Transcript Plural Indefinite Pronouns

Subject-Verb Agreement
Interrupted by Prepositions, Inverted Order,
Indefinite Pronouns, Compound Subjects, and
Collective Nouns
Basic Subject-Verb Agreement
The subject and the verb in a sentence
must agree in number.
 Singular:
1.
◦ Megan likes surfing.
◦ She was at the beach yesterday.

Plural
◦ They like surfing.
◦ Surfers were at the beach yesterday.
Agreement with Collective Nouns
Use a singular verb with a collective
noun acting as a single unit.
2. Use a plural verb when the individual
members of the group are acting
individually.
 Singular:
1.
◦ The soccer team marches in the parade.

Plural:
◦ The soccer team have many different skills.
Agreement with Compound Subjects
1.

When a compound subject is connected by and,
the verb that follows is usually plural.
El Paso and Dallas are my two favorite Texas
cities.
Exception: If the parts of the compound subject
are thought of one person or thing, it takes the
singular verb.
 The strawberries and cream is on the table.
 Franks and beans is a popular meal when
camping.
Agreement with Compound Subjects
1.


When two singular subjects are joined
by or or nor, use the subject closest to
the verb to determine agreement
number.
Either the monuments or the Alamo is
interesting to see.
Either the Alamo or the monuments are
interesting to see.
Agreement in Inverted Sentence Order
When sentences have inverted word order,
such as, interrogative sentences, and
sentences beginning with here, there, or
prepositional phrases, the verb must still
agree with the subject in number.
 Do the cultural attractions in New York City
sound exciting to you?
 Here is the latest magazine about sports.
 There were several magazines about sports.
 Along the river were throngs of spectators.
1.
Indefinite Pronouns

Singular Indefinite Pronouns
Anybody
 Anyone
 Anything
 Other
 Another

Everybody
Everyone
Everything
Each
Much
Nobody
No one
Nothing
Either
Neither
Somebody
Someone
Something
One

Plural Indefinite Pronouns

Both

Singular or Plural Indefinite Pronouns

All
Few
Any
Many
More
Several
Most
Others
None
Some
Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns that are always singular take
singular verbs.
◦ Each of the football team mascots is at the game.

Indefinite pronouns that are always plural take plural
verbs.
◦ Both of my notebooks are in the car.
Indefinite pronouns that are sometimes singular and
sometimes plural take the verb of its referent most
often found as the object of the preposition following
the subject.
◦ All of the money we collected is missing.
◦ All of these cards are for you.