WRITING CENTER
"INFORMATION PICK-UP"
(S.S.C.C.)
SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT:
• WHAT IS SUBJECT-VERB
AGREEMENT?
• SPECIAL CASES REGARDING
SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT:
• HOW CAN A STUDENT EDIT FOR
SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT?
• PRACTICE:
• WHAT IS SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT?
Subjects and verbs need to agree in the following ways:
• in number (A singular subject needs a singular form of the verb in the present tense. Similarly, a plural subject needs a plural form of the verb in the present tense.)
Examples:
Singular Subjects:
You (subject) dislike (verb) going out to buy the groceries, don't you?
A packaging slip (subject) is (verb) enclosed.
The building (subject) in which the secret files were stored has (verb) extraordinarily high security.
Plural Subjects:
The crayons and paper tablets (compound subjects) are (verb) stored on the top shelf.
The fruit trees (plural subject) in the garden blossom (verb) in early April.
Exercising and eating well (compound subjects) seem (verb) to be integral to people's health.
In "either/or", "not only/but also" and "neither/nor" constructions, the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
Either Anthony or Debra is going to file for the loan at Seafirst Bank.
Either the lions or the tigers are going to have to be moved into the new exhibit.
Neither the candy nor the cakes are digestible because they're beyond date..
Neither my boss nor my colleagues understand the new telephone system.
Not only the secretaries but also the supervisors need retraining in Internet use.
Not only the local weather but the entire regional climate has been unpredictable and peculiar.
• SPECIAL CASES REGARDING
SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT:
AGREEMENT WITH QUANTIFIERS
_______________________________________________________________
SUBJECT VERB EXAMPLE
_______________________________________________________________
SINGULAR PLURAL
_______________________________________________________________
every X Every person deserves
a fair chance.
each X Each apple has its own unique appearance.
each of X Each of the student
papers has some-
thing special about
it.
everyone/ Everyone tends to be
everybody X skeptical about big
government.
someone/ Somebody plays the
somebody X piano daily in the
music room at
4 p.m.
anyone/ Anyone may jump over
anybody X this barrier at an
time.
no one/
nobody X No one knows you
better than I do.
one X One is never sure what
will happen next
in a suspenseful
movie.
neither X X Neither his shirt nor
his pants is clean!
Neither his father nor
his uncles know
anything about
cars.
both X Both children are going
to Disneyland with
their aunt.
all (of) X X All of the milk has
spoiled.
All students must wear
uniforms.
a lot of X X A lot of the food at the
Japanese buffet
looks delicious.
A lot of the time is
wasted on boring
explanations.
A lot of people miss out
on the joys of
gardening.
some (of) X X Some telephones have
peculiar rings.
Some of the affection
has disappeared
over the years of
their marriage.
no X X No contracts may be
legally broken.
No furniture is too
expensive, as far
as Danielle is
concerned.
none of X X None of the 5th graders
has ever reached
the semi-finals of
the state spelling
bee.
None of the wrestling
team members
have ever lost a
wrestling match.
None of the anger is
directed at you.
non count count
nouns nouns
half X X Half of the seats have
been taken.
Half of the pizza is
gone already!
a number of X A number of people
visit the memorial
annually.
the number of X The number of children
around the world
who die daily from
preventable
illnesses is
estimated at
40,000.
percents X Fifty percent of all
American
marriages end in
divorce courts.
fractions X Two out of three
people polled
believe X would
make a fine
president.
amounts X $10.75 is a good wage
for a person who
only has a high
school education.
distances X Twenty miles is far to
bicycle for a 6 year
old boy!
collective
nouns X X The team is tired from
the long road trip.
The team (members)
are going to go
their own ways
after the season is
over.
*Note: The following subjects are singular:
-ing (gerund) form: Selecting an entertainment system sets one up for many headaches.
Running a small business demands much effort and time.
Infinitive form: To perform as an acrobat in a circus demands much stamina and physical skill.
Clause: What he said is not what he truly meant.
Why she ever left home is a mystery to her parents.
• HOW CAN A STUDENT EDIT FOR
SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT?
Students need to be able to identify the subject(s) of a sentence. Then, they need to locate the verb(s). They must see whether the subject is singular or plural and then see if the verb matches that form.
• PRACTICE:
Directions: Correct the subject-verb agreement errors in the following sentences. Make sure that your corrections are legible and easy-to-read. You do NOT need to write out the full sentences. Stay with the present tense whenever possible, as subject-verb agreement is most important in present tense sentences.
UNDERLINE the subject(s) and the verb(s).
Remember that these are all in the present tense.
Examples:
Computer disks is sensitive to dust, light, rough handling and magnets.
Correction:
Computer disks are sensitive to dust, light, rough handling and magnets.
Electronic mail seem to be the trend of future communications.
Electronic mail seems to be the trend of future communications.
1. Futon dealerships makes a lot of money in today's fad-driven market.
2. This brown wallet were not made out of leather.
3. She claim to be royalty, but she is as common as you or me.
4. Writing a will seem to be a wise idea for those who are older or who have a lot of property to disperse.
5. Short cuts is not suggested for these sets of math problems.
6. Rafael do fairly well in his substitute work at the cannery.
7. To start the grill, you needs to follow these directions closely.
8. A laser printer create the best hard copy off of a computer.
9. The company want government funding to support its research and development arm.
10. You who know me so well is my best friend.
11. Who want to be first in this game of pinning-the-tail-on-the-donkey?
12. There were a Question-and-Answer session after the government presentation on the invasion.
13. The junior high school kids be coming down the road when a car sped up with flashing lights.
14. Kristin and Louise is taking a water aerobics class at the local YWCA to lose weight.
15. Doctors and psychologists who work conscientiously is the healers in the society.
16. This quiz in sociology ask difficult questions about student backgrounds.
17. A pair of love birds are strolling along the trail up ahead.
18. On that table are the new set of encyclopedias.
19. This new fungal tea allegedly are health-promoting.
20. The principal or vice principal are going to have to explain the new school policy on dress codes.
21. The caller to the radio station hang up and dial again in order to further develop his ideas for the public.
22. One of the sisters are going to serve as a Christian missionary to Taiwan.
23. Step aerobics class cost less than water aerobics class.
24. The high school student intimidate others by swaggering around with short-sleeve shirts which reveal his tattoos and arm muscles.
25. You goes into public relations just to make money, not to contribute to the betterment of society.
26. Valentines Day are my favorite holiday of the year, because people may show their affection for other people at this time.
27. Choosing a new car are hard to do.
28. You may joins this club as a group member for the low price of $50 for the annual fee.
29. The plants in this shop is going to be sold at a 50% discount this week.
30. The president of this company enjoy visiting his personnel in their departments so that he may socialize and get first-hand information about their performance.
31. Sending a fax take a short time, only a matter of seconds.
32. The snowy weather are continuing through the weekend, according to the weather specialists on television.
33. Seismologists predicts that an earthquake will hit the Northwest in the next few years.
34. Her cavities causes her many problems, from headaches to high dentist bills.
35. Neither the gardener nor his assistants prunes trees efficiently.
36. The students' grades is so outstanding that they have a choice of scholarships and well-known universities.
37. At the bar, the customers is beginning to get restless because of the rowdiness of the music and their high alcohol consumption.
38. Michael have sent out 200 resumes now, but he has only gotten 2 interviews with engineering firms.
39. The families welcomes the new addition--a baby girl--with open arms and happy hearts.
40. Either Marsha or her family is going to pay for the car repair bill.
41. Coupons seems to be redeemable only for 1/20 of a cent, to discourage shoppers to place a cash value on them.
42. Advertisements on television tends to be brief, vivid, attention-grabbing, and expensive.
43. Comic books and cartoons attracts viewers from children to adults, because of their wide appeal.
44. The pet industry earn billions of dollars annually because pet owners are willing to pay a lot of money for their pets' well-being.
45. The students gets letters of recommendations from their teachers in order to compete for scholarships and jobs.
46. The postage stamps has to be affixed to the envelope tightly.
47. The footlockers at the airport is checked by security personnel before they are loaded into the airplane's cargo hold.
48. The business classes fills quickly because students want a business degree which can translate directly into a well-paying job.
49. The Western movies recently seems to disappoint movie-goers because of bland, predictable plots and boring gunplay.
50. His ambitions and career goals ranges from owning his own car wash to running a small deli.
Sources:
Debra A. Smith & Helen R. Sutton's Powerful Proofreading Skills: Tips, Techniques and Tactics, Jocelyn M. Steer and Karen A. Carlisi's The Advanced Grammar Book, and Ann Raimes' How English Works: A Grammar Handbook with Readings.
(Revised 1998)