Subject and verb agreement rules

2. GENERAL RULE:
 A singular subject needs a singular verb while a plural subject needs a plural verb.
 This can be summarized into this equation – SS : SV :: PS : PV
 Look closely and analyze the table below:
NUMBER SINGULAR PLURAL
SUBJECT boy boys
PREDICATE runs run
SUBJECT man men
PREDICATE thinks think
SIMULATIONS:
1. Boy runs. 1. Boys run.
2. Man thinks. 2. Men think.
The GENERAL RULE is broken into several rules.

3. RULE # 1. The verb only agrees with the subject of the sentence,
not with any other word in the sentence.
SIMULATIONS:
 My gift to her is ten dozens of apples.
 Her collection includes some rare paintings and furniture.
 Your dreams are to be a singer and to perform at SM MOA.

4. RULE # 2. Compound subjects joined by the conjunction “and”
are generally plural in nature so they will need a plural predicate
(verb).
SIMULATIONS:
 The mother and the father love their children so much.
 The boy and the girl play in the park.
 The teachers and the students attend the graduation ball.

5. RULE # 3. But compound subjects may behave like one
thought unit, meaning they may look plural in construction
but they are actually referring to the same person or the
same thing They may also be referring to two different
persons or things.
SIMULATIONS:
1. My mother and teacher gives me a practical piece of advice.
My mother and my teacher give me a practical piece of advice.
2. His brother and classmate helps us in cleaning the room.
His brother and his classmate helpus in cleaning the room.
3. The blue and white dress is expensive.
The blue and the white dresses are expensive.

6. RULE # 4. For compound subjects joined by the conjunction
“or” “either-or” and “neither-nor” the following rules are
observed:
4.1 When both subjects are singular, the verb is also singular.
If both subjects are plural, the verb is also plural.
SIMULATIONS:
1. My mother or my teacher gives me a practical piece of advice.
2. Either his brothers or his classmates helpus in cleaning the room.
3.Neither his brother nor his classmate helps us in cleaning the room.

7. 4.2 The problem only comes when the subjects joined by or,
either-or or neither-nor have one singular and plural subject.
The rule is to make the verb agree with the second or nearer
subject. So if the second or nearer subject is singular, the verb
will also be singular or vice versa.
SIMULATIONS:
1. My mother or my teachers give me a practical piece of advice.
2. Either his brothers or his classmate helps us in cleaning the room.
3.Neither his brother nor his classmates helpus in cleaning the room.

8. RULE 5.1 The expression “A number of” when used to
introduce the subject of the sentence, takes a plural verb.
SIMULATIONS:
 A number of students attend the graduation ball.
RULE 5.2 The expression “The number of” when used as the
subject of the sentence, takes a singular verb.
SIMULATIONS:
 The number of students who attend the graduation ball is fifty.

9. RULE 6. 1 Collective nouns are generally singular in meaning;
otherwise, you chose to use a plural collective noun.
SIMULATIONS:
 The band marches along the highway.
The bands march along the highway.
RULE 6.2 When collective nouns do not operate or function
as one group, that is they are individuals in consideration, a
plural verb is used with them.
SIMULATIONS:
 The band marches along the highway.
 The band march in different directions.

10. RULE 7. 1 Fractions are generally singular in meaning when
used in sentences.
SIMULATIONS:
 One half is all I need for my cake.
Two thirds has been more than enough for the pastry.
RULE 7.2 The problem with fractions only comes when they
go along with an “of phrase”.
SIMULATIIONS:
 One half of the apple is all I need for my cake.
 One half of the apples are all I need for my cake.
RULE 7.3 When fractions go along with collective nouns, they
take singular verbs.
SIMULATIIONS:
 One half of the class is absent today.

11. RULE 8.1 The pronoun “I” is singular in meaning but it may take
a singular verb and a plural verb depending on the situation.
SIMULATIONS:
 I am a teacher. (when it is used as the topic of the sentence that expresses a
condition)
 I have been a teacher. (In this sentence, it is used to express a condition but it is the
perfect tense)
 I love my parents. (when it is used as the doer of the action)
 If I were a king, I would give free meals to my people. (when it is used in the
subjunctive mood)
RULE 8.2 The pronoun “YOU” always takes a plural verb even
when it is singular in meaning.
SIMULATIONS:
 You are the apple of my eyes.
 You have beenthe apple of my eyes.
 You love your parents.
 If you were a king, would you give free meals to your people?

12. RULE 9.1 The following pronouns are always singular:
anyone anybody anything
everyone everybody everything
someone somebody something
no one nobody nothing
SIMULATIONS:
 Everyone is welcome in my house.
 Nobody has the right to make you feel inferior.
 Something bothersmy mind.
RULE 9.2 The following pronouns are always plural:
both many several few
SIMULATIONS:
 Both are happy to see you.
 Many have been late today.
 Several do presentations.
 Few wereallowed to enter the hall.

13. RULE 9.3 The following pronouns are always singular:
one each either neither
SIMULATIONS:
 One of the boys is absent today.
 Each receives a gift.
 Either of the teachers attends the seminar.
 Neither of the teachers attendsthe seminar
RULE 9.4 The following pronouns may be singular or plural
depending on how they are treated in the sentence:
all some none
SIMULATIONS:
 All (the girls)are happy to see you. (treated to express quantity)
 All I want for Christmas is you. (treated to express a situation or quality)
 Some (girls)have beenlate today. (treated to express quantity)
 Some milk spills on the table (treated as mass noun counter)
 None is allowed to enter the hall. (no one is allowed)
 None are allowed to enter the hall. (not one is allowed)

14. RULE 10. Words, Phrases and Clauses (that are used as subjects)
which refer to just one idea, take singular verbs.
SIMULATIIONS:
 Trees is one of the most beautiful poems ever written in the history of man.
 To Love You More has beenmy favorite song ever since.
 Noli Me Tangere waswritten by Dr. Jose Rizal.
 When I Need You talks about the story of a lonely woman.
RULE 11. When adjectives are used as subjects, they take plural
verbs.
SIMULATIIONS:
 The beautiful are finally here.
 The poor need the help of the government.
 The good have always been rewarded.

15. RULE 12. Use a singular verb with measurements of distance,
periods of time, sums of money, measurements, etc., when
considered as one unit.
SIMULATIONS:
 Five miles is too far to walk.
 Five years is the maximum sentence for that crime.
 Ten dollars washigh price for a small cake.
 Ten dollars (i.e. one dollar bill) were scattered on the floor.
RULE 13. In sentences beginning with here or there, the true
subject follows the verb.
SIMULATIONS:
 There are four beautiful women outside.
 Here is your book.

16. RULE 14. Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by
words or phrases such as “together with, as well as, along with,
besides, not”, etc. These words or phrases are not part of the
subject. Ignore them. Use a singular verb when the subject is
singular or vice versa.
SIMULATIONS:
 The mother together with her children goes to church every Sunday.
 The children together with their mother go to church every Sunday.
 The senator along with his supporters is present in the meeting.
 The supporters not the senator are present in the meeting.

17. RULE 15. When the subject comes before a phrase that starts
with “of”, the rule is not to be fooled by the word that follows
the preposition “of”.
SIMULATIONS:
 The bouquet of flowers costs five hundred pesos only.
 The bouquets of flowers costfive thousand pesos.
 The senator of the Philippines is a popular world boxing champion.
 The supporters of the senator are present in the meeting.

18. RULE 16. With words that indicate portions – e.g. a lot of,
majority of, all of, some of – Rule 14 given earlier is reversed and
we are guided by the noun after “of”. If the noun after of is
singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb.
SIMULATIONS:
 A lot of the pie has disappeared.
 A lot of the pies have disappeared.
 All of the pie is gone.
 All of the pies are gone.
 Some of the pie is gone.
 Some of the pies are gone.

19. RULE 17.1 Nouns like mumps, news, measles, physics, statistics,
aerobics, mathematics, linguistics, etc. are always singular in
meaning; hence, they take a singular verb.
SIMULATIONS:
 Linguistics is a complicated subject to study.
 The news sounds interesting.
 Mumps is a highly contagious disease.
RULE 17.2 Nouns like tongs, pants, shorts, tweezers, scissors, etc.
are always plural in meaning; hence, they take a plural verb.
SIMULATIONS:
 My pants are new and expensive.
 Your tweezers are effective in plucking eyebrows.
 Her shorts have been wet.

20. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!