The Rules 1. Agreement with Singular and Plural Subjects a. Singular subjects take singular verbs (singular verbs usually end in "s"). Remember that nouns and pronouns are subjects of sentences. Example He takes music lessons. She enjoys long walks on the beach . The dog wags her tail when she sees her master. b. Plural subjects take plural verbs (plural verbs usually do NOT end in "s"). Example They take music lessons. We enjoy long walks on the beach. The dogs wag their tails when they see their master.
2. Agreement with Intervening Phrases and Clauses The number of the subject usually is NOT determined by a word in a phrase or clause that follows the subject. a. A simple subject is never in a prepositional phrase. Example That dog with big teeth scares me. Earl, as well as his older sister, is a fantastic athlete. b. The verb in the dependent clause does NOT affect the subject-verb agreement in the independent clause. Example The students who worked the late shift look tired. The student who worked the late shift looks tired.
3. Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns a. The following indefinite pronouns are always singular: anyone everyone, no one, one, someone; anything, everything, nothing, something; anybody, everybody, nobody, somebody; each, either, neither; therefore, when one of these words acts as the subject of a sentence, it takes a singular verb. Example Everyone in the cast is at rehearsal today. b. The following indefinite pronouns are always plural: both, few, many, others, and several; therefore, when one of these words acts as the subject of a sentence, it takes a plural verb. Example Several of the athletes were at the banquet.
c. The indefinite pronouns all, any, enough, more, most, much, none, some, and fractions may be singular or plural, depending on their meaning in a sentence. Look at the object of the preposition to determine to which word the indefinite pronoun refers. Examples Most of our vacation is over. [Most refers to the singular noun vacation.] Most of the days have passed. [Most refers to the plural noun days.] NOTE:
The indefinite pronouns any and none can be singular subjects even when they refer to a plural word. It depends on whether the writer is thinking of each thing separately or of several things acting as one group.
Examples Any of these bikes is ready. [Any one bike is ready.] Any of these bikes are ready. [All these bikes are ready.] None of these pens has a cap. [Not one pen has a cap.] None of these pens have caps. [No pens have caps.]
4. Agreement with Compound Subjects a. Subjects joined by and generally take a plural verb. Example Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh are famous professional golfers. b. Compound subjects that name only one person, place, thing, or idea take a singular verb. Example My coach and teacher is Mr. Williams c. Singular subjects joined by or or nor take a singular verb. Example Either a doctor or a nurse checks on the hospital patients each morning. d. Plural subjects joined by or or nor take a plural verb. Example Either doctors or nurses check on the hospital patients each morning. e. When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject closer to the verb. Examples Neither the band members nor the singer feels ready for the performance.
Neither the singer nor the band members feel ready for the performance. 5. Collective Nouns a. When a collective noun subject refers to a group as a whole, it takes a singular verb. When a collective noun subject refers to each member of a group individually, it takes a plural subject. Examples of collective nouns include audience, team, choir, jury, family, committee, class, union, crowd, staff, and crew. Examples
His family is from Italy. His family are getting haircuts today.
When deciding the number of the verb needed for a collective noun subject, look for the pronouns its and their. When a collective noun subject is referred to by its, the subject takes a singular verb. When a collective noun subject is referred to by their, the subject takes a plural verb. Examples
The committee submits its report. The committee sign their names.
6. Special Nouns a. Certain nouns that end in s, such as mathematics, molasses, gymnastics, economics, athletics, and news, take singular verbs. Example
Mathematics is my favorite subject.
b. Certain other nouns that end in s, such as scissors, pants, binoculars, tweezers, pliers, trousers, and eyeglasses, take plural verbs. Example
Your eyeglasses need cleaning.
c. Many other nouns that end in s, such as mumps, measles, hives, ethics, statistics, and politics, depending on the meaning, may take either a singular or a plural verb. In general, if the noun refers to a whole, such as a disease or a science, it takes a singular verb. If it refers to qualities, activities, or individual items, it takes a plural verb. Examples
Measles is a childhood disease. Measles cover the sick child’s body. Statistics is an interesting subject. Statistics show that women live longer than men.
d. Agreement with Nouns of Amount When a plural noun of amount refers to one unit, it acts as a singular subject. When it refers to individual units, it acts as a plural subject. Examples
Three dollars is not too much. [one unit] Three dollars are on the table [individual units]
e. Units of measurement usually take singular verbs. Example
Ten kilometers works out to be just over five miles.
f. Agreement with Titles A title of a creative work always acts as a singular subject, even if a noun within the title is plural. Example
“Glory Days� describes high school experiences.
7. Agreement in Inverted Sentences A verb that comes before its subject must still agree with the subject in number. a. Sentences that begin with prepositional phrases Example
On the wall are names of fallen heroes.
b. The words there and here often signal an inverted sentence. There and Here are not usually subjects of sentences. Examples
Here comes the bus. Here come the buses. There sits your friend. There sit your friends.
c. In questions, a helping verb usually comes before the subject. Look for the subject between the helping verb and the main verb. Examples
Does that woman teach English? Do those women teach English?