1. AGRICULTURE HIGH SCHOOL
Agriculture, Midsayap, Cotabato
Name:__________________________________________ Date: ______________
Year and Section:_________________________________ Score: _____________
Subject: English4
Activity No. 1-28
Activity Title: Subject- VerbAgreement
Objective: To make verbagree withitssubject.
Basic Rule: The basic rule statesthata singularsubjecttakesasingularverb,whileaplural subject takes
a plural verb.
NOTE: The trick is in knowing whether the subject is singular or plural. The next trick is recognizing a
singular or plural verb.
Hint: Verbs do not form their plurals by adding an s as nouns do. In order to determine which verb is
singularandwhichone is plural, think of which verb you would use with he or she and which verb you
would use with they.
Example:talks,talk
Whichone is the singularform?Whichwordwouldyouuse withhe?We say,"He talks."Therefore,talks
issingular.We say,"Theytalk."Therefore,talkisplural.
1. Two singularsubjectsconnectedbyoror nor require asingularverb.
My auntor my uncle isarrivingbytrain today.
2. Two singularsubjectsconnectedbyeither/ororneither/norrequire asingularverbasinRule 1.
NeitherJuannorCarmenisavailable.
EitherKianaor Casey ishelpingtodaywithstage decorations.
3. WhenI is one of the two subjectsconnectedbyeither/ororneither/nor,putitsecondand
followitwiththe singularverbam.
Neithershe norIam goingtothe festival
4. Whena singularsubjectisconnectedbyor or nor to a plural subject,putthe plural subjectlast
and use a plural verb.
The servingbowl orthe platesgoon that shelf.
5. Whena singularandplural subjectare connectedbyeither/ororneither/nor,putthe plural
subjectlastand use a plural verb.
NeitherJennynorthe othersare available.
6. As a general rule,use aplural verbwithtwoor more subjectswhentheyare connectedbyand.
A car and a bike are mymeansof transportation.
7. Sometimesthe subjectisseparatedfromthe verbbywordssuchas alongwith,as well as,
besides,ornot.Ignore these expressionswhendeterminingwhethertouse a singularorplural
verb.
The politician,alongwiththe newsmen,isexpectedshortly.
Excitement,aswell asnervousness,isthe cause
of hershaking.
8. The pronounseach,everyone,everyone,everybody,anyone,anybody,someone,and
somebodyare singularandrequire singularverbs.Donotbe misledbywhatfollowsof.
Each of the girlssingswell.
Everyone of the cakesis gone.
NOTE: Everyone isone wordwhenitmeanseverybody.Everyone istwowordswhen
the meaningiseachone.
9. Withwordsthat indicate portions—percent,fraction,part,majority,some,all,none,remainder,
and so forth —lookatthe noun inyour of phrase (objectof the preposition) todetermine
whethertouse a singularor plural verb.If the objectof the prepositionissingular,use asingular
verb.If the objectof the prepositionisplural,use aplural verb.
Fiftypercentof the pie hasdisappeared.
Pie isthe objectof the preposition of.
Fiftypercentof the pieshave disappeared.
10. Wheneitherandneitherare subjects,theyalwaystake singularverbs.
Neitherof themisavailable tospeakrightnow.
Eitherof us is capable of doingthe job.
11. The words here andthere have generallybeen labeledasadverbseventhoughtheyindicate
place.Insentencesbeginningwithhere orthere,the subjectfollowsthe verb.
There are fourhurdlestojump.
There isa highhurdle tojump.

2. 12. Use a singularverbwithsumsof moneyor periodsof time.
Tendollarsisa highprice to pay.
Five yearsisthe maximumsentence forthatoffense
13. Sometimesthe pronounwho,that,orwhichisthe subjectof a verbin the middle of the
sentence.The pronounswho,that,andwhichbecome singularorplural accordingto the noun
directlyinfrontof them.So,if that noun issingular,use asingularverb.If itis plural,use a plural
verb.
Salmais the scientistwhowrites/write the reports.
The word infront of whois scientist,whichissingular.Therefore,use the singularverb
writes.
He isone of the menwhodoes/dothe work.
The word infront of whois men,whichisplural.Therefore,use the plural verbdo
14. Collectivenounssuchasteamand staff may be eithersingularorplural dependingontheiruse
inthe sentence.
The staff is ina meeting.
Staff isacting as a unithere.
The staff are in disagreementaboutthe findings.
The staff are acting as separate individualsinthisexample.
The sentence wouldreadevenbetteras:
The staff membersare in disagreementaboutthe findings.
LET’S PRACTICE! Underline the verbthatagreeswiththe subject (GroupActivity).
1. The baby, as well as the mother, (feels, feel) better after the tragedy.
2. Kyle, together with Danielle, (accomplish, accomplishes) the project on time.
3. Egg, in addition to ham and bread, (satisfy, satisfies) the hungry man.
4. Neither the son nor the parents (attend, attends) the graduation rites.
5. All of us (have, has) been given talents to enhance and share.
6. Only few members (attend, attends) the PTA general assembly,
7. None of God’s people ( is, are) deprived of the right to happiness.
8. Neither the candidate for President can (solve, solves) the country’s peace and order
problem.
9. Many good politicians (has, have) fulfilled all that were promised before the election.
10. Less information about one’s life story (create, creates) suspense.
TASK 1: Underline the verb that agrees with the subject.
1. The number of (death/deaths) (are/is) increasing.
2. Either one of us (are/is) going home later.
3. Each person (isn’t/aren’t) going to like the final decision.
4. Here (is/are) my papers that you requested.
5. Having to travel twenty kilometers (is/are) a journey no one should (have/has) to make.
6. Somebody (are/is) going to get hurt if we don’t stop them.
7. Each of the 22 students (are/is) going to have to study hard for their (test/tests).
8. Anyone (is/are) entitled to a fair trial when convicted of a crime.
9. We (isn’t/aren’t) goingtohave fununlessour(friend/friends) come with (present/presents).
10. An enormous pair of shoes (cost/costs) $400.00.
11. Killing everyone around, the dog (decide/decides) to kill the other pets too!
12. Ralph, as well as the other teachers of Sahmyook, (is/are) cool.
13. There (are/is) many (way/ways) to solve the problem.
14. Neither Linda nor Mary (want/wants) to fight anymore.
15. Rachel and Mary (eat/eats) 3 pancakes a day.
16. The student or the teacher (play/plays) the guitar.
17. It (is/are) the long (day/days) that kill me the most.
18. Either two umbrellas or one raincoat (are/is) enough to keep you dry from the rain.
19. All of the students (are/is) going to have to study hard for their (test/tests).
20. The herd of sheep (is/are) running away from the beast.