Prepared by: Reimilyn N.

Pascua
 RULE #1 : A VERB AGREES WITH ITS
SUBJECT IN NUMBER
1.a. Singular subjects take singular verbs.

Ex. My brother knows the answer.

Singular noun
Singular verb
“no s”
“with s”
1.b. Plural subjects take plural verbs.

Ex. My brothers know the answer.

Plural noun Plural verb

“with s” “no s”
Exception: The subject-verb agreement rules
apply to all personal pronouns except I and you,
which although singular, require plural forms of
verb.

Ex: I talk to the girl.

Plural verb
Singular
pronoun
 RULE #2: COMPOUND SUBJECT
Two or more words can be compounded or linked by joining them
with any of three words― and, or, nor.

* Two or more singular (or plural) subjects joined by and

act as a plural compound subject and take a plural verb.
Ex: The ranger and the camper see the bear.

Plural
plural
 *two or more singular subjects joined by or and
nor act as a singular compound subject and,
therefore, take a singular verb.
Ex: The ranger or the camper sees the bear.

singular
singular singular
 *two or more plural subject joined by or or nor
would naturally take a plural verb to agree.

The rangers nor the campers see the bear.

plural plural plural

 Question: What if one part of the compound
subject is singular and the other part is plural?
Solution:
1. If the individual parts of the compound subject are joined
by and, always use a plural verb.
2.If the individual parts of the compound subject are joined
by or or nor, use the verb form(singular or plural) which will
agree with the subject closer to the verb.
Examples:
The ranger and the campers see the bear.

The rangers, the explorers, or the camper sees

the bear.
singular singular
 RULE#3: GROUP NOUNS
Some nouns which name groups can be either singular or plural
depending upon their meaning in individual sentences.
 club jury company team
government army family group
• If we refer to the group as a whole, therefore, as a single unit , we
consider the noun singular. In this case ,we use a singular verb.
• The jury was ready to announce its decision.
• (jury is thought of as a unit)
 RULE #4: SPECIAL NOUNS
Certain nouns that end in s, such as mathematics, news,
measles,mumps.
Ex: The news looks good today.

Plural form, singular

singular verb
in meaning

Generally measles lasts about two weeks.

 Certain other nouns that end in s, such as scissors,
pants, binoculars and eyeglasses, require plural
verb.

Ex: The scissors are in the drawer.

 RULE #5:INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
SINGULAR Either, anyboby , somebody ,everybody ,nobody,
Neither, anyone, someone , everyone no one,
Other, anything , something , everything ,nothing,
Each ,one

PLURAL Both, few, many, others, several

SINGULAR/PLURAL All, any , enough, most, much, none, some

Singular indefinite pronouns require singular verbs.

Plural indefinite pronouns require plural verbs.
Ex: Everyone is welcome
Someone gives me the number.
Both are able to play
Few are coming today.
The last chart depends on the words to which they
refer.

Ex: None of the candy was left. (none refers to candy)

None of the sweets were left. (none refers to sweets)
 RULE #6: INTERVENING
WORDS,PHRASES,CLAUSES
*intervening words and expressions do not affect the number of the
subject.
Ex: The citizens of a country, especially their leaders, want to be
assured that the change are worthwhile.

Subject Verb
plural plural
Ex: The dogs in that class are well behaved.
The plural verb are agrees with the plural subject dogs,
not with the object of the preposition ,class.
 RULE #7:ONE OF, MANY A, MORE THAN ONE,
NOT ONE
 * Theexpressions one of, many a, more than one, not one require
singular verbs.

Ex: Many a working student leaps the benefits of his

industriousness.
Many a joke and cartoon was included.
 RULE #8: NOUNS OF AMOUNT
An expression of quantity or amount, units of measurement is
followed by a singular verb.
Ex: One calorie per bottle is contained in diet cola.
Eight dollars is the cost of the ticket.
Sixteen by twenty inches is a standard size for a picture frame.
*when it refers to individual units, it acts as a plural
subject.
Ex: Eight dollars lie on the table.
 * when a fraction or a percentage refers to a singular
word, it requires a singular verb. When it refers to a
plural word, it requires a plural verb.

Ex: Sixty percent of the money was spent on

food.
Sixty percent of our resources were used.
 RULE #9: TITLES OF BOOKS ,STORIES,
ARTICLES,PLAYS,MOVIES
A title of a creative work always acts as a singular
subject , even if a noun within the title is plural.

Ex: All the King’s men was the 1947 Pulitzer Price winner.
“Giant Steps” is one of John Coltrane’s masterworks.
 RULE #10: COUNTRIES AND CITIES
Names of countries and cities require singular verbs.

Ex: The United States has a democratic government.

Los Angeles is in California.