SUBJECT VERB

AGREEMENT
GENERAL RULE:
If the subject is
singular, the
verb should be
singular.
If the subject is
 Plur Plur
al al
The students are
sitting outside the
building.
Singul
ar
Mang Ato is a
clown.
Singu
lar
 An
RULE # 1.

intervening
phrase or
clause does
not affect
 Singul
ar
The actor most
admired by the
students is on
stage.
Singul
1. The climate of both
countries ( is ,
are)very good.
2. The old books in
the attic (was,
were)thrown away.
3. A carton of grapes from
Cebu (was, were)
delivered.
4. The vegetables in the
stew ( is, are ) tasty.
5. My uncle, as well as my
cousins(is, are ) coming.
 STUDY THE GIVEN SENTENCES.
A car or a bus is the
only means of travel
there.
 Neither my mother nor
my sister is happy
about the situation.
singular subjects joined by or / nor.
 Two or
RULE # 2.

more
singular
subjects
joined by or
Only the fathers or
the mothers are to
be invited.
The teachers or the
parents go with the
students.
Plural subjects joined by or / nor
 Two or
RULE # 3.

more plural
subjects
joined by or
or nor must
 If one or
RULE # 4.

more singular
subjects are
joined to one or
more plural
subjects by or or
 Singu
lar
 Neither
David nor
my parents are
going with us.
plural plural
RULE # 5. A
compound
subject joined
by and is
generally
plural and
 Compound subjects

One boy and one girl

are the finalists.

plural
 Exceptions:
If the parts of a
compound subject add up
to one thing, the
compound subject is
Compound subject add up
singular,
to one thing
it should take a
singular verb. singular

nd eggs is a hearty brea

 If the compound subject
is preceded by every or
each , a singular verb is
required.

Compound subject singular

y dog and cat was inocul

1. B oth my boss and her
partner ( col lect, col lects )
ol d coi ns.
2. Ti na or Kathy (p lan, pl ans)
to represent us.
3. Ne ith er J ack nor Ti m
( wan t, wants) t o m ake the
deli ve ry.
4. D ark cl ouds and rai n (has,
have) been forecast today .
6. Spagh et ti a nd meat bal ls
(is, a re ) her fav orite di sh.
7. A trai n or sever al bu ses(
is, ar e) avai labl e on
Sunda ys.
8. Bo th t he tw ins and Nida
( is, are ) vi si ti ng
Gr andm ot her .
9. Either my uncl e or my
pa re nts ( phon e, pho nes)
ea ch wee k.
10. T he pr es ident and o wner
 subject
RULE # 6. A

that comes
after its verb
must still
agree with it
At the bottom of
the hill are two
black horses.
singular plural subject

Here is the
revised edition
of that book.
 linking
RULE # 7. A
verb must
agree with its
subject,
regardless of
the number of
 subject

The loud stereos

are one
reason for his verb
complaints.
Predicate
nominative
Rule #8.Doesn't is a
contraction of does
not and should be
used only with a
singular subject.
Don't is a contraction
of do not and should
 singular
singular

The boy doesn’t want

to go to the church.
Exceptions
In the case of the
first person and
second person
pronouns I and you,
the contraction
subject
don't
verb
should be used.

I Don’t Like it.

 The words
Rule #9.
each, each one,
either, neither,
everyone,
everybody,
anybody, anyone,
nobody, somebody,
subject

Everybody knows
Mr. Jones.
Verb
Note: All, none, some
may take either a
singular or a plural
verb
All according
of the delegatesto
aretheir
meaning.
here.
All hope of regaining his
last prestige is lost.
 plural

All of the delegates are here.

All hope of regaining his last
prestige is lost.

singular
Rule #10.Nouns
such as civics,
mathematics,
dollars, measles,
and news
subject require
verb
singular verbs.
News is on at six.
Rule #11. When a
relative pronoun is
used as a subject of
the verb, verb must
agree in person and
number with the
antecedent of the
 Relative pronoun

antecedent plural
He is one those men who
talk much and think little.

Verb
 Rule #12. Some nouns
like pants, trousers,
jeans, shears,
scissors, tweezers,
and pliers are always
Subject Verb
plural.
The scissors are in my bag.
Rule #13. When a
collective noun such as
audience, army class
committee, company,
family, flock, swarm,
group, herd, jury, team
denotes a collection
regarded as a unit, it
 Subject

The audience is big.

Verb
Exception: When it refers
to persons or things
included in the
collections, it requires a
plural verb. Verb
Subject
The audience were of
different opinions about
the merits of the play.
Rule #14. Nouns
denoting quantity
and amount such
as number, half,
part, portion, and
plenty may take a
singular or plural