SUBJECT- VERB AGREEMENT

The verb agrees in number with its subject

1. Match the verb with its subject, not with the object of a
preposition or with some other word that comes between
the subject & the verb
The use of reference books is necessary for learning a
language.
Our teacher, in addition to other staff members, has
often taught foreign students.

2. Subjects joined by and are usually plural

Our teacher and our coach are in the library.

If the two subjects refer to the same person or thing, or if

each or every comes before the subjects, the verb is
singular
Our teacher and coach is Mr. Perez
Each teacher and each student has been invited to a
reception.
Every pen and pencil has been donated to the class

3. When the subject follows the verb (as in sentences

beginning with there is or there are), special care is
needed to match the subject and verb
There is a student in the director’s office.
There are several students in the director’s office.
4. Singular subjects joined by or, nor, either or, neither
nor, usually take a singular verb
Neither the principal nor the teacher was told about
my plan.

If one subject is singular & one plural, match the verb

with the subject nearer the verb, or revise the sentence to
avoid the agreement difference
Neither the principal nor the teachers were told about
my plan.
The principal was not told about my plan, and neither
were the teachers.

5. Gerunds or uncountable nouns used as subjects require

singular verbs
Mastering verb forms and tenses is difficult for
students.

6. In general, use a singular verb with collective nouns

regarded as a unit, with nouns that are plural in form but
singular in meaning, and with single titles or words
referred to as words
The number of students in our school increases every

year.
A number of the students are going to fly home for the
holidays.

Nouns like news, economics, and electronics take

singular verbs, even though they end in s.
Electronics has produced a booming industry in the
 Country.

Single titles, even when plural, are considered singular,

as are words referred to as words.
The Dolphins is the name chosen for our swim team.

7. The verb agrees with the subject, not the subject

complement, but it is usually best to avoid disagreement
of the verb and subject complement by revising the
sentence to eliminate the linking verb.
One of our favorite scenes is parents and children
having fun together.
We love to see parents and children having fun
together.

8. Pronoun subjects like each, one, anybody, everybody,

either, and neither usually take singular verbs.
Each of our exposures to other cultures is interesting.

9. Pronoun subjects like all, any, half, most, none, and

some usually take plural verbs, but in certain contexts
they take singular verbs.
All of the students are attending a party.
All of their attention is focused on the festivities.

10. The number of a relative pronoun (who, which, that)

used as a subject of a clause is determined by the number
of its antecedent.
Several students who are there are enjoying the
western music.
Each dish that is presented is new to most of the
 students.
A pronoun agrees in number with its antecedent

11. In writing, use a singular pronoun to refer to such

antecedents as each, everyone, nobody, one, a person,
a woman, or a man.
Each of the boys has his favorite activity.

To avoid sexist language, many writers use both

masculine & feminine pronoun references.
Each of the students explained his/her preference.

12. Use a plural pronoun to refer to such antecendents as

all, most, half, none, and some, except when the noun in
the phrase is uncountable
All of the students did their best.
Some of them finished their papers early.

13. Use a plural pronoun to refer to two or more

antecedents joined by and, and a singular pronoun to
refer to two or more antecedents joined by or or nor
Ann & Jessa have submitted their assignments.
Neither Ann nor Jessa knows her grade yet, however.

14. Use either a singular or a plural pronoun to refer to a

collective noun like team, committee, or group,
depending on whether the noun is considered a unit or a
group of individuals.
The committee is considering its project for this team.
The committee are not in agreement about their
Priorities.