Subject-Verb Agreement Chapter 16

Agreement of Subject and Verb A verb should agree in number with its subject. A word that refers to one person, place, or thing, or idea is singular in number. A word that refers to more than one is plural in number. Ex: Singular Video, child, I thief, herself Ex: Plural Videos, children, we thieves, themselves

Agreement of Subject and Verb cont. Singular subjects take singular verbs. Emily attends college. That boy delivers newspapers. Plural subjects take plural verbs. They attend college. Those boys deliver newspapers. Note: in a verb phrase, the first helping (auxiliary) verb agrees its number with the subject. Emily is attending college. They are attending college.

Agreement of Subject and Verb cont. The number of a subject usually is not determined by a word in a phrase or clause following the subject. Singular: A book of poems is on the shelf. (The prepositional phrase of poems does not affect the number of the subject book.) Plural: The dinosaurs from the Jurassic Period include the Seismosaurus. (The prepositional phrase from the Jurassic Period does not affect the number of the subject dinosaurs.) A negative construction following the subject does not change the number of the subject. Ex: Carl, not Juan and I, is doing the artwork.

Indefinite Pronouns Indefinite Pronouns: refer to a person, a place, a thing, or an idea that may or may not be specifically named. Has anyone loaded the van? Some of the campsites are vacant. Please pack everything we will need for camping. All of the space in the back seat is filled. Some indefinite pronouns are singular, others are plural. Certain indefinite pronouns may be either singular or plural, depending on how they are used.

Indefinite Pronouns cont. The following indefinite pronouns are singular: The following indefinite pronouns are plural: both few many several Note: Either and neither can be used as adjectives and correlative conjunctions as well as indefinite pronouns. When either word is used as an adjective or a correlative conjunction, it cannot be the subject of a sentence. Carefully identify the subject when you are deciding what form of a verb to use. anybody neither anyone nobody anything no one each nothing either one everybody somebody everyone someone everything something

Indefinite Pronouns cont. The following indefinite pronouns may be either singular or plural, depending on how they are used: all, any, more, most, none, and some These pronouns are singular when they refer to a singular words, and are plural when they refer to plural words. Singular: Most of the job was finished. Plural: Most of the jobs were finished. Singular: None of the test was difficult. Plural: None of the tests were difficult.

Compound Subjects Compound Subject: consists of two or more subjects that are joined by a conjunction and that have the same verb Subjects joined by and generally take a plural verb. Raven and she like hiking. Her brother, her uncle, and her cousin are teachers. Both the scout and the counselor were helpful guides. Note: subjects joined by and that name only one person, place, thing, or idea take singular verbs. Singular compound nouns containing and also take singular verbs. Ex: The club’s secretary and treasurer was Edward. (one person) Ex. The bed and breakfast down the street is always reserved weeks in advance. (one place to stay)

Compound Subjects cont. Singular subject joined by or or nor take a singular verb. Plural subjects joined by or or nor take a plural verb. Mark or Dave knows the address. Neither our phone nor our doorbell was working. Do the Wilsons or the Campbells live there? When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject nearer the verb. Either Harry or his aunts are planning the activities for the beach party. Neither the potatoes or the roast is done.

Special Problems in Subject-Verb Agreement

Problems in S-V Agreement Collective nouns may be either singular or plural, depending on their meaning in a sentence Collective Nouns: a noun whose singular form names a group It is singular when it refers to the group as a unit Plural when it refers to the individual members or parts of the group Singular: The class had met its substitute teacher. (the class as a unit) Plural: The class were disagreeing with one another about the answers. (the class as individuals) A page of commonly used collective nouns can be found on p.522

Problems in S-V Agreement cont. A verb agrees with its subject but not necessarily with a predicate nominative. The main ingredient in salsa is tomatoes. Tomatoes are the main ingredient in salsa. When the subject follows the verb, find the subject and make sure that the verb agrees with it. Singular: Here is a set of keys. Plural: Here are the keys. Note: a contraction such as here’s, how’s, there’s, what’s, or where’s includes the singular verb is or has. Use such a contraction only when a singular subject follows it.

Problems in S-V Agreement cont. An expression of an amount (a measurement, a percentage, or a fraction, for example) may be singular or plural, depending on how it is used. An expression or amount is: Singular when the amount is thought of as a unit Plural when the amount is thought of as separate parts Examples: Singular: Fifteen dollars was the price. (one price) Plural: Fifteen dollars were torn. (separate dollar bills)

4) An expression of an amount cont. A fraction or a percentage is: Singular when it refers to a singular word and plural when it refers to a plural word Singular: Nine tenths [or Ninety percent] of the student body is present today. Plural: Nine tenths [or Ninety percent] of the students are present today. Generally, a measurement (such as length, weight, capacity, or area) is singular. Nine square feet equals one square yard. Three cups of flour is what the recipe requires. Note: in the expression the number of, number takes a singular verb. In the expression a number of, number takes a plural verb. The number of female athletes is growing. A number of girls like strenuous sports.

Problems in S-V Agreement cont. When the relative pronoun that, which, or who is the subject in an adjective clause, the verb in the clause agrees with the word to which the relative pronoun refers A corps de ballet is a group of ballet dancers that perform together. The Dutch painter Piet Mondrian, who was part of an art movement known as de Stijl, was fond of the colors red, yellow, and blue. Note: When preceded buy one of + a plural word, the relative pronoun takes a plural verb. When preceded by the only one of + a plural word, the relative pronoun takes a singular verb. Singular: Melba is the only one of those players who always tries her best. Plural: Melba is one of those players who always try their best.

Problems in S-V Agreement cont. A subject preceded by every or many a(n) takes a singular verb. Every parent and grandparent is looking on proudly. Many a hopeful performer has gone to Broadway in search of fame. The contradictions don’t and doesn’t should agree with their subjects. Use don’t with the subjects I and you and with all plural subjects. I don’t have any paper. You don’t need special permission. The players don’t seem nervous. Use doesn’t with all singular subjects except I and you. Doesn’t it show up in the picture? The tire doesn’t have enough air.

Problems in S-V Agreement cont. Some nouns that are plural in form take singular verbs. A page of these can be found on p.528 Linguistics is the science of language News of the concert’s cancellation was disappointing to the band members. Note: Many nouns ending in –ics, (acoustics, athletics, ethics, politics, etc.) may be singular or plural depending on how they are used. Generally, such a noun takes a singular verb when the noun names a science, system, or skill. The noun takes a plural verb when the noun names qualities, activities, or individual items. Some nouns that are plural in form but that refer to single items take plural verbs. (Found on p.529) Are the scissors sharp enough? The pliers seem to be missing.

Problems in S-V Agreement cont. Even when plural in form, the title of a creative work (such as a book, song, movie, or painting) generally takes a singular verb. Majors and Minors is a collection of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poetry. (one book) Even when plural in form, the name of a country, a city, or an organization generally takes a singular verb. The Solomon Islands has a population of 350,000. Is Grand Rapids smaller than Detroit?

Agreement of Pronoun and Antecedent

Agreement of Pronoun and Antecedent A pronoun should agree in both number and gender with its antecedent. Use singular pronouns to refer to singular antecedents. Use plural pronouns to refer to plural antecedents. Singular: Richard Strauss composed many operas. Der Rosenkavalier is perhaps his most famous. Plural: The mountain climbers believe that they will reach the summit by Friday. Some singular pronouns indicate gender Does Margaret like her dance class/ Arturo is doing his homework Because the car wouldn’t start, it had to be towed.

Indefinite Pronouns Indefinite pronouns agree with their antecedents according to the following rules. The indefinite pronouns: anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, somebody, someone, and something are singular. The indefinite pronouns: both, few, many, and several are plural. The indefinite pronouns: all, any, more, most, none, and some may be singular or plural, depending on how they are used in a sentence. Each of these pronouns is singular when it refers to a singular word and is plural when it refers to a plural word.

Compound Antecedents Use a plural pronoun to refer to two or more antecedent joined by and The guide and the ranger wrapped their rain ponchos in their saddle rolls. Note: Antecedents joined by and that name only one person, place, thing, or idea take a singular pronoun. For dinner, I’m preparing liver and onions. I think you’ll enjoy it. Use a singular pronoun to refer to two or more singular antecedents joined by or or nor. Neither Heidi nor Beth took her umbrella with her.

Problems in Pronoun Antecedent Agreement A collective noun is singular when the noun refers to the group as a unit and plural when the noun refers to the individual members or parts of the group. Singular: The orchestra was looking forward to performing its rendition of Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony. (Its is used because the orchestra would perform the rendition as a unit.) Plural: The orchestra were tuning their instruments when the conductor arrived. (Their is used because the members of the orchestra were tuning separate instruments.)

Problems in Pronoun Antecedent Agreement cont. An expression of an amount (a measurement, a percentage, or a fraction, for example) may take a singular or plural pronoun depending on how it is used. Singular when the amount is thought of as a unit Plural when the amount is thought of as separate parts. Singular: Two days is a long time. It could seem like forever. (one time) Plural: Two days (Monday and Friday) were especially cold and rainy. They were so wet that baseball practice was cancelled. (two separate days)

Problems in Pronoun Antecedent Agreement cont. A fraction or percentage is: Singular when it refers to a singular word, and plural when it refers to a plural word Singular: Nine tenths [or Ninety percent] of the colony has returned to its usual routine. Plural: Three tenths [or Thirty percent] of the ants have returned to their usual routine. Generally, a measurement (such as a length, weight, capacity, or area) is singular Nine square feet equals one square yard. This is how much material you will need.

Problems in Pronoun Antecedent Agreement cont. There are some nouns that are in plural form, but they take singular pronouns. There is a list on p.537. Ex. I have good news. Would you like to hear it? There are some nouns that are plural in form but that refer to single items. They take plural pronouns. There is a list on p.537 Ex. Marissa is looking for the scissors. Do you know where they are? Even when plural in form, the title of a creative work (such as a book, song, movie, or painting) or the name of a country, a city, or an organization generally takes a singular pronoun. Ex. Have you read Thousand Cranes? It was written by Yasunari Kawabata. The number of a relative pronoun (such as that, which, or who) is determined by the number of its antecedent. Singular: Jessica, who always takes pride in her work, has been appointed editor of the school’s yearbook. Plural: All who want to volunteer for the yearbook staff should raise their hands.