On 28 September 2016

Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule 1

Subject and verbs must agree in number. This is the cornerstone role that forms the background of the concept.

Example :

The dogs growls when is angry.

The dogs growl when they are angry.

Rule 2

Don’t get confused by the words that come between the subject and verb; they

do not affect agreement.

Example :

The dog, who is chewing on my jeans, is usually very good.

Rule 3

Prepositional phrases between the subject and verb usually do not affect

agreement.

Example:

The colors of the rainbow are beautiful.

Rule 4

When sentences start with “there” or “here,” the subject will always be placed

after the verb, so care needs to be taken to identify it correctly.

Example:

There is a problem with the balance sheet. Here are the papers you requested.

Rule 5

If two subjects are joined by and, they typically require a plural verb form.

Example:

The cow and the pig are jumping over the moon.

Rule 6

The verb is singular if the two subjects separated by and refer to the same

person or thing.

Example:

Red beans and rice is my mom's favorite dish.

Rule 7

If one of the words each, every, or no comes before the subject, the verb is

singular.

Example:

No smoking or drinking is allowed.

Every man and woman is required to check in.

Rule 8

If the subjects are both singular and are connected by the words or, nor,

neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also the verb is singular.

Example:

Jessica or Christian is to blame for the accident.

Rule 9

The only time when the object of the preposition decides plural or singular verb forms is when noun and pronoun subjects like some, half, none, more, all, etc. are followed by a prepositional phrase. In these sentences, the object of the preposition determines the form of the verb.

Example:

All of the chicken is gone.

All of the chickens are gone.

Rule 10

The singular verb form is usually used for units of measurement or time.

Example:

Four quarts of oil was required to get the car running.

Rule 11

If the subjects are both plural and are connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also, the verb is plural.

Example :

Dogs and cats are both available at the pound

Rule 12

If one subject is singular and one plural and the words are connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also, you use the verb form of the subject that is nearest the verb.

Example:

1. Either the bears or the lion has escaped from the zoo.
2. Neither the lion nor the bears have escaped from the zoo.

Rule 13

Indefinite pronouns (everything, anything, everyone, someone, somebody, nothing, etc) typically take singular verbs.

Example:

Everybody wants to be loved.

Everything is gonna be alright.

Rule 14

Except for the pronouns (few, many, several, both, all, some) that always take the plural form.

Example:

Few were left alive after the flood.

Several students understand the material.

Rule 15

If two infinitives are separated by and they take the plural form of the verb.

Example:

To walk and to chew gum require great skill.

Rule 16

When gerunds are used as the subject of a sentence, they take the singular verb

form of the verb; but, when they are linked by and, they take the plural form.

Example:

Standing in the water was a bad idea.

Swimming in the ocean and playing drums are my hobbies.

Rule 17

Collective nouns like family, committee, herd, senate, class, crowd, etc. usually take a singular verb form.

Example:

1. The herd is stampeding.
2. Cooper family always attends the annual party.

Rule 18

Titles of books, movies, novels, etc. are treated as singular and take a singular

verb.

Example:

1. The Burbs is a movie starring Tom Hanks.
2. Harry Potter has reached Top 3 Best Seller books.