Subject Verb Agreement

Question 1

What is subject verb agreement?

Answer 1

The verb or verbs in a sentence must match the number, person, and gender of the subject.

Question 2

Rule 1

Answer 2

If the subject consists of multiple nouns joined by the conjunction and, treat the subject as plural and use the plural form of the verb.

Lucas and Maxine are in love!

However, some common phrases that form a single unit can act as singular.

This bed and breakfast is delightful!

Question 3

Rule 2

Answer 3

If the subject consists of multiple singular nouns joined by or, treat the subject as singular.

Penne or rigatoni works fine for the recipe.

However, if the subject consists of multiple plural nouns joined by or, treat the subject as plural.
Cats or dogs make good friends.

If there’s a combination of singular and plural nouns joined by or, the verb follows the number of the final one listed.

The teacher or the students have to inform the principal.

The students or the teacher has to inform the principal.

Question 4

Rule 3

Answer 4

If there is more than one active verb, as with compound predicates, all the verbs must agree with the subject.

After work, I go shopping, pick up the kids, cook dinner, and then relax for the night.

Question 5

Mass nouns/uncountable nouns

Answer 5

Mass nouns, otherwise known as “uncountable nouns” or “noncount nouns,” act as singular subjects.

Love makes the world go around.

Question 6

Collective nouns

Answer 6

Collective nouns can be either singular or plural, depending on whether they act together or separately.

[Together, singular] The team goes to practice at 4:00.

[Separately, plural] The team go to their own homes after practice.

Question 7

Alternative forms of verb

Answer 7

Verbs used in alternative forms, such as gerunds, infinitives, or participles, do not need to follow subject-verb agreement. However, the main verbs of the sentence still do.

The coach makes running mandatory.

The coaches make running mandatory.

Question 8

Comma between subjects and verbs

Answer 8

Unless you’re using an appositive or other descriptive phrase, do not put a comma between subjects and verbs.

The holiday is becoming a total disaster.

The holiday, which I was looking forward to, is becoming a total disaster.

Question 9

Each || Every

Answer 9

The words each and every count as singular when they’re used as the subject, even if they’re followed by multiple nouns.

Each window and door needs to be sealed.

Every doctor, nurse, and technician gets free training here.

Question 10

Words that always act as singular subject

Answer 10

These words always act as singular subjects, even when they describe more than one thing:

anybody
anyone
either
everybody
everyone
neither
no one
nobody
somebody
someone
Everybody loves using correct grammar!

Either blue or green works for the wallpaper color.

Question 11

Rule 4

Answer 11

If additional phrases come between the subject and the verb, the verb must still agree with the subject. These sentences can be tricky, so be careful.

A group consisting of Professor Lidenbrock, the Icelandic guide Hans Bjelke, and the professor’s nephew Axel departs for the volcano.

Be particularly careful of subjects that use the phrase “one of . . . ” The word one is singular, even when followed by plural nouns.

One of the world’s leading scientists still has trouble speaking in public.

Question 12

Words that indicate portion

Answer 12

Similarly, words that indicate a portion, including percentages, use the number of the noun they describe. This noun is typically the object of the phrase “of . . . ”

All of the book is ruined!

All of the books are ruined!

Some of the film is funny.

Some of the films are funny.

Fifty percent of the house is made of wood.

Fifty percent of the houses are made of wood.

Question 13

Rule 5

Answer 13

When referring to distances, periods of time, or amounts of money—taken as a whole—use the singular form of the verb.

Twenty dollars is too much for IMAX!

Question 14

Ambiguous

Answer 14

Be careful of nouns that exist only in the plural form; they sometimes act as singular.

The news has been depressing lately.

Politics is getting too combative.

However, some of these nouns act as plural.

The scissors do not work.

If a plural noun is preceded by the word pair, treat the subject as singular because pair is singular.

The pair of scissors does not work.

Question 15

Use of articles after and

Answer 15

The coach and captain is coming.
I.e the coach is also captain.
The coach and the captain are coming.
I.e coach is someone else, captain is someone else.
Similarly
The director and the producer have arrived. (Two different persons)
Nelson Mandela was a great leader and a great orator. Is wrong
The correct is
Nelson Mandela was a great leader and orator.

Question 16

Rule of proximity

Answer 16

When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is closest to the verb. This is called the rule of proximity.
Example: The student or the committee members write every day.

Example: The committee members or the student writes every day

Question 17

When None is singular?

Answer 17

Use a singular verb with none when what you are referring to is singular (or you want to emphasize its singleness):

None of the gossip was about me. (Not one part of the gossip was about me.)
None of the snow has melted. (Not any part of the snow has melted.)
Also use a singular verb with none when none refers back to a mass noun, like bread, electricity, or water, e.g., None of the air is polluted.

Question 18

When None is plural?

Answer 18

Use a plural verb with none when what it is referring back to is more than one of whatever is indicated:

Three people were on the panel. None of them were women.
I bought several types of batteries, but none of them are the right kind.