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University Learning Center

PC 247 / AC I 160
Developed by Chris Losa
 ]    
M Although often overlooked, problems with Subject-
Verb Agreement are REAL!

M To
help avoid these errors, we will discuss:
How to make Subjects and Verbs agree in number,
What to do with tricky subjects like m
 and m
What to do with compound subjects

M Learn to spot and correct these errors and become a

believer.
 Ô   |
  


M A complete sentence must have a SUBJECT and a
VERB.

M The á
 is the ½ or ½ that performs the

action.

M The @
is the action word.

 |  |
   

M The players on our side are strong.
M The players on our side are strong.

M! 
is the subject and  is the verb.

M nce you¶ve identified the |
 and the 
,

you have to make sure they agree in 
.
M Singular subjects require singular verbs and plural
subjects require plural verbs.
 G 
M An easy way to make your subjects and
verbs agree is to think about the |.
M Usually, plural u
u end with the letter |
and singular u
u do not.
M Verbs are the opposite:
M For the most part, singular @
 end with
the letter | and plural @
 do not.
    
M The car| run, but the car run|.

M The plural noun


takes the plural verb
. There is only one | in the pair.

M The singular noun
 takes the singular

verb 
. Again, There is only one | in the
pair.
 ëG
Ô
M Compound subjects do not end with |.
M Instead, compound subjects consist of two
or more subjects joined by  .
M We treat these subjects like any other plural
subject.

M The
     

 work long
hours.
 ëG
Ô
M The
     

 work long
hours.

M Thesubject consists of two people.

Therefore, it is plural.
 ëG
Ô
M BE CAREFUL!

M When subjects are joined by  and

combine to form a single thing or person,
they are treated like a singular subject.

M Usea singular verb with such compound

subjects.
 
M|     
has a place on
many menus.

M|     
is acting as a unit,
as a singular subject.
 2  m
2  m
  
  m
m
Mm
 and m are singular pronouns.

M Therefore, they require singular verbs.

M m flying saucer ½

glowing.
 2  m
2  m
  
  m
m
BEWARE!
M You always use a singular verb with 

and , even if they precede subjects
joined by  .
M m
 alien hand and foot  
a distinct
print.

  |
 ! 
ë G "#
ë G "# 

M Be careful when your subjects are joined by
the following words:

M or
M nor
M either. . . or
M neither . . . nor
M not only . . . but (also)

  |
 ! 
ë G "#
ë G "# 

M In such cases, the verb agrees with the
subject nearest it.

M Example:
Either the instructors or the student knows
the answer.

M Try to ignore everything before the final

subject

  |
 ! 
ë G "#
ë G "# 

M Either theinstructors or the
  ½

the answer.

M The singular subject

  requires the
singular verb ½
.
 G   |
  
$   %  

M Iu u 
u
u refer to nonspecific

people or things. They are usually
 
and require
  
.
 G   |
  
$   %  
M Thefollowing common Indefinite Pronouns
usually take singular verbs:

M Another each everything nothing

anybody either neither somebody
anyone every nobody someone
anything everyone no one something
 G   |
  
$   %  
M BEWARE! A few indefinite pronouns²


 and ²can
be either singular or plural, depending on
the context.

M Example:
M | of our streams polluted;

pollution 
reversible, but pollution 
a
threat to nature
r#  

 G 

   G G



   G G


  

M When GG
or  starts a clause,

the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun to
which GG
or  refers (its
 
  ).
 r#  

 G 

   G G



   G G


  
M Thescientist will share information with the

 
½½with her.

M Îeorge Jones is the

  ½½
in
the lab.
 2  |   
 &
   
M Titlesand terms are treated as singular
subjects±even if they contain plural words.

M Examples:
M i

  

a popular musical.
M ü 

  


a euphemism
for punishment.
  '( ë G 
M See if you can spot Subject-Verb Agreement errors.

M |

and 
must agree in number.

M Be careful with subjects like m
and m²these

are singular.

M Pay close attention to subjects joined with words

like  and ²these subjects can be either
singular or plural.
 $ 
  
% 

Troyka, Lynn Q. Quick Access: Reference

For Writers. 3rd Ed. New Jersey:
Prentice Hall, 2001.
 Thank You for Joining Us!
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