SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT :

5) Inverted subjects must agree with the verb.

The rules of the subject-verb agreement are used to properly determine ➢ There are 15 students in my class.
whether the singular or plural form should be use in a sentence. ➢ How is Maria handling a news of her grandfather’s death.

1) An intervening phrase or clause between subject and verb does not

change the number of the subject. 6) Collective nouns (group, jury, crowd, team, etc.) are always singular.

➢ Margarita, together with her brothers, likes to party. ➢ The jury decides that you are guilty of the crime.

➢ The gentlemen who attended the meeting are very punctual. ➢ The jury have been arguing for 5 days regarding the case.

2) Singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs. 7) Titles of single entities (books, organizations, countries, etc.) are always

Plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs. singular.

➢ Each student in this school does not pay for his tuition. ➢ The grapes of wrath by john Steinbeck takes quite some time to

➢ Many students perform well in surprise quizzes. read.

➢ The Philippines strengthens its diplomatic ties with ASEAN

3) Compound subjects joined by “and” are always plural. nation.

➢ Miguel and Monica spend their free time at the gym

➢ Chona and Fernan set aside a small percentage of their income for 8) Plural form subjects with a singular meaning take with a singular verb.

their children’s educational plan. (E.g. news, measles, mumps, physics).

Plural form subjects with a plural meaning take a plural verb. (E.g.

4) With a compound subjects joined by “or/nor”, the verb agrees with the scissors, trousers).

subject nearer to it. ➢ Measles is a contagious disease that spread among school children.

➢ Either Alice or her badminton buddies are bringing the deserts. ➢ Scissors are used to cut the props for the stage play.

➢ Neither the students nor the teacher recognizes the strange

markings.
9) With subject and subjective verb complement of different number, the
verb always agrees with the subject.
➢ My favorite topic is short stories by Edgar Allan Poe.
➢ Short stories by Edgar Allan Poe are my favorite topic.

10) With “one of those ... who”, use a plural verb.

With the only “one of those ... who”, use a singular verb.
➢ Pocholo is one of those people who like to watch DVDs.
➢ Patricia is the only one of those people who likes to read novels.

11) With “the number of ...” , use a singular verb.

With “a number of ...” use a plural verb.
➢ The number of students who fail the exam increases at an alarming
rate.
➢ A number of students continue to fail the exam.

12) With “every ...” and “many a...” , use a singular verb.
➢ Every driver knows his way around Makati.
➢ Many a Filipino dreams of winning the lottery