Subject-Verb Agreement Discussion 1

Subject-verb Agreement
1. Singular subject( He, She, It)

requires singular verb.
A. Drew spends most of his
time with his family.
B. He studies his lesson at the
library.
Plural subjects ( I, You, We,
They) take plural form of the
verb.
A. They worry about too many
things in their lives.
B. Professional athletes train
regularly.
2. The verb agrees with the
subject in the sentence, not
with the noun in the intervening
phrase.( together with, as well
as, along with, including the)
A. The governor, as well as the
mayors, is going to attend the
cocktail party.
Titles of books, songs, stories,
movies, etc. require singular
forms of verbs.
A. Angels and Demons has
been criticized by many.
B. Jingle Bells is a long-time
favorite Christmas carol.
Compound subjects joined by and
regarded as one requires singular
form of the verb.
A. Spoon and fork is used in eating.
B. Ham and cheese is my favorite
breakfast.
C. Rice and fish makes a good diet.
B. The teachers, together with
the principal, are sure to
attend the party.
3. The indefinite pronouns such as
each, anyone, everyone, someone,
no one, and nobody are always
singular and take singular verb.
A. Everyone in class has done the
activity.
B. Everybody wishes to succeed
life.
4.Use does and doesn’t
with singular subjects.
A. Doesn’t Ralph like
mathematics?
B. Mark does his project.
Use do and don’t with plural
subjects including pronouns I,
you, we and they.
A. They don’t understand
what I’m saying.
B. Do my cousins allow to
join?
5. Compound subjects
connected by and require
the base form of the verb.
If the subjects refer to the
same person, thing or idea,
use the –s form .
A. Luis and Anton join us in
our practice every day.
B. My sister and my friend

greet me happy birthday.
C. My friend and classmate
visits me often.
D. The president and CEO

calls for an emergency
meeting.
6. Expressions indicating
amount of money, period of
time, or a unit of
measurement require singular
verbs even when the form is
plural.
A. Sixty pesos is a high price
for a drink.
B. Ten years is the
maximum sentence for
that offense.
C. Three yards of cloth
was used in the costume.
7. The indefinite pronouns
neither and either are singular,
therefore, they require singular
verbs.
A. Either of the two photos is
fine with me.
B. Neither option was acceptable
for Jena.
However, when the pronouns
neither and either are used
with the conjunctions nor and
or respectively, the subject
nearer/closer to the verb
determines the form of the
verb.
A. Neither the guard nor the
policemen arrest the criminals.
B. Either the lawyer or the
owners of the house are going
to make the final decision.
C. Either the parents or the
maid prepares the girl’s snacks.
8. The expression the number takes
a singular verb; the expression a
number takes a plural verb.
A. The number of participants does
not indicate a large attendance.
B. A number of students are joining
the outdoor activity.
9. When a sentence begins with
expletive there and here, the verb
agree with the subject that follows.
A. There go Mr. Cruz’s students
with the principal.
B. There is one poem I would like to
read.
C. Here are some letters from
your mother.
D. Here is my grandfather’s
old house.
10. When an adjective is used
as a subject, the verb must be
plural.
A. The poor are oftentimes
depressed.
B. The humble demonstrate
good values.
11. In inverted sentences, the
verbs must agree with the
subjects nearest them.
A. Along the beach stand
different beautiful cottages.
B. Inside the room cries a cute
puppy.
12. When each and every are
used to precede a subject, it
requires a singular verb.
A. Each teacher is given
Christmas bonus.
B. Every doctor or nurse cares
for the sick.
13. Plural indefinite pronouns
take plural verb. ( few, both,
several, many, etc.)
A. Many people participate in
the parade.
B. Both of my parents are
working abroad.
14. If a fraction is used as a subject,
it requires singular or plural verbs
depending on the number of of-
phrase.
A. Two-thirds of the bananas are
ripe.
B. One-third of the farm is planted
coconuts.
15. The expression many a/an is used to
indicate a large number. However, it takes a
singular noun, which can be followed by a
singular verb.
A. Many a politician has promised to make
changes.
B. Many a citizen is appreciative of arts and
culture.
C. Many a girl was appearing in the
examination room.
16. Collective nouns such as crew,
faculty, class, team, choir, etc.
usually take singular verbs when
the speaker refers to the group as
a WHOLE, but take the plural
verbs when the speaker refers to
the INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS.
A. The orchestra plays for the
audience nightly.
B. The class goes to the speech
laboratory.
C. The orchestra are bringing
their instruments home.
D. The class go home after
classes.
17. Mathematical abstractions
require the –s form of the verb.
A. Two times nine equals
eighteen.
B. Five plus three is eight.
C. Twenty four minus four
equals twenty.
18. Compound subjects composed
of a negative and an affirmative
part require verbs which agree
with the affirmative.
A. Not the coach, but the players
need stamina.
B. The teacher, not the students,
arrives late in class.
19. Expressions of amount or
quantity preceding plural
nouns referring to time and
distance require singular verbs.
A. Five miles is far enough.
B. Three days was spent in
making my project.
20. Some nouns are plural in
form but singular in meaning
like news, measles, mumps,
civics, politics, physics,
athletics, economics,
mathematics, intramurals,
ethics, etc. take the –s form of
the verb.
A. Civics teaches the duties of
citizenship.
B. The news is really
depressing.
21. Some nouns are both plural in
form and plural in meaning. These
nouns require the –base form of
the verb.
A. These tweezers belong to him.
B. Her jeans are tight.
22. A subject with a word or
expression that indicate
percentage or portion takes
either singular or plural verbs
depending on the number of
the noun in the of-phrase that
follows it.
A. A large percentage of the voting
population consists of the youth.
B. Forty percent of the senior citizens
are in favor of changing the policy.
C. Half of the class attends the
symposium.
D. Half of the teachers attend the
seminar.

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Subject-verb Agreement

1. Singular subject( He, She, It)

B. My sister and my friend

D. The president and CEO

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