By: 2GB

Subject verb agreement simply means the subject and verb

must agree in number. This means both need to be singular
or both need to be plural.

➢ My dog always growls at the postal carrier.

➢ Basketballs roll across the floor.
➢ I don't understand the assignment.
➢ These clothes are too small for me.
➢ Peter doesn't like vegetables.
➢ She writes every day.
➢ They write every day.
Compound subjects
A compound subject has two or more simple subjects, usually joined
by and or or.

and
If the compound subject is made from simple subjects joined by and,
use a plural verb:
✓ He and his daughter are Chinese.
✓ Jack and Jill go up the hill.
✓ A car and a bike are my means of transportation
BUT
Parentheses are not part of the subject.
Example: Joe (and his trusty mutt) was always welcome.
 BUT
If the nouns suggest one idea to the mind, or refer to the same person
or thing, the verb is singular; as,
✓ Time and tide waits for no man.
✓ The horse and carriage is at the door.
✓ Bread and butter is his only food.
✓ Honour and glory is his reward.
✓ The rise and fall of the tide is, due to lunar influence.
✓ My friend and benefactor has come.
✓ The novelist and poet is dead.
Compound subjects
or
Two singular subjects connected by or, either/or, or neither/nor require
a singular verb.
Examples:
✓ My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today.
✓ Neither Juan nor Carmen is available.
✓ Either Kiana or Casey is helping today with stage decorations.
✓ The girl or the boy is going to help.
✓ Neither he nor his sister is at home.
✓ The girl or the boy is going to help.
✓ Neither he nor his sister is at home
BUT
The verb in an or, either/or, or neither/nor sentence agrees with the
noun or pronoun closest to it.
Examples:
✓ Neither the plates nor the serving bowl goes on that shelf.
✓ Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on that shelf
As well as, along with
Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by such words
as along with, together with, as well as, accompanied by , including,
besides etc.
These words and phrases are not part of the subject. Ignore them and
use a verb according to the subject:

Examples:
✓ The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.
✓ Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her shaking.
✓ John, as well as his wife, is coming to the party.
✓ Visitors, including government employees, have to register.
Midsentence words

Don't be confused by words that come between the simple subject and
the verb. The verb must agree with the simple subject, not with any
words between them:

✓ One of my friends is coming.

✓ My teacher, who has six brothers, has no sisters.
✓ All the cars owned by the Russian man are leading
Singular and plural nouns
Singular/plural nouns
A few nouns can be used only as singular or as plural.
Always singular
Some nouns are always singular, even though they end in -s and look
plural. They must take a singular verb, for example: economics, maths,
physics, gymnastics, aerobics, news
✓ Maths was my worst subject at school.
✓ The news is not good.

Always plural
Some nouns have only plural form and always take a plural verb, for
example: glasses, scissors, trousers, shorts, belongings, goods
✓ My new sunglasses are missing.
✓ The goods have already been shipped.
Inverted subjects

Normal word order in English is subject-verb-object (SVO). Sometimes,

however, the subject and verb are exchanged or inverted (VSO). This
typically happens in questions and there is/are sentences. Be careful to
identify the real subject.
✓ Where are the girls playing tennis?
✓ Here are my keys.
✓ There is a car outside.
✓ There are four hurdles to jump.
✓ There is a high hurdle to jump.
✓ Here are the keys.
Distances, periods of time, sums of money

Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc.,
when considered as a unit.
Examples:
✓ Three miles is too far to walk.
✓ Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
✓ Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
Indefinite pronouns as subjects:
Singular indefinite pronoun subjects take singular verbs

Each, either, neither, one, no one, nobody, nothing, anyone, anybody,

anything, someone, somebody, something, everyone, everybody,
everything

• Each gets a trophy for playing.

• Somebody will pay for this.
• Anybody is more fun than you.
• Something is very wrong here.
• Everybody enjoys a good book.
• Nothing has been determined as of yet.
Plural indefinite pronoun subjects take plural verbs.

Example:
Several, few, both, many

• Both are qualified for the job.

• Many went to the beach and got sunburned.
• Few know what it really takes to get ahead.
• Several are already on location.
.
With one of those ________ who, use a plural verb.

Aslam is one of those people who likes to read story books.

The above example implies that others besides Aslam like to read comic
books. Therefore, the plural verb is the correct form to use.

With the only one of those ________who, use a singular verb

Aslam is the only one of those people who likes to read story books.

The above example implies that no one else except for Aslam likes to
read comic books. Therefore, the singular verb is the correct for to use.
With the number of _______, use a singular verb.

The number of volunteers grows each year.

With a number of _______, use a plural verb.

A number of people grow tomatoes each year.

Collective Nouns (group, jury, crowd, team, etc.) may
be singular or plural, depending on meaning.
The jury has warded custody to the grandmother.

In this example, the jury is acting as one unit; therefore, the verb is
singular.

The jury members has been arguing for five days.

In this example, the jury members are acting as twelve individuals;

therefore, the verb is plural.