Subject-Verb Agreement Rules A verb should agree with its subject in number. 1.Singular subjects take singular verbs (action verbs ending in –s and singular state of being verbs). 2.Plural subjects take plural verbs (action verbs that do not end in –s and plural state of being verbs). State of Being Verbs SingularPlural isare waswere hashave amare

I. Special Rule The number of the subject does not change because of the phrase or clause following it. Examples: The short stories in this anthology are written by various authors. Edgar Allan Poe, the father of the short story, is studied in English classrooms.

II. Rule (You already know this one.) 1.Singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs. 2.Plural indefinite pronouns require plural verbs. 3.Special indefinite pronouns rely on their antecedents to determine if they are singular or plural. Then, the corresponding verb form is required. 1.Each person wins a free ticket to the play. Each person is being honored. 2.Several eat pizza for lunch. Many are angry about the new rule. 3.All seniors participate in senior week. Some pie is left on the stove.

III. Rule Subjects joined by “and” usually take a plural verb. Athletes and Musicians spend many hours practicing their crafts. Spanish and French are offered at CHHS. Exception: The verb should be singular if “and” is referring to the same thing. My friend and next-door neighbor rides to school with me.

IV. Rule Singular subjects joined by “or” or “nor” take singular verbs. A jacket or a sweater is essential in St. John’s classroom. Neither the mom nor the dad enjoys spanking his or her kids.

V. Rule When a singular subject and plural subject are joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject nearest to the verb. Either the musicians or the singer is off-key. The director or the actors attend the preview of the film.

VI. Rule When the subject follows the verb, identify the subject to determine if it is plural or singular. (Hint: Reverse the order of sentence.) Here is the book you wanted. (The book you wanted is here.) There were no detours on the interstate. (No detours on the interstate were there.) When are Passover and Easter this year? (Passover and Easter are when?)

VII. Rule Collective Nouns take singular verbs. armycrowdjury assemblyfamilypublic audiencefleetsquadron bandgagglestaff classflockteam clubgrouptroop committeeherdpride Other singular forms: civics, economics, genetics, measles, mumps, news, mathematics, electronics, physics

VIII. Rule An expression stating an amount may be singular or plural. A.If it is referring to a unit, it is singular. B.If it is referring to separate parts, it is plural. A.Twenty-seven dollars is all I need to buy the game. (unit) B.Twenty-seven dollars were counted by the teller. (separate parts)

IX. Rule A fraction or a percentage is singular when it refers to a singular word and plural when it refers to a plural word. One half of my essay is typed. One half of my references are books. Two thirds of the school attends the assembly each month. Two thirds of the students attend the assembly each month.

X. Rule The title of a creative work (song, book, film, painting, etc.) and the name of a country (even if it is plural in form) take the singular form of the verb. The Great Gatsby is by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Seychelles generates most of its revenue from tourism and importation. The United States supports freedom and individualism.

XI. Rule Subjects preceded by “every” or “many a” take singular verbs. Every takeoff and landing is cleared with the tower. Many a runner finishes a marathon long after the winner.

XII. Rule When a relative pronoun (that, which, or who) is the subject of an adjective clause, the verb should agree with the word to which the relative pronoun is referring. San Juan, which is the capital of Puerto Rico, is a tourist attraction. I know some people who own a Christmas-tree farm. The desk that sits in the front of the room is for students who are being rewarded.

XIII. Rule When the word “number” is followed by the word “of” is singular when preceded by the word “the”; it is plural when preceded by “a.” *The number of = singular *A number of = plural The number of volunteers is surprising. A number of volunteers are helping.