Notes on Subject Verb Agreement Rules Subject AGREES with verb in Indefinite Collective Nouns Each } NUMBER A group takes a singular verb Pronouns (N) Either } Examples: Every -one } Singular subject -> Singular Verb Team, committee, tribe, class, jury, Any -body } A boy walks No -thing } Individuals takes a plural verb Some } Plural Subject -> Plural Verb A number of takes a plural verb TAKE The boys walk One of these takes a plural verb SINGULAR VERBS Present Tense Singular Verb Count or MASS WORDS EXTRA! EXTRA! ENDS in -s some all most Time, Measurements, Mathematical Examples: any none expressions and Money > AMOUNTS FRACTIONAL EXPRESSIONS titles he says student does half of a part of "the number" she calls person works a percentage of a majority of "many a" it falls Jim talks The verbs of these subjects depend on "every" Present Tense Plural Verb the noun reference. "more than one" Does NOT END in -s (take singular or plural verbs) TAKE SINGULAR VERBS Examples: they say students do lawyers call people work Singular Helping Verbs COUNT WORDS If your subject functions as a unit, it THAT TAKE PLURAL VERBS will usually take a singular verb. Has } Active several Examples: Does } Verbs few Macaroni and cheese is my favorite both food. Is } Passive many Here is the fifty dollars I owe you. Was } Verbs THERE and HERE COMPOUND SUBJECTS Considered---> are ADVERBS Subject(1) or Subject(2) Singular Plural (N)either Subject(1) (n)or Subject(2) Civics scissors Never subjects Politics slacks The verb agrees with closest subject Linguistics pants Example: Either the earrings or the The subject follows the verb in inverted News pliers necklace is enough. sentences. Measles tweezers Either the necklace or the earrings V. S. Economics are enough. Ex. Here is the book. "a pair of" IN QUESTIONS COMPOUND SUBJECTS Interrupters like Helping verbs agree with the subjects Subject(1) and Subject(2) prepositional phrases Does she go? Do they go? take a PLURAL VERB clauses Be aware of inverted sentence patterns: appositives Near the tree sits the rabbit. Both [S] and [S] + plural verb DO NOT CHANGE THE AGREEMENT
Notes on Subject Verb Agreement Rules Subject AGREES with verb in NUMBER Singular subject -> Singular Verb A boy walks Plural Subject -> Plural Verb The boys walk Each } Indefinite (N) Either } Pronouns Every -one } Any -body } No -thing } Some } TAKE SINGULAR VERBS Collective Nouns A group takes a singular verb Examples: Team, committee, tribe, class, jury, Individuals takes a plural verb A number of takes a plural verb One of these takes a plural verb Present Tense Singular Verb ENDS in -s Examples: he says student does she calls person works it falls Jim talks Present Tense Plural Verb Does NOT END in -s Examples: they say students do lawyers call people work Count or MASS WORDS some all most any none FRACTIONAL EXPRESSIONS half of a part of a percentage of a majority of The verbs of these subjects depend on the noun reference. (take singular or plural verbs) EXTRA! EXTRA! Time, Measurements, Mathematical expressions and Money > AMOUNTS titles "the number" "many a" "every" "more than one" TAKE SINGULAR VERBS Singular Helping Verbs Has } Active Does } Verbs Is } Passive Was } Verbs COUNT WORDS THAT TAKE PLURAL VERBS several few both many If your subject functions as a unit, it will usually take a singular verb. Examples: Macaroni and cheese is my favorite food. Here is the fifty dollars I owe you. THERE and HERE are ADVERBS Never subjects The subject follows the verb in inverted sentences. V. S. Ex. Here is the book. COMPOUND SUBJECTS Subject(1) or Subject(2) (N)either Subject(1) (n)or Subject(2) The verb agrees with closest subject Example: Either the earrings or the necklace is enough. Either the necklace or the earrings are enough. Considered---> Singular Plural Civics scissors Politics slacks Linguistics pants News pliers Measles tweezers Economics "a pair of" IN QUESTIONS Helping verbs agree with the subjects Does she go? Do they go? Be aware of inverted sentence patterns: Near the tree sits the rabbit. COMPOUND SUBJECTS Subject(1) and Subject(2) take a PLURAL VERB Both [S] and [S] + plural verb Interrupters like prepositional phrases clauses appositives DO NOT CHANGE THE AGREEMENT
english_i_literature_and_writing_handbook_2018_russo.docx