Subject-Verb Agreement

1. Subject-Verb Agreement AP English III Dr. Tarlton 2013

2. Number • Number is the form a word takes to indicate whether the word is singular or plural. • Rule 16a—A word that refers to one person, place, thing, or idea is singular in number. A word that refers to more than one is plural in number.

3. Agreement of Subject and Verb • Rule 16b. A verb should agree in number with its subject. • (1) Singular Subjects take Singular Verbs. • My grandfather trains dogs. • (2) Plural Subjects take Plural Verbs. • My grandparents train dogs. • In a verb phrase, the first helping verb agrees in number with the subject. • The song was performed by Bonnie Riatt. • The songs were performed by Bonnie Riatt.

4. Special Note • A gerund phrase or an infinitive phrase used as a complete subject takes a singular verb. Do not be misled by any particular noun in the phrase. The gerund or infinitive serves as a singular simple subject.

5. Intervening Phrases and Clauses • Rule 16c—The number of a subject usually is not determined by a word in a phrase or clause following the subject. • The tape is by the Boston Pops Orchestra. • The tape of songs is by the Boston Orchestra. • Subjects cannot be found in prepositional phrases. • Do not be misled by a phrase that begins with a compound preposition (such as along with). Such a phrase does not affect the number of the subject. • The teacher, as well as her student, was fascinated by the exhibit. • The students, as well as their teacher, were fascinated by the exhibit.

6. Indefinite Pronouns • Rule 16d—Some indefinite pronouns are singular, some are plural, and some can be singular or plural depending on how they are used. • (1) The following indefinite pronouns are singular: anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, somebody, someone, and something. • (2) The following indefinite pronouns are plural: both, few, many, and several. • (3) The indefinite pronouns all, any, more, most, none, and some may be singular or plural, depending on their meaning in a sentence. • All of the vegetable garden has been planted. • All of the vegetables have been planted.

7. Compound Subjects • A compound subject consists of two or more subjects that are joined by a conjunction and that have the same verb. • Rule 16e. Subjects joined by and usually take a plural verb. • Basil and Thyme are plants of the mint family. • Subjects joined by and may name only one noun. Such a subject takes a singular noun. • The secretary and treasurer is Gretchen.

8. Compound Subjects • Rule 16f. Singular subjects joined by orornortake a singular verb. • Neither Juan nor Jeff wants to see the movie. • Rule 16g. When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by orornor, the verb agrees with the subject nearest the verb. • The teacher nor the students know the answer. • The students nor the teacher knows the answer.

9. Special Rules with Subject-Verb Agreement • Rule 16h. When the subject follows the verb, find the subject and make sure that the verb agrees with it. • Here is the other glove. • Here are the gloves. • Contractions such as here’s (here is) should only be used with singular subjects.

10. Special Rules with Subject-Verb Agreement • Rule 16i. A collective noun may either be singular or plural, depending on its meaning in a sentence. • The singular form of a collective noun names a group. • See Appendix for Common Collective Nouns • A collective noun is singular when it refers to the group as a unit and is plural when it refers to the individual members or parts of the group. • Singular- The tour group is already on the bus. • Plural- The tour group are talking about what their trip.

11. Special Note • In the expression number of, the word number is singular when preceded by ‘the’ and plural when preceded by ‘a’. • The number of students has increased. • A number of students belong to the club.

12. Special Rules with Subject-Verb Agreement • Rule 16j. An expression of an amount such as (a measurement, percentage, or fraction) may be singular or plural depending on how it is used. • An expression of an amount is singular when the amount is thought of as a unit and is plural when the amount is thought of as separate parts. • Five thousand bricksis a heavy load in this truck. • Five thousand bricks are scattered on the lot. • A fraction or percentage is singular when it refers to a singular word and is plural when it refers to a plural word. • One fourth of our high school’s student body is employed. • One fourthof the students are employed. • Expressions of measurement are usually singular.

13. More Special Rules • Rule 16k. Some nouns that are plural in form, take singular verbs. • See Appendix for list of nouns that take singular and plural verbs. • Many nouns ending in –ics may be singular or plural depending on their usage. • Rule 16l. Even when plural in form, the title of a creative work or the name of a country, city, or organization generally take a singular verb. • “The Birds” is a very scary story. • Note: The names of some organizations may take singular or plural verbs, depending on how the names are used. When the name refers to the organization as a unit, it takes a singular verb. When the name refers to the members of the organization it takes a plural verb. • The U.S. Marines is a separate branch of the Navy. • U.S. Marines are stationed all over the world.