before after

STATEMENTS
yes no yes no
(1) Words that end in s are always plural
and must take plural verbs.
(2) Objects that come in pairs always take
plural verbs.
(3) Subjects introduced by some of and
most of always take plural verbs.
(4) Subjects joined by eitheror or
neithernor agree with plural verbs.
(5) A verb may agree with an intervening
expression that separates it (the verb) from
the subject.
(6)Non-specific pronouns always take the
masculine gender.
(7)Collective nouns always take singular
pronouns.
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 The alumna was persecuted.

The students are rebellious.

THE GENERAL RULE:

Singular subjects take singular verbs.
Plural subjects take plural verbs.

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 Nilda, together with her friends, has filed a
protest against the supervisor.

The administrators, as well as the

supervisor, seem to ignore the protest.

INTERVENING EXPRESSIONS:
Intervening expressions (such as together with
and as well as) should not affect the agreement
between subjects and verbs.

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 Everyone
Many are called.
is willing to participate.

Somebody
Few are chosen.
wants to quit.

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS:
However, Indefinite like several
pronouns pronouns , few
(i.e. everyone
, many, and
somebody
both)go
take
with
singular
plural verbs.

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 Either theordoctor
Clarisse Efren prefers
or the nurses
a muchare
darker shade.
responsible for the bleeding.

Neither
Lisa or the
thevisitors
infants are
nor eager
the toddler
to go was
to the veranda.
rescued in the incident.

OR, NOR, EITHEROR, NEITHERNOR:

The verb agrees with the subject closer to it.

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 A lion
My manager
and a zebra
and friend
makeseeks
any zoo
a salary
interesting.
increase.

The secretary
Marty and Alexand
areniece
neighbors.
of the owner is
overqualified for the job.

AND:
However,
Use a plural
if those
verb
twowith
subjects
two subjects
refer tojoined
only one
by
and.
person, a singular verb is required.

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 A number of items are invalid and unreliable.

The number of examinees was reduced

incredibly.

A NUMBER, THE NUMBER:

An expression introduced by a number of takes
a plural verb. An expression introduced by the
number of takes a singular verb

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 The jury
classhave
is noisy.
a split decision.

The family
senateare
refuses
in disagreement
to listen to the
about
public.
the
childrens allowances.

COLLECTIVE NOUNS:
A collective
However,
noun
usetakes
a plural
a singular
verb when
verbitwhen
refersit to
is
individual members
regardedofasthe
one
group.
unit.

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 Here are the letters that you were looking for.

There was chaos when I arrived.

HERE, THERE:
In sentences that begin with here or
there, the subjects still follow the verbs.

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 Seventy-five percent of the world is water.

Seventy-five percent of the students find

the new haircut policy reasonable.

PORTIONS:
With words that indicate portions (i.e. fraction,
majority, or percent), the number of the verb agrees
with the number of the object in the of phrase.

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 Some of the oil
players
was used
have for
lostthe
theflounder.
spirit.

All of the ice

materials
creamwere
was eaten.
inspected by the
teacher.

ALL,
ALL,NONE,
NONE,SOME,
SOME,MOST
MOST::
The
Withverb
expressions
must be singular
introduced
when all,object
bythe most, none
in the,
or some, the verb must ofbephrase
plural when
is a mass
the object
noun.
in the of phrase is a plural count noun.

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 A
Mathematics
pair
Sons
Four
Pants
She of
thescissors
iskilometers
are
and not hasisalways
employee
Lovers is
allowedisawho
not good
the been
among substitute
walking
best my favorite
is expected
the
Thomas for
distance
ladies.
to
Hardya me.
to
subject.
cutter.
masterpiece.
succeed.
A
Measles
pairWars
Star
Eighty
IPliers
boughtof
areis
trousers
common
million
the
an is among
peaches
has
ordinary
pesos what
millions
isthat Iare
received
babies.
crafting
a big
of fans
sum
ripe.
tool.
all fromthe
already!
over
Frieda.
world.

OTHERS: OTHERS:
SUMS,
OTHERS:
AMOUNTS,
OTHERS:
WORDSRELATIVE
WITH
PAIRS
MEASUREMENTS
OTHERS:
OTHERS:
S
PRONOUNS
(exception)
ENDINGS
TITLES
PAIRS
Some
Words
Attaching
A words
relative
Titles
thatthat
the
appear
pronoun
of expression
books,
end inused
s
pairs
songs,
(i.e.
a
as
(like
ethics,
pair
movies,
thescissors
subject
ofmeasles,
to
etc.
these
of
and
area
clause
and
considered
words
news)
takes
makes
are
asingular,
singular
singular
them agree
and
or
pants)
and
plural
must,
take
with
take
verb
singular
therefore,
plural
depending
verbs.
take
on its
singular
antecedent.
verbs.

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CHAT