Verbs Subject-Verb Agreement

When compound subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” the subject closest to the verb determines whether you should use a singular or plural verb. If they are joined by “and,” use a plural verb. (Exceptions to this will not be on the test.)

Either the janitors or Mr. Wu (has, have) the projector. has (Mr. Wu is singular and closest to the verb)

Both the students and their teacher (seem, seems) fascinated. seem (conjunction is “and”)

Neither a wallaby nor male gray kangaroos (grows, grow) over six feet tall. grow (kangaroos is plural and closest to verb)

Both the kangaroo and the wallaby (leaps, leap) high into the air. leap (“and” is the conjunction)

Elephants, giraffes, and zebras (roam, roams) freely in game preserves. roam (“and” is the conjunction)

A lion or two cheetahs (is, are) behind the tree. are (“cheetahs” is plural and closest to verb)

Neither the crocodiles nor the hippo (is, are) in the river. is (“hippo” is singular and closest to the verb)

A leopard and a lion (is, are) running fast. are (conjunction is “and”)

Phrases or clauses that come between the subject and verb have no effect on the verb. The verb must agree with the subject in number. If a sentence is in inverted word order, you must find the subject to be certain you are choosing the correct verb.

By 1642 there (was, were) nine other theaters in the city. were (theaters)

Here (is, are) a model of a typical theater. is (model)

Around a big courtyard (is, are) three floors of balconies. are (floors)

At one end of the courtyard (stands, stand) a raised stage. stands (stage)

From the yard or the balconies, the members of the audience (views, view) the show. view (members)

Indefinite pronouns as subjects Some indefinite pronouns are singular. Some are plural, and some can be either. See your notes and/or homework packet for the list of indefinite pronouns. If the indefinite pronoun can be singular or plural (all, any, most, none, some, more), you have to determine what that pronoun is referring to in order to choose the correct verb.

Something about the candidates answers (has, have) been bothering me since the debate. has (something-singular)

All of the stuff in the attic (needs, need) to be dusted before the yard sale. needs-(“all” refers to “stuff”)

Neither of the movies (is, are) very good. is-(neither-singular)

Somebody among the reporters covering the trial (is, are) getting inside information from the district attorney. is (somebody-singular)

None of the sharks (swims, swim) toward the visitors. swim-(“none” refers to “sharks”)

Each of a whale shark’s eggs (is, are) quite large. is-(each-singular)