1) The general rule for subject-verb agreement is that singular subjects require singular verbs and plural subjects require plural verbs. 2) Compound subjects connected by "and" usually require a plural verb, while those considered a single unit or referring to the same thing require a singular verb. 3) Indefinite pronouns like "each", "none", and "everyone" as well as collective nouns typically require singular verbs.

1. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
TOEFL IBT
Luis Vega

2. As an additional guide