S V Agreement

A simple subject-verb agreement definition
implies that the subject of the sentence and the

verb of the sentence must be in agreement in
number.
(https://www.hitbullseye.com/Subject-Verb-
Agreement.php)
The child is playing with the dogs.
The children are playing with dogs.

Subjects and verbs must agree in number. This
is the cornerstone rule that forms the
background of the concept. In these examples
the subject is underlined and the verb is in
italics.
(https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/sentences
/20-rules-of-subject-verb-agreement.html)
My father’s car stays at the garage.
This flower smells really good.

My father’s cars stay at the garage.
These flowers smell really good.

Don't get confused by the words that come
between the subject and verb; they do not
affect agreement.
The dog which is chewing on my shoes and
sacks is actually good.
My mother, together with my cousins, was the

market to buy supplies for the reunion.
Prepositional phrases between the subject and
verb usually do not affect agreement.
One of the eggs was broken.
The women in the pool swim very well.

When sentences start with "there" or "here,"
the subject will always be placed after the
verb, so care needs to be taken to identify it
correctly.
There were eight books on the teacher’s shelf.
Here is the report that we have to pass today.

Subjects don't always come before verbs in
questions. Make sure you accurately identify
the subject before deciding on the proper
verb form to use.
Where are the pieces of this puzzle?
What is the name of the authors?

If two subjects are joined by "and," they
typically require a plural verb form.
Margie and her family visit each other every year.
A magazine and a book were found lying on the

floor.
The verb is singular if the two subjects
separated by "and" refer to the same person or
thing.
Avocado and milk goes well.
Bacon and egg is my favorite breakfast.

My classmate and best friend cooks very well.
My classmate and best friend cook very well.

Indefinite pronouns (everyone, each one,
someone, somebody, no one, nobody, anyone,
anybody etc.) are always singular.
(https://www.hitbullseye.com/Subject-Verb-
Agreement.php)
Every cat, dog, and bird in the house receives a fair
treatment.
Every one on the class supports its candidate.

However, a few indefinite nouns such as all,
any, none and some may be singular or plural
depending on the noun or pronoun they refer
to.
(https://www.menlo.edu/wp-
content/uploads/2015/03/SUBJECT-
VERB_AGREEMENT.pdf)
Some of the milk was poured on the dish.
All of the chicken is gone.
Some of the marbles were lost.

If the subjects are both singular and are
connected by the words "or," "nor,"
"neither/nor," "either/or," and "not only/but
also" the verb is singular.
Neither the man nor the girl is out of danger.
Either Krizzy or Josh was here.

If the subjects are both plural and are
connected by the words "or," "nor,"
"neither/nor," "either/or," and "not only/but
also" the verb is plural.
Neither the men nor the girls are out of danger.
Either the books or notebooks are on the shelf.

If one subject is plural and the other one is
plural, the verb agrees to the subject nearest to
it.
Neither the men nor the girl is out of danger.
Either the books or notebook is on the shelf.

If two infinitives are separated by "and" they
take the plural form of the verb.
To finish my studies and to buy my own house are
my goals for the next five years.
When gerunds are used as the subject of a
sentence, they take the singular form of the
verb; but, when they are linked by "and," they
take the plural form.
Swimming and playing musical instrument are my
hobbies.
Collective nouns like "herd," "senate," "class,"
and "crowd," usually take a singular verb form.
The jury was deciding on the case.
The jury members were deciding on the case.

Titles of books, movies, novels, etc. are treated
as singular and take a singular verb.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is my favorite
novel.
Nouns such as scissors, tweezers, trousers, and
shears require plural verbs. (There are two
parts to these things.)
(https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/g
rammar/subject_verb_agreement.html)
These scissors are not mine.
The tweezers have rust already.

Some nouns, while plural in form, are actually
singular in meaning.
(https://www.pcc.edu/staff/pdf/645/SubjectVer
bAgreement.pdf)
Mathematics requires critical thinking.
Physics is taught by Mrs. Dela Rosa.

mumps home economics social studies
economics measles calisthenics
statistics civics physics
gymnastics phonics news
acrobatics aesthetics thesis
(https://www.pcc.edu/staff/pdf/645/SubjectVerbAgreement.pdf)
Expression such as the number of requires
singular verb while the expression a number of
takes plural verb.
The number of students enrolled in the course is 25.
A number of the students were considered late.

In using fractions and percentages as part of
the subject, the verb agrees with the following
phrase or clause.
One-third of the cake was lost.
75% of the students take part in cleaning the room.

One of the main reasons for elephant
poaching (is/are) the profits received
from selling the ivory tusks.
Five dollars (is, are) not too much.
Five dollars (is, are) not too much.
The president and his wife (was,
were) the honored guests of the
event.
There (was, were) several dents on
the phone.
Some of the job applicants (was,
were) expected to pass the interview.
He (do, does) not speak very well.
(Does, Do) you need assistance?
(Is, Are) everything fine?
All of the butter (is, are) gone.
Neither of the men (works, work)
religiously.
Some of the contents found on this file are not mine. The credit goes to their rightful owners.
https://www.pcc.edu/staff/pdf/645/SubjectVerbAgreement.pdf
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/subject_verb_agreement.html
https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/sentences/20-rules-of-subject-verb-agreement.html
https://www.hitbullseye.com/Subject-Verb-Agreement.php

S V Agreement

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A simple subject-verb agreement definition

implies that the subject of the sentence and the

The children are playing with dogs.

This flower smells really good.

These flowers smell really good.

My mother, together with my cousins, was the

The women in the pool swim very well.

Here is the report that we have to pass today.

What is the name of the authors?

A magazine and a book were found lying on the

Bacon and egg is my favorite breakfast.

My classmate and best friend cook very well.

Every one on the class supports its candidate.

All of the chicken is gone.

Some of the marbles were lost.

Either Krizzy or Josh was here.

Either the books or notebooks are on the shelf.

Either the books or notebook is on the shelf.

The jury members were deciding on the case.

The tweezers have rust already.

Physics is taught by Mrs. Dela Rosa.

economics measles calisthenics

statistics civics physics

gymnastics phonics news

acrobatics aesthetics thesis

A number of the students were considered late.

75% of the students take part in cleaning the room.

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