Subject/ Verb Agreement Grammar Subject/ Verb Agreement

Subjects and Verbs Must Agree Singlular (one) subjects have a singular verb. Plural (more than one) subjects have a plural verb. Verbs don’t form plurals by adding an S, but subjects do. Example: A child talks. One child, so an S is added to the verb. Children talk. More than one child, so no S added to the verb. This is true for MOST action verbs.

Singular Subjects Singluar subjects connected by or or nor “My aunt or my uncle is coming here tomorrow.” Two singular subjects connected by either/or or neither/nor. “Neither Juan nor Casey is going to help.” When I is one of the two subjects, put it second and follow it with am “Neither she nor I am going to the festival.” When a singular subject connected by or or nor to a plural subject, the plural is last and the verb is plural. “The serving bowl or the plates go over there.”

Singular Subjects Continued If a subject is separated by a parenthetical expression from its verb, the verb will be singular or plural depending on the subject. “Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her shaking.” When using the expression “the number”, the verb will always be singular. “The number of people we need to hire is thirteen.” Sums of money and periods of time get a singular verb. “Ten dollars is a high price to pay for food.” “Five years is a long time to wait for someone.”

Singular Subjects Continued Proper titles are always singular. “Econometrics is the most difficult class I ever took.”

Singular or Plural? Collective nouns, such as team or staff can be either singular or plural depending on use. “The staff is in a meeting.” (a whole) “The staff are in disagreement about the findings.” (individuals) When using or with a singular and a plural subject, the verb is singular or plural depending on which is closer. “Martha or the twins are going to help out tomorrow.” “My cousins or my mother is the contact for the reunion.”

Singular or Plural Continued Certain pronouns will always be singular or plural (review your indefinite pronouns). “Each of the girls sings well.” “Both of the girls sing well.” Certain pronouns are both singular or plural depending on how they are used. “All of the pizza is gone.” (singular) “All of the pizzas are gone.” (plural) When using here or there at the beginning of the sentence, the subject follows the verb.

Singular or Plural Continued “There are four hurdles to jump.” (plural) “There is a high hurdle to jump.” (singular)

Plural Subjects When using and, the verb will always be plural. “A rabbi and a priest walk into a bar.” The expression a number will always be plural. “A number of puppies are missing from this place.”