1. Subject Verb Agreement
American Lit

2. Subject and Verb Agreement
Singular and Plural Subjects
A singular subject must have a singular verb
A plural subject must have a plural verb
Example:
The planets travel through space.
The planet Jupiter has sixteen known moons.
**most singular verbs end in –s **

3. Intervening Phrases and Clauses
A verb must agree with its subject, even if a phrase or clause comes between them
Example:
Sam, with several of his friends, observes the sky.
Your theory, as well as his ideas, lacks support.
Remember: Plural with plural, singular with singular

4. Relative pronouns as subjects
Remember relative pronouns?? (who, which, that)
When who, which, or that acts as a subject of a subordinate clause, its verb is singular or plural, depending on the number of its antecedent
The antecedent of a relative pronoun determines its agreement with a verb
EX: Sam is the only one (who has applied.)

5. Compound Subjects
A compound subject joined by and is generally plural and must have a plural verb
examples
Wind and rain exist on Earth.
Winds and rainstorms exist on Earth.
Winds and rain exist on Earth.
Exception to this rule-when the parts of the compound subject equal one thing and when the word each or every is used before a compound subject. Then use a singular verb.

6. The exceptions Macaroni and cheese is an easy dish to make.
Each man and woman was waving a flag.

7. Compound Subjects
Two or more singular subjects joined by or or nor must have a singular verb
Example
Either Jupiter or Saturn makes a fascinating topic of study.
Two or more plural subjects joined by or or nor must have a plural verb
Space probes or space shuttles provide information about space.

8. Compound subjects
If one or more singular subjects are joined to one or more plural subjects by or or nor, the subject closest to the verb determines agreement
Neither atmosphere nor clouds exist on Mercury.
Neither clouds nor atmosphere exists on Mercury.

9. Compound Subjects Subjects Verb Singular AND Singular Plural
Singular AND Plural
Plural AND Singular
Plural AND Plural
Subjects
Verb
Singular OR Singular
Singular
Singular OR Plural
Plural
Plural OR Singular
Plural OR Plural
Use this chart as a reminder for Compound Subjects and Number

10. Confusing Subjects
Hard to find subjects- When a subject comes after its verb, the verb must still agree with the subject in number
A sentence in which the subject comes after its verb is said to be inverted-you can check the subject-verb agreement by mentally putting the sentence in the normal subject-verb order
Which of the science reports has she read?
(She has read which of the science reports?)

11. Subjects of linking verbs
a linking verb must agree with its subject, regardless of the number of the predicate nominative-the noun or pronoun that renames, identifies, or explains the subject
Moon craters are one sign of meteor storms.
One sign of meteor storms is moon craters.

12. Collective Nouns
a collective noun takes a singular verb when the group it names acts as a single unit
The class is excited to be learning about the solar system.
A collective noun takes a plural verb when the group it names act as individuals with different points of view
The class are unable to decide which planets to discuss in their reports.

13. Nouns that look like plurals
Nouns that are plural in form, but singular in meaning take singular verbs
Some of these nouns are singular names for branches of knowledge: acoustics, civics, economics etc.
Physics is a challenging subject. (S)
Gymnastics is my favorite Olympic sport to watch. (S)
Some exceptions: My lost eyeglasses were behind the sofa. (P) My pants are not in the laundry. (P)

14. Indefinite Pronouns Singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs
Everyone in the room needs to take off her coat.
Plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs
Both of these planets were formed at about the same time.
For those indefinite pronouns that can be either singular or plural, agreement depends on the number of the antecedent

15. Indefinite Pronouns Singular Plural Both Another, Anybody, Anyone
Anything, Each, Either, Everybody
Everyone, Everything, Little, Much
Neither, Nobody, No one, Nothing
One, Other, Somebody, Someone
Something
Few
Many
Others
Several
All
Any
More
Most
None
Some

16. Indefinite pronouns con’t
The pronouns all, any, more, most, none, and some usually take a singular verb if the antecedent is singular and a plural verb if the antecedent is plural.
Most of the cake is gone.
Most of the desserts are gone.

17. Titles A title is singular and therefore takes a singular verb.
Space is a novel by James A. Michener
Of Mice and Men is a book by John Steinbeck.

18. Amounts and Measurements
A noun expressing an amount or measurement is usually singular and requires a singular verb
singular when expressing single units (ex: one sum of money)
Twelve dollars is the price of the ticket.
Thirty miles was a long distance to travel.
Half of the invitations were mailed today. (P-half functions like an indefinite pronoun-refer to the antecedent for number)