Subject Verb Agreement

1
Subject Verb Agreement

• SourceGrammar Dimensions Form, Meaning, and
  Use by Diane Larsen-Freeman, Jan Frodesen and
  Janet Eyring

2
Subject Verb Agreement

• The general rule is that
• Singular subjects require singular verb forms,
  and plural subjects require plural verb forms.
• Singular subject The tree turns green in
  spring.
• Plural subject The trees turn green in spring

3
Agreement with Main Noun in the subject

• Many leading members of the opposition party
  (have/has) criticized the delay.
• The only excuse that he gave for his actions
  (was/ were) that he was tired.
• Rule When the subject of the sentence is complex
  the following verb must agree with the main noun
  in the subject.

4
A clause as the subject

• To keep these young people in prison (is/are)
  inhuman.
• Having overall responsibility for the course
  (means/ mean) that I have a lot of meetings.
• That Rangers won both matches (was/ were)
  unbelievable.
• Rule If the subject is a to-infinitive phrase/ a
  gerund phrase/ a that-clause, we usually use a
  singular verb.

5
Collective nouns

• The council (has/have) postponed a decision on
  the new road.
• The committee usually (raises/raise) their hands
  to vote.
• Rule Collective nouns referring to groups of
  some kind can be used with either a singular or
  plural form of the verb. Singular is used when
  the focus is on the organization as a whole unit
  while plural is used if the focus is on a
  collection of individuals.

6
any of/ each of/ either of/ neither of/ none of
a plural noun

• I don't think any of them (know/ knows) where the
  money is hidden.
• Neither of the French athletes (has/ have) won
  this year.
• Rule We can use either a singular or a plural
  verb (though a singular verb is usually
  preferred).

7
a/ the majority of/ a number of/ a lot of/
plenty of/ all (of)/ some (of) a plural noun

• A number of refugees (have/ has) been turned back
  at the border.
• The number of books in the library (has/ have)
  risen to over give million.
• Rule With "A number of" we use a plural verb.
  With "The number of" we use a singular verb.

8
One of plural noun

• One of the reasons I took the job (was/ were)
  that I could work from home.
• He's one of those teachers who (insist/ insists)
  on pupils sitting silently in class.
• Rule After "One of a plural noun" we use a
  singular verb. However, after "One of plural
  noun who" we use a plural verb in the relative
  clause.

9
Every-/ Any-/ Some-/ No-

• Every room (looks/ look) over the harbour.
• Everyone (thinks/ think) that Phil should be
  given the job.
• Nobody (knows/ know) the answer.
• Rule singular verb should be used.

10
Which subject is singular or plural?

• These indefinite pronouns take singular verbs
• anybody, every, nobody, something, anyone,
  everybody, no one, neither, anything, everyone,
  somebody, either, each, everything, someone, some
  (indicating an amount)
• These indefinite pronouns take plural verbs
• both, several, others, few, many,
• some (indicating individuals)

11
Play a game!

• Who's job is it?
• Fill in the blanks with Everybody/ Somebody/
  Anybody/ Nobodyso that the story makes sense.

12
and

• Jean and David (is/ are) moving back to
  Australia.
• Fish and chips (is/ are) Tom's favourite food.
• Rule When a subject involves more than one items
  joined by "and" we usually use a plural verb. We
  use a singular verb only if we think of these
  items as making up a single thing.

13
Eitheror/ Neitheror

• Either the station or the cinema (is/ are) a good
  place to meet.
• The President or his representatives (is/ are) to
  attend the meeting.
• Rule When a subject is made up of two or more
  items joined by (either/ neither) or/nor, we
  use a singular verb if the last item is singular,
  and a plural very if the last item is plural.

14
There be

• Over the last few years there (have/ has) been a
  lot of progress in aircraft safety.
• There (have/ has) been a lot of good movies on
  lately.
• Rule In "there be" we use a singular verb form
  with singular and uncountable nouns and a plural
  form with plural nouns.

15
Measurement and Quantity

• Only three metres (separate/ separates) the
  runners in first and second places.
• The fifty pounds he gave me (was/ were) soon
  spent.
• Rule with a phrase referring to a measurement,
  amount or quantity we prefer a singular verb.

16

• About 50 per cent of the houses (need/ needs)
  major repairs.
• An inflation rate of 2 (makes/ make) a big
  difference.
• Some 80 of the voters (is/ are) expected to
  vote.
• 75 of the water we drink (is/ are) imported from
  China.
• After per cent, we use a singular verb if the per
  cent phrase refers to a singular or uncountable
  noun and a plural verb if it refers to a plural
  noun.