Transcript SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT

SUBJECT/VERB
AGREEMENT
RULES AND
REGULATIONS
DR. KENNY
RULE #1

The student (was, were)
happy with her grades.
ANSWER…
WAS
 Rule= A verb must agree
with its subject in
NUMBER!!!

GRAY AREA FOR RULE #1
 Don’t be confused with words
that come between the subject
and the verb!!!
 The teacher, as well as the
students, (is, are) required to
remain silent during a fire drill.
ANSWER…
IS!!!
RULE #2
Strength and balance (is,
are) essential for most
sports.
ANSWER…
ARE!!!
 Compound subjects
connected with the word
“and” usually require a
plural verb!!!
 Key word is USUALLY!!!

GRAY AREA FOR RULE #2
When the nouns are to be
considered as ONE UNIT,
the verb is SINGULAR!!!
 Macaroni and cheese (makes,
make) a great meal!!!

ANSWER…
MAKES!!!
 Singular regular verbs require
an “s” at the end; plural regular
verbs do not!!!

RULE #3
Neither Tom nor Jim (is,
are) going to the movies.
ANSWER…
IS!!!
 Singular subjects joined
by OR or NOR take a
SINGULAR verb!!!

GRAY AREA TO RULE #3

When one of the subjects joined by
OR or NOR is singular and one is
plural, THE VERB SHOULD
AGREE WITH THE NEAREST
SUBJECT!!!

Neither he nor his workers (is,
are) going to the movies.
ANSWER…
ARE!!!
RULE #4
When a singular indefinite
pronoun is the subject of the
sentence, THE VERB IS
ALWAYS SINGULAR!!!
 Everybody (is, are) invited to
the party.

ANSWER…AND EXAMPLES
IS!!!
 Each, either, neither, one,
everyone, everybody, another,
anybody, nobody, everything,
somebody, someone are
SINGULAR INDEFINITE
PRONOUNS!!!

GRAY AREA FOR RULE #4
Don’t be confused with
words that come between the
SINGULAR INDEFINITE
PRONOUN and the verb!!!
 Each of the sisters (has, have)
a similar smile.

ANSWER…
HAS!!!
RULE #5
Half of the cookies (was,
were) missing!
ANSWER…AND SPECIFIC RULE
WERE!!!
 The following indefinite pronounsHALF, MOST, NONE, SOME,
ANY, ALL- are singular or
plural…depending on the number
of the OBJECT OF THE
PREPOSITION!!!

RULE #6




The team (is, are) together in its goals for
the season.
IS!!!
Collective nouns take a SINGULAR
verb when the noun refers to the group
as a unit; the noun takes a PLURAL
verb when the individuals in the group
are addressed!!!
All faculty (is, are) expected to attend!
RULE #7





Mathematics (is, are) a difficult subject.
IS!!!
Some nouns that look PLURAL are
actually SINGULAR, while others are
legitimately PLURAL!!!
The pants (is, are) missing!
ARE!!!