Rule 9 SubjectVerb Agreement SubjectVerb Agreement Review Singular

Rule #9 Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement Review � Singular subject takes singular verb � A singular verb adds an “s” � The dog runs. (singular subject, singular verb – with “s”) � Five dogs run. (plural subject, plural verb – no “s”)

Pay Attention to � Words between the subject and verb do not affect the number of the verb � Spring’s glory was lost on Ollie. � Spring’s glory, with its birds and its flowers and its trees, was lost on Ollie.

One of. . . � Look for the subject � One of the ablest scientists who have attacked this problem � One of those people who are never ready on time.

Indefinite Pronouns � Each, either, everyone, everybody, neither, nobody, someone all take a singular verb � Everybody thinks he has a unique sense of humor. � None can take both singular and plural, depending on the meaning. � None (not one) of us is perfect. (singular) � None (more than one) are so fallible as those who are sure they’re right. (plural)

Compound Subjects � Subjects formed of two or more nouns joined by and almost always require a plural verb. � Harry and I were sneezing.

Split Decisions � Or and nor � When both halves of the subject are singular, so is the verb � Neither alcohol nor tobacco is allowed (singular) When both halves are plural, so is the verb Sneakers or flip-flops are required (plural)

Singular and Plural. . . � If the subject nearer the verb is singular, the verb is singular � Neither the eggs (p) nor the milk (s) was (s) fresh. If the subject near the verb is plural, the verb is plural Neither the milk (s) nor the eggs (p) were (p) fresh.

Subject w/Multiple Personalities � Stop . . . Think � What does the word stand for? Is it a group as a whole (singular) or the individual members of the group (plural) � The couple lives in apartment 9 A. (one unit) � A couple of deadbeats live in apartment 9 A (two people) � All [all of it (s)] the money is spent. � All [all of them (p)] the customers are gone.

There. . . � There is a fly in my soup. � There are lumps in my gravy.