SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

HJ.DERIS B. HJ.ABU BAKAR LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT

RULE 1:

Singular Subject
Basic Principle: - Singular subjects need singular verbs - Plural subjects need plural verbs.
- My brother is a nutritionist. - My sisters are mathematicians.

RULE 2:

The indefinite pronouns Singular indefinite pronoun subjects take singular verbs.

Everyone has done his or her homework. Somebody has left her purse.

RULE 2:

Some indefinite pronouns such as all, some are singular or plural depending on what they're referring to. (Is the thing referred to countable or not?)

RULE 2:

There is one indefinite pronoun, none, that can be either singular or plural; it often doesn't matter whether you use a singular or a plural verb unless something else in the sentence determines its number. "None of the engines are working," (Writers generally think of
none as meaning not any and will choose a plural verb,

"None of the food is fresh.

(When something else makes us regard none as meaning not one, we want a singular verb)

RULE 2:

Some indefinite pronouns are particularly troublesome:

Everyone and everybody. They are always singular, though.
Everyone has finished his or her homework.

Each is often followed by a prepositional phrase ending in a plural word (Each of the cars), thus confusing the verb choice. Each, too, is always singular and requires a singular verb.
Each of the students is responsible for doing his or her work in the library.

RULE 2:

The pronouns neither and either are singular and require singular verbs even though they seem to be referring, in a sense, to two things.
Neither of the two traffic lights is working. Which shirt do you want for Christmas? Either is fine with me.

RULE 3:

Phrases such as together with, as well as, and along with are not the same as and. The phrase introduced by as well as or along with will modify the earlier word, but it does not compound the subjects (as the word and would do).
The mayor as well as his brothers is going to prison. Her parents along with her aunt are going on a cruise.

RULE 4:

The words there and here are never subjects.

There are two reasons [plural subject] for this. There is no reason for this. Here are two apples.

With these constructions (called expletive constructions), the subject follows the verb but still determines the number of the verb.

RULE 5:

Some words end in -s and appear to be plural but are really singular and require singular verbs.
The news from the front is bad. Measles is a dangerous disease for pregnant women.

On the other hand, some words ending in -s refer to a single thing but are nonetheless plural and require a plural verb.
My assets were wiped out in the depression. The average worker's earnings have gone up dramatically. Our thanks go to the workers who supported the union.

RULE 6:

Fractional expressions such as half of, a part of, a percentage of, a majority of are sometimes singular and sometimes plural, depending on the meaning.(The same is true, of course, when all, any, more, most and some act as subjects.)
Some of the voters are still angry. A large percentage of the older population is voting against her. Two-fifths of the troops were lost in the battle. Two-fifths of the vineyard was destroyed by fire. Forty percent of the students are in favour of changing the policy. Forty percent of the student body is in favour of changing the policy.

RULE 6:

The expression "more than one" (oddly enough) takes a singular verb:
"More than one student has tried this."

Sums and products of mathematical processes are expressed as singular and require singular verbs.
Two and two is four. Four times four divided by two is eight.

RULE 7:

Collective Nouns (group, jury, crowd, team, etc.) may be singular or plural, depending on meaning.

In this example, the jury is acting as one unit; therefore, the verb is singular.

In this example, the jury members are acting as twelve individuals; therefore, the verb is plural.

RULE 8:

Titles of single entities (books, organizations, countries, etc.) are always singular.

The Burbs is a movie starring Tom Hanks.

RULE 9:

Plural form subjects

Plural form subjects with a singular meaning take a singular verb. (e.g. news, measles, mumps, physics, etc.) Plural form subjects with singular or plural meaning take a singular or plural verb, depending on meaning. (e.g. politics, economics, etc.) In this example, politics is a single topic; therefore, the sentence has a singular verb. In this example, politics refers to the many aspects of the situation; therefore, the sentence has a plural verb.

RULE 9:

Plural form subjects

Plural form subjects with a plural meaning take a plural verb. (e.g. scissors, trousers)

Note: In this example, the subject of the sentence is pair; therefore, the verb must agree with it. (Because scissors is the object of the preposition, scissors does not affect the number of the verb.)

RULE 10:

Sometimes modifiers (PP,DC) will get between a subject and its verb, but these modifiers must not confuse the agreement between the subject and its verb.

RULE 11:

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.

RULE 12:

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.

RULE 13: 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 favourite dish. The Congress Lady and her aunt is the same person. Macaroni and cheese is my expertise

RULE 14:

Compound Subject
When two or more subjects are joined by the conjunction, the result is a compound subject. A compound subject joined by the conjunction and is usually plural and therefore requires a verb that does not end in s.
The house and the barn belong to Sams family. A slice of toast and a glass of juice are on the table.

RULE 15:

Compound Subject
When two or more subjects are joined by the conjunction neithernor, the verb agrees with the subject that is closer to it.

In the above example, the plural verb are agrees with the nearer subject actors.

In this example, the singular verb is agrees with the nearer subject director.

Compound Subject

RULE 15:

When two or more subjects are joined by the conjunction eitheror, generally the verb is singular if both subjects are singular.
Either the Mayor or her deputy is bound to come.

When conjoins differ in number, the number of the second conjoin determines the verb.
Either your brakes or your eyesight is at fault. Either your eyesight or your brakes are at fault.

Compound Subject

RULE 15:

When or is used for coordinative apposition, the verb is to agree with the first appositive.
Goobledygook, or the circumlocutions of bureaucratic language, is intentionally difficult to understand.
The circumlocutions of bureaucratic language or Goobledygook, are intentionally difficult to understand.

RULE 16:

When the word every precedes a compound subject, it makes that the subject singular, and the verb should end in s.
Every dog and cat has been vaccinated.

RULE 17:

When many a comes before a subject, the verb should have an s ending.
Many a woman chooses motherhood over a career.

RULE 18:

The singular verb form is usually used for units of measurement.

Four quarts of oil was required to get the car running.

RULE 19:

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

RULE 20:

If your sentence compounds a positive and a negative subject and one is plural, the other singular, the verb should agree with the positive subject.
The department members but not the chair have decided not to teach on Valentine's Day. It is not the faculty members but the president who decides this issue. It was the speaker, not his ideas, that has provoked the students to riot.

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