Subject-Verb Agreement (SVA)

Introduction The house is empty The houses are empty An uncountable noun takes a singular verb The grass is growing

There is agreement when we use a present-tense verb in the 3 rd person. The window is broken. / The windows are broken. The house has a garden. / The houses have gardens. The jacket looks nice. / These jackets look nice.

A modal verb does not have singular or plural forms. The house must have a garden. The houses must have gardens. With a past-tense verb, there is agreement only with be. The window was broken. The windows were broken.

Singular & Plural Subjects A.Two or more phrases linked by and take a plural verb Amin and Umar go sailing at weekends. ** But when the two together are seen as a single idea, then we use a singular verb. Bread and butter was all we had. (= bread with butter on it)

Singular & Plural Subjects B.When two phrases are linked by or, the verb usually agrees with the nearest. - Either Thursday or Friday is OK by me. - Either The Internet or these books are where you’ll find the information.

Singular & Plural Subjects C.A phrase of measurement usually takes a singular verb. - Ten miles is too far to walk. - Thirty ringgit seems a reasonable price.

Singular & Plural Subjects D.Titles and names take a singular verb when they refer to one thing. – ‘Star Wars’ was a very successful film. – The Rose and Crown is that old restaurant by the river. Plural places names referring to a single country usually take a singular verb. – The Netherlands is a member of the European Union. – The United States wants …

Singular & Plural Subjects E.A phrase with as well as or with does not make the subject plural. – The kitchen as well as the dining room, faces south. – Paul, together with some of his friends, is buying a racehorse. After not only … but also, the verb agrees with the nearest phrase. – Not only Paul but also some of his friends are buying the horse. – Not only his friends but also Paul himself has a share in the horse.

Singular & Plural Subjects F.If a phrase comes after the noun and modifies it, the verb agrees with the 1 st noun. – The house between the two bungalows is empty.

One of, a number of, every, etc A.After a subject with one of, we use a singular verb. - One of these letters is for you.

One of, a number of, every, etc B.When a plural noun follows a lot of, number of, or majority of, we normally use a plural verb. A lot of people have complained. A large number of letters were received. The majority of nurses are woman. But after The number of …, we use a singular verb. The number of letters we receive is increasing.

One of, a number of, every, etc C.We use a singular verb after a subject with every and each. Every pupil has to take the test. Each day was not the same as the one before. We also use a singular verb after compounds with every, some, any, and no. Everyone has to take the test Someone was waiting at the door. Nothing ever happens in this place.

One of, a number of, every, etc D.We use a singular verb after who or what as subject. Who wants coffee? We all do, please. What has happened? Several things have happened. After what/which + noun, the verb agrees with the noun. What/Which day is convenient? What/Which days are convenient?

One of, a number of, every, etc E.After a subject with none, neither, either, or any and a plural noun phrase, we can use either a singular or plural verb. None (of the pupils) has/have failed the test. Neither of us was/were very impressed by the place. I don’t know if either of these batteries is/are good. If any of you gets/get into difficulty, just call for help.

Pair Nouns A pair noun is plural and takes a plural verb. These trousers need cleaning. I’m looking for my glasses. I’ve put them down somewhere. ** Some pair nouns have no –s when they come before another noun. I’ve split some coffee down my trouser leg.

Pair Nouns We can use pair of or pairs of. This pair of trousers needs cleaning. Have you got a pair of binoculars? Somehow I’ve managed to lose three pairs of scissors. ** Some pair nouns have no –s when they come before another noun. I’ve split some coffee down my trouser leg.

Group Nouns Refers to a group of people. There are sometimes called ‘collective nouns’. Use singular verb if we talk about the whole group. The class consists of twelve girls and eleven boys. Use a plural verb if we see the group as individuals. The class don’t / doesn’t understand what the teacher is saying.

Group Nouns The names of institutions and companies are also group nouns. Tesco sells/sell organic vegetables. Sports teams can take a singular or plural verb. Denmark is/are through to the World Cup finals. Some nouns have a plural meaning and take a plural verb, even though they do not end in –s. Some cattle have got out into the wood. The police are questioning a man.