RULES ON S-V AGREEMENT

1. A single noun used as a subject takes a singular verb; two nouns acting as a
compound subject take a plural verb.
Example:

2. Compound subjects are joined by and, or and nor. If the compound subject is
considered as one unit, or is modified by each or every, singular verb is used.
Example:

 Every HRDM and Marketing student is required to join the seminar.
 Each rose and bougainvillea has its thorn.

*Because there is “Every” even if it is a compound subject because it has ‘and’ it

uses a singular verb is.

*Because it is modified by the word “Each” even it is a compound subject

singular verb “has” is used.

3. If the subject consists of two nouns, and the article the, precedes each of these, the
verb must be plural. But if the second noun is not preceded by the, the verb must be
singular.
Example:
 The owner and manager of the boutique launches their new product.
 The owner and manager give freebies to the first fifty customers.
4. Words like somebody, something, everything, someone, take a singular verb; all,
both, many, several, few, take a plural verb.
 somebody – both are indefinite pronoun
Example:
 Everything seems so real in the drawing.
 Someone is staring at you from afar.
 Many students attend the seminar.
 Most of them are so pretty.

*Because there is “everything” we use a singular verb ‘seems’. (intransitive verb)

*Because there is “many” we use a plural verb attend.

5. The expression a number of is plural; the number is singular.

Example:
 A number of company employee write their assigned task.
 The number of the facebook users is increasing.

*Because “A number” is plural we used a plural verb ‘write’.

*Because “The number” is singular we used a singular verb ‘is’.

6. Many is plural; many a is singular.

The only difference is that many is used with countable plural nouns followed by plural
verb while many a is followed by a singular countable noun and takes a singular verb
with it
Example:
 Many are the reason of our climate change.
 Many house were burned because of the accident.
 Many a soldier was killed in the war.
 Many a farmer was affected in the typhoon.

*Because “Many” is plural, we used a plural verb ‘are’ and ‘were’.

*Because “Many a” is singular, we uses a singular verb ‘was’.
7. Subjects joined by either…or/ neither…nor are singular or plural depending on the
subject nearest the verb.
Example:
 Either Jackson or his friends are coming to my birthday.
 Neither Jayzam or his girlfriend has replied to the issue.

* Because the nearer subject is plural “friends” we used a plural verb ‘are’.
* Because the nearer subject is singular “girlfriend” we use a singular verb ‘has’.

8. The positive, not the negative idea in the statement agrees in the number with the
verb.
Example:

9. Nouns denoting quantify, fraction, percentage, or currency take singular verb, but if
they are followed by the of the phrase, the object of the phrase determines the number
of the verb.
Example:
 Five meters of the cloth are needed for my uniform.
 Forty percent is required to pass the midterm.

*Because “Five meters” is followed by ‘of the’ it takes a plural verb ‘are’.
*Because “Forty Percent” is a percentage it takes a singular verb ‘is’.

10. Nouns ending in s but singular in meaning are singular.

Example:
 Mathematics is a challenging subject.
 The Philippines is a small country in the Pacific.
 United States is a rich country.
(Phlippines and United States are Proper Noun)
(Mathematics is a
11. Nouns in pairs take plural verbs, except if the expression, a pair is used.
Example:
 Flip flops (slippers) are for everyday use of the people.
 A pair of flip flops (slippers) is at the front of the door.

*Because the main subject “Flip flops” is a noun in pairs we take a plural verb
‘are’.
*Because the noun used “A pair of” it takes a singular verb ‘is’.

12. A collective noun taken as one unit takes a singular verb, it is plural if every member
of the group is thought of as an individual during his or her own tasks.
Example:
 The government allows the ambulance to hit the red light but with care.
 The government do their task in their assigned work.

13. Expressions like including, together with, plus, as well, in addition to and
accompanied by, do not affect the number of the verb in the main subject of the
sentence.
Example:
 The manager, as well as his employee, celebrates their Christmas Party
at the office.
 Jaycee, including his friends, plays basketball at the gym.

*The main subject is “The manager” which is singular so we take a

singular verb ‘celebrates’.
*The main subject is “Jaycee” which is singular so we take a singular verb
‘plays’.

14. The verb agrees with the antecedent of the relative pattern.
Example:
