SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

A singular subject demands a singular verb; a plural subject demands a plural verb. That is the simple principle behind subject-verb agreement.
There are three main distinctions:

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
1. Subjects that seem plural: Indefinite pronouns such as everyone and everybody feel plural to some writers, but they are always singular and take a singular verb.
Everyone associated with the project is proud to be part of the effort. Someone has to be responsible.

Dont be confused by phrases that come between the subject pronoun and its verb phrases that may contain plural words. Each of the project partners is responsible for writing a chapter summary.

Phrases such as together with, in addition to, along with, and as well as seem to join subjects, but they do not work the same as and: they are not conjunctions. The first subject determines the verb) Some of the hay in the barn, as well as some major pieces of farm equipment, was ruined in the flood.
The major spending bill before Congress, together with some other bills that are awaiting action, is going to cost taxpayers plenty.

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
In formal writing, when either and neither appear as a subject alone (without their sidekicks or and nor), they are singular. This is true even though the subject seems to be two things.

Neither of these choices appears to be satisfactory.

The purchasing office will lend me a company car or compensate me for travel expenses. Either is fine with me.
When either and neither act as correlative conjunctions, however, life becomes a bit more complicated!

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
When either and neither act as correlative conjunctions, the subject that is closer to the verb determines the number (singular or plural form) of the verb. (The second subject determines the verb) Neither the principal nor the teachers are at fault. Either the teachers or the principal has to be responsible for the year-end festival. Has either the President or his aides been in touch with you?

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
2. When subject follows verb( inverted sentences)

When an expletive construction (there is, there are, here is, etc.) begins a sentence, the subject (which determines the number of the verb) comes after the verb. There are several explanations for the Civil War. We were looking down the street when all of a sudden here come Joe and his two brothers. If the management team takes this attitude, there is very little latitude for negotiation.

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3. When the subject is separated from verb)
Be careful when lengthy or numerous modifying phrases come between the subject and its verb.

Tim Berners-Lee, one of Americas most prominent computer scientists and as a founder of the World Wide Web Consortium one of the most important figures in the development of the Internet, has been working quietly at M.I.T. for many years.
The fact that the plural scientists and figures appear in this sentence has no effect on our choice of a singular verb, has.

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
With of phrases, try turning the sentence inside-out to find the right subject-verb combination. Connecticut is one of those states that HAVE/HAS adopted a state income tax.
Turn this around to . . . .

Of those states that have adopted a state income tax Connecticut is one. This makes it easy to figure out the verb that belongs in a relative clause.

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
1-Although the number of firms declaring bankruptcy keep growing, the mayor claims that the city is thriving. No error 2. Despite an intensive campaign to encourage conservation there is many Americans who have not accepted recycling as a way of life. No error

3. High above the Hudson River stands the gleaming skyscrapers of Manhattan. No error

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
4. Voters in the school-board election who chose the candidates on the ballet includes at least twenty whose votes were influenced by the candidate's delicious cookies. No error. 5. Mahatma Gandhi, one of India's most highly respected leaders, were convinced that the practice of peaceful resistance, or Satyagraha, was the only viable means of protest. 6. The existence of consistent rules are important if a teacher wants to run a classroom efficiently. No error.

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
7 .Although

during the past year many parents have asked about our reasons for including a writing sample on the test, never before has the qualifications of the tes makers been so widely challenged. No error. 8. Although the amount of money in the bank accounts keep dwindling, the account holders claim that their finances are improving. No error.
9. According to a noted meteorologist, there is various

explanations for the accelerating rate of global warning. No error

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10. In this critically acclaimed film, there is a welldeveloped plot and an excellent cast of characters. 11. Poetry throughout the ages always been a spoken art form, and many poets are celebrating the current resurgence of community poetry slams. a. poetry throughout the ages have always been b. poetry throughout the ages has always been c. poetry throughout the ages have always be d. poems throughout the ages has always been poems throughout the ages will have been

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
12. Through the locks of the Panama Canal passess more than fifty ships each day. 13. There are a number of state legislatures currently debating strict environmental laws. 14. If there is competing proposals, your idea may not be acted upon until next week.

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15. There is at least five types of climbing rose and a unique variety of small fir in the Botanical Gardens. 16. Despite numerous professed sightings, there is still no conclusive evidence of extraterrestrial beings. 17. The local congressman, a reliable representative of both community and statewide interests, are among the most respected persons in the public sector.

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18. The collection of paintings entitled Clammy Clam Clams are one of the mostly travelled exhibits in recent years. 19. Multipurpose vehicles, which can be very useful on rough terrain, is now banned in many states. 20. The level of chemicals and other pollutants is now monitored in many offices. 21. The fundamental hitting skills of Rock Reuschel go largely unnoticed by the average fan.

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
22. A community as diverse as Los Angeles attract immigrants from many countries. 23. One-way tickets for domestic travel is often more expensive than round- trip fares. 24. So called bullet trains from Tokyo to Osaka complete the 300-mile trip in about two hours. 25. Einsteins theory of relativity rank with the most developed hypotheses involving space and time.