In this section, you will

find many instructional

materials we've
developed for our Writing
Center teaching.
However, there are
limitations to these
materials. Assignments
vary, and different
instructors want different
things from student
writers. Therefore, the
advice here may or may
not apply to your writing
situation.
Finally, handouts can
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customized guidance that
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conference with a
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questions about the
information in our
handouts, please make
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Handbook Index
Improving Your Writing
Style
Stages of the Writing
Process
Common Writing
Assignments
Grammar and
Punctuation
Using Dashes
Using Commas
Using Semicolons
Using Coordinating
Conjunctions
Using Conjunctive Adverbs
Subject-Verb Agreement
How to Proofread
Twelve Common Errors:
An Editing Checklist
Clear, Concise Sentences
Cite References in Your
Paper
Writing Center Home
Home Writer's Handbook
Subject-verb Agreement
Watch the subject-verb agreement in your sentences
when...
When the subject follows the verb
When words like "each" are the subject
When words like "none" are the subject
When the subjects are joined by "and"
When singular subjects are joined by words like "or"
When one subject is singular and one plural
When a linking verb is used
When a collective noun is used
When a relative pronoun is used as a subject of an adjective clause
When the subject follows the verb
When the subject follows the verb (especially in sentences beginning with the
expletives "there is" or "there are"), special care is needed to determine the
subject and to make certain that the verb agrees with it.
On thewall wereseveral posters.
There aremany possible candidates.
There is only onegood candidate.
When words like "each" are the subject
When used as subjects, words such as
each, either, neither
another
anyone, anybody, anything
someone, somebody, something
one, everyone
everybody, everything
no one, nobody, nothing
take singular verbs.
Do not be confused by prepositional phrases which come between a subject and
its verb. They do not change the number of the subject.
Each takes her turn at rowing.
Neither likes thefriends of theother.
Everyonein thefraternity has his own set of prejudices.
Each of the rowers takes her turn at rowing.
Every oneof thefraternity members has his own set of prejudices.
When words like "none" are the subject
Other words such as
none, any, all
more, most, some
THE WRITER'S HANDBOOK
S U B J E C T - V E R B A G R E E M E N T
Grammar and Punctuation: Subject-Verb Agreement http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/SubjectVerb.html
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may take either singular or plural verbs, depending on the context.
Someof thedollar was spent.
Someof thedollars werespent.
[Note: here the prepositional phrase does affect the subject. It tells you whether you are
talking about a part of one thing (singular) or about a number of things (plural).]
When the subjects are joined by "and"
Subjects joined by "and" take plural verbs.
Be aware: phrases such as "in addition to," "as well as," and "along with" do
not mean the same thing as "and." When inserted between the subject and the
verb, these phrases do not change the number of the subject.
Both Tomand J anehaveEnglish 167 papers due on Tuesday.
Tom, as well as J ane, has an English 207 paper dueTuesday.
When singular subjects are joined by words like
"or"
Singular subjects joined by "or," "nor," "either . . . or," or "neither. . . nor"
take a singular verb.
Either theman or his wifeknows the truth of the matter.
Neither money nor power was important any longer.
When one subject is singular and one plural
If one subject is singular and one is plural, the verb agrees with the nearer
subject.
Neither the television nor theradios work.
Neither the radios nor thetelevision works.
When a linking verb is used
A linking verb ("is," "are," "was," "were," "seem" and others) agrees with its
subject, not its complement.
J oe's favoritedessert is blueberry muffins.
Blueberry muffins areJ oe's favoritedessert.
When a collective noun is used
When regarded as a unit, collective nouns, as well as noun phrases denoting
quantity, take singular verbs.
Thewhole family is active.
(Family is a collective noun regarded as a unit.)
Thefamily havemet their various obligations.
(The individuals of the family are regarded separately.)
A thousand bushels is a good yield.
(a quantity or unit)
A thousand bushels werecrated.
(individual bushels)
Grammar and Punctuation: Subject-Verb Agreement http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/SubjectVerb.html
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When a relative pronoun is used as a subject of an
adjective clause
A relative pronoun ("who," "which," or "that") used as a subject of an adjective
clause takes either a singular or plural verb in order to agree with its
antecedent.
A vegetable that contains DDT can beharmful.
(Adjective clause modifying the singular noun "vegetable.")
Vegetables that contain DDT can be harmful.
(Adjective clause modifying the plural noun "vegetables.")
Mary is oneof thestudents who havedone honor to the college.
(Adjective clause modifies the plural noun "students." "Students" is the antecedent of
"who."
In the above sentence Mary is just one of the students. So at least two students
have done honor to the college.
Compare that to:
Mary is the only oneof our students who has achieved national recognition.
In this case, "one," not "students," is the antecedent of "who."
Compare to the sentence above:
Of all our students, Mary is theonly onewho has achieved national recognition.
For further information see our other pages on grammar, or you may wish to
take one of our grammar classes
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Last updated: June 4, 2014
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Grammar and Punctuation: Subject-Verb Agreement http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/SubjectVerb.html
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