subject verb agreement

A singular subject takes a singular verb

Ex. The cat is brown.

A plural subject takes a plural verb

Ex. The apples are delicious

must have plural verbs

Example:

Apples and bananas are my favorite food.

My mother and I get up at 7 a.m. everyday.

require singular verb

Example: SingularBacon and eggs seems to be the most

popular item on the breakfast menu.

Require a singular verb

Example:

My classmate and friend treats me well.

same person

The subject closest to the verb should agree with the verb

Example: Either the president or the senators attend

the gathering.

Example:

My car or Ted’s car is always available.

Either the children or I walk home.

The subject comes after the verb

There are three apples in the basket.

three apples: subjectare: verb

Here are my friends.

As well as; along with; together with; and other words

Do not affect subject-verb agreement

The girl who loves flowers goes to church.

Don’t be confused by extra phrases!

Example:

The student, though she had lots of problems in other schools, finds/find (?) her new class easy. The student, though she had lots of problems in

other schools, finds her new class easy. The student finds her new class easy.

Don’t be confused by extra phrases!

May be singular or plural depending on meaning

Our school team has won all its games.

clue

Note: the team as a whole

May be singular or plural depending on meaning

The cast of the play are rehearsing their lines.

clue

Note: the individual members

Take singular verbs

Example:

Measles is a contagious disease.

Physics is a science subject.

Take plural verbs

Example: savings, stairs, scissors, trousers, pants, earnings, goods (and others)

Her trousers are on the sofa.

The goods were given to us.

Take singular verb

Transformers is my favorite movie.

Game of Thrones is my favorite t.v. series.

Take singular verbs

Ten years is too long for me to wait.

Two million pesos is enough to finance her growing expenses.

Twelve feet is the length of the room.

May take a singular or a plural verb depending on the noun it modifies

Example:

50 percent of the houses need major repairs.

Ten percent of the forest is destroyed.

Take singular verb

Example: another, anybody, anyone, anything, each,

every, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, no one, nothing, one, somebody, someone, something (and others)

Each of the students has received a passing grade.

Somebody has to decide whether topaint the kitchen this year.

[One person (one body) will make the decision.]

Take plural verb

both, few, many, several, others (and others)

I spent the afternoon shopping for a camera, but few were reasonably priced.

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