1. Subject-Verb Agreement By: Garrett Meyer, mahdi mohajerani, Ting Dai, Ho Lun Chung

2. Bones General rule: The main thing to remember about subject-verb agreement is that the subject must agree with the verb in number (singular and plural).

3. The dog is sitting quietly. The cats are being annoying. The dog are playing outside. The cats is destroying the sofa. There are some words that are singular objects but have two parts so they require plural verbs. scissors, tweezers, trousers, pants, shears, and glasses are some examples. Incorrect: Your glasses is sitting on the table. Correction: Your glasses are sitting on the table. Basic Examples

4. Some odd words to watch out for: civics, mathematics, dollars, measles, and news. Use singular verbs. Example: Mathematics is not my favorite class. Dollars uses a singular verb when talking about an amount of money but a plural verb when talking about the dollars themselves. Examples: Five dollars is not a lot of money. Dollars are often used instead of rubles in Russia. Incorrect: Five dollars are not a lot of money. More Flesh

5. -When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a plural verb. Example: Correct: She and her friends are at the fair. Incorrect: She and her friends is at the fair. -when two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or or nor, use a singular verb. Example: Correct: The book or the pen is in the drawer. Incorrect: The book or the pen are in the the drawer. Flesh

6. When a compound subject contains both a singular and plural noun or pronoun joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearer the verb. Example: Correct: The boy or his friends run every day. Incorrect: The boy or his friends runs every day. Expressions such as with, together with, including, accompanied by, in addition to, or as well do not change the number of the subject. If the subject is singular, the verb is too. Example: Correct: The president, accompanied by his wife, is traveling to india. Incorrect: The president, accompanied by his wife, are traveling to india. Flesh

7. Doesn't is a contraction of "does not" and should be used only with a singular subject. Don't is a contraction of "do not" and should be used only with a plural subject E.g. He doesn't like it (In this case, "he" is a singular subject and should use "doesn't") They don't like it (In this case, "they" is a plural and should use "don't" instead)

8. Flesh (Continued) Note: First and second person view (I,you) are exceptions of the previous rule. When using first/second person view, always use "don't" E.g. I don't (doesn't) like it.

9. Flesh The verb agrees with the subject ONLY, not with a noun or a pronoun in the sentence E.g. One of the boxes are (is) open The team captain, as well as his players, is (are) anxious The people who listen to that music are (is) few

10. Flesh For a singular third-person subject in present tense, the verb must have a "-s" ending E.g. My father also live(s) in that house too. For all other subjects, the verb does not end in "-s" E.g. I live(s) in that house.

11. Bones In sentences beginning with there is or there are, the subject follows the verb. Since there is not the subject, the verb agrees with what follows( principle of proximity) ex: There...be Either...or Neither...nor Not only...but also

12. Cardinal Sins ex) Incorrect: There are some food and books on the table. Correct: There is some food and books on the table.

13. Bones Collective nouns are words that imply more than one person but that are considered singular and take a singular verb. List of collective nouns: family, class, army, team, club, population, enemy, party, crowd, crew, audience, public, government family, class, army, team, club, population, enemy, party crowd, crew, audience, public government, group etc.

14. Flesh Usually use the singular form of the verb: The team runs during practice. The committee decides how to proceed. The family has a long history. My family has never been able to agree.

15. Quiz 1.All my neighbors, except my father, ( ) interested in the footsteps that night. A. were B. was C. are D.is 2. The father as well as his three children ( ) some books every morning. a. read b. reads 3.The computer,including its accesories, () shipped to the store. a.was b.were 4. This class, as well as the other Math classes, () boring a.is b.are 5. Ten dollars ( ) a lot of money a. is b.are