English Grammar

1. UNIT 3
Identifying Common Errors in Writing
Subject-verb agreement

2. Subject- verb agreement
Simple rule:
– Singular subject with singular verb
– Plural subject with plural verb
– If you are given a singular subject (he, she, it), then
your verb must be singular (is, has, was)
– The verb is the person or thing that is doing the action

3. In the present tense, nouns and verbs form plurals in opposite
ways:

4. These agreement rules do not apply to verbs used in the simple
past tense without any helping verbs.

5. The agreement rules do, however, apply to the following helping
verbs when they are used with a main verb: is-are, was-
were, has-have, does-do.

6. The agreement rules do not apply to has-have when used as the
SECOND helping verb in a pair.

7. They do NOT apply to any other helping verbs, such as can,
could, shall, should, may, might, will, would, must.

8. The subject-verb agreement rules apply to all personal pronouns
except I and you, which, although SINGULAR, require PLURAL
forms of verbs.

9. Compound Subject
• The word “compound” means “made up of
two or more parts.” Two or more words can
be compounded or linked by joining them
with any of three words: and, or, and nor

10. SUBJECT-VERB RULE #1 –
Two or more singular (or plural) subjects joined by and act as
a plural compound subject and take a plural verb (singular +
singular = plural)
You can check the verb by substituting the pronoun they for the
compound subject.

11. Or and nor as joiners work somewhat differently
from and. While the word and seems to ADD things
together, or and nor do not. They suggest a CHOICE.
This sentence makes use of a compound subject (two subject nouns joined together
by or). Each part of the compound subject (ranger, camper) is singular. Even though
both words function together as subject (joined by or), the subject still remains
SINGULAR (ranger or camper) since a CHOICE is implied.
This compound subject, therefore, requires a singular verb to agree with it.

12. SUBJECT-VERB RULE #2 –
Two or more SINGULAR subjects joined by or (or nor) act as
a singular compound subject and, therefore, take a singular
verb to agree.
Note: Two or more plural subjects joined by or (or nor) would
naturally take a plural verb to agree.

13. However, or and nor can pose a more difficult problem.
Thus far we have been working with compound subjects whose
individual parts are both either singular or plural

14. What if one part of the compound subject is singular and the
other part is plural?
What form of a verb should be used in this case? Should the
verb be singular to agree with one word? Or should the verb be
plural to agree with the other?

15. Solution:
1. If the individual parts of the compound
subject are joined by and, always use
a plural verb.

16. 2. If the individual parts of the compound subject are
joined by or or nor, use the verb form (singular or
plural) which will agree with the subject closer to the
verb.

17. Group Nouns
Some nouns which name groups can be either
singular or plural depending upon their meaning
in individual sentences.

18. However, there are some guidelines for deciding which verb
form (singular or plural) to use with one of these nouns as the
subject in a sentence.
If we refer to the group as a whole and, therefore, as a single
unit, we consider the noun singular. In this case, we use a
singular verb.

19. If, on the other hand, we are actually referring to
the individuals within the group, then we consider the
noun plural. In this case, we use a plural verb.

20. Of course group nouns, like other nouns, can
also appear in plural forms (with an s)

21. When used in the plural form, group nouns
mean MORE THAN ONE GROUP. Thus, it uses a
plural verb.

22. Plural Form / Singular Meaning Nouns
Some nouns are regularly plural in form, but
singular in meaning.

23. Even though these nouns APPEAR to be plural
because they end in s, they actually refer to
only one thing made up of smaller, uncounted
parts. Therefore, they are considered singular.

24. Another group of plural form nouns
end in –ics.

25. These nouns appear to be plural (end in s),
but generally refer to only one thing and are,
therefore, generally considered singular.

26. Note the difference in meaning and, therefore, in the verb
chosen (singular or plural) between the two uses of the –
ics noun, statistics.

27. Indefinite pronouns can pose special problems in
subject – verb agreement.
The difficulty is that some indefinite pronouns
sound plural when they are really singular.
As subjects, the following indefinite pronouns ALWAYS
take singular verbs. Look at them closely.

28. These should be easy to remember.

29. However, the following indefinite pronouns
ALWAYS take plural verbs.

30. EXCEPTIONS:
A third group of indefinite pronouns takes either a singular or
plural verb depending on the pronoun’s meaning in the
sentence. Look at them closely.
(“SANAM”)

32. Here is a list of frequently used
prepositions:

33. A prepositional phrase may be placed
between the subject and verb.

34. Sometimes, however, a prepositional phrase
inserted between the subject and verb makes
agreement more difficult.

35. A clause beginning with who, that, or which and
coming BETWEEN the subject and verb can cause
agreement problems.
Like the prepositional phrase, who / that / which clause
never contains the subject.

37. The subject in this kind of sentence comes AFTER the
verb, so you must look for it AFTER the verb.

38. And finally, sometimes creating a question will cause
the subject to follow the verb as well. Here, identify the
subject and then choose the verb that agrees with it
(singular or plural).

39. Quick Test
Directions: In the items that follow, choose the
option that corrects an error in the underlined
portion(s). If no error exists, choose “No change is
necessary.”

40. Item 1
In the cabinet is the tools that you will need to
unclog the bathroom sink; I have found that a
plunger and a prayer often do the trick.
A. are
B. has
C. does
D. No change is necessary.
In the cabinet is the tools that you will need to
A
unclog the bathroom sink; I have found that a
B
plunger and a prayer often do the trick.
C
A. are
B. has
C. does
D. No change is necessary.
In the cabinet are the tools that you will need to
A
unclog the bathroom sink; I have found that a
B
plunger and a prayer often do the trick.
C
A. are
B. has
C. does
D. No change is necessary.

41. Item 2
Here are the books that Thomas and Darlene
need for their research, and here is the earplugs
that you’ll require once they both doze off in
boredom and start snoring.
A. is
B. are
C. dozes
D. No change is necessary.
Here are the books that Thomas and Darlene
A
need for their research, and here is the earplugs
B
that you’ll require once they both doze off in
C
boredom and start snoring.
A. is
B. are
C. dozes
D. No change is necessary.
Here are the books that Thomas and Darlene
A
need for their research, and here are the earplugs
B
that you’ll require once they both doze off in
C
boredom and start snoring.
A. is
B. are
C. dozes
D. No change is necessary.

42. Item 3
Jasmine and Rodney have decided to double the
number of cupcakes that they are baking since
everyone love moist cake and chocolate frosting.
A. has
B. is
C. loves
D. No change is necessary.
Jasmine and Rodney have decided to double the
A
number of cupcakes that they are baking since
B
everyone love moist cake and chocolate frosting.
C
A. has
B. is
C. loves
D. No change is necessary.
Jasmine and Rodney have decided to double the
A
number of cupcakes that they are baking since
B
everyone loves moist cake and chocolate frosting.
C
A. has
B. is
C. loves
D. No change is necessary.

43. Item 4
Not only those students but also their professor
look forward to the final exam; everyone has
exciting vacation plans that start next Monday.
A. looks
B. have
C. starts
D. No change is necessary.
Not only those students but also their professor
look forward to the final exam; everyone has
A B
exciting vacation plans that start next Monday.
C
A. looks
B. have
C. starts
D. No change is necessary.
Not only those students but also their professor
looks forward to the final exam; everyone has
A B
exciting vacation plans that start next Monday.
C
A. looks
B. have
C. starts
D. No change is necessary.

44. Item 5
At the pet store, each iguana, mouse, and gerbil
try to climb the walls of its glass cage while
humans hover outside like giant predators who are
ready to strike.
A. tries
B. hovers
C. is
D. No change is necessary.
At the pet store, each iguana, mouse, and gerbil
try to climb the walls of its glass cage while
A
humans hover outside like giant predators who are
B C
ready to strike.
A. tries
B. hovers
C. is
D. No change is necessary.
At the pet store, each iguana, mouse, and gerbil
tries to climb the walls of its glass cage while
A
humans hover outside like giant predators who are
B C
ready to strike.
A. tries
B. hovers
C. is
D. No change is necessary.

45. Item 6
Tyrone, as well as his cousins, hope that Grandma
brings her famous brownies and peach pie that
drip with generous scoops of vanilla ice cream.
A. hopes
B. bring
C. drips
D. No change is necessary.
Tyrone, as well as his cousins, hope that Grandma
A
brings her famous brownies and peach pie that
B
drip with generous scoops of vanilla ice cream.
C
A. hopes
B. bring
C. drips
D. No change is necessary.
Tyrone, as well as his cousins, hopes that Grandma
A
brings her famous brownies and peach pie that
B
drip with generous scoops of vanilla ice cream.
C
A. hopes
B. bring
C. drips
D. No change is necessary.

46. Item 7
Either the dogs or the cat sleep on the bed while
everyone is out; Lorraine always finds an
indentation in the center of her comforter.
A. sleeps
B. are
C. find
D. No change is necessary.
Either the dogs or the cat sleep on the bed while
A
everyone is out; Lorraine always finds an
B C
indentation in the center of her comforter.
A. sleeps
B. are
C. find
D. No change is necessary.
Either the dogs or the cat sleeps on the bed while
A
everyone is out; Lorraine always finds an
B C
indentation in the center of her comforter.
A. sleeps
B. are
C. find
D. No change is necessary.

47. Item 8
Meryl, together with her friends Beatrice and Laverne,
plans a daily trip for ice cream, for these women
have discovered that the calories is worth seeing
Theo scoop their servings with his muscular arms.
A. plan
B. has
C. are
D. No change is necessary.
Meryl, together with her friends Beatrice and Laverne,
plans a daily trip for ice cream, for these women
A
have discovered that the calories is worth seeing
B C
Theo scoop their servings with his muscular arms.
A. plan
B. has
C. are
D. No change is necessary.
Meryl, together with her friends Beatrice and Laverne,
plans a daily trip for ice cream, for these women
A
have discovered that the calories are worth seeing
B C
Theo scoop their servings with his muscular arms.
A. plan
B. has
C. are
D. No change is necessary.

48. Item 9
The scissors are sharp, so neither the cousins nor
Timmy is allowed to play with them, even when the
boys needs to finish a school project.
A. is
B. are
C. need
D. No change is necessary.
The scissors are sharp, so neither the cousins nor
A
Timmy is allowed to play with them, even when the
B
boys needs to finish a school project.
C
A. is
B. are
C. need
D. No change is necessary.
The scissors are sharp, so neither the cousins nor
A
Timmy is allowed to play with them, even when the
B
boys need to finish a school project.
C
A. is
B. are
C. need
D. No change is necessary.

49. Item 10
Each fork, spoon, and knife are scarred from the
disposal since Drew refuses to check the drain
before he throws the switch.
A. is
B. refuse
C. throw
D. No change is necessary.
Each fork, spoon, and knife are scarred from the
A
disposal since Drew refuses to check the drain
B
before he throws the switch.
C
A. is
B. refuse
C. throw
D. No change is necessary.
Each fork, spoon, and knife is scarred from the
A
disposal since Drew refuses to check the drain
B
before he throws the switch.
C
A. is
B. refuse
C. throw
D. No change is necessary.

50. • Reference
https://webapps.towson.edu/ows/moduleSVAG
R.htm
www.chompchomp.com/presentations/svagree
ment.ppt