20 rules subject verb agreement with examples

1.F.S.:LORDRICK_MAC. This is the cornerstone rule that forms the background of the concept. The dog growls when he is angry. The dogs growl when they are angry.

2. Don't get confused by the words that come between the subject and verb; they do not affect agreement. The dog, who is chewing on my jeans, is usually very good.

3. Prepositional phrases between the subject and verb usually do not affect agreement. The colors of the rainbow are beautiful.

4. When sentences start with "there" or "here," the subject will always be placed after the verb, so care needs to be taken to identify it correctly. There is a problem with the balance sheet. Here are the papers you requested.

5. Subjects don't always come before verbs in questions. Make sure you accurately identify the subject before deciding on the proper verb form to use. Does Lefty usually eat grass? Where are the pieces of this puzzle.

6. If two subjects are joined by and, they typically require a plural verb form. The cow and the pig are jumping over the moon.

7. The verb is singular if the two subjects separated by and refer to the same person or thing. Red beans and rice is my mom's favorite dish.

8. If the words each, every, or no come before the subject, the verb is singular. No smoking and drinking is allowed. Every man and woman is required to check in.

9. If the subjects are both singular and are connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also the verb is singular. Jessica or Christian is to blame for the accident.

10. The only time when the object of the preposition factors into the decision of plural or singular verb forms is when noun and pronoun subjects like some, half, none, more, all, etc.

are followed by a prepositional phrase. In these sentences, the object of the preposition determines the form of the verb. All of the chicken is gone. All of the chickens are gone.

11. The singular verb form is usually used for units of measurement. Four quarts of oil was required to get the car running.

12. If the subjects are both plural and are connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also, the verb is plural. Dogs and cats are both available at the pound.

13. If one subject is singular and one plural and the words are connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also, you use the verb form of the subject that is nearest the verb. Do your sisters or your girlfriend want any pizza?

14. Indefinite pronouns typically take singular verbs. Everybody wants to be loved.

15. * Except for the pronouns (few, many, several, both) that always take the plural form. Few were left alive after the flood.

16. If two infinitives are separated by and they take the plural form of the verb. To walk and to chew gum require great skill.

17. When gerunds are used as the subject of a sentence they take the singular verb form of the verb, but when they are linked by and they take the plural form. Standing in the water was a bad idea. Swimming in the ocean and playing drums are my hobbies.

18. Collective nouns like herd, senate, class, crowd, etc. usually take a singular verb form. The herd is stampeding.

19. Titles of books, movies, novels, etc. are treated as singular and take a singular verb. The Burbs is a movie starring Tom Hanks.

20. Final Rule - Remember, only the subject affects the verb!

Rules for Pronoun & Antecedent Agreement

A pronoun is a word that can replace a noun in a sentence. For example, in the sentence Michelle took her dog for a walk, the word her replaces the word Michelles. The antecedent is the word to which the pronoun refers. When paired with an antecedent, the pronoun is called a referent. In the example above, Michelle is the antecedent to her. According to the English grammar rules, the referent must agree with its antecedent in number. 1.
o

o o

o o o

A singular antecedent needs a singular pronoun, and a plural antecedent needs a plural pronoun. For example, Bill took his hat and The girls read their book are correct. A phrase after the noun does not change the plurality of its referent. For example, the bowl and the bowl of marbles will have the same pronoun, such as The bowl sits in its drawer and The bowl of marbles sits in its drawer. When you have indefinite pronouns as the noun in a sentence, the referent must still agree in plurality with the indefinite pronoun acting as the antecedent. Singular indefinite pronouns are each, either, neither, one, no one, nobody, nothing, anyone, anybody, anything, someone, somebody, something, everyone, everybody, and everything. These singular indefinite pronouns require a singular referent. For example: No one can lick his or her elbow. Plural indefinite pronouns are several, few, both, and many. These indefinite pronouns require a plural referent, such as Several of the children play with their toys. The plurality of an indefinite pronoun can be modified by a prepositional phrase. When the object of the preposition is countable, such as eggs or chairs, use a plural referent. For example, All of the fries have lost their heat. When the object of the preposition is uncountable, such as water or flour, use a singular referent. For example, All of the water spilled out of its cup. When there are multiple subjects in a sentence joined by and, always use a plural referent. For example, Ben and Samantha did their best. When there are multiple subject joined by or or nor, the referent must agree with the subject closer to the pronoun. For example, Neither the girl nor the boys would clean their hands. Collective nouns, or nouns that represent groups such as team, pack or class, can be plural or singular depending on whether the group is acting as a unit or as individuals. For example, The class gave its opinion versus The class members gave their opinions. Title of things, such as organizations, movies, and countries, require singular referents. For example, The United States has 50 states within its borders. If you have every or many a before a noun or a series of nouns, the referent must be singular, such as Many a dog has had fleas in its coat. Plural subjects with a singular meaning, such as news or measles, need a singular referent. The news cares more about its rating than current events is correct.

A number of is plural, while, The number of is singular. A number of people love their mother is correct, as is, The number of stray cats has increased its ranks.

