3. Introduction
You have learnt that you can describe an action
in present or past tenses, continuous or perfect
aspects.
There is another grammar rule regarding the use
of verbs.
4. Nouns and Verbs must agree
Let's look at some sentences:
1) David is sleeping.
2) There is an alarm ringing in the house
somewhere.
3) David and James like to swim.
Singular verbs end with 's'.
In (1) and (2), the subjects 'David' and 'an
alarm' are both singular, therefore, 'is' follows.
5. Subject-Verb Agreement (SVA)
One of the basic rules of grammar is that the subject
and verb must agree:
Many Nouns (example: boys) = Plural Verb (no 's')
Singular Noun (example: boy) = Singular Verb (with 's')
The suffix 's' and 'es' show singular verbs.
Note: If a verb ends with a 'y', 'es' is added:
Cry – cries / Fly – flies / worry – worries
6. SVA Advanced Rules
What verbs to use, whether singular or plural,
becomes tricky when the subject is uncommon.
We will discuss a few:
1) Collective Nouns
2) Special Pronouns
3) Measurements
4) Pronoun + 'of'
5) Nouns spelt with 's'
7. 1 - Collective Nouns
A collective noun groups people, animals or objects
together such as:
Army Furniture School Equipment Colony
So, whenever a collective noun is used, it is referred
to as a single unit and hence, takes on singular
verbs. For example,
1) An army approaches.
2) The school is impressive.
3) The equipment is not working.
8. 2 - Special Pronouns
Special Pronouns include:
1) 'You' and 'I' - plural verbs
You are strong but I have my friend who is stronger.
2) 'All' – plural or singular verbs
All is lost (refers to ONE big thing) or All are gone
(refers to many things)
3) Somebody / anybody / everybody / nobody - all
singular verbs.
Everybody has a hobby.
9. 3 - Measurements
Measurements include those of time, money and
distance.
They all take on singular verbs. For example,
Twenty minutes is all she can wait.
Two kilometres is not a long distance to run.
Two dollars is not a lot of money.
Regardless of the quantity in time, money and
distance, they all take on singular verbs.
10. 4 - nouns + 'of'
We are often tricked by the number and person of
the noun following 'of', even if the singularity of
the true subject is obvious.
In a moment of carelessness, for example,
A basket of apples were standing on the table. or
Each of us have finished our work.
These should be:
A basket of apples was standing on the table. and
Each of us has finished our work.
11. 5 – Nouns with 's'
We are also tricked by nouns that are spelt with 's'.
For example,
News Banks Physics Mathematics
1) The good news is that we have been selected.
2) The river banks is overflowing.
3) Physics is not an easy subject for some.
4) Mathematics is easy once you have enough
practice.
12. Learning Activity
For each of the question, use the correct verb –
'is / was / are / were'
1) All of us ___ interested in the outing.
2) None of the children ___ absent from school.
3) The quality of these watches ___ good.
4) My favourite food ___ chicken rice.
5) Neither you nor he ___ to be rewarded.
6) The news ___ so sad.
13. Learning Activity Answers
For each of the question, use the correct verb to
agree with the subject.
1) All of us are/were interested in the outing.
2) None of the children are/were absent from
school.
3) The quality of these watches is good.
4) My favourite food is chicken rice.
5) Neither you nor he is to be rewarded.
6) The news is/was so sad.
14. Discussion
What do the SVA rules teach us?
What do the SVA exceptions teach us about
certain subjects?
15. In Summary
SVA Rules teach us that we need to change from
singular to plural verbs to agree with the noun.
SVA Exceptions teach us that there are some
nouns look singluar or plural but they are in fact
the opposite.
