Subject Verb Agreement

Rule
A verb must agree with its subject in

number

Singular subjects should have singular verbs Plural subjects plural verbs

Hints
Use he and they as substitutes for a

subject to find a correct verb

He is always singular (only one guy) They is always plural (two people, at least)
He

runs/ they run He walks/ they walk

Singular verbs usually end in s

Runs, walks, plays

Examples
Early detectives (is/are) Sherlock

Holmes and his assistant. This book (describes/describe) ways to find evidence. In the play, a neighbor (reports/report) a murder. The officers (have/has) been looking for a clue.

Be careful!
The subject of a verb is never in a

prepositional phrase or an appositive phrase.

Dont be fooled by words that come in

between the subject and the verb

Examples
The files of any computer (is/are)

vulnerable to electronic-age thieves. A computer thief with the right codes (control/controls) all the data files. These thieves, people like Kevin Mitniek, (steal/steals) many files. Mitnick, the most cunning of thieves, (is/was) caught by one of his victims.

Indefinite Pronouns

A pronoun that refers to an unspecified person or thing

Some

are always singular, some are always

plural Some, however, can be either- it then depends on the context of the sentence

Always singular indefinite pronouns

Each
Either Neither

One

everyone everybody everything no one

nobody nothing anyone

anybody Another much anything No one except the nice students Someone leaves early. somebody something

Always plural
Several
Few Both

many

A few in the crowd are troublesome.

Either
Some Most of the Nobel Prizes for literature have been awarded All to men. Any More
Most none

Most refers to prizes (plural) so verb is plural

Most of the money for the prizes comes from a fund established by Alfred Nobel.
Most refers to money (singular) so verb is singular

Compound Subjects
Two subjects joined by and are plural

My mom and sisters are in Las Vegas.

Two subjects joined by or/nor are

singular

Verb should agree to subject closest

My

sisters or my mom is in Las Vegas. My mom or my sisters are in Las Vegas.

Using THERE to Begin a Sentence

Although sentences sometimes begin with

there, there cannot be the subject of a sentence. Usually the subject follows the verb in sentences that begin with there.

There is a squirrel in the yard. There are two squirrels in the yard.

WHO, WHICH, and THAT as Relative Pronouns

When you use a relative pronounwho,

which, or thatto introduce a dependent idea, make sure you choose the correct verb: Find the word that relates to the relative pronoun to see if it is singular or plural

I know a woman who (play, plays) expert chess. Suede coats, which (stain, stains) easily, should not be worn in the rain. Computers that (talk, talks) make me nervous

Prepositional Phrases dont =And

As well as, together with, in addition to,

along with, besides, and including are often similar in meaning to and. However, they are not a part of the subject. These words are prepositions, not conjunctions.

Aunt Martha, together with 6 children, (is, are) leaving town. Sigma Rho, as well as Phi Kappa and Chi Beta, (is, are) buying new T-shirts.

Collective Nouns
Collective nounsteam, family, group,

classtake a singular verb if the noun acts as a unit but a plural verb is the group is considered as a number of individuals

The team is playing well tonight. The team are getting dressed.

Sums of money, distances, and measurements

Sums of money, distances, and

measurements are followed by a singular verb when a unit is meant. They are followed by a plural verb when the individual elements are considered separately.

Three dollars was the price. (unit) Three dollars were lying there. (individual)

Some nouns have only a plural form

Some nouns have only a plural form and

so take only a plural verbfor example, clothes, fireworks, scissors, pants, glasses.

His glasses are dusty. Marys clothes were stylish and expensive.