SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT GUIDE

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
Presented by:
Mrs. Jocelyn Abiog Rubino
Ballesteros National High School

• General Rule : The
verb must agree with its
subject in number and
in person.

1. A third person singular subject takes a
singular verb, and a plural subject and the
singular pronouns I and You take plural
verb.
Examples:
Singular verb Plural Verb
aaa. He works. a. a. They work.
b. She works. b. I work.
c. John works. c. You work.

2. There is/ There was is followed by a singular
noun; there are/ there were is followed by a
plural noun.
Examples :
Singular pluPlural
There is a rule to follow. There are rules to follow.

3. The singular indefinite pronouns : one ,
each , neither , either , everyone, anybody ,
nothing , nobody , everything , anyone ,
anything, everybody, no one (no) take
singular verbs.
Examples:
1. Is anybody home?
2. Nobody wants to lose
3. Each student has a book.
4. Either of the advisers has to come

4. The plural indefinite pronouns: many , few ,
several , both take plural verbs.
Examples:
Many Filipinos work abroad.
Both parents are working.
5. The indefinite pronouns : some , any , all most ,
none are singular if they refer to mass nouns and
plural if they refer to plural nouns.
Examples :
Most of the soldiers were killed.
Most of the food tastes sweet.

6. Compound subjects joined by and generally
take plurals.
Example:
Jake and Jane are neighbors.
7. Compound subjects that refer the same person
or thing take singular verbs.
Example:
Cake and ice cream was served to the
guests.

8. Compound subjects joined by either-or and
neither - nor may take singular or plural
verbs depending on the nearer subject.
Examples:
a. Either my brother or my sisters are
going with me.
b. Either my brothers or my sister is going
with me.

9. Nouns plural in form but singular in meaning take
singular verbs.
Examples:
a. Measles is contagious.
b. Physics makes me shiver.
10. Intervening words or expressions like together
with , as well as , in addition to , along with and
similar constructions do not affect the number of
the verb.
Example:
Laura , along with her cousins, decides to work
abroad.

11. Words or phrases expressing periods of
time , weights , measurements and amount of
money are usually regarded as singular.
Example :
Today , five years is a long engagement
period.
12. Fractions may take singular or plural verbs
depending on the of-phrase.
Example:
Two-thirds of these children are in grade
school
One -half of the cake was eaten.

13. Collective nouns take singular verbs if they
are used to denote a single unit; they take
plural verbs if they are used to refer to
individual actions of the group.
Example :
The choir are dressing up for their first
performance.
The choir sings for a cause.

14. The expression the number takes a singular verb, the
expression a number, takes a plural verb.
Example :
The number of volunteers is quite big.
A number of volunteers are students.
15. The title of a book, story or article , and the name of an
establishment even when plural in form takes a singular
verb.
Example:
The Fugitives is a long novel.

16. Arithmetical operations take singular verbs.
Example: Ten minus five is five.
17. Adjectives used as subjects take plural verbs.
Example :
The brave are honored.

18.The expression one of the is followed by a plural noun
and singular verb.
Example :
One of the singers loves to drink salabat.
19. When the subject and the predicate noun are of
different numbers, the verb agrees with the subject , not
with the predicate noun.
Example :
The truck's cargo is onions

20. The expression many a requires a singular verb.
Example :
Many a question remains unanswered.
21. In sentences with relative pronoun, the verb
agrees with the antecedent, the noun being
referred to by a relative pronoun.
Example :
Bryan Viloria is one of the boxers who conitinue to
bring honor to our country.

22. Even in inverted sentences, the verb
still agrees with the subject after it.
Example:
In the audience are teachers from the
North District.
//references:
Mc Dougall English Books

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT GUIDE

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SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT GUIDE