Subject-Verb Agreement Grammar Notes, Week 6 Subject-Verb Agreement

Definition A verb must agree (“match”) with the subject’s number (singular or plural). The student was proud. The girls were exhausted. Singular = s on verb Plural= no s English doesn’t like double s

Junk Don’t be confused by sentence “junk” The manager as well as the players (is/are) required to display good sportsmanship. “as well as the players” is junk (Not the subject, verb, or D.O.)

Compound Subjects Two or more subjects joined by “or/nor”: Neither Bev nor Kendra (is/are) going to the dance. Either Yoshi or his friends (is/are) responsible for this mess. (“Or/nor? Cross out the stuff before”) Two or more subjects joined by “and”: Strength and balance (is/are) necessary for gymnastics. Automatic plural

Delayed Subjects Delayed subject = a verb comes before the subject (“There”) Look for what “there” refers to. There (is/are) many hardworking students in our school. (Subject?) There (is/are) present a will to succeed. (Subject?)

“Be” Verbs When a noun comes before AND after a “be” verb, make sure the verb agrees with the FIRST noun (subject) not the PN The cause of his problem (was/were) the bad brakes. The bad brakes (was/were) the cause of his problem.

Special Cases Some nouns look plural (s), but they’re singular. Measles, mumps, news, mathematics, economics, gallows, shambles Measles (is/are) still considered a serious disease. Some nouns look plural but are singular, yet take a plural verb. Scissors, trousers, tidings The scissors (is/are) missing.

More Special Cases Collective Nouns Def: Words that refer to groups (faculty, class, team, crowd, committee, etc.) are mostly singular. The favored team (is/are) losing; the crowd (is/are) getting ugly. Rarely they can refer to the individuals within the group (plural) The pair (was/were) reunited after 20 years.

More Special Cases Indefinite pronouns Pronouns like each, either, neither, one, everybody, another, anybody, everyone, nobody, everything, somebody, and someone are all considered SINGULAR. Each of the members (is/are) invited. One of the participants (is/are) rude. Pronouns like both, many, several are PLURAL. Both of them (like/likes) cake.

Practice P. 148-152 Circle the correct verb Make sure to watch out for special cases/tricks: Sentence junk Delayed subjects Compound subjects “Be” verbs Indefinite pronouns