SUBJECT – VERB AGREEMENT

I. CÁC TRƯỜNG HỢP CHIA ĐỘNG TỪ SỐ ÍT:

1. Chủ ngữ là cụm The number/quantity/amount/percentage/proportion… of + Noun:

Example: The number of students in this class is 40.
Hurry up! The amount of time we have is so short.
The percentage of students participating in sports decreases over time.

2. Chủ ngữ bắt đầu bằng 1 đại từ bất định: each/everyone/every+Noun/something/someone

Example: Each of the students has to do the test twice.
Everyone in my class is so tall.
Someone has sent a letter without his or her name.

3. Chủ ngữ chỉ lượng tiền, khoảng cách, kích thước, đo lường, khoảnh thời gian,…
Example: Eight hours of sleeping every day is enough for a child.
Five kilometers from my house to the park is not that far.
Fifty dollars for this stunning dress is actually a bargain.

4. Chủ ngữ là cụm Either/Neither of + Noun (plural)

Example: Either of my parents attends the ceremony.
Neither of his pens is able to use.
Neither of the students is ready for the speaking test.

5. Chủ ngữ là cụm Gerund (V-ing)

Example: Studying online is more preferable in the situation of Covid-19 pandemic.
Having a smartphone makes everything much easier and more convenient.
Playing sports doesn’t suit me well.

6. Một số danh từ đặc biệt chia động từ số ít dù tận cùng là ‘s’:

Môn học: Physics, Mathematics, Economics, Principles of accounting, …
Môn thể thao: athletics, billiards, …
Các căn bệnh: Measles (sởi), Diabetes (tiểu đường), …
Một số danh từ khác: news, the United States, …
Example: Physics is not my strong suit at school.
Athletics usually involves running, jumping and walking.

II. CÁC TRƯỜNG HỢP CHIA ĐỘNG TỪ SỐ NHIỀU:

1. Chủ ngữ là cụm A number/quantity/proportion… of + Noun:
Example: A number of my friends love surfing the Internet.
A number of students in my class find it hard to concentrate in class.
A proportion of people claim that they hate playing games.
2. Chủ ngữ là cụm The + Adjective:
Example: The Vietnamese are famous for their hospitality.
The disabled need a lot of care from others.
The poor are still happy despite not having much money.

Note: Một số danh từ đặc biệt khi đứng sau ‘The’ cũng chia động từ số nhiều: people, police,
army, cattle, children…
The police have patrolled through the night and finally caught the murder.

3. Chủ ngữ là các danh từ/đại từ nối với nhau bằng ‘AND’:
Example: The cat and the dog are having a fight.
He and I are having a chat in a café near my house.
Tiger and cat are in fact relatives.
Note: Khi các danh từ đều cùng chỉ một người/đồ vật/khái niệm… thì chia động từ số ít:
The President and CEO of the company is Mr. Smith.
Fish and chips is a popular meal in England.

4. Chủ ngữ là các danh từ đi theo cặp:

scissors/pants/trousers/jeans/chopsticks/glasses/shoes…
Example: Glasses help people see clearer.
My pants have been ripped after being worn for so many times.
The shoes are on the shelf.

Note: Khi thêm ‘A pair of’ vào trước các danh từ này, chia động từ số ít:
A pair of glasses helps people see clearer.
A pair of pants is what I’m looking for in the shop.

III. CÁC TRƯỜNG HỢP ĐẶC BIỆT:

1. Chủ ngữ là các danh từ được nối bằng As well as/with/together with/or/nor… thì chia
động từ theo chủ ngữ đứng trước:

S1 + as well as/with/or/nor… + S2 + V1

Example: Mrs. Brown with her daughters is having a breakfast at the moment.
They or she are meeting the teacher.

I as well as Tina look forward to joining the club.

2. Chủ ngữ là cấu trúc Either…or/Neither…nor thì động từ chia theo chủ ngữ đứng sau:
 Either/Neither + S1 + or/nor + S2 + V2

Example: Neither they or she pays attention to the presentation.

Either the students or the teacher does the task.

3. Chủ ngữ là cụm %/phân số + of + Noun thì chia động từ theo Noun:

%/phân số + of + Noun (nhiều) + V (nhiều)

%/phân số + of + Noun (ít) + V (ít)

Example: 30% of students have to attend extra classes after school.

One-third of the daytime is used for sleeping.

