Subject/Verb Agreement

The Basics First identify the subject of the sentence and determine if it is singular or plural She likes apples. She=subject She is a singular subject Singular subject + singular verb She likes apples. Plural subject + plural verb Susan and Bill like apples.

Indefinite Pronouns Indefinite pronouns refer to an unknown or unidentified person, place, or object Common indefinite pronouns: each, every, neither, any, anyone, no one, someone, somebody Indefinite pronouns usually use a singular verb Somebody needs to clean up this mess.

Exceptions The following indefinite pronouns use plural verbs: both, few, many, several Both of them need new computers. Few understand the new material. Many people love to watch football. Several of the books are overdue.

More Exceptions The following indefinite pronouns use either singular or plural verbs: all, most, none, some All of the food is gone. All of the groups are registered. None of the people need money. Some of the test appears difficult.

Parenthetical Phrases A phrase that provides a digression from the rest of the sentence. If removed, it does not make the sentence incomplete. Catherine, along with Monica, likes art museums. Singular subject=singular verb Do not be confused by words between subjects and verbs. The vase of flowers looks beautiful on the table.

Expletives Expletives: here, there Expletives are not subjects. Be careful to identify the subject of the sentence, not the expletive. Here is the cell phone. Cell phone is the singular subject, so the verb is singular. There are plates in the dishwasher. Plates is the plural subject, so the verb is plural.

Collective Nouns Words that refer to more than one person but are singular subjects: family, group, class These nouns require singular verbs. My family wants a new car. Their group plans to split up the work for the project. Her class knows how to write a good paper.

Subjects joined by “and” When “and” joins two subjects together, that sentence requires a plural verb. Samantha and Robert like to eat ice cream. The bookmark and the reading light are on the table. Her clothes and shoes need to be washed.

Use of: or, either, neither/nor Subjects joined using “or,” “either,” “neither,” and “nor” use singular verbs Sam or Brian listens to the radio. If the subjects are plural, the sentence uses a plural verb Neither the boxes nor the crates are heavy. The subject closest to the verb determines if the verb is singular or plural. Either the students or the teachers eat lunch at noon.

Practice Choose the correct form of the verb : Tara takes/take a shower after practice. Mike and Dylan likes/like to watch football together. Either he or she puts/put the papers there. Her family travels/travel to Paris every summer. Someone in my classes never comes/come to the study sessions.

More Practice One of my friends eats/eat a sandwich every day. There is/are two cars in the driveway. Neither Kim nor Tom ever cheats/cheat. Few realizes/realize how difficult it is to write a poem. Each person receives/receive a different grade. Candice along with her friends enjoys/enjoy watching the news.