SUBJECT-VERB

AGREEMENT
 A sentence must contain a subject and a
verb to be complete.
o The subject of a sentence functions as the topic of the
sentence.

Subject o It names who or what the sentence is about.

o The subject is always a noun or pronoun (sometimes
with added modifiers) and relates directly to the verb

Verb of the sentence.

o The verb of a sentence indicates an action of body or

mind, a state of being, or an occurrence.
o The verb moves the meaning of the sentence along and
can change form to show time (tense), person and
number.
 RULES OF S-V-AGREEMENT
01 | Number Agreement 02 | Words Between 03 | There and Here 04 | Questions

05 | Joined by And 06 | Separated by And 07 | Indefinite 08 | Relative

09 | Singular/Plural 10 | Units of Measure 11 | Collective Nouns 12 | Mass/Count

13 | Nouns 14 | Title of Books 15 | Positive/Negative 16 | Wish/Contrary

 Number Agreement
Subjects and verbs must agree in number. A singular
subject takes a singular verb, whereas a plural subject
takes a plural verb.

The list of items is on the desk.

The dog growls when he is angry.
The dogs growl when they are angry.
Words Between Subject and Verb

Subordinate clauses and prepositional phrases that

come between the subject and verb don't affect their
agreement.

The dog, who is chewing on my jeans, is usually very good.

The colors of the rainbow are beautiful.
The student with all the master’s degrees is very
motivated.
If we combine two subjects or names by using “as well
as”, “along with”, “with”, “together with” or “in addition
to”, the verb is used according to first subject.

The ship with all its passengers was lost.

You as well as I are going to Glasgow.

Mari, together with his sister, is going to France.

 There or Here
o There and there are never subjects.
o In sentences beginning with here or there, the
true subject follows the verb.

There are four hurdles to jump.
There is a high hurdle to jump.
Here are the keys.
Subject After Verb in Questions
o Subjects don't always come before verbs in 
questions. Make sure you accurately identify
the subject before deciding on the proper verb
form to use.

Where are the pieces of this puzzle?

Where is the key I left on the desk?

 Joined by And
o As a general rule, use a plural verb with
two or more subjects when they are
connected by and.

A car and a bike are my means of

transportation.

Juna and Nam have gone to the club.

 A plural verb is used when a compound
subject follows it.

WRONG: In the room, there is a boy, a girl,

and a box.

CORRECT: In the room, there are a boy, a girl,

and a box.
But note these exceptions:

Breaking and entering is against the law.

The bed and breakfast was charming.
Two Subjects Separated by And
o The verb is singular if the two subjects separated by
"and" refer to the same person or thing as a whole.

Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite pasta dish.

Our secretary and treasurer is Frances Martini.

Corned beef and cabbage was his favorite dish.

 Indefinite Pronouns
o The following indefinite pronouns are singular
and take singular verbs.

anyone everyone someone either one

anybody everybody somebody neither
no one anything everything something
another each
when two or more Subjects are preceded by ‘each’,
‘every’, and ‘no’ the Verb is singular.
 Indefinite Pronouns
o Indefinite pronouns typically take singular
verbs. The exceptions to the rule include
the pronouns 
"few," "many," "several," and "both."
These always take the plural form.
“Many are called but few are chosen.”
Few were left alive after the flood.
Both of you are my friends.
 Relative Pronouns
o The relative pronouns who, which, and that use
a singular verb for a singular antecedent and a
plural verb for a plural antecedent.

John is one of those men who prefers Lone Star

beer.

John is one of those men who prefer Lone Star

beer.
 Multiple Subjects Connected With
Conjunction
If the subjects are both singular and are connected
by the words

"or" "nor" "neither/nor"

"either/or“ "not only/but also"
the verb is singular. If the subjects are both plural
and are connected by the words "or," "nor,"
"neither/nor," "either/or," or "not only/but also,"
the verb is plural.
Either Jessica or Christian is to blame
for the accident

Not only dogs but
also cats are available at the animal
shelter.
 Singular and Plural Subjects
Connected by Conjunction
If one subject is singular and the other is plural
and the words are connected by the words "or,"
"nor," "neither/nor," "either/or," or "not only/but
also," use the verb form of the subject that is
nearest the verb.
Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on that
shelf.
Either the bears or the lion has escaped from the
zoo.
 Units of Measure
o The singular verb form is usually reserved
for units of measurement or time, sums of
money, etc., when considered as a unit.

Four quarts of oil was required to get the car

running.
Ten minutes is enough time to get there.
Two and two is four.
 Collective Noun
o A collective noun takes a singular Verb when
it means a group..  

Team staff group

Jury  family audience
Population

the verb might be singular or plural, depending on the

writer's intent.
Mass Nouns & Count Nouns
Noncount nouns take a singular verb.

Diabetes affects many people around the

world.

The information obtained from the business

owners was relevant to include in the study.
Mass Nouns & Count Nouns
Some countable nouns in English such
as earnings, goods, odds, surroundings, proceeds,
contents, and valuables only have a plural form
and take a plural verb.

The earnings for this quarter exceed expectations.

The proceeds from the sale go to support the

homeless population in the city.
 Nouns
o The following nouns do not take singular forms. They
are plural in meaning and always take a plural verb.
trousers pants jeans
shears scissors pliers

The pliers are in the toolbox.

Note: If the word "pair" precedes the noun, use the

singular verb.

The pair of pliers is in the toolbox.

 Title of Books
o Titles of books, movies, novels, newspapers,
or plays and other similar works are treated
as singular and take a singular verb.
The Burbs is a movie starring Tom Hanks.
Gone With the Wind is my favorite movie of all
time.
Electronics bores me to death.
No news is good news.
 Positive/Negative
o If your sentence compounds a positive and a
negative subject and one is plural, the other
singular, the verb should agree with the
positive subject.

It is not the faculty members but the president

who decides this issue.

It was the speaker, not his ideas, that has

provoked the student riot.
Wish/Contrary to Fact
o The word were replaces was in sentences
that express a wish or are contrary to fact:

If Joe were here, you'd be sorry.

I wish it were Friday.
The foreman demanded that
Joe wear safety goggles.
FINAL Remember, only
the Subject affects
RULE the Verb.
 Strategy
When you edit sentences for subject-verb agreement, use this 5-step test.
1. Find the subject by asking whom or what the sentence is about.
2. Determine whether the subject is singular or plural.
3. Locate the verb.
4. Determine whether the verb is singular or plural.
5. If the subject and verb are both singular or both plural, they agree. If
they do not agree, make the needed adjustment.
 ?
Questions
 1. The jury _________ unanimous in its verdict. (is/are)
2. His hair _________ grey. (is / are)
Let’s 3.Two miles __________ a long distance. (is/are)
try! 4. Either you or I __________ mistaken. (are/am)
5.Neither he nor his relatives __________ rich. (is/are)
6.The teacher with the students __________ going to park. (is/are)
7.Both of my roommates (has/have) decided to live in the dorms.
8.Each of the students (is/are) responsible for doing his or her
work.
 Rewrite the following sentences.
9. The biggest problem our department faces is keeping up with expenses.
10. Neither foreign language nor an advanced English literature course are
required for business school graduates at the university.
11. The gorilla, along with two monkeys, a kangaroo, and a white bird, were seen
on the deck of an old, weathered boat yesterday during a cloud-break.
12. A box of cigarettes made from imported tobacco leaves were sitting on the
desk near the gold-plated lighter.
 1. The jury _________ unanimous in its verdict. (is/are)
The jury is unanimous in its verdict.
Let’s
try! 2. His hair _________ grey. (is / are)
His hair is grey.

3. Two miles __________ a long distance. (is/are)

Two miles is a long distance.

4. Either you or I __________ mistaken. (are/am)

Either you or I am mistaken.
 5. Neither he nor his relatives __________ rich. (is/are)
Neither he nor his relatives are rich.

Let’s 6. The teacher with the students __________ going to park. (is/are)

try! The teacher with the students is going to park.

7. Both of my roommates (has/have) decided to live in the dorms.

Both of my roommates have decided to live in the dorms.

8. Each of the students (is/are) responsible for doing his or her work.
Each of the students is responsible for doing his or her work.
 Rewrite the following sentences.
9. The biggest problem our department faces are keeping up with expenses.
The biggest problem our department faces is keeping up with expenses.
10. Neither foreign language nor an advanced English literature course are required for business school graduates at the
university.
Neither foreign language nor an advanced English literature course is required for business
school graduates at the university.
11. The gorilla, along with two monkeys, a kangaroo, and a white bird, were seen on the deck of an old, weathered boat
yesterday during a cloud-break.
The gorilla, along with two monkeys, a kangaroo, and a white bird, was seen on the deck of an
old, weathered boat yesterday during a cloud-break.
12. A box of cigarettes made from imported tobacco leaves were sitting on the desk near the gold-plated lighter.
A box of cigarettes made from imported tobacco leaves is sitting on the desk near the gold-
plated lighter.
Thank you!
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