SUBJECT AND VERB

AGREEMENT
-SHARMAINE MARASIGAN-
1. A verb must agree with its subject in
person and in number

 She reads novels.

 The girls read novels
2. Singular subjects connected by and or both-and usually require a plural
verb. When the parts of the compound subject connected by and are
each preceded by a noun determiner ( the, an, a, my, some, etc.) the
subject is plural

 My English Instructor and my adviser are

absent.
3. A compound subject referring to a
single person takes a singular verb.
 EXAMPLES:

 My English Instructor and adviser is absent

4. Compound subjects modified by each
and every are singular
 EXAMPLES:

 Each of the tourist guides wears an

identification badge.
5. The verb agrees with its subjects, not
with the predicate nominative.
 EXAMPLES:

A list of the donors and their contributions

was published.
6. If two subjects are joined by or, either…or,
neither…nor, the verb agrees with the subject nearer
it.
 EXAMPLES:

 Neither the President nor the other officers

have come.
7. When regarded as a unit, a collective
noun is singular.
 EXAMPLES:

 Our class sings very well.

8. When regarded as individuals, a
collective noun is plural.
 EXAMPLES:

 Our class do not agree on the songs for the

program.
9. When preceded by the article a, the
subject number is plural.
 EXAMPLES:

A number of his abstract paintings have

been exhibited.
10. When preceded by the article the,
the subject number is singular.
 EXAMPLES:

 The number of enrollees has increased

tremendously.
11. The verb agrees with the affirmative,
not with the negative subject.
 EXAMPLES:

 Melvie, not his sisters, has inherited the

state.
12. Singular indefinite pronouns like, someone,
anyone, each, either, neither, everyone, no one,
everybody, somebody, take singular verbs.
 EXAMPLES:

 Everyone in the team hopes to win.

13. The plural indefinite pronouns such as all,
both, few, several, many take plural verbs.

 EXAMPLES:

 Several have volunteered to assist the

committee in its project.
14. Many a followed by a singular noun
takes a singular verb.
 EXAMPLES:

 Many a young girl is interested in fancy

cookery.
15. Nouns plural in form but singular in
meaning take singular verbs.
 EXAMPLES:

 Aesthetics is a very important part of his

college life.
16. Scissors, pliers, pants, refreshments,
clothes, shorts, eyeglasses, etc. are always plural.

 EXAMPLES:

 Scissors are intended for cutting.

17. Impersonal pronoun it at the beginning of a
sentence is followed by a singular verb.

 EXAMPLES:

 It is the beauty who killed the beast.

18. The pronoun you requires a plural
verb.
 EXAMPLES:

 You are an inspiration to the youth.

19. Subjects consisting of expressions indicating amount
of money, space of time, or unit, require a singular verb

 EXAMPLES:

 Fifty percent of his income is derived from

his fishpond.
20. Fractions are singular or plural
depending upon the of phrase.
 EXAMPLES:

 Two-thirds of the papers are missing.

21. Adjectives used as nouns are
considered plural.
 EXAMPLES:

 The old need comfort and affection.

22. Mathematical abstractions require
singular verbs.
 EXAMPLES:

 Five times five equals twenty five.

23. The pronouns all, any, more, none and some
can be either singular of plural. The number of
pronoun’s antecedent is the determining factor.
 Examples:

 None of them are qualified in the contest.

24. The verb ties with the relative pronoun used as
subject: the relative pronoun ties with the number
of one person of its antecedent
 EXAMPLES:

 She is one of the most attractive girls who

are active.
25. Intervening expressions such as with, together
with, in addition to, along with, as well as,
especially, including, in fact, particularly, do not
affect the verb.
 EXAMPLES:

 The police findings, along with the

photograph, are very convincing.
26. When a sentence is introduced by the word
there or here , analyse the sentence to determine
the subject, then choose the verb agreeing in
number with the subject.
 EXAMPLES:

 There was a strong earthquake.

 There were foreigners who climb the
summit of Mt. Apo.