Subject-Verb Agreement

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Subject-Verb Agreement

• University Learning Center
• PC 247 / AC I 160
• Developed by Chris Losa

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Keep Your Eyes Open

• Although often overlooked, problems with
  Subject-Verb Agreement are REAL!
• To help avoid these errors, we will discuss
  
• How to make Subjects and Verbs agree in number,
  
  
• What to do with tricky subjects like Each and
  Every,
• What to do with compound subjects
• Learn to spot and correct these errors and become
  a believer.

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Recognizing Subjects and Verbs

• A complete sentence must have a SUBJECT and a
  VERB.
• The subject is the who or what that performs the
  action.
• The verb is the action word.

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Spot the Subject and Verb

• The players on our side are strong.
• The players on our side are strong.
• Players is the subject and are is the verb.
• Once youve identified the Subject and the Verb,
  you have to make sure they agree in Number.
• Singular subjects require singular verbs and
  plural subjects require plural verbs.

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What Next?

• An easy way to make your subjects and verbs agree
  is to think about the S.
• Usually, plural nouns end with the letter S and
  singular nouns do not.
• Verbs are the opposite
• For the most part, singular verbs end with the
  letter S and plural verbs do not.

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Therefore . . .

• The carS run, but the car runS.
• The plural noun cars takes the plural verb run.
  There is only one S in the pair.
• The singular noun car takes the singular verb
  runs. Again, There is only one S in the pair.

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BEWARE

• Compound subjects do not end with S.
• Instead, compound subjects consist of two or more
  subjects joined by and.
• We treat these subjects like any other plural
  subject.
• The student and the instructor work long hours.

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BEWARE

• The student and the instructor work long hours.
• The subject consists of two people. Therefore,
  it is plural.

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BEWARE

• BE CAREFUL!
• When subjects are joined by and and combine to
  form a single thing or person, they are treated
  like a singular subject.
• Use a singular verb with such compound subjects.

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Example

• Spaghetti and meatballs has a place on many
  menus.
• Spaghetti and meatballs is acting as a unit, as a
  singular subject.

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Using Each and Every

• Each and Every are singular pronouns.
• Therefore, they require singular verbs.
• Every flying saucer was glowing.

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Using Each and Every

• BEWARE!
• You always use a singular verb with each and
  every, even if they precede subjects joined by
  and.
• Each alien hand and foot leaves a distinct print.

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Compound Subjects Joined By Words Like Or

• Be careful when your subjects are joined by the
  following words
• or
• nor
• either . . . or
• neither . . . nor
• not only . . . but (also)

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Compound Subjects Joined By Words Like Or

• In such cases, the verb agrees with the subject
  nearest it.
• Example
  Either the instructors or the student
  knows the answer.
• Try to ignore everything before the final subject

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Compound Subjects Joined By Words Like Or

• Either the instructors or the student knows the
  answer.
• The singular subject student requires the
  singular verb knows.

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What if the Subject is an Indefinite Pronoun?

• Indefinite Pronouns refer to nonspecific people
  or things. They are usually singular and require
  singular verbs.

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What if the Subject is an Indefinite Pronoun?

• The following common Indefinite Pronouns usually
  take singular verbs
• Another each everything nothing
  anybody either neither somebody
  anyone every nobody someone
  anything everyone no one something
  

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What if the Subject is an Indefinite Pronoun?

• BEWARE! A few indefinite pronounsnone, some,
  more, most, any, and allcan be either singular
  or plural, depending on the context.
• Example
• Some of our streams are polluted some pollution
  is reversible, but all pollution is a threat to
  nature

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Making Verbs Agree With the Antecedents of Who,
Which, and That

• When Who, Which, or That starts a clause, the
  verb agrees with the noun or pronoun to which
  Who, Which, or That refers (its Antecedent).

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Making Verbs Agree With the Antecedents of Who,
Which, and That

• The scientist will share information with the
  students who work with her.
• George Jones is the student who works in the lab.

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Using Singular Verbs with Titles and Terms

• Titles and terms are treated as singular
  subjectseven if they contain plural words.
• Examples
• Les Miserables is a popular musical.
• Disciplinary measures is a euphemism for
  punishment.

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Youve Been Warned

• See if you can spot Subject-Verb Agreement
  errors.
• Subjects and Verbs must agree in number.
• Be careful with subjects like Each and
  Everythese are singular.
• Pay close attention to subjects joined with words
  like and and orthese subjects can be either
  singular or plural.

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Information Cited and Paraphrased from

• Troyka, Lynn Q. Quick Access Reference For
  Writers. 3rd Ed. New Jersey Prentice Hall,
  2001.

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