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Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement: A Comprehensive Guide

Learn about singular and plural indefinite pronouns, dealing with sticky agreement situations, collective nouns, inverted sentences, and more to master subject-verb agreement in English grammar.

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Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement: A Comprehensive Guide

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  1. Subject/Verb Agreement Indefinite Pronouns

  2. Indefinite Pronoun Subjects • When used as subjects, some indefinite pronouns are ALWAYS SINGULAR, some are ALWAYS PLURAL, and some can be EITHER singular or plural, depending on how they’re used. • (gee…that sounds clear…NOT!)

  3. Singular pronouns that take singular verbs: • another anybody anyone • anythingeach either • everybody everyone everything • muchneither nobody • no one nothingone • somebody someone something

  4. Examples of singular pronuns, singular verbs • Everybodyhas a good idea on how to solve the problem. • No oneknows why Aaron Rodgers threw an interception.

  5. Plural pronouns that always take a plural verb • Both • Few • Many • Several Ex: Both of my friends are nice. Several are going out to the concert.

  6. Pronouns that are either singular or plural all any more most none some Examples: All of the studentsare late. All of this pastais burned. Most of the playersare good. Most of my essayis finished.

  7. Plural vs. Singular in sticky situations… • COLLECTIVE NOUNS: • sometimes they can be considered singular, other times plural. • Rule: If the collective noun (team, group, audience, etc.) acts together, the verb is singular. If the collective noun acts separately as individuals, then the verb is plural.

  8. For example… • The class (as one unit) agrees that we should not have homework over the weekend. • The class (as individuals)have different opinions on how to finish the work. (I know it sounds goofy, but it’s correct…)

  9. Plural vs. Singular in sticky situations…cont’d • NOUNS that are PLURAL IN FORM: • Some nouns ending in –s or –ics APPEAR to be plural but are really SINGULAR (huh?!) Ex: mathematics, politics, civics, news, mumps, physics… BUT … • Some words ending in –ics are sometimes plural (r u kidding me?!) Ex: Ethics does not play a role in the movie. The candidate’s ethics arequestionable.

  10. Plural vs. Singular in sticky situations…cont’d • TITLES and NUMERICAL AMOUNTS: • Titles of works of art, literature, film, or music are singular. • Star Warsis my favorite movie. • Words and phrases that refer to weights, measures, numbers, and lengths of time are usually (another exception situation?!) treated as singular. • Ten thousand dollarsis too much for that car. • Fifty poundsseems too heavy to carry.

  11. Special Sentence ProblemsHINT: To check agreement in special sentences, rewrite them to put the subject and verb in the correct order. • Questions (verb will be split or come after subject) • Do you miss sentences about Pooh Bear? • You do miss sentences (about Pooh Bear). • Here or There Sentences • Ex. There are many boring sentences in the grammar book. • Many boring sentences are there (in the grammar book).

  12. Special Sentence ProblemsHINT: To check agreement in special sentences, rewrite them to put the subject and verb in the correct order. • Inverted Sentences • in an inverted sentence, the subject follows the verb • Ex. To get out of the sordid life on the streets struggled Pooh Bear. • The homeless man struggled to get (out of the sordid life) (on the streets).

  13. Special Sentence Problems • Predicate Nominative: in sentences with a predicate nominative, the verb must agree with the subject, not the P.N. (what’s a predicate nominative?) • Ex. The man’s most exciting experience at work is the paydays. - Ex. The paydaysarethe man’s most exciting experience at work.

  14. Special Sentence Problems • Adjective Clauses: the verb in an adjective clause must agree with the word that the relative pronoun of the clause refers to • Ex. Mr. Smith[ whoworks for the telemarketing company] is our friend. • Ex. People [ who live on the streets] need help to find a job.

  15. Try & Check • Pg. 118 Part B • Pg. 122 Part A #1-5 • Pg. 125 Part A #1-5

  16. Pg. 118 Part B • few are • All is • any recognize • everyone has • some is • nobody reports

  17. Pg. 122 Part A #1-5 • flock is • The Ad. of S. Holmes holds • ethics are • crew takes • hours is

  18. Pg. 125 Part A #1-5 • time comes • monument is • price is • trees grow • celebrations are

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