4. Chủ ngữ là các cụm The majority/Some/Most/All + of + Noun thì động từ chia theo
Noun:
The majority/Some/All/Most + of + Noun (nhiều) + V (nhiều)
The majority/Some/All/Most + of + Noun (ít) + V (ít)

Example: The majority of women (woman) are housewives.

Most of them are staying at home.
All of my money was spent on this meal.

5. Chủ ngữ là 2 danh từ nối với nhau bằng ‘OF’ thì chia động từ theo danh từ đứng
trước:
N1 + of + N2 + V1

Example: The effects of climate change are severe.

My experiences of working abroad are so unforgettable.
The advertising of goods brings information to the consumers.

EXERCISE 1: Giving the correct verb form.

1. Hoa and Hung ___________ classmates in this school year. (be)
2. The Japanese ___________ known for their hard-working. (be)
3. Every car ___________ repairing once a year. (need)
4. A number of students ___________ in the school yard at the moment. (play)
5. Mrs. Brown together with her sons ___________ to go to Ha Noi for holiday. (decide)
6. The number of days in a week ___________ seven. (be)
7. Neither she or I ___________ in the competition. (participate)
8. Mathematics ___________ my favorite subject at school. (be)
 9. It is estimated that about 10 percent of trees ___________ cut down every year. (be)
10. The family ___________ having breakfast. (be)
11. The news from the United State (seem) _________ very encouraging.
12. Arranging flowers (be) _______ my specialty.
13. Japanese (be) ________ very difficult for English speakers to learn.
14. The professor and students (agree) ____________ on that point.
15. Getting to know students from all over the world (be) ________ one of the best parts of her job.
16. Most children (like) __________ to go to the zoo.
17. The poor (not, be) __________ helped by government programs.
18. There years (be) _______ a long time to be without a job.
19. The weather in the Southern States (get) __________ very hot during summer.
20. The production of dyes, perfumes and explosives (make) ___________ a lot of progress.
21. The number of schoolboys in my class (be) _______ twenty.
22. A large number of the applicants (already, be interview) __________________.
23. The secretary and accountant of the company (not come) _______________ yet.
24. The crowd (be) ________ wild with excitement.

EXERCISE 2: Choose the best answer to finish each sentence

1. Each of you …… responsible for this.

A. are B. being C. is D. be

2. Bill together with his brothers …… to the beach every morning.

A. going B. goes C. are D. gone

3. Either the monitor or the athletes …… to blame for the bad result. (athletics)

A. be B. are C. is D. to be

4. Everyone …… with me about my plans.

A. agree B. agreeing C. disagree D. agrees

5. Tim as well as his relatives …… safe from the hurricane.

A. be B. is C. are D. being

6. The results of Dr. Frank’s experiment …… announced on TV last night.

A. is B. are C. was D. were

7. Fifty minutes …… the maximum length of time allowed for the exam.

A. is B. be C. are D. were

8. The cost of living …… over 10% in the last few years.

A. rises B. has risen C. rose D. is rising

9. A number of sheep …… eating grass now.

A. is B. are C. was D. were

10. Measles …… sometimes a serious disease.

A. is B. are C. being D. be

11. Making cakes and pies …… Mrs. Reed’s specialty.

A. are B. were C. is D. be

13. The United States …… between Canada and Mexico.

A. lying B. lies C. lain D. lie

14. The students in the next classroom …… very loudly every day.

A. talk B. talked C. are talking D. talk

15. Each student………. answered the first three questions.

A. has B. have C. have to D. must

16. Either John or his wife ………breakfast each morning.

A. make B. is making C. makes D. made

17. Everybody who ………. a fever must go home at once.

A. has B. have C. is having D. are having

18. Five dollars ………all I have on me.

A. are B. is C. will be D. have

19. John, along with twenty friends, ………. planning a party.

A. are B. is C. has been D. have been

20. Mathematics……….. the science of quantity.

A. was B. are C. is D. were

21. Measles………cured without much difficulty nowadays.

A. is B. are C. will be D. have

22. Neither Mary nor her brothers……a consent form for tomorrow’s field trip.
A. need B. needs C. is needing D. has need

23. Peter, together with his uncle, ……………fishing.

A. have gone B. has gone C. go D. goes

24. The army…………. eliminated this section of the training test.

A. has B. is having C. are D. have