MAKING SUBJECTS AND VERBS AGREEMENT
1. When the subject of a
sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a
plural verb.
·
She and her friends are at the fair.
2. When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or or nor, use
a singular verb.
·
The book or the pen is in the
drawer.
3. When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or
pronoun joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject
that is nearer the verb.
·
The boy or his friends run every
day.
·
His friends or the boy runs every
day.
4. 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 be used only with
a plural subject. The exception to this rule appears in the case of the first
person and second person pronouns I and you. With these pronouns, the contraction
don't should be used.
·
He doesn't like it.
·
They don't like it.
5. Do not be misled by a phrase that comes between the subject and the verb.
The verb agrees with the subject, not with a noun or pronoun in the phrase.
·
One of the boxes is open
·
The people who listen to that
music are few.
·
The team captain, as well as his
players, is anxious.
·
The book, including all the
chapters in the first section, is boring.
·
The woman with all the dogs walks
down my street.
6. The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody,
anyone, nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are singular and require a
singular verb.
·
Each of these hot dogs is juicy.
·
Everybody knows Mr. Jones.
·
Either is correct.
7. Nouns such as civics, mathematics, dollars, measles, and news require
singular verbs.
·
The news is on at six.
Note: the
word dollars is a special case. When talking about an amount of money, it
requires a singular verb, but when referring to the dollars themselves, a
plural verb is required.
·
Five dollars is a lot of money.
·
Dollars are often used instead of
rubles in Russia.
8. Nouns such as scissors, tweezers, trousers, and shears require plural
verbs. (There are two parts to these things.)
·
These scissors are dull.
·
Those trousers are made of wool.
·
9. In sentences beginning with "there is" or "there are,"
the subject follows the verb. Since "there" is not the subject, the
verb agrees with what follows.
·
There are many questions.
·
There is a question.
10. Collective nouns are words that imply more than one person but that are
considered singular and take a singular verb, such as group, team, committee,
class, and family.
·
The team runs during practice.
·
The committee decides how to
proceed.
·
The family has a long history.
·
My family has never been able to
agree.
·
The crew is preparing to dock the
ship.
·
11. Expressions such as with, together with, including, accompanied by, in
addition to, or as well do not change the number of the subject. If the subject
is singular, the verb is too.
·
The President, accompanied by his
wife, is traveling to India.
·
All of the books, including
yours, are in that box.
This sentence is referring to the
individual efforts of each crew member. The Gregg Reference Manual
provides excellent explanations of subject-verb agreement (section 10: 1001).
Subject-Verb Agreement Eror
A very common error is when subjects and verbs do not
match in number. Plural nouns should be matched with plural verbs; singular
nouns should be matched with singular verbs. In the following sentences, the
subjects and verbs do not agree.
Incorrect: Maria and her friend is going to the store.
Plural Subject: Maria and her friend/Singular verb: is
Correct: Maria and her friend are going to the store
Incorrect: One of the cereal boxes are open.
Singular Subject: One of the cereal boxes/Plural Verb: are
Correct: One of the cereal boxes is open.
Incorrect: Either* are fine.
Singular Subject: Either/Plural Verb: are
Correct: Either is fine.
*The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are singular and require a singular verb.
Incorrect: Maria and her friend is going to the store.
Plural Subject: Maria and her friend/Singular verb: is
Correct: Maria and her friend are going to the store
Incorrect: One of the cereal boxes are open.
Singular Subject: One of the cereal boxes/Plural Verb: are
Correct: One of the cereal boxes is open.
Incorrect: Either* are fine.
Singular Subject: Either/Plural Verb: are
Correct: Either is fine.
*The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are singular and require a singular verb.
ANOTHER
EXAMPLE:
1.
Annie and her
brothers are at school.
2. Either my mother or my father is coming
to the meeting.
3. The dog or the cats are outside.
4. Either my shoes or your coat is always
on the floor.
5. George and Tamara don't want to see
that movie.
6. Benito doesn't know the answer.
7. One of my sisters is going on a trip
to France.
8. The man with all the birds lives on
my street.
9. The movie, including all the previews, takes about
two hours to watch.
10. The players, as well as the captain, want to
win.
11. Either answer is acceptable.
12. Every one of those books is fiction.
13. Nobody knows the trouble I've seen.
14. Is the news on at
five or six?
15. Mathematics is John's favorite
subject, while Civics is Andrea's favorite subject.
16. Eight dollars is the price of a movie
these days.
17. Are the
tweezers in this drawer?
18. Your pants are at the cleaner's.
19. There were fifteen candies in that
bag. Now there is only one left!
20. The committee debates these questions
carefully.
21. The committee lead very different
lives in private.
22. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, greets the
press cordially.
SUMBER:
