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Subject-Verb Agreement in English Grammar: Rules and Examples

Understand the rules of subject-verb agreement in English grammar. Learn how verbs should agree with their subjects in person and number. Explore special cases, such as collective nouns and compound subjects.

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Subject-Verb Agreement in English Grammar: Rules and Examples

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  1. English II Grammar: Subject Verb Agreement

  2. Subject-Verb Agreement • A verb must agree with its subject in person and number. She learns. They learn. • Note: Add an s to a singular verb to make it agree with a singular noun.

  3. Subject-Verb Agreement • Do not mistake a word in a prepositional phrase for the subject of a sentence. The color of the roses pleases us. The flowersfor the bouquet are pretty.

  4. Agreement with linking verbs, • Do not be confused by a predicate nominative* that is different in number from the subject. Only the subject affects the number of the linking verb. The last coursewasstrawberries with cream. *A predicate nominative is a noun that follows a linking verb and points back to the subject to identify it further.

  5. Agreement in inverted sentences, p. 616 • In an inverted sentence—a sentence in which the subject follows the verb—take care in locating the simple subject and make sure that the verb agrees with the subject. Near the trees sleeps the camper. Near the trees sleep the campers.

  6. There is a camper on the mountain. Here comes the last runner There arecampers on the mountain. Here come the last two runners.

  7. Does that eaglelive in the mountains? Do those mountainscontain eagles? Is the tent pitched in the right place? Are the tentspitched in the right place?

  8. Collective nouns, p. 618 • A collective noun names a group. Consider a collective noun singular when it refers to a group as a whole. Consider a collective noun plural when it refers to each member of a group individually. The squadron of planes soars. The squadronland one at a time. The crowdcheers. The crowdrush to find their seats.

  9. Special subjects, p. 618 • Certain nouns that end in –s, such as mumps, measles, and mathematics takesingular verbs. Mathematics interests many people. Mumps is a very contagious disease.

  10. Special subjects, p. 618 • Certain other nouns that in in –s, such as scissors, pants, binoculars, and eyeglasses, take plural verbs. The scissorswere defective. Your pantsare so cool!

  11. Special subject, p. 618 • Many nouns that end in –ics may be singular or plural, depending upon their meaning. Politics is often interesting. His politicsare shameless.

  12. Special subjects, p. 619 • When a noun of amount refers to a total that is considered as one unit, it is singular. When it refers to a number of individual units, it is plural. Four dollarsis a fair price. Four dollarsare on the sidewalk.

  13. Special subjects, p. 619 • A title is always singular, even if a noun within the title is plural. Little Womendelights readers of all ages. Cakes and Bagelsis my favorite bakery.

  14. Agreement with Compound Subjects, p. 620 • A compound subject that is joined by and or both…and is plural unless its parts belong to one unit or they both refer to the same person or thing. Both the bookand the movieare enjoyable. Ham and eggsis my favorite breakfast. Her husbandandpartnerconsults her. (One person is both husband and partner.)

  15. Agreement with Compound Subjects, p. 620 • With compound subjects joined byor or nor (or by either…or or neither…nor), the verb always agrees with the nearer subject. Neither the lawyeror the clientsare talking Either the lawyeror the clientis talking.

  16. Agreement with Compound Subjects, p. 620 • When many a, every, or each precedes a compound subject, the subject is considered singular. Many aman, woman, and childknows hunger. Everyeagle, owl, and parrotfascinates me. Eacheagle and owlis soaring.

  17. Intervening Expressions, p. 621 • If a singular subject is linked to another noun by an intervening expression, such as accompanied by, as well as, in addition to, plus, or together with, the subject is still considered singular. Water, in addition tofood, is essential on a camping trip. Rain, accompanied bywind and thunder, is predicted for tomorrow.

  18. Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects, p. 623 • A verb must agree in number with an indefinite pronoun subject. • All the ones, bodies, things are singular. Anything, everyone, nobody, one, anybody When we checked, everythingwas as it should be.

  19. Some, most, all, none, and any may be used singularly or plural depending on their use in the sentence. All of the moneyis gone. Most of the studentswere in favor of the field trip.

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