Transcript Subject and Verb Agreement

Subject and Verb
Agreement
Review
What is subject-verb agreement?
Review
In general, subject-verb agreement means…
-If the subject is singular, than the verb is
singular
-If the subject is plural, then the verb is
plural
Of course, there are always exceptions.
Rules &
Examples
Rule #1
*** Orange = the subject
Red = the verb
- The indefinite pronouns such as anyone,
nobody, and someone, must be accompanied by
singular verbs since they are singular, as well.
Examples: Everyone has arrived to the game.
Each of the athletes is talented.
Rule #2
- Depending on the subject, some indefinite
pronouns can be plural, such as all, some,
and none.
Examples: All of the papers are scattered.
All of the cake is sliced.
Rule #3
-Sentences using as well as, together with, and similar
phrases are not interchangeable with the word and.
Examples:
The teacher as well as her students is going to the
assembly.
The teacher and her students are going to the
assembly.
Rule #4
- The words neither and either are accompanied
by singular verbs, since they are also singular.
Example: Neither of the defenders is playing well.
Rule #5
-In sentences with nor or or, the subject closest to the verb
determines whether the verb is singular or plural.
Example:
Either my mother or my sisters are coming to my play.
Either my sisters or my mother is coming to my play.
Rule #6
-Sentences starting with here or there must
have a subject that follows the verb; there and
here will never be the subject.
Example: There are two applications on the
desk.
Rule #7
-Verbs in third person and in present tense that
are accompanied by singular subjects (such as
he, she, and it) should end in -s; other verbs do
not end in -s.
Example: She likes taking walks on the beach.
They like taking walks on the beach.
Rule #8
-Do not let modifiers/descriptions confuse you
with the subject-verb agreements.
Example: Sally, who must set several alarms, is
not used to waking up early.
Rule #9
-Unless specified as “a pair of”, words such as
pants, glasses, and scissors are viewed as
plural.
Example: The pair of white pants is in the basket.
The white pants are in the basket.
Rule #10
-Some words that end in -s are actually singular
and need singular verbs.
Example:
Diabetes is a disease that can be deadly.
Rule #11
-Although some words with s-endings are
talking about a specific item, the words are still
plural and need a plural verb.
Example: My earnings have tripled in the past
year.
Rule #12
- Phrases speaking of fractions such as a percentage of, half of, and a
majority of, can be singular or plural depending on the content.
-Products or sums in math will always be singular and have singular
verbs.
-The phrase “more than one” will always have a singular verb in the
sentence.
Examples: A majority of the citizens vote in the Presidential Elections.
One plus one is two.
More than one of the boxes had fallen.
Rule #13
-If there is a positive and negative compound
subject in a sentence, and one is plural while
the other is singular, the verb must agree with
the positive subject.
Example: The students, not the teacher, have
to write in black ink.
Works Cited
Aaron, Jane E. "Using Subjects and Verbs Effectively." The Little, Brown Compact Handbook: With Exercises. New York: Pearson/Longman,
2007. 141-43. Print.
Paiz, Joshua M., Chris Berry, and Allen Brizee. "Making Subjects and Verbs Agree." Purdue OWL: Subject/Verb Agreement. Purdue OWL, 01
Apr. 2014. Web. 16 Sept. 2014.
"Subject-Verb Agreement." Subject-Verb Agreement. Capital Community College Foundation, n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2014.
"Usage - Subject-Verb Agreement." Subject-Verb Agreement. Towson University, n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2014.
Warriner, John E. "Agreement of Subject and Verb." Holt High School Handbook. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1995. 77-87. Print.
Each of the athletes is/are
talented.
The pair of scissors is/are
in the basket.
Either my sisters or
my mother is/are coming
to my play.
The players, not the
coach, has/have to
nominate the MVP.
.
Neither of the
students is/are
ready for the quiz.