Lesson 3Following Subject and Verb

Agreement

Read the following:

1. Anna talks with her best friend Jean.

2. Jean comforts Anna and assures her that everything will be fine.

3. Jean tells her parents about Anna’s problem.

1. Mang Delfin and Aling Puring work as dishwashers in a Chinese restaurant.

2. Jean’s parents promise that they will help Anna apply for scholarships.

3. Jean and Anna hug each other.

Rules in Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule 1: A singular subject needs a singular

verb; a plural subject needs a plural verb. Ex: Anna hugs her best friend Jean.

Anna and Jean hug each other.

Rule 2: When the subject is composed of two

or more nouns connected by and, it needs a plural verb.

Ex. Anna and Jean are best friends. Carla, Anna and Jean enjoy each

other’s company.

Trisha and her friend (bake, bakes) cookies on weekends.

Trisha and her friend (bake, bakes) cookies on weekends.

Rule 3:When two or more singular nouns are connected by or, nor, either and neither, the verb is singular.

Ex. Mrs. Dizon or Anna is there to meet the principal. Either Anna or Jean gets the highest score in class.

Rule 4: When a compound subject contains

both singular and plural noun joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the nearest subject.

Examples: Anna or her parents are ready to solve

their problem. Her parents or Jean thinks of a solution.

Either Jessie or the girls (prepare, prepares) the presentation.

Either Jessie or the girls (prepare, prepare) the presentation.

Rule 5: Intervening words between the

subject and the verb do not affect the verb of the sentence.

Examples: One of the applications forms is lost. The principal, as well as the faculty

members, is ready to end the meeting.

The teacher, together with her students, (go, goes) to the club meeting.

The teacher, together with her students, (go, goes) to the club meeting.

Rule 6: Indefinite pronouns like each, each

one, everyone, everybody, somebody, anybody, someone, and no one need a singular verb.

Example: Each one has the responsibility to maintain peace in the classroom. Someone is willing to do the job.

Rule 7: When talking about money, time,

and distance, a singular verb is used.

Examples: One hundred pesos is what he needs for two days. Ninety minutes is too long for our subject.

Rule 8: Nouns in pair like eyes, pants, pliers

require a plural verb.

Examples: Your eyes are as lovely as sparkling stars. The boy’s pants are wet because of the broken pipe.

Rule 8Nouns that end in-s but have singular meanings such as civics, economics, ethics, mathematics, measles, mumps, news, and etc. take a singular verb.

Examples:Mumps is a contagious disease.Physics is my brother’s favorite subject.The news today is shocking!

Reminder: A verb must always agree with its

subject in number. A singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

Let’s practice:

1. Each one (take, takes) a book to read. 2. Twenty kilometers (is, are) far enough. 3. Either Rica or the girls (is, are) attending

the meeting. 4. Neither the students nor their teacher (is,

are) going to the museum.