Subject-Verb Agreement How to avoid common errors

Common errors  Most errors with subject-verb agreement occur because of a misunderstanding of how to properly use the following subjects in a sentence:  Compound subjects  A subject with two or more parts  Indefinite pronouns  Refer to nonspecific persons or things  Collective nouns  Emphasize a group as a singular unit  Misleading nouns  Appear plural but are considered singular

Compound subjects  Joined by and  Subject is usually plural, unless preceded by every or each  Mark and Ryan often hike together. (plural verb)  Each flower, vegetable, and shrub needs to be fed plant food. (singular verb)  Joined by or or nor  Verb should agree with the subject that is nearer to the verb  A photo ID or two credit cards are required. (cards is plural therefore “are” is used rather than “is”)  Neither the three assistants nor the professor was able to solve the student’s questions. (professor is singular therefore “was” is used rather than “were”)

Indefinite pronouns  Most should be treated as singular even though they appear plural  Indefinite pronouns individualize items being spoken about and therefore are singular  Example: Everyone on the team supports the team captain.  “everyone” is speaking of individuals separately, as well as speaking of the group as a singular unit  Sample indefinite pronouns:  Anybody, anyone, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, non, no one, someone, something

Collective nouns  Emphasize the group as a singular unit and therefore should be treated as singular  Sample collective nouns:  Jury, committee, audience, crowd, class, troop, family, couple  Example sentences:  The class respects the teacher.  The scout troop meets every Sunday afternoon at my house.  The young couple loves to shop yard sales with one another.

Misleading nouns  When a plural noun represents a singular body of knowledge it is singular  Mathematics, athletics, news, statistics, measles, economics, physics  Statistics is one of the most difficult courses for an undergraduate to take in college. (Statistics takes a singular verb because it is speaking of a singular class)  Statistics on teenage violence are hard to read about as a parent. (Statistics takes a plural verb because it speaking about separate items and not a singular body of knowledge)  Titles often appear plural but should be treated as singular  Lost Cities is an excellent book that everyone should read.  Controlled substances is a euphemism for street drugs.