AGREEMENT BETWEEN SUBJECTS AND VERBS

Basic Rule: Singular subject takes a singular verb

plural subject takes a plural verb

Hint: Verbs do not form their plurals by adding an s as nouns do. In order to
determine which verb is singular and which one is plural, think of which
verb you would use with he or she and which verb you would use with they.

Example : talks, talk

Which one is the singular form? Which word would you use with he? We
say, "He talks." Therefore, talks is singular. We say, "They talk." Therefore,
talk is plural.

Rule 1. Two singular subjects connected 1. My aunt or my uncle is arriving by

by or or nor require a singular verb.
Rule 2. Two singular subjects connected
by either/or or neither/nor require a
singular verb as in Rule 1.
train today.
1. Neither John nor Susan is available.
2. Neither she nor I am going to the
festival.

NOTE: Am is singular and agrees with the

subject closest to it.
1. The book or the magazines are on the
Rule 3. When a singular subject is shelf.
connected by or or nor to a plural subject,
put the plural subject last and use a plural
verb.
1. Neither John nor the others are
Rule 4. When either/or or neither/nor available.
connect a singular and plural subject, put
the plural subject last and use a plural verb
as in Rule 3.

Rule 5. As a general rule, use a plural 1. A car and a bike are my means of
verb with two or more subjects when they transportation.
are connected by and.

Rule 6. Sometimes the subject is 1. The politician, along with the

separated from the verb by words such as
along with, as well as, besides, not, etc.
Ignore these expressions when
determining whether to use a singular or
plural verb.
Rule 7. The pronouns each, everyone,
everybody, anyone, anybody, someone,
and somebody are singular. Do not be
misled by what follows of.
Rule 8. With words that indicate portions
percent, fraction, part, majority, some,
all, none, remainder, etc.you must look
at the object of the preposition to
determine whether to use a singular or
plural verb. If the object of the preposition
is singular, use a singular verb. If the
object of the preposition is plural, use a
plural verb.
Rule 9. When either and neither are
subjects, they take singular verbs.
Rule 10. The words here and there are
never subjects because they are not nouns.
In sentences beginning with here or there,
the true subject follows the verb.
Rule 11. Use a singular verb with sums of
money or periods of time.
Rule 12. If the pronoun who, that, or
which appears as the subject in the middle
of the sentence, you must decide whether The word in front of who is secretary,
to follow it with a singular or plural verb. which is singular. Therefore, use the
In order to decide, look at the noun
directly in front of the who, that, or which. 2. He is one of the men who does/do the
If it is singular, use a singular verb. If it is
plural, use a plural verb.
newsmen, is expected shortly.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is
the cause of her shaking.
1. Each of the girls sings well.
Every one of the cakes is gone.
NOTE: Everyone is one word when it
means everybody.
1. Fifty percent of the pie has
disappeared.
2. Fifty percent of the pies have
disappeared.
3. One third of the city is unemployed.
4. One third of the people are
unemployed.
1. Neither of them is available to speak
right now.
1. There are four hurdles to jump.
2. There is a high hurdle to jump.
1. Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
2. Five years is the maximum sentence for
that offense.
1. She is the secretary who write/writes
the letters.
singular verb writes.
work.
The word in front of who is men, which is
plural. Therefore, use the plural verb do.
Rule 13. Collective nouns such as team
and staff may be either singular or plural
depending on their use in the sentence.
1. The staff is in a meeting.
Staff is acting as a unit here.
2. The staff are in disagreement about the
findings. The staff are acting as separate
individuals in this example.

Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.

1Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.

Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.

The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.

Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.

George and Tamara (doesn't, don't) want to see that movie.

Benito (doesn't, don't) know the answer.

One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.

The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.

The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours to watch.

The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win.

Either answer (is, are) acceptable.

Every one of those books (is, are) fiction.

Nobody (know, knows) the trouble I've seen.

(Is, Are) the news on at five or six?

Mathematics (is, are) John's favorite subject, while Civics (is, are) Andrea's favorite
subject.

Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie these days.

(Is, Are) the tweezers in this drawer?

Your pants (is, are) at the cleaner's.

There (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag. Now there (is, are) only one left!

The committee (debates, debate) these questions carefully.

The committee (leads, lead) very different lives in private.

The Prime Minister, together with his wife, (greets, greet) the press cordially.

All of the CDs, even the scratched one, (is, are) in this case.

Annie and her brothers are at school.

2. Either my mother or my father is coming to the meeting.

3. The dog or the cats are outside.

4. Either my shoes or your coat is always on the floor.

5. George and Tamara don't want to see that movie.

6. Benito doesn't know the answer.

7. One of my sisters is going on a trip to France.

8. The man with all the birds lives on my street.

9. The movie, including all the previews, takes about two hours to watch.

10. The players, as well as the captain, want to win.

11. Either answer is acceptable.

12. Every one of those books is fiction.

13. Nobody knows the trouble I've seen.

14. Is the news on at five or six?

15. Mathematics is John's favorite subject, while Civics is Andrea's favorite subject.

16. Eight dollars is the price of a movie these days.

17. Are the tweezers in this drawer?

18. Your pants are at the cleaner's.

19. There were fifteen candies in that bag. Now there is only one left!

20. The committee debates these questions carefully.

21. The committee lead very different lives in private.

22. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, greets the press cordially.

23. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, are in this case.

Your friend (talk-talks) too much.

The man with the roses (look-looks) like your brother.
The women in the pool (swim-swims) well.
Bill (drive-drives) a cab.
The football players (run-runs) five miles every day.
That red-haired lady in the fur hat (live-lives) across the street.
He (cook-cooks) dinner for his family.
The boys (walk-walks) to school every day.
The weather on the coast (appear-appears) to be good this weekend.
The center on the basketball team (bounce-bounces) the ball too high.

talks 2. looks 3. swim 4. drives 5. run 6. lives 7. cooks 8. walk 9. appears 10. Bounces

Each of the girls (look-looks) good on skis.

Everybody (was-were) asked to remain quiet.
Neither of the men (is-are) here yet.
(Is-Are) each of the girls ready to leave?
Several of the sheep (is-are) sick.
Some members of the faculty (is-are) present.
Nobody in the class (has-have) the answer.
Each of the girls (observe-observes) all the regulations.
All of the milk (is-are) gone.
Most of the seats (was-were) taken.

1. looks 2. was 3. is 4. is 5. are 6. are 7. has 8. observes 9. is 10. were

Margo and her parents (visit-visits) each other often.

Either the cups or the glasses (are-is) in the dishwasher.
Vern and Fred (need-needs) a ride to work.
There (is-are) a dog, a cat, and a bird in the garage.
Neither Matt nor his brothers (was-were) at the party.
Here into the main ring of the circus (come-comes) the trained elephants.
Either the workers or the boss (deliver-delivers) the merchandise.
The committee (work-works) hard for better schools.
There (is-are) many things to do before the holidays.
The jury (was-were) polled for their verdicts.
Here (is-are) the nails you need for the projects.
Either Joyce or Ellen (was-were) here.
The United States (is-are) a country of contrast.
A magazine and a book (was-were) lying on the floor.
The family (is-are) occupied with their individual problems.

1. visit 2. are 3. need 4. are 5. were 6. come 9 6 7. delivers 8. works 9. are 10. were 11.
are 12. was 13. is 14. were 15. are

Mumps (is-are) one of the most uncomfortable diseases.

One hundred dollars (is-are) not a lot of money to some people.
She (doesnt-dont) look very well today.
Twenty minutes (is-are) the amount of time it takes me to get home from work.
It (doesnt-dont) seem so cold today.
Gymnastics (is-are) easy for Angela.
Interesting news (is-are) what sells our paper.
A pound of cookies (cost-costs) about a dollar.
They (doesnt-dont) think theyll win the game tonight.
He (dont-doesnt) speak very well.

1. is 2. is 3. doesnt 4. is 5. doesnt 6. is 9 8 7. is 8. costs 9. dont 10. doesnt