SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT
1. When a word refers to one person or thing, it is
singular in number. When a word refers to more
than one, it is plural in number.
Singular Plural
hunter hunters
child children
story stories
2. A verb agrees with its subject in number.
(a) Singular subjects take singular verbs.
e.g. My brother knows the answer.
(b) Plural subjects take plural verbs.
e.g. My brothers know the answer.
3. The number of the subject is not changed by a
phrase following the subject.
e.g. One of the kites has caught in a tree.
Mimi, together with her sisters, has
been taking voice lessons.
4. The following pronouns are singular: each; either;
neither; one; everyone; everybody; no one;
nobody; anyone; anybody; someone; somebody,
etc.
e.g. Each of these sounds causes
drowsiness.
Everyone in the class has read the
novel.
5. The following pronouns are plural: several; few;
both; many, etc.
e.g. Few of the students have failed the
test.
Several of these plants are
poisonous.
6. The pronouns: some; all; most; any and none
may either be singular or plural.
e.g. Some of the food was eaten. (Some
refers to singular food.)
Some of the apples were eaten.
(Some
refers to plural apples.)
7. Subjects joined by and take a plural verb.
e.g. Grace, Mike and Anne are writers.
8. If a compound subject names only one person or
thing, then the verb must be singular.
e.g. The secretary and treasurer plans to
resign.
Ham and eggs is a good breakfast
dish.
9. Singular subjects joined by or or nor take a
singular verb.
e.g. Every Saturday, Gail or Ernie takes
the
laundry to the Laundromat.
10. When a singular subject and a plural subject are
joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the
subject nearer the verb.
e.g. Neither the singers nor the
accompanist
has memorized the music.
Neither the accompanist nor the
singers have memorized the
music.
11. Don't and doesn't must agree with their subjects.
e.g. I don't cook.
He doesn't cook.
12. Collective nouns may be either singular or plural.
Collective nouns are singular in form but they
name a group of persons or things.
e.g. The jury was ready to announce uts
decision.
(Jury is thought of as a unit.)
The jury were arguing among
themselves. (Jury is thought of
as
individuals.)
13. When the subject follows the verb as in
sentences beginning there and here, be careful
to determine the subject and make sure that the
verb agrees with it.
e.g. Here is a letter for you.
There are my friends now.
14. Words stating amount are usually singular.
e.g. Twenty pesos is a high price for
chocolates.
Eight days was the time alloted.
Two-thirds of the food was eaten.
15. The title of a work of art, literature or music,
even when plural in form, takes a singular verb.
e.g. Great Expectations is one of my
favorite novels. (one book)
The Pirates of the Caribbean was
presented by the Dramatic
Club.
16. A few nouns , although plural in form, take a
singular verb.
e.g. The news of Louis Armstrong’s death
was indeed sad.
Physics is my most difficult
subject.
17. A pronoun agrees with its antecedent in number
and gender.
e.g. Margarita showed her paintings
yesterday.
Today, Clarence will make his report.
The boys will prove their singing
talents
tomorrow.
18. Two or more singular antecedents joined by or or
nor should be referred to by a singular pronoun.
e.g. Neither Eugene nor Roy blamed
himself.
Just then Jill or Jana cleared her
throat.
19. When this or that is the subject, the third person
singular form of the verb is used; when these or
those is the subject, the third person plural form
of the verb is used.
e.g. That is incredible.
Those are the candidates.
20. Intervening words like together with, in addition
to, as well as, including and similar constructions
following the subject do not affect the number of
the subject.
e.g. The coach, as well as his athletes, is
jubilant.
The farmer, together with his sons,
works hard.
21. When the expressions the number of precedes a
subject, a singular form of the verb is used; when
 the expression a number of precedes a subject, a
plural form of the verb is used.
e.g. The number of absentees is small.
A number of books are missing.
22. A plural noun referring to time, money or
distance that is preceded by an expression of
amount or quantity is considered singular and is
used with the third person singular form of the
verb.
e.g. Ten years is such a long, long time.
Five pesos is all I have.
Fifty kilometers seems short.
23. A noun that is preceded by an expression of
fraction or portion may be considered singular or
plural depending on whether the noun following
of is singular or plural.
e.g. One half of the money is yours.
One third of the work is done.
MPC