1. Subject-Verb Agreement

2. Basic Rule Singular subjects need singular verbs.
Plural subjects need plural verbs.

3. For example: The dog needs to go for a walk.
Singular subject? Verb generally ends with “s”
The dogs need to go for a walk.
Plural subject? Verb generally does not end in “s”

4. These create problems:
Pronouns such as everyone and everybody seem plural, but they are always singular — so they need a singular verb.
1. Everyone who worked on the science project is a winner.

5. The Rule?
Words that end in “body,” “thing,” or “one” are always singular.
Ex: anybody, everybody, somebody, nobody…anything, everything, something, nothing…anyone, everyone, someone, no one.

6. These create problems:
Prepositional phrases may come between the subject pronoun and its verb —IGNORE them!
Each of the basketball players is excited about tonight’s game.

7. These create problems:
Pronouns such as all and some have verbs that will be determined by whether the pronoun is referring to something that is COUNTABLE or not (Countable = plural).
1. Some of the workers on the building have left for the day.
You could count
the workers.

8. These create problems:
Verbs that accompany pronouns such as all and some will be determined by whether the pronoun is referring to something that is COUNTABLE or not (Not countable = singular).
1. Some of the salt was spilled on the floor.
Salt is considered
one lump item.

9. These create problems:
None can have a singular OR a plural verb.
None of the boys has helped at the game. OR
None of the boys have helped at the game.
Both are correct!

10. These create problems:
Phrases like together with, along with, and as well as seem to combine subjects, but they do not.
Some of the tile in our room, as well as the hall, was soaked.
The major problem we had, together with that of our teacher, was tardiness.
Don’t be fooled
by extra phrases!

11. These create problems:
When either and neither appear as a subject alone (without the words or and nor), they are singular.
1. Either of those answers seems to be right.
2. You can have the bed by the window or the one by the door; either is okay with me.
Seem like plural
things.

12. And here’s the other way….
When either or neither appear WITH “or” or “nor,” you determine singular or plural by the subject CLOSEST to the verb.
Neither the televisions nor the radio works.
Neither the radio nor the televisions work.

13. These create problems:
The words there and here are never subjects.
Here are the papers you gave me.
Here is my answer.
Here is not
the subject.