Grammar Subject-Verb Agreement

A singular subject calls for a singular form of the verb. The Kangaroo jumps. (singular) She is leaping. (singular) A plural subject calls for a plural form of verb. The Kangaroos jump. (plural) They are leaping. (plural)

Problem 1 A subject separated from the verb by intervening prepositional phrase. The two policemen at the construction site looks bored. The members of my baby-sitting club is saving money. The stories in the newspaper was well written.

Solution The two policemen at the construction site look bored. The members of my baby-sitting club are saving money. The stories in the newspaper were well written. Make sure that the verb agrees with the subject of the sentence, not with the object of a preposition. The object of a preposition is never the subject.

Common Prepositions AboutbeforeDuringInsideThrough AcrossBelowExceptOfTo AboveBesideForOffUnder AroundBetweenFromOnWith AtByInOverat

Appositive phrases These thieves, people like the hacker Kevin Mitnick, steal government and industry secrets. Mitnick, the most cunning of the thieves, was caught by one of his victims.

These thieves, people like the hacker Kevin Mitnick, steal government and industry secrets. Mitnick, the most cunning of the thieves, was caught by one of his victims.

Problem 2 A sentence that begins with here or there. Here go the duck with her ducklings. There is the pencils you were looking for. There is my aunt and uncle.

Solution Here goes the duck with her ducklings. There are the pencils you were looking for. There are my aunt and uncle. In the sentences that begin with here or there, look for the subject after the verb. Make sure that the verb agrees with the subject.

Problem 3 An indefinite pronoun as the subject. Each of the animals have a unique way of walking. Many of the movies was black and white. All of the candidates is qualified.

Solution Each of the animals has a unique way of walking. Many of the movies are black and white. All of the candidates are qualified. Some indefinite pronouns are singular, some are plural, and some can be either singular or plural. Determine whether the indefinite pronoun is singular or plural, and make the verb agree.

Indefinite Pronouns [-0ne words] [-body words] [-thing words] onenobodynothingeach anyoneanybodyanythingneither everyoneeverybodyeverythingeither someonesomebodysomething All of these indefinite pronouns are singular Nobodyhavehas Nobody have a clue about what they are doing. (should be has) areis Everything are ready for the party. (should be is) Neitherknowknows Neither Fred, nor Ed, nor Ted know the way. (should be knows) Both, few, many and several, however are plural All, any, most, none and some can come either singular or plural

Problem 4 A compound subject that is joined by and. The students and the teacher adores the classroom hamster. The expert and best source of information are Dr. Marlin. Fishing tackle and life jacket was stowed in the boat. Peanut butter and jelly are delicious.

Solution The students and the teacher adore the classroom hamster. The expert and best source of information is Dr. Marlin. Fishing tackle and a life jacket were stowed in the boat. Peanut butter and jelly is delicious.

Use a plural verb if the parts of the compound subject do not belong to one unit or if they refer to different people or things. Use a singular verb if the parts of the compound subject belong to one unit or if they refer to the same person or thing

Problem 5 A compound subject that is joined by or nor. Either Hester or Sue are supposed to pick us up. Neither pepper nor spices improves the flavor of this sauce. Either Caroline or Robin volunteer at the local food pantry. Neither the coach nor the screaming fans agrees with the referee’s call.

Solution Either Hester or Sue is supposed to pick us up. Neither pepper nor spices improve the flavor of this sauce. Either Caroline or Robin volunteers at the local food pantry. Neither the coach nor the screaming fans agree with the referee’s call. Make the verb agree with the subject that is closer to it.

Problem 6 Collective nouns refer to groups of people or things. In 1911 a robbery team steal the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in France. The team separates after the theft. The museum staff argues about what to do. Fortunately, the staff alone are not investigating this case.

In 1911 a robbery team steals the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in France. The team separate after the theft. The museum staff argue about what to do. Fortunately, the staff alone is not investigating this case. When a collective noun refers to a group as a unit, it takes a singular verb. When it refers to a group acting as individuals, it takes a plural verb.

Common collective nouns include the following. Class committee flock crowd Team family staff police Club herd jury majority

Problem 7 nouns ending in s. News about fake Mona Lisas appear every week in the newspapers. Eventually, forensics are used to help solve the crime.

News about fake Mona Lisas appears every week in the newspapers. Eventually, forensics is used to help solve the crime. Some nouns ending in s appear to be plural but are really singular in meaning. Use singular verbs with these words. Ex: news, linguistics, molasses, mathematics

Problem 8 Titles of works of art, literature, and music are singular. Words and phrases that refer to weights, measures, numbers and lengths of time are usually treated as singular. Titles: The Twelve Chairs s a comic story. Amounts: Fifty thousand dollars has been raised to ransom the missing painting. Over two-thirds of the money comes from private donations. Time: Twelve years in a long time for investigation to continue.

Exercise

Choose the correct verb from parentheses:

1.A bag of crispy red apples (make – makes) my mouth water. 2.Each of the tourists (buy – buys) rugs and pottery. 3.Here (are – is) the puzzling facts about the woman’s disappearance. 4.a dustpan and a broom (are – is) in the hall closet. 5.My friend and neighbor (own – owns) a new car. 6.The owner and manager of the shop (stays – stay) on the job until midnight.

1.A bag of crispy red apples (make – makes) my mouth water. 2.Each of the tourists (buy – buys) rugs and pottery. 3.Here (are – is) the puzzling facts about the woman’s disappearance. 4.A dustpan and a broom (are – is) in the hall closet. 5.My friend and neighbor (own – owns) a new car. 6.The owner and manager of the shop (stays – stay) on the job until midnight.