SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT Creative writing 3

Introduction A singular subject demands a singular verb; a plural subject demands a plural verb. That is a simple principle behind subject-verb agreement.

Recognizing Subjects and Verbs  A complete sentence must have a SUBJECT and a VERB.  The subject is the who or what that performs the action.  The verb is the action

SUBJECT SEPARATED FROM THE VERB  It is very often that the subject and verb are separated. They will be separated by a prepositional phrase, but it has no effect on the verb. Subject + prepositional phrase + verb

EXAMPLEs OF SUBJECT SEPARATED FROM THE VERB 1. The danger of forest fires is not to be taken lightly. 2. Several theories on this subject have been proposed.

EXAMPLEs OF SUBJECT SEPARATED FROM THE VERB 3. The study of languages is very interesting. 4. The effects of that crime are likely to be devastating

WORDS THAT ALWYS TAKE SINGULAR VERBS AND PRONOUNS Any + singular noun Some + singular noun Every + singular noun AnybodyNobodySomebodyeverybodyEach AnyoneNo oneSomeoneeveryoneEither* anythingnothingsomethingeverythingNeither*

WORDS THAT ALWYS TAKE SINGULAR VERBS AND PRONOUNS  *Either & neither are singular if they are not used with or and nor.  *Examples: Everybody who has not purchased a ticket should be in this line. Something was under the house.

WORDS THAT ALWYS TAKE SINGULAR VERBS AND PRONOUNS If either of you takes a vacation now, we will not be able to finish the work. Anybody who has lost his ticket should report to the desk. ( note the singular pronoun ) No problem is harder to solve than this one. Nobody works harder than John does.

None/no None + of the + non-count noun + singular verb None can take either a singular or plural verb on the noun which follows it. Example: None of the counterfeit money has been found

None + of the + plural count noun + plural verb Example: None of the students have finished the exam yet.

No can take either a singular or plural verb depending on he noun which follow it. No + singular noun/ non-count noun + singular verb Example: No example is relevant to this case.

No + plural noun + plural verb Example: No examples are relevant to this case

Either/Neither When either or neither are followed by or and nor the verb may be singular or plural depending on whether the noun following or and nor is singular or plural. If or or nor appears alone, the same rule applies. Either/neither + noun + or/nor + plural noun + plural verb Example: Either John or his friends are going to the beach. plural noun plural verb Neither John nor his friends are going to the beach.

Either/neither + noun + or/nor + singular noun + singular verb Neither John nor Bill is going to class today. John or George is bringing the car. singular noun singular verb

GERUND AS SUBJECT  If a sentence begins with verb + ing or Gerund, the must also be singular. Knowing her has made him what he is. Dieting is very popular today. Not studying has caused him many problems. Washing with a special cream is recommended for scalp infections. Being cordial is one of his greatest assets. Writing many letters makes her happy.

COLLECTIVE NOUNS  Words indicating a number of people or animals are singular. The following nouns are usually singular. In some cases they are plural if the sentence indicates that the individual members are acting separately. CongressFamilyGroupCommitte e class organizati on TeamArmyClubCrowd Governm ent JuryMajority*minoritypublic

 *Majority can be singular or plural. If it is alone, it is usually singular. But if it is followed by a plural noun, it is usually plural.  Compare these examples:  The majority believes that we are in no danger.  The majority of the students believe him to be innocent.

Examples of Collective Nouns  The committee has met, and it has rejected the proposal.  The family was elated by the news.  The crowd was wild with the excitement.  Congress has initiated a new plan to combat inflation.  The organization has lost many members this year.  Our team is going to win the game.

Collective Nouns Indicating Group of Certain Animals  They mean the same as group and thus are considered singular  Example:  The flock of birds is circling overhead.  The herd of cattle is breaking away.  A school of fish is being attacked by sharks. Flock of birds/ sheep School of fish Herd of cattlePride of lions Pack of dog

COLLECTIVE NOUNS INDICATING TIME, MONEY, MEASUREMENT  Those used as a whole so that they are considered singular. Twenty –five dollars is too much to pay for that shirt. Fifty minutes isn’t enough time to finish this test. Twenty dollars is all I can afford to pay for that recorder. two miles is too much to run in one day.

A NUMBER OF / THE NUMBER OF A number of + plural noun + plural verb the number of + plural noun + plural verb Examples: A number of students are going to the class picnic. The number of days in a week is seven. A number of the applicants have already been interviewed. The number of residents who have been questioned on this matter is quite small.

NOUNS THAT ARE ALWAYS PLURAL  The following nouns are always considered plural. They cannot be singular. In order to speak of them as singular, one must say: “a pair of…….”  Compare these examples:  The pants are in the drawer.  A pair of paints is in the drawer.  The pliers were on the table.  The pair of pliers was on the table.  These scissors are dull.  This pair of scissors is dull scissorsshortspantsjeanstongs trousersGlassesPlierstweezers

THERE IS/ THERE ARE  The sentences that begin with the existential there, the subject is actually after the verb.  Examples: There is a storm approaching. singular singular There have been a number or telephone calls today. plural plural There was an accident last night. There is/there was/there has been + singular subject ( or non count noun ) There are/there were/there have been + plural subject

Exercise. Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct. 1. Each number in a binary system are formed from only two symbols. A B C D 2. Scientists at the medical center is trying to determine if there is a relationship between A B C saccharine and cancer. D 3. On the rim of the Kilauea volcano in the Hawaiian Islands are a hotel called the Volcano Hotel. A B C D 4.Only with a two-thirds vote by both houses are the U.S. Congress able to override a presidential A B C veto. D 5.Five miles beyond the hills were a fire with its flames reaching up to the sky. A B C D 6.The contracts signed by the company has been voided because some stipulations were not A B C D met. 7.The box of disks for the computer have been misplaced. A B C D 8.It is impossible to believe that somebody actually admire that man. A B C D