El Gio Estrada
03/14/16
BSIT-1
ENGL 1
SUBJECT AND VERB AGREEMENT
1. A verb with its subject in person and number.
If the subject is singular, the verb is also singular; if the subject is pluray the
verb should also be plural. A singular subject usually does not end in s, but the
singular verb does. A plural subject ends in s, but the plural verb does not end in s.
Examples: Basketballs roll across the floor.
My cat meows at the river.
I dont understand the assignment.
2. The number of the subject is not changed by a prepositional phrase after the
subject.
Examples: A virus in all companys computers is a real threat to security.
A theory of physics ascertains that a body stays in motion.
The members of the orchestra are very happy with the
performance.
3. Some indefinite pronouns are always singular and therefore always take singular
verbs.
Examples: Something is very wrong here.
Everybody enjoys a good movie.
Nothing has been determined as of yet.
4. The following indefinite pronouns always take plural views: several, few, both,
and many.
Examples: Few know what it really takes to get ahead.
Both are qualified for the job.
Many went to the beach and got sunburned.
5. When the words some, any none, all, and most are followed by an of-phrase,
the verb agrees with the object of the of-phrase.
Examples: Some of the pie is missing.
All third of the people are unemployed.
A lot of the pizza has disappeared.
6. Nouns plural in form but singular in meaning such as physics, economics,
mathematics, measles, civics, and news take a singular verb.
Examples: The news has been bad lately.
Politics is dirty business.
Math was my worst subject in school.
7. A compound subject has two or more simple subjects, usually joined by and or
or. And if the compound subject is made from simple subjects joined by and, use a
plural verb:
Examples: He and his daughter are Chinese.
Jack and Jill go up the hill.
She and his son are American.
8. Intervening worlds like together with, in addition to, as well as, in
cooperation with, including similar constructions following the subjects do not
affect the number of the subjects.
Examples: John, as well as his wife, is coming to the party.
Visitors, including government employees, have to register.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her shaking.
9. Words or phrases expressing period of time, weights, measurements and amount
of money are usually regarded as regular.
Examples: Four quarts of oil was required to get the car running.
Two miles is a pretty long distance to walk.
Ten dollars is the entry fee.
10. Fractions may take the singular or the plural form of the verbs depending on
the of-phrase.
Examples: Three fourths of my salary goes to taxes.
Three fourths of the juniors are going to the dance.
Three-quarters of the building was destroyed.
11. Collective nouns take singular verbs when they are used to denote a unit;
they take plural verbs when used to refer to individuals parts of the group.
Examples: The class is in session.
The committee was set up in 1910.
Most of the jury are here.
12. The expression the number takes a singular verb; the expression a number
takes a plural verb.
Examples: The number of reasons is growing.
A number of reasons are listed in the letter.
The number of musicians signing to record labels increases each
year.
13. The title of a book, even when plural in form, takes a singular verb.
Examples: The Grapes of Wrath takes a long time to read.
The Basketball Diaries is a harrowing look at drug addiction.
The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of fantasy novels by author
C.S. Lewis.
14. There is/was should be followed by a singular noun and there are/were
should be followed by a plural noun.
Examples: There was a noise in the night.
There's a cup of coffee and some sugar on the table.
There have been complaints about you recently.
