This document provides rules and examples for subject-verb agreement in sentences. It covers: - The verb agrees with the subject in number and person. - Singular indefinite pronouns require a singular verb. - Words like "several", "few", "both", and "many" require a plural verb. - Verbs agree with the subject, not other words in the predicate.

1. Objectives :
•To show understanding on the rules of
subject and verb agreement
•To apply the rules in constructing
sentences
•To write essays observing the correct
agreement between the subject and the
verb
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2. The verb agrees with its subject
in person and in number
• The girl puts on her ID upon entering the
s v
CEU campus .
• She always comes to class late .
s v
Life is a matter of choice not a matter
s lv
of chance .
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3. Singular indefinite pronouns require
singular verbs .
everyone no one everything
somebody every anybody
anyone anything each
another everything nobody
one someone
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4. • Every man , woman, and child
has the right to live .
• Everything in this world is
amazing .
• Nobody presents the report for
evaluation .
• Someone controls the situation .
• Each member of the team is
expected to obey the rule of the
game .
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5. Several , few , both and many
must receive plural form of the verb
• Many were surprised at
the result of the contest .
• Several have been accounted
for .
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6. • The words some , any , none, all
and most maybe singular or plural
depending on their meaning .
Most of the book was interesting .
(an indefinite part of a book )
Most of the books were interesting .
( a number of separate books )
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7. The verb agrees with the subject not
with the predicate noun.
• His biggest problem is the many
side trips he has to take .
• The many side trips are his
biggest problem .
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8. Intervening words should not affect
the agreement between the subject
and the verb
• The victim , assisted by her lawyers ,
S
narrates the incident .
v
• The president , accompanied by the
s
senators, visits the devastated area .
v
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9. When compound subject is joined by or ,or nor
the verb agrees with the nearer subject.
s v
Neither my brother nor my sisters show
interest in business.
s lv
Either the performers or the producer is
responsible for the failure of the concert .
s
Neither my parents nor my grandmother
allows me to go .
v
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10. • Compound subject referring to only
one person or thing is singular
and plural when referring to
individual units.
• My cousin and friend visits me
s v
every weekend .
My cousin and my friend visit
s v
me every weekend .
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11. • The verb agrees with the positive
subject , not with the negative
s v
The students , not the teacher , plan to
participate in the rally .
s v
The teacher , not the students , plans to
participate in the rally .
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12. • The expression – a number is
plural , the number – is singular
The number of students is absent .
lv
A number of students are absent .
lv
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13. 1.Neither the participants nor the speaker
( bring , brings ) the papers .
2.The grandmother , accompanied by her
grandchildren , ( cross , crosses ) the
street .
3.The dean , together with some teachers ,
( a. join b. joins) the tree planting.
4. The student , not his teachers ,
( a . feel b. feels ) the difficulties during
the examination period.
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14. 5. A number of student leaders ( a. is b. are )
assigned marshals during the event .
6. Either the instructor or his students
( a. come b. comes ) to class on time .
7. There ( a. is b. are ) a number of reasons why
the students quit schooling .
8. The faculty ( a. argue b. argues) on whether
Mondays should be a class day or not .
9. One of the graduating boys from that school
( a. want b. wants ) to enroll in the computer
course .
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15. 10.The leader of the striking jeepney drivers
( a. appeal b. appeals ) to the public for
support .
11. A short , colorless worm
( a. tickle b. tickles ) Dodong’s feet .
12. One of your problems ( a. is b. are ) a
tendency to be lazy .
13. All in all , the advantages of participating in
the program ( a. outweigh b. outweighs )
the disadvantages .
14. Either your friend or your cousins ( a. is
b. are ) held responsible for the books
borrowed .
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16. 15. The whole group , including the leaders
( a. is b. are ) leaving for the
conference in Baguio.
16. The number of social problems
( a. increase b. increases ) each year .
17. The school ( a. maintain b. maintains )
a museum in which is housed a small
but valuable collection of artifacts .
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17. 18.The students , not the teacher ,
( plans ,plan ) to participate in the rally.
19.The teacher , not the students ,
( plans, plan ) to participate in the rally.
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18. • Part 2
• Time , measurement , distance , and amount
of money require singular subjects .
Twenty meters of cloth contains
damage that is beyond repair .
Nine kilometers is not that far .
Fifty thousand pesos is the amount of the
brooch .

19. Modification
Amount of money is singular if regarded
as a whole ; plural if it is taken as
individual unit .
They pay $ 1.70 dollars which is the cost
of a small meal for two .
The $ 1.70 dollar bills that he pays are
reasonable for a small meal for two .

20. • Fraction may either be singular or plural .
One half of the apple is rotten .
lv
One half of the apples are rotten .
lv
Two-third of the cake has been consumed
Two – third of the cakes have been
consumed .

21. Two- fifths of the area is under
water
Three –fourths of the class have
scored 80-90 in the test .
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22. Plural subjects which come at the end of
the sentence need a plural verb ;
singular subjects need a plural verb.
Coming into view are the outskirts of the city
s
Coming into view is the clean city .
s
Note: Some sentences are taken from different sources. My special acknowledgement to QSkills Books.
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