Subject verb agreement

2. Definition
 Subject verb agreement simply means the subject and verb must agree in
number. This means both need to be singular or both need to be plural.

3. RULE-1
 1. In the present tense, for third person singular subject, use verbs
ending in –s/es with singular subjects.
1st person 2nd person 3rd person
Singular: I walk you walk he/she/it walks
Plural: we walk you walk they walk
 I require attention. (1st person, singular, no –s is needed.)
 A dog requires attention. (3rd person singular, an –s is needed.)
 Dogs require attention. (–s indicates a plural subject, but the verb does not
need an –s.)

4. 1. Your friend (talk-talks) too much.
2. The man (look-looks) like your brother.
3. The women (swim-swims) well.
4. Bill (drive-drives) a cab.
5. The football players (run-runs) five miles every day.
6. You (talk-talks) too much.
7. I (talk-talks) too much.

5. RULE-2
 Prepositional phrases that come between the subject and the verb do
not change the number of the subject.
 The women (swim-swims) well.
 The man with the roses (look-looks) like your brother.
 The list of books (is-are )missing.
 The books on the table (is-are ) new.
 The President of the United States (has-have)imposed restrictions.

6. A theory of physics ___________that a body in motion stays in
motion. (ascertains , ascertain)
A virus in all the company’s computers _____ a real threat to
security.(is,are)
The causes of this prevalent disease _______ bad diet and lack of
exercise.(is,are)
The members of the choir _______ very happy with the
performance.(is,are)

7. RULE-3
 Subjects joined by and take a plural verb.
 My sister and brother _______ in Berlin.(live, lives)
 Both the teacher and the student ___________ surprised.(was,were)
 San Marcos and San Antonio __________ in Texas. (is,are)
 Sugar and flour ___________ needed for the recipe.(is,are)
 Pepperoni and cheese _______ great on a pizza.(is,are)
 Corned beef and cabbage __________ a traditional meal in Ireland. (popular
usage)(is,are)
 The creator and producer __________ arriving soon. (both refer to same
person)(is,are)

8. RULE-4
 Several, many, both, few are plural words and take a plural verb.
 Both __________ qualified for the job.(is,are)
 Few __________what it really takes to get ahead.(know,knows)
 Several ______ already on location. Both _______ happy with the
grades they got.(is,are)
 Many ________ lost on the way.(was, were)
 Few __________ done their homework.(has,have)
 Several of the team ________ ready. (is,are)

9. RULE-5
 Some nouns are always plural and always take a plural verb.
 Trousers, pants, slacks, shorts, briefs, jeans
 Glasses, sunglasses
 Scissors, pliers, tweezers
 My jeans _________ old.(is,are)
 This year shorts ___________ in fashion.(is,are)
 Where ___________ my scissors?(is,are)
 The scissors ___________very sharp.(is,are)

10. RULE-6
 Some words such as none, any, all, more, most, some, majority,
half may take either singular or plural verbs depending on the
meaning.
 Most of the news ______ good. (is,are)
 Most of the flowers ________ yellow. (was,were)
 All the money _______ been spent.(has,have)
 All of the students __________ the answer.(know,knows)
 All of the pizza __________ gone. (was,were)
 All of the children ___________ late. (was,were)

11. RULE-7
 When two singular words are connected by “either ..or” or “neither
…nor”, the verb is singular .
 Either his uncle or his father has come.
 Neither the President nor the secretary (is, are) coming to the meeting.
 When a singular subject and a plural subject are connected by
“either….. or” or neither ….. nor” the verb agrees with the second
subject.
 Neither the dog nor the cats (is, are) outside.
 Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.

12. RULE-8
 When a singular subject and plural subject are connected by
as well as,
in addition to,
together with,
along with,
accompanied by,
the verb agrees with the first subject.
 The teacher as well as the students _______ working on the problem.
(was,were)
 The children together with their mother _____(is, are) waiting.

13. RULE-9.
 When words like the following are used as subjects, they take singularverb.
 Everybody
 Anybody
 Somebody
 Nobody
 Each
 Everyone
 Anyone
 Someone
 No one
 Either
 Everything
 Anything
 Something
 Nothing
 Neither

14.  Everybody _____________the answer.(know, knows)
 Nobody ___________German here.(speak, speaks)
 Somebody ___________in the room.(was,were)
 Every man and woman ___________ the right to vote.(has,have)
 Each student and teacher ___________ aware of the difficulty.(was,were)
 Neither gray nor white __________ my favorite color. (is,are)
 Either Grandpa or my sisters ___________ going to the park.(is,are)

15. RULE-10
 Nouns such as family, jury, council, group, committee, board, and
faculty may be considered singular or plural, depending on meaning.
 The jury _________returning to the courtroom. (is,are)
 The jury ___________arguing among themselves. (is,are)
 The committee _________ here every Thursday. (meet,meets)
 The crowd __________ getting angry. (is.are)
 The jury ___________ finally reached a decision. (has,have)
 The majority __________ most of the time. (rule,rules)
 The staff ___________ gone their separate ways for the holidays.
(has,have)
 My family ________ in Ankara.(live,lives)
 Our team ___________ won every game this year.(has,have)

16. RULE-11
12. Generic (Common) references which indicate entire
community require plural verb.
 The rich _________ not always happy.(is,are)
 The young ____________ to listen to loud music.(like,likes)
 The old ___________ loud music.(hate/hates)
 The English _________ distant and the French are humorous.(is,are)

17. RULE-12
If the verb precedes the subject, determine the subject
and make the verb agree with it.
• Above a cluster of convents rises the Cathedral of St. John.

18. RULE-13
 When the verb comes before the subject as there or here in the
beginning of the sentences, it agrees with the subject that immediately
follows the verb.
There _________ a tree in the garden.(is, are)
There ___________ a pine tree and some oaks in the garden.(is,are)
There ________ to be a relationship.(seem,seems)
There _________ five books on the shelf.(is, are)
Here ___________ the report you wanted.(is,are)

19. RULE-14
 11. Some nouns look plural with –s but they take a singularverb.
 Sciences
 Physics
 Mathematics
 Statistics
 Economics
 Abstract nouns
 News
 Politics
 Ethics
 Diseases
 Measles
 Mumps

20.  Maths ______ found difficult by many students.(is/are)
 Statistics ___________ complicated methods.(require/requires)
 Physics ______my favourite subject in school.(was/were)
 Politics ________ not a compulsory curriculum subject.(is/are)
 International relations ______an optional unit on the course.(is/are)
 Measles _________ easily prevented today.(is,are)

21. RULE-15
 15. Gerund subjects (-ing verb form without an auxiliary verb) take
singular verbs.

 Feeding the poor in developing countries _________ what most aid is used
for.(is/are)
 Running my businesses ___________up most of my time.(takes/take)
 Typing ________ a skill that I have not yet mastered.(is/are)
 Swimming ___________ build muscle tone.(help/helps)
 Standing in the water __________ a bad idea. (was/were)
 Swimming in the ocean and playing drums ______ my hobbies.(is/are)