SUBJECT –
VERB
AGREEMENT
Subject-Verb Agreement means that a
subject and its verb must be both
singular or both plural.
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RULE 1
A singular subject takes a singular verb whereas
a plural subject takes a plural verb
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RULE 1
A singular subject takes a singular verb whereas a
plural subject takes a plural verb.
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S-form Base form
show
shows show
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The dog chases the cat.
The dogs chase the cat.
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This agreement rule do not apply to verbs used in the simple past tense
without any helping verbs.
The girl talked to me yesterday.
The girls talked to me yesterday.
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This agreement rule apply to verbs used in the present perfect tense
without any helping verbs.
The girl has talked to me.
The girl have talked to me.
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RULE 2
When two subjects are joined by “and”, referring
to two different things the verb is plural
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RULE 2
When two subjects are joined by ‘and’, referring to two different things
the verb is plural.
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My friend and his mother are in town.
Ms. Rizzo and Mr. Bruce have
received promotions.
The camper and the ranger see the bear.
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Use a singular verb when two or
more subjects connected by and refer
to the same person or thing.
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Our secretary and treasurer is Frances
Eisenberg. (One person.)
Corned beef and cabbage was his
favorite dish. (One dish.)
Wear and tear has to be expected when
you're in the rental business. (One type
of damage.)
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RULE 3
Some words in the sentence does not change the
number of the subject.
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RULE 3
Some words in the sentence does not change the number
of the subject.
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A bouquet of yellow roses lends color and
fragrance to the room.
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“of”
not the subject
singular
A bouquet of yellow roses lends color and
fragrance to the room.
subject
not the subject
singular
The politician, along with the newsmen, is
expected shortly.
subject
RULE 4
The verb in an or, either/or, or neither/nor sentence agrees
with the noun or pronoun closest to it.
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RULE 4
The verb in an or, either/or, or neither/nor sentence
agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to it.
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SUBJECT
Example:
Either Jessica or Christian is to
blame for the accident.
SUBJECT
Either Kiana or my
friends are helping today with stage
decorations.
SUBJECT
Example:
Niether the plates nor the
bowl goes on that shelf.
SUBJECT
Neither the serving bowls nor the plates
are helping today with stage decorations.
RULE 5
Indefinite pronouns (everyone, each one, someone, somebody,
no one, nobody, anyone, anybody etc.) are always singular.
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RULE 5
Indefinite pronouns (everyone, each one, someone, somebody,
no one, nobody, anyone, anybody etc.) are always singular.
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everyone no one everybody
each one nobody everything
someone anyone something
somebody anybody nothing
Example: verb
Everyone is selfish.
subject
Something falls from the table.
RULE 6
In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject follows
the verb.
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RULE 6
In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject
follows the verb.
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Example:
not the
subject
There are four hurdles to jump.
Plural subject
There is a high hurdle to jump.
Here are the keys.
RULE 7
Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money,
etc., when considered as a unit.
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RULE 7
Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time,
sums of money, etc., when considered as a unit.
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Example:
Three miles is too far to walk.
Five years is the maximum
sentence for that offense.
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
RULE 8
There are words that are plural in form but singular in meaning.
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RULE 8
There are words that are plural in form but singular in meaning.
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Mathematics Tonsilitis
Economics Measles
Physics
Gymnastics
Billiards
News
Politics
Philippines
The interesting news was flashed on the
television.
Measles is a contagious disease.
Mathematics is a challenging area of
“knowledge.”
Scissors Pants
Trousers Shorts
Pliers Tongs
Tweezers Pajamas
glasses
RULE 9
The exceptions to the above rule include the pronouns "few,"
"many," "several," "both," "all," and "some." These always take the
plural form.
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RULE 9
The exceptions to the above rule include the pronouns
"few," "many," "several," "both," "all," and "some."
These always take the plural form.
.
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Few were left alive after the strong earthquake.
Some pupils in the classroom are very annoying.
Some people believe that watching too much TV
rots your brain.
RULE 10
Collective Nouns
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The family is going to Korean next week.
The family members have their own
travel destination.
The tribe is doing their
daily routine.
The tribe members are expressing
their individual thanks to members of
the Peace Corps.