SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Creative writing 3

Introduction

A singular subject demands a singular verb;

a plural subject demands a plural verb. That

is a simple principle behind subject-verbagreement.

Recognizing Subjects and Verbs A complete sentence must have a

SUBJECT and a VERB.

The subject is the who or what that performs the action.

The verb is the action

SUBJECT SEPARATED FROM THE VERB It is very often that the subject and verb are separated. They

will be separated by a prepositional phrase, but it has no effect on the verb.

Subject + prepositional phrase + verb

EXAMPLEs OF SUBJECT SEPARATED FROM THE VERB

1. The danger of forest fires is not to be taken lightly.2. Several theories on this subject have been

proposed.

EXAMPLEs OF SUBJECT SEPARATED FROM THE VERB

3. The study of languages is very interesting.4. The effects of that crime are likely to be

devastating

WORDS THAT ALWYS TAKE SINGULAR VERBS AND PRONOUNS

Any + singular noun

Some + singular noun

Every + singular noun

Anybody Nobody Somebody everybody Each

Anyone No one Someone everyone Either*

anything nothing something everything Neither*

WORDS THAT ALWYS TAKE SINGULAR VERBS AND PRONOUNS

*Either & neither are singular if they are not used with or and nor.

*Examples:• Everybody who has not purchased a ticket should

be in this line.• Something was under the house.

WORDS THAT ALWYS TAKE SINGULAR VERBS AND PRONOUNS

• If either of you takes a vacation now, we will not be able to finish the work.

• Anybody who has lost his ticket should report to the desk. ( note the singular pronoun )

• No problem is harder to solve than this one.• Nobody works harder than John does.

None/no

None + of the + non-count noun + singular verb

• None can take either a singular or plural verb on the noun which follows it.

Example:• None of the counterfeit money has been

found

None + of the + plural count noun + plural verb

Example:None of the students have finished the exam yet.

• No can take either a singular or plural verb depending on he noun which follow it.

No + singular noun/ non-count noun + singular verb

Example:No example is relevant to this case.

No + plural noun + plural verb

Example:No examples are relevant to this case

Either/Neither• When either or neither are followed by or and nor

the verb may be singular or plural depending on whether the noun following or and nor is singular or plural. If or or nor appears alone, the same rule applies.

Either/neither + noun + or/nor + plural noun + plural verb

Example:• Either John or his friends are going to the beach. plural noun plural verb

• Neither John nor his friends are going to the beach.

Either/neither + noun + or/nor + singular noun + singular verb

• Neither John nor Bill is going to class today.

• John or George is bringing the car. singular noun singular verb

GERUND AS SUBJECT If a sentence begins with verb + ing or Gerund, the

must also be singular.Knowing her has made him what he is.

Dieting is very popular today.

Not studying has caused him many problems.

Washing with a special cream is recommended for scalp infections.

Being cordial is one of his greatest assets.

Writing many letters makes her happy.

COLLECTIVE NOUNS Words indicating a number of people or animals are

singular. The following nouns are usually singular. In some cases they are plural if the sentence indicates that the individual members are acting separately.

Congress

Family Group Committee

class

organization

Team Army Club Crowd

Government

Jury Majority* minority public

*Majority can be singular or plural. If it is alone , it is usually singular. But if it is followed by a plural noun, it is usually plural.

Compare these examples: The majority believes that we are in no

danger. The majority of the students believe him

to be innocent.

Examples of Collective Nouns The committee has met, and it has rejected the

proposal. The family was elated by the news. The crowd was wild with the excitement. Congress has initiated a new plan to combat inflation. The organization has lost many members this year. Our team is going to win the game.

Collective Nouns Indicating Group of Certain Animals They mean the same as group and thus are

considered singular

Example: The flock of birds is circling overhead. The herd of cattle is breaking away. A school of fish is being attacked by sharks.

Flock of birds/ sheep

School of fish

Herd of cattle Pride of lions

Pack of dog

COLLECTIVE NOUNS INDICATING TIME, MONEY, MEASUREMENT Those used as a whole so that they are considered

singular.

Twenty –five dollars is too much to pay for that shirt.

Fifty minutes isn’t enough time to finish this test.

Twenty dollars is all I can afford to pay for that recorder.

two miles is too much to run in one day.

A NUMBER OF / THE NUMBER OFA number of + plural noun + plural verb

the number of + plural noun + plural verb

Examples:A number of students are going to the class picnic.The number of days in a week is seven.A number of the applicants have already been interviewed.The number of residents who have been questioned on this matter is quite small.

NOUNS THAT ARE ALWAYS PLURAL The following nouns are always considered plural. They cannot

be singular. In order to speak of them as singular, one must say: “a pair of…….”

Compare these examples: The pants are in the drawer. A pair of paints is in the drawer. The pliers were on the table. The pair of pliers was on the table. These scissors are dull. This pair of scissors is dull

scissors shorts pants jeans tongs

trousers Glasses Pliers tweezers

THERE IS/ THERE ARE The sentences that begin with the existential there, the subject is

actually after the verb.

Examples: There is a storm approaching. singular singular

There have been a number or telephone calls today. plural plural

There was an accident last night.

There is/there was/there has been + singular subject ( or non count noun )

There are/there were/there have been + plural subject

Exercise. Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not

correct.1. Each number in a binary system are formed from only two symbols. A B C D2. Scientists at the medical center is trying to determine if there is a relationship between A B C

saccharine and cancer. D3. On the rim of the Kilauea volcano in the Hawaiian Islands are a hotel called the Volcano Hotel. A B C D4. Only with a two-thirds vote by both houses are the U.S. Congress able to override a presidential A B C

veto. D5. Five miles beyond the hills were a fire with its flames reaching up to the sky. A B C D6. The contracts signed by the company has been voided because some stipulations were not A B C D met.7. The box of disks for the computer have been misplaced. A B C D8. It is impossible to believe that somebody actually admire that man. A B C D