Subject-Verb Agreement in Writing: Rules and Examples

Agreements – subject verb agreement The verb of a sentence must agree with its subject in number. The number is that form of a word which indicates weather one (singular) or more than one (plural) is meant. Singular subject takes singular verbs. Nouns ending ‘s’ are usually plural; verbs ending in ‘s’ are usually singular. For instance; The boy works hard. The boys work hard.

The number of a subject is not affected by the phrases between the subject and the verb. For instance; • The row of bushes was planted to form privacy screen.(singular) • The boats by the dock need repair.(plural) • Coach Brock, together with his players, is leaving for the tournament.(singular) • The stereo, including headphones and speakers was on sale.(singular)

The verb agrees with the subject not the predicate nominative. For instance; • One of his favourite snacks is peanuts.( the predicate nominative peanuts is plural, but that has no effect on the subject-verb agreement) It is often better to avoid this agreement problem by rewording the sentence. E.g. Peanuts is his favourite snack.

If a sentence asks a question or begins with there or here, you must be careful to locate the subject and make the verb agree with it. For instance; • What is the title of your project work? • There are thirty-five pages in this chapter. • Here are the ingredients for the recipe.

Titles of literary works, works of art, organizations, cities and countries are usually singular even if they are plural. • Pickwick Papers is a novel written by Charles Dickens. • General motors is a huge corporation. • Grand Rapids is located in Western Michigan.

The following words are usually singular although plural in form: mumps, measles, rickets, news. • Measles was one deadly disease. • Rickets is caused by lack of vitamin D. • The news keeps us informed of world events.

Collective nouns may either be singular or plural • The jury has been dismissed. • The jury were unable to agree among themselves. • Note// A collective noun may take a plural form to refer to more than one group of the same kind. (juries, teams, classes, families)

Expressions stating amounts(fractions ,measurement, money, time)may either be singular or plural. • Two thirds of the peanuts were gone.(plural) • Hundred dollars for a bicycle is reasonable(singular) • Fifty dollars were placed in separate envelopes.

Words that end in –ics may be singular or plural depending on their meaning. • Civics was his best subject in high school. • Ethics is the science of human conduct. • Mathematics is a pure science. • Gymnastics are performed before large audience. • His ethics are not what they should be.

Compound subjects joined by and take a plural verb • Jeff and Prince were here. Note//: where the two are joined by and but refer to one thing, use a singular verb. e.g. spaghetti and meatballs is very delicious.

When a compound subject is joined by or, nor, either-or, neither- nor, the verb agrees with the nearest subject. • Either her helpers or the Liberian is there to assist. ( the subject closer to the verb is singular therefore, the verb is singular) • Either the Liberian or her helpers are there to assist.( the subject closer to the verb is plural so the verb is plural)

Subject-Verb Agreement in Writing: Rules and Examples