2. Subject-verb agreement
If the subject of a sentence is singular, then
the verb must be singular.
If the subject of the sentence is plural, then
the verb must be plural.
An s on a verb usually indicates that a verb is
singular, while an s on a noun usually
indicates that the noun is plural. (Do not forget
irregular plurals of nouns, such as women,
children, and people).
3. Examples:
The boy walks to school.
The boys walk to school.
He reads many books
They read many books
4. 1. Make Verbs Agree after
Prepositional Phrases
Prepositional phrases can come between the
subject and the verb.
If the object of the preposition is singular and
the subject is plural, or if the object of the
preposition is plural and the subject is singular,
be sure that the verb agrees with the subject
5. Example:
The key to the doors is in the drawer.
The keys to the door are in the drawer.
6. The key information
Subject - Verb Agreement with the
Prepositional Phrases
S ( prepositional phrases )
V
When a prepositional phrases comes
between the subject and the verb, be sure
that the verb agrees with the subject
7. 2. Make Verbs Agree After
Expressions of Quantity
• A particular agreement problem occurs when the
subject is an expression of quantity, such as all,
most, some, half, followed by the preposition of.
• In this situation, the subject (all, most, half or
some ) can be singular or plural, depending on
what follows the preposition of.
8. Example:
All ( of the book) was interesting
Singular
All ( of the books ) were interesting
Plural
All (of the information) was interesting
uncountable
9. 3. Make Inverted Verbs Agree
We have seen that sometimes in English the
subject comes after the verb
When the subject and verb are inverted, it can
be difficult to locate them, and it can therefore
be a problem to make them agree
10. Example:
1. (Behind the houses) was the bicycle I wanted.
2. what is the homework?
3. Not once did I miss a question
4. Here is the book that you lent me
5. If he had taken more time, the results would
have been better
6. Had he taken more time, the result would
have been better
11. The key information
Subject -verb Agreement After Inverted
Verbs:
1. question
2. negative
3. place V S
4. condition ( no if )
5. comparison
12. 4. Make Verbs Agree after
Certain Words
Certain words in English are always
grammatically singular, even though they
might have plural meanings.
Example :
Everybody is going to the theatre.
13. Subject -Verb Agreement After
Certain Words
These words or expression are grammatically
singular, so they take singular verbs :
anybody everybody nobody
somebody
anyone everyone no one
someone
anything everything nothing
something
Each (+ noun) every (+noun)
