Subject – Verb Agreement

It means “the state of being in accord” or

conformity. In grammar, it means “correspondence
in person and number”. Thus, when a subject agrees
AGREEMENT with its predicate, both subject and predicate verb
have the same person and number.

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 RULE #1
SINGULAR PLURAL
A verb must
agree in number The boy studies. The boys study.
with its subject. A
singular subject I am a student. We are students.
takes a singular
verb. A plural She is a popular They are popular
subject takes a singers.
singer.
plural verb.

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 RULE 2

Compound subjects joined by and usually

require a plural verb.

Example: The manager and the employees

attend regular meetings.

Note: If the nouns joined by and are

considered as one unit, the verb is singular.
Example: Bread and butter is her breakfast.

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RULE #3 Singular subjects joined by “either or” or “neither nor” take a singular verb.

Example: Either Susy or Cindy is in the office.

Neither Ben nor Connie is the sponsor of the game.

Note: When one subjects joined by either or or neither nor is singular and
another is plural, the verb must agree to the nearer subject.

Plural subject closer:

Either the teacher or the students are in the gymnasium.
Singular Subject closer:
My friends or Albert watches the store at lunchtime.

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RULE #4 If the subject consists of two nouns, and each of these is preceded by the
article the, verb must be plural. But if the second noun is not preceded by
the, verb must be singular.

Example: The cook and the helper are left in the restaurant.
The cook and helper is left in the restaurant.

RULE #5 Indefinite Pronouns – each, either, neither, one, everybody, another,

anybody, everyone, nobody, everything, somebody and someone are singular
and they require singular verb.

Example: Everybody is required to attend the program.

Everything is in order.

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RULE #5 Note: Do not be confused by words or phrases which come
between the indefinite pronoun and the verb.

Example:
Each of the girls is expected to participate in the program.

RULE #6 Indefinite Pronouns – all, both, several, many, few, take a

plural verb.

Example: Many are invited to attend the party.

Both are interested in winning.

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RULE #7 The expression a number of is plural; the number of is singular.
Example: A number of delegates are in the museum.
The number of thefts is alarming.

RULE #8 Many is plural; Many a is singular.

Example: Many refuse to attend the seminar.

Many a participant in the play prefers to ad-lib.

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 RULE 9

Nouns denoting quantity, fraction, percentage,

currency, take a singular verb, but if they are
followed by the phrase of the, the verb must agree
to the of phrase.

Example:
Fifty percent prefers the Chinese cuisine for
the party.
Fifty percent of the employees prefer Filipino
dishes.
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RULE #10 Nouns ending in s but singular in meaning are singular.
Example: Physics is a difficult subject.
Mathematics is my best friend's favorite subject .

RULE #11 Nouns in pairs take plural verb, except if the expression a pair
of is used.
Example:
The pants are printed with a logo.
Shorts are very expensive in malls.
A pair of pants is sold at a low price.
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RULE #12 A collective noun taken as one unit takes a singular verb. It is
plural if every member of the group is thought of as an
individual doing his own task.
Example: The jury decides on the case.
The jury sign the letter.

Expressions like: together with, as well as, including plus, in addition to,
RULE #13 accompanied by (intervening words, after the subject) do not affect the
number of the subject.

Example: The contestant, together with the trainer, is given a

permit to travel around New York City.

The student, as well as the teachers, sings in the

program.
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THANK YOU
AND
GOD BLESS