Agreement

{Agreement

Section 9

Being able to identify the subject and verb correctly will be essential in determining agreement

It also helps you with commas (and semicolons as you will see later)

Subject-Verb Agreement

The verb of a sentence must agree with its subject in number

Meaning that singular subjects NEED singular verbs

And, plural subjects NEED plural verbs Note: verbs agree only with subjects

NOT predicate nominatives


The row of bushes was planted to form a privacy screen.

The boats by the dock need repair. Coach Brock, together with his players,

is leaving the tournament. The stereo, including CD changer and

speakers, was on sale.


was

needis

was

If a sentence asks a question or begins with there or here, you must locate the subject and make sure the verb agrees with it

There and here are rarely subjects What is the title of your project? There are thirty-five pages in this chapters. Here are the ingredients for the recipe.


Titles of literary works, works of art, organizations, cities, and countries are usually singular even if they are plural in form

Pickwick Papers is a novel written by Charles Dickens.

The Massacre of the Innocents by Giovanni Pisano was used to adorn a pulpit in Italy.

General Motors is a huge corporation.


Collective nouns may be either singular or plural.

Collective nouns name groups Jury, team, class, family, ect

A collective noun is singular when the group is thought of as a unit

The jury has been dismissed. A collective noun is plural when the group

is thought of as individuals acting separately

The jury were unable to agree among themselves.


Expressions stating amounts (fractions, measurements, money, time) may be either singular or plural

They are singular when the amount is considered a unit

They are plural when the amount is regarded as separate parts


Two thirds of the milk was spilled on the floor.

Two thirds of the peanuts were gone. Six dollars for a hamburger is expensive. Six dollars were placed in separate

envelopes and distributed to the children.


Words ending in –ics can be singular or plural

Singular Courses of study or sciences

Civics was his best subject in high school. Mathematics is a pure science.

Plural When they do not refer to courses or

sciences Gymnastics are performed before large

audiences. His ethics are not what they should be.


Compound subjects joined by and take a plural verb

Jack and Joe were here today. Sometimes subjects joined by and refer

only to one person or are considered one thing

In these instances, use a singular verb Our quarterback and team captain is Jared

Johnson.


When a compound subject is joined by or, nor, either—or, neither—nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject

Either her helpers of the librarian is there to assist you.

Either the librarian or her helpers are there to assist you.


The following infinitive pronouns are singular and take a singular verb:

Each, either, neither, one, everyone, everybody, no one, nobody, anybody, anyone, anybody, someone, somebody

Everyone in the room is working toward a definite goal.

Neither of the contestants was well prepared.


The following indefinite pronouns are plural and take plural verbs:

Both, few, several, many Many of the flowers are in full bloom. Several of the workers are receiving safety

awards.


The following indefinite pronouns may be either singular or plural:

Some, any, none, all, most To determine the necessary verb, you need

to look at the context of the sentence All of the land was cultivated. All of the seeds were carefully planted.


A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number, gender, and person

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Number A pronoun must agree with its antecedent

in number If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun

referring to it must be singular If the antecedent is plural, the pronoun

referring to it must be plural


Use a singular pronouns to refer to the singular indefinite pronouns:

Each, either, neither, one, everyone, everybody, no one, nobody, anyone, anybody, someone, somebody

Each of the girls came armed with their own ideas.

Correct? Each of the girls came armed with her own

ideas. Correct


Use plural pronouns to refer to the plural indefinite pronouns:

Both, few, several, many A few filled their nets with fish.


The indefinite pronouns some, any, non, all, most may be referred to by singular or plural pronouns, depending on the sense of the sentence

Most of the trees have lost their leaves. Most of the castle retains its splendor.


Pronouns that refer to compounds antecedents joined by and are usually plural

Robert and Kevin visited their parents during the holidays.

Pronouns that refer to compound antecedents joined by or or nor usually agree with the nearer antecedent

Neither Mark nor his bothers have received their passports.

Neither Mark nor Tom has received his passport.


Gender A pronoun must agree with its antecedent

in gender Antecedents of masculine gender (male sex)

are referred to by he, him, his Mr. Wilson put some papers into his

briefcase. Antecedents of feminine gender (female

sex) are referred to by she, her, hers The bride tossed her bouquet toward the

unmarried girls.


Antecedents of neuter gender (no sex) are referred to by it, its

The tree lost all its leaves. Antecedents of common gender (sex not

known) are referred to by he, him, his It is understood that masculine pronouns

include both male and female Each speaker maintained his poise. (most correct) Each speaker maintained their poise. (formally

incorrect—no longer seen as incorrect) Each speaker maintained his or her poise.

(politically correct)


Person A pronoun must agree with its antecedent

in person We can bring our picnic table. (first person) Will you ask your mother for that recipe?

(second person) Matt gave his speech first. (third person)


Agreement

Documents

Transcript of Agreement