English II Grammar: Subject Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement A verb must agree with its subject in person and number. She learns.They learn. Note: Add an s to a singular verb to make it agree with a singular noun.

Subject-Verb Agreement Do not mistake a word in a prepositional phrase for the subject of a sentence. The color of the roses pleases us. The flowers for the bouquet are pretty.

Agreement with linking verbs, Do not be confused by a predicate nominative* that is different in number from the subject. Only the subject affects the number of the linking verb. The last course was strawberries with cream. *A predicate nominative is a noun that follows a linking verb and points back to the subject to identify it further.

Agreement in inverted sentences, p. 616 In an inverted sentence—a sentence in which the subject follows the verb—take care in locating the simple subject and make sure that the verb agrees with the subject. Near the trees sleeps the camper. Near the trees sleep the campers.

There is a camper on the mountain. Here comes the last runner There are campers on the mountain. Here come the last two runners.

Does that eagle live in the mountains? Do those mountains contain eagles? Is the tent pitched in the right place? Are the tents pitched in the right place?

Collective nouns, p. 618 A collective noun names a group. Consider a collective noun singular when it refers to a group as a whole. Consider a collective noun plural when it refers to each member of a group individually. The squadron of planes soars. The squadron land one at a time. The crowd cheers. The crowd rush to find their seats.

Special subjects, p. 618 Certain nouns that end in –s, such as mumps, measles, and mathematics take singular verbs. Mathematics interests many people. Mumps is a very contagious disease.

Special subjects, p. 618 Certain other nouns that in in –s, such as scissors, pants, binoculars, and eyeglasses, take plural verbs. The scissors were defective. Your pants are so cool!

Special subject, p. 618 Many nouns that end in –ics may be singular or plural, depending upon their meaning. Politics is often interesting. His politics are shameless.

Special subjects, p. 619 When a noun of amount refers to a total that is considered as one unit, it is singular. When it refers to a number of individual units, it is plural. Four dollars is a fair price. Four dollars are on the sidewalk.

Special subjects, p. 619 A title is always singular, even if a noun within the title is plural. Little Women delights readers of all ages. Cakes and Bagels is my favorite bakery.

Agreement with Compound Subjects, p. 620 A compound subject that is joined by and or both…and is plural unless its parts belong to one unit or they both refer to the same person or thing. Both the book and the movie are enjoyable. Ham and eggs is my favorite breakfast. Her husband and partner consults her. (One person is both husband and partner.)

Agreement with Compound Subjects, p. 620 With compound subjects joined by or or nor (or by either…or or neither…nor), the verb always agrees with the nearer subject. Neither the lawyer or the clients are talking Either the lawyer or the client is talking.

Agreement with Compound Subjects, p. 620 When many a, every, or each precedes a compound subject, the subject is considered singular. Many a man, woman, and child knows hunger. Every eagle, owl, and parrot fascinates me. Each eagle and owl is soaring.

Intervening Expressions, p. 621 If a singular subject is linked to another noun by an intervening expression, such as accompanied by, as well as, in addition to, plus, or together with, the subject is still considered singular. Water, in addition to food, is essential on a camping trip. Rain, accompanied by wind and thunder, is predicted for tomorrow.

Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects, p. 623 A verb must agree in number with an indefinite pronoun subject. All the ones, bodies, things are singular. Anything, everyone, nobody, one, anybody When we checked, everything was as it should be.

Some, most, all, none, and any may be used singularly or plural depending on their use in the sentence. All of the money is gone. Most of the students were in favor of the field trip.