80-100 common usage problems

80 As an adjective, principal, means most important or chief; as a noun, it means a one who has controlling authority. Principle, always a noun, means a basic law. ADJECTIVE: Our principal plan is to make an investment. NOUN: Mrs. Gallagher is the college principal. NOUN: She follows her tenet wholeheartedly. 81 Raise usually takes a direct object. Rise never takes a direct object. Raise your complaints earlier than the board. Rise to a brand new day. 82 Real means authentic. The use of actual to imply very or really must be avoided in formal writing. INFORMAL: This job is one actual challenge. FORMAL: This job could be very challenging. 83 Refer back is commonly confused with refer and look back. This usage is not advisable in formal writing on the premise that the re- of refer means back, so refer back is redundant. Refer back, however, is acceptable when it means refer again. Otherwise, refer ought to be used. NONSTANDARD: In elucidating on the topic, I would like to refer back to the work of Johanssen et al. CORRECT: In elucidating on the topic, I want to refer to the work of Johanssen et al. The proposal was referred again to the committee which drafted it. Please discuss with the notes on the peace conference. 84 Says should not be substituted for said. NONSTANDARD: Then the teacher says to us, Keep quiet! CORRECT: Then the teacher stated to us, Keep quiet! 85 Seen is a previous participle and can be utilized as a verb only with a helping verb. NONSTANDARD: We seen this movie a couple of times already. CORRECT: We have seen this movie a couple of times already. 86 Set means to put (something) in a certain place. Its principal partsset, setting, set, and set are normally followed by a direct object. Sit means to be seated. Its principal partssit, sitting, sat, and satare never followed by a direct object. Set the eating area in this corner. Sit in the chair and get a feel of it earlier than your buy it.

87 The meaning of shape is spatial form. In formal writing, keep away from using form to mean condition. INFORMAL: My mother and father are in good shape. FORMAL: My parents are in good condition. 88 Although sluggish can now be used as either an adjective or an adverb, careful writers use it as an adjective. Slowly is preferred as the adverb. LESS ACCEPTABLE: Walk slow because the path is slippery. PREFERRED: Walk slowly because the path is slippery. 89 So is a coordinating conjunction. It should be avoided when you mean so that. LESS ACCEPTABLE: Can you please transfer over so the other passengers can sit down? PREFERRED: Can you please move over so that the other passengers can sit down? 90 Take and is a nonstandard expression. Eliminate it entirely. NONSTANDARD: Take and put these manuscripts in the filing cabinet. CORRECT: Put these manuscripts in the filing cabinet. 91 Than is utilized in comparisons. Do not confuse it with the adverb then, which usually refers to time. The applicant who got here in at present is smarter than that who came yesterday. Put the vegetables first, and then allow it to simmer for just a few minutes. 92 That refers to people or things; which refers solely to things; who refers solely to people. This is the resort that (or which) I actually have been telling you about. She is the teacher who (or that) received the Employee of the Year award. 93 Their, a possessive pronoun, all the time modifies a noun. There can be utilized either as an expletive initially of the sentence or as an adverb. Theyre is a contraction of they are. PRONOUN: Their presentation is the very best I have seen in years. EXPLETIVE: There should be no complaints, or else the plan will fail. ADVERB: Jane placed all her issues there. CONTRACTION: I fervently hope theyre all in high spirits. 94 Them is at all times a personal pronoun, by no means an adjective. When a sentence requires an adjective, use these or those in place of either them or them there. To correct a sentence containing this here, these here, and that there, simply leave here and there. NONSTANDARD: Them essays are written very well. CORRECT: These essays are written very well. 95 Till and till are interchangeable. Be careful, however, of spelling. Till should not be spelled til or til; until at all times ends in one l. We performed by the seashore till we have been all tired. 96 To, a preposition, begins a prepositional phrase or an infinitive. Too, an adverb, modifies an adjective and different adverbs. Two is a number. PREPOSITION: We went to a concert last night.

INFINITIVE: To put up ones own business just isnt an straightforward task. ADVERB: She took the recommendation too complacently. Kathy purchased a pink shirt so Ashley purchased one too. NUMBER: Two kids, two pens 97 Unique means one of a kind. It should not be used to imply odd, interesting, or unusual. The word means one of a kind, so such expressions as most unique, very unique, and intensely unique are illogical. ILLOGICAL: The group introduced their output in a particularly unique way. CORRECT: The group offered their output in a singular way. 98 Ways is plural. Do not use it after the article a. Use as a substitute the singular form of way. NONSTANDARD: The chauffeur has a considerable ways to drive yet. CORRECT: The chauffeur has a considerable way to drive yet. 99 Do not use when or where directly after a linking verb. Do not use where as an alternative choice to that. NONSTANDARD: My greatest memory of Mom was when we went by the beach, and we walked hand in hand. An automat is where meals is dispensed by machines. CORRECT: My greatest memory of Mom is of going to the beach and strolling hand in hand with her. An automat is a cafeteria where meals is dispensed by machines. 100 Avoid utilizing the suffix -wise to create new words for a particular situation. LESS ACCEPTABLE: Costwise, this new product we launched is better. PREFERRED: This new product we launched is cost-effective.