Comprehensive Subject-Verb Agreement Study Guide

Overview of Subject-Verb Agreement

• Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental grammatical principle where a verb must change its form whenever its subject changes in number and person.

• The primary goal of achieving English proficiency involves mastering these rules to ensure clarity and correctness in communication.

Basic Definitions and Verb Types

• Singular Subject: Refers to exactly $1$ person or object.

• Plural Subject: Refers to $2$ or more persons or objects.

• Singular Verb: Generally identified by the addition of an $-s$ or $-es$ suffix for present tense verbs.

• Plural Verb: Identified by the base or simple form of the verb.

• Verbs can show actions or act as linking/helping verbs.

• "To Be" Verbs:

  • am

  • are

  • being

  • was

  • is

  • be

  • been

  • were

Categorization of Linking and Helping Verbs

• Singular Forms:

  • is

  • was

  • am

  • has

  • does

• Plural Forms:

  • are

  • were

  • have

  • do

Rule $1$: Fundamental Agreement in Person and Number

• A verb must agree with its subject in person and in number.

• A singular subject requires a singular verb.

• Examples:

  • Marie asks many questions about life. (Singular)

  • Marie and Ana ask many questions about life. (Plural)

  • The students ask many questions about life. (Plural)

Rule $2$: Agreement with Pronouns "You" and "I"

• The pronouns "you" and "I" always require the plural form of the verb, even when they refer to only one person.

• Examples:

  • Jane, you need to listen attentively.

  • Students, you need to listen attentively.

  • I need to finish my work today.

Rule $3$: Singular and Plural Third-Person Pronouns

• Singular pronouns take singular verbs, while plural pronouns take plural verbs.

• Examples:

  • She is a diligent worker. (Singular)

  • They are diligent workers. (Plural)

  • He wants to be rich. (Singular)

  • We want to be rich. (Plural)

Rule $4$: Indefinite Pronouns

• Indefinite pronouns are considered singular and always take the singular form of the verb.

• List of Indefinite Pronouns:

  • anybody

  • someone

  • each

  • nobody

  • everyone

  • either

• Examples:

  • Everyone is required to attend the workshop.

  • Somebody knocks on the door.

  • No one was absent during the examination.

Rule $5$: Subjects Joined by "And"

• Subjects joined by "and" usually take plural verbs.

• However, if the subjects joined by "and" represent a single idea or unit, they take a singular verb.

• Examples:

  • John’s book and videotape were missing.

  • Grilled ham and cheese is what I often have for breakfast. (Single food item)

  • My sister and my best friend are very supportive.

Rule $6$: Compound Subjects with "Either-Or" and "Neither-Nor"

• When compound subjects are joined by correlative conjunctions like "either… or" or "neither… nor," the verb must agree with the subject closest to it.

• Example:

  • Either the teacher or the students prepare for the mass action.

Rule $7$: Affirmative and Negative Parts

• When a compound subject includes one affirmative part and one negative part, the verb must agree with the affirmative part.

• Example:

  • You, not she, are allowed to leave.

Rule $8$: "A Number" vs. "The Number"

• The expression "a number" requires a plural verb.

• The expression "the number" requires a singular verb.

• Examples:

  • The number of people in the court represents the vigilant citizenry.

  • A number of media men are now here.

Rule $9$: Context-Dependent Nouns (Some, Half, All, None, Part)

• Words like some, half, all, none, and part may take either a singular or plural verb depending on usage.

  • Use a plural verb if they refer to a count (a number).

  • Use a singular verb if they refer to an amount or whole.

• Examples:

  • Some of the apple pie was eaten. (Referring to an amount of one pie)

  • Some of the apple pies were eaten. (Referring to a number of individual pies)

  • All is finished. (Amount/Completion)

  • All were present in the ceremony. (Number of people)

Rule $10$: Intervening Phrases

• If the subject and the verb are interrupted by an intervening phrase (e.g., including, along with, with, together with, as well as), the verb must still agree with the simple subject and ignore the contents of the phrase.

• Examples:

  • Mary, together with her children, prays the rosary.

  • I, as well as my friends, am willing to help.

Rule $11$: Inverted Sentences

• In inverted sentences, the verb must agree with the real subject, which usually follows the verb.

• Examples:

  • There was only one person who disagreed with the president.

  • Here comes Rex.

  • Here come Rex and Tim.

  • There goes the culprit.

  • There go the culprits.

Rule $12$: Nouns Plural in Form but Singular in Meaning

• Certain nouns are plural in form (ending in -s) but singular in meaning and require singular verbs.

• List of Nouns:

  • news

  • mathematics

  • economics

  • physics

  • species

  • measles

  • athletics

  • gymnastics

• Examples:

  • Our politics needs sensible and compassionate leaders.

  • Mathematics is easy if you are diligent.

  • Last night’s news was shocking.

Rule $13$: Collective Nouns

• A collective noun takes a singular verb if it is regarded as a single unit.

• A collective noun takes a plural verb if it refers to the individual members within the group acting separately.

• Examples of Nouns:

  • team

  • jury

  • committee

  • army

• Examples:

  • The school makes its stand regarding the controversial issue. (Unit)

  • The committee debate on the matter. (Individuals within the group)

Rule $14$: Units of Measurement, Time, and Distance

• Units representing amounts, size, time, quantities, or distances require the singular form of the verb when used as the subject.

• Examples:

  • Five million pesos is the pot money for today's game. (\$\$5 \times 10^{6}\$\$ pesos)

  • The first three months was crucial. (Amount of time)

Rule $15$: Titles of Creative Works

• Titles of movies, songs, books, and other creative works require the singular form of the verb.

• Examples:

  • “The Three Musketeers” was written by Alexander Dumas.

  • “Charlie’s Angels” is her favorite movie.

Rule $16$: Fractions and "Of-" Phrases

• Fractions require verbs that agree with the headword in the "of-" phrase.

  • Singular headword = singular verb.

  • Plural headword = plural verb.

• Examples:

  • Four-fifths ($\frac{4}{5}$) of the mangoes have been sold. (Plural headword: mangoes)

  • Two-fourths ($\frac{2}{4}$) of the pizza was already consumed. (Singular headword: pizza)

  • One-half ($\frac{1}{2}$) of the watermelons are rotten. (Plural headword: watermelons)

Rule $17$: Nouns Plural in Form and Meaning

• Certain nouns are plural in both form and meaning and require plural verbs. These usually include tools or clothing that consist of two parts.

• List of Nouns:

  • tongs

  • scissors

  • trousers

  • pliers

  • shears

  • pants

• Examples:

  • The scissors I borrowed from you are very sharp.

  • The pliers need lubrication.

  • The pants are expensive.

Rule $18$: Plural Pronouns (Many, Several, Few)

• The pronouns many, several, a few, some, and both always take plural verbs.

• Example:

  • Many are called but few are chosen.

Rule $19$: Adjectives Used as Nominals

• Adjectives used as nouns (nominals) to represent a group of people require plural verbs.

• Examples:

  • The poor are to be helped.

  • The brave make good.

Rule $20$: The Pronoun "It"

• The pronoun "it" is always followed by a singular verb form regardless of the context following it.

• Example:

  • It is you they want to see.