Subject – Verb Agreement

Simple Agreement

A verb must agree with its subject in person and number. In the present tense, add “s” or “es” to the base form for the third person singular.

Remember to make a noun plural you add an “s” or “es”, but a verb is just the opposite you add an “s” or “es” to make it singular.

Example: Singular Plural

She runs They run

He watches They watch

Simple AgreementIn verb phrases, the helping verbs be, have, and do change

forms to agree with third person subjects.

Examples:

Singular Plural

It is green. They are green.

He was sick. They were sick.

She has fallen down. They have fallen down.

Does she like to ski? Do they like to ski?

Intervening Prepositional Phrases

The verb must agree with the subject of the sentence, not with the object of a preposition. Therefore, the subject of a sentence is never contained in the prepositional phrase.

The collection of rare stamps was very valuable.

The puppies in the basket have brown fur.

Prepositional Phrase verbsubject

Prepositional Phrase verbsubject

Linking VerbsIn sentences with linking verbs, the verb agrees with the subject, not the predicate nominative.

Roses and Lavender make a lovely bouquet.

Unfortunately, the result of the discussion was more disagreements.

subject verb Predicate nominative

subject verb

Predicate nominative

Inverted Sentences

In most sentences the subject comes before the verb. However, some inverted sentences begin with a prepositional phrase followed by the verb and then the subject.

Remember the verb must agree with the subject and not the Remember the verb must agree with the subject and not the object of the prepositional phrase.object of the prepositional phrase.

Up into the sky fly the birds.

From the rafters hang the decorations.

subjectverb

subjectverb

Prepositional Phrase

Prepositional Phrase

Inverted Sentences

In sentences that begin with here or there, DO NOT confuse either word with the subject.

Look for the subject after the verb.Look for the subject after the verb.

Here is my driver’s license There are many cars on this highway.

Questions are inverted sentences. A helping verb often comes before the subject.

Does Jamie Have a pencil? Do all of the students have books?

subjectverb subjectverb

subjectverb verb subjectverb verb

Special Subjects

A collective noun names a group. In a sentence, a collective noun is singular when it names the group as a whole. It is plural when it refers to individual members of a group.

Singular: The club holds a dance. The team wins the game.

Plural: The class volunteer time.

A noun of amount can refer to a single unit, in which case it is singular. It can also refer to several individual units, in which case it is plural.

Singular: Two weeks is not enough time to see Europe.

Plural: Your five days of probation are up.

Special Subjects

Some nouns ending in “s” take a singular form while others remain plural. Many nouns that end in “ics” are either singular or plural, depending on the context.

Singular: Mumps is usually a childhood disease.

Plural: The scissors need to be sharpened.

Singular: Ethics is the study of principles of conduct.

Plural: That politician’s ethics have a lot to be desired.

Compound SubjectsA A compound subjectcompound subject that is joined by that is joined by andand or or both….andboth….and is is usually plural. Some compound subjects have two parts that usually plural. Some compound subjects have two parts that make up one unit, these take a singular verb.make up one unit, these take a singular verb.

Singular:Singular: Bacon and eggsBacon and eggs isis my favorite breakfast. my favorite breakfast.

Plural:Plural: The The dog and catdog and cat areare playing. playing.

Plural:Plural: Both Both Anna and MindyAnna and Mindy workwork at the hospital. at the hospital.

Compound subjectsCompound subjects joined by joined by oror, , nornor, , either…oreither…or, or , or neither…norneither…nor always have a verb that agrees with the closer subject.always have a verb that agrees with the closer subject.

Singular:Singular: Either Either CarloCarlo or or MaxMax hashas the book. the book.

Singular:Singular: Neither Neither eggs eggs nor nor baconbacon isis on the menu. on the menu.

Plural:Plural: Neither Neither Ed Ed nor thenor the boys boys havehave much to say. much to say.

Compound Subjects

When a When a compound subjectcompound subject is preceded by many a, every, or is preceded by many a, every, or each, the subject takes a singular verb.each, the subject takes a singular verb.

Many a Many a hiker hiker and and climberclimber hashas gotten lost in these mountains. gotten lost in these mountains.

Every Every doordoor and and windowwindow hashas been locked. been locked.

Each Each nook nook andand cranny cranny isis being searched. being searched.

Every Every carcar and and trucktruck payspays a toll on the highway. a toll on the highway.

Many a Many a horsehorse and and cowcow hashas lived in this barn. lived in this barn.

Intervening Expressions

Certain expressions seem to create compound subjects, but DO NOT. Accompanied by, as well as, in addition to, and together with are expressions that introduce phrases that tell about the subject.

The subject remains singular and takes a singular verb.The subject remains singular and takes a singular verb.

NebraskaNebraska, , as well as Montana and Idaho,as well as Montana and Idaho, getsgets severe winters. severe winters.

DanDan, , plus Andrea and Johnplus Andrea and John, , playsplays the piano. the piano.

JeanJean, , accompanied by her friendsaccompanied by her friends, , goesgoes skiing every winter. skiing every winter.

subject verb

subject verb

Intervening expression

Intervening expression

subject verbIntervening expression

Indefinite PronounsMany subjects are indefinite pronouns. A verb must agree Many subjects are indefinite pronouns. A verb must agree with the with the indefinite pronounindefinite pronoun used as the subject. used as the subject.

Singular:Singular: NobodyNobody in the groupin the group isis to blame. to blame.

Singular:Singular: NeitherNeither isis ready. ready.

Singular:Singular: OneOne of my friendsof my friends speaksspeaks Greek. Greek.

Plural: Plural: BothBoth of my sistersof my sisters areare in the play. in the play.

Plural:Plural: ManyMany of the studentsof the students play play tennis.tennis.

prepositional phrasesubject verb

subject verb

prepositional phrasesubject verb

prepositional phrasesubject verb

prepositional phrasesubject verb

Indefinite Pronouns

Some pronouns can be either singular or plural, depending Some pronouns can be either singular or plural, depending on the nouns to which they refer.on the nouns to which they refer.

Singular:Singular: SomeSome of the cake of the cake isis gone. gone.

Plural:Plural: SomeSome of the houses of the houses needneed paint. paint.

Singular:Singular: AllAll of the pizza of the pizza isis gone. gone.

Plural:Plural: AllAll of the coats of the coats areare on sale. on sale.

Subject Verb AgreementSubject Verb AgreementSubject Verb AgreementSubject Verb Agreement

Subject Verb AgreementSubject Verb AgreementSubject Verb AgreementSubject Verb Agreement

Subject Verb AgreementSubject Verb AgreementSubject Verb AgreementSubject Verb Agreement