2. Grammar checkers findo some, but
not all, erros in subject-verb
agreement. For example, a grammar
checker might mark the sentence the
sentence. It is important that he is on
time as correct because it does not
recognize the need for the base form
of a verb after a clause like It is
important that. Also, sometimes
grammar checkers identify the wrong
word as the subject.
3. Verbs must agree with their
subjects in number (singular
or plural) and person (I, you,
he, they and so on). A singular
subject (one person or thing)
has a singular verb. A plural
subject (two or more people or
things) has a plural verb.
4. Some subject-verb agreement
errors happen when the
subject is third-person singular
(he, she or it). Remember to
use the –s form in the simple
present tense. Also remember
to use the –s form of the
helping verbs do and have.
7. He, she or it It is raining.
A singular noun This rose bush hasn’t bloomed for three
years.
A nouncount noun The coffee isn’t hot.
A single gerund or gerund phrase Making trouble is her hobby.
An amount of time, money, or weight
(Even though the word is plural in form,
it is considered one unit).
Three years is a long time to wait for a
visa.
Sixty dollars is too much for that shirt.
Thirty-two pounds is the average weight
gain during pregnancy.
22. All of his books were stolen.
Does any of the food need heating?
Do any of the desserts need
refrigerating?
Some of the snow has melted.
Some of the trees have lost their leaves.
23. One-half of his face was painted green.
One-half of the students were from Asia.
None of the money was missing.
None* of the questions were easy.
*NoneisalwayssingularinformalEnglish.IninformalEnglish,nonecanbe
singularorplural.
24. None of the students is here.
(formal)
None of the students are here.
(informal)
32. 1. When the subjects joined by
and refer to a single unit or to
the same person or thing, the
subject is singular.
33. A hamburguer and fries is my
favorite snack. (The writer
considers hamburguer and
fries as one unit).
My best friend and wisest
counselor is a dog. (The two
subjects refer to the same
animal).
34. 2. When the subjects joined by
and have the word each or
every in front of them, they are
considered one unit and take a
singular verb.
35. Each passenger and crew
member was questioned.
Every man, woman, and child
in the country knows who Elvis
Presley was.
39. Often a prepositional phrase or
a clause comes between the
subject and its verb. Words
between a subject and verb do
not change subject-verb
agreement. You should
mentally cross them out when
deciding whether to use a
singular or a plural verb.
42. Singular subjects joined by or,
nor, either...or, neither...nor take
a singular verb.
Example
A passport or other photo ID
is required at check-in.
43. Plural subjects take a plural
verb
Example
Neither my parents nor my
brothers and sisters know
that I am coming home
46. A collective noun names a
group of people. These are
collective nouns.
Band, class, committee, couple,
crew, crowd, family, group, jury,
majority, minority, orchestra,
pair, staff, team
47. A collective noun takes a
singular verb when the group
acts as a unit
My family lives together in
one big house (acting as a unit)
48. A collective noun takes a plural
verb when the members of the
group act individually
My family take separate
vacations. (acting individually)
53. When a sentence has a subject
complement, the verb agrees
with the subject, not with the
subject complement. (A subject
complement is a noun, often
following the verb be, that
renames the subject)
54. Her main topic od
conversation is hairstyles.
Topic = subject
Hairstyles = subject
complement
55. Hairstyles are her main topic
of conversation.
Hairstyles = subject
Her main topic of conversation
= subject complement
57. A few nouns that look plural
are singular, and other nouns
that look singular are plural. A
few examples of these
exceptional nouns are listed
here.
59. economics Economics is my hardest class.
the United States The United States is a relatively
young country.
news The best news is sometimes no
news.
65. The verb after the relative
pronouns who, which, and that
agrees with its antecedent. An
antecedent is the noun to
which the relative pronoun
refers.
66. Children may not see a film
that has an X-rating.
a film = singular antecedent
Children may not see films
that have na X-rating
films = plural antecedent
68. The number of takes a singular
verb. A number of, which
means several, takes a plural
verb.
69. The number of volunteers
was surprising. (The number
was surprising, not the
volunteer)
A number of students were
absent. (Several students were
absent)
