Subject and Verb Agreement

Agreement in Number A verb must agree with its subject in number. Number is always about Singular & Plural Rule #1: A singular subject goes with a singular verb. Singular subjects will not end in –s but their verbs will. My dog walks outside every day. Rule #2: A plural subject goes with a plural verb. Plural subjects will end in –s but their verbs will not. Their dogs walk outside every day.

Indefinite Pronouns Rule #3: Singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs. Example: Everybody gets an A! Neither of the shirts fits. -Every -Any -Some -No Everybody Anybody Somebody nobody Either Everyone Anyone Someone No one Neither Everything Anything Something Nothing Each One

Indefinite Pronouns, cont. Rule #4: Plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs. Example: Both of the apples are bruised. Rule #5: Singular or Plural: look at the noun closest to the verb. Example: Most of the pudding is gone. All of the mobiles move in the breeze. Both Few Many Several All Any Most None Some

Compound Subjects Rule #6: A compound subject whose parts are joined by and usually takes a plural verb. Example: George and Louise paint the deck. Rule #7: A compound subject whose parts are joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the word closest to the verb. Example: Either ticket stubs or a photo completes your collage.   Either a photo or ticket stubs complete your collage.

Problem Subjects Rule #8: Some nouns end in –s or –ics look plural but actually refer to singular concepts. Examples include measles, politics, mechanics, mumps, news, mathematics, and economics. When these words are used as subjects, use a singular verb. Example: Politics is a hot issue right now.

Problem Subjects, cont. Example: There (was, were) a tiny rabbit. Rule #9: Subjects can often be placed in unusual positions, such as in the form of a question, after a sentence beginning with here or there, or after a sentence that begins with an adjective, adverb, or phrase. Reorder the words in statement form to determine whether the verb should be singular or plural. Example: There (was, were) a tiny rabbit. Reorder: A tiny rabbit (was, were) there. Unusual ordered subjects need to be reworded.