renaming pronouns or nouns: Ignore appositives – renaming pronouns or nouns: –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. 15

16. Rules Continued 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. –Statistics show that college students’ writing skills have declined. –Statistics covers a lot of information about qualitative and quantitative analyses. 16

17. REVIEW Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of copyrighted material is prohibited. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of copyrighted material is prohibited. Unauthorized reproduction and distribution of copyrighted material are prohibited. Unauthorized reproduction and distribution of copyrighted material are prohibited. Unauthorized reproduction, as well as distribution of copyrighted material, is prohibited. Unauthorized reproduction, as well as distribution of copyrighted material, is prohibited. 17

18. CORRECTIONS for Sentences in Slide #1 When Jill gets a brilliant idea, she always says something worth hearing. When Jill gets a brilliant idea, she always says something worth hearing. Does either of you have a pencil? Does either of you have a pencil? He is one of the millions of Americans who smoke. He is one of the millions of Americans who smoke. Every man, woman, and child on the cruise ship was issued a life jacket. Every man, woman, and child on the cruise ship was issued a life jacket. The media are not invited to the Senator’s press conference. The media are not invited to the Senator’s press conference. Each of the applicants has already been notified. Each of the applicants has already been notified. The faculty are still debating the issue among themselves. The faculty are still debating the issue among themselves. 18

19. 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 19

20. 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 Randi nor Pat (type, types) more than fifty words per minute. Neither Randi nor Pat (type, types) more than fifty words per minute. TYPES TYPES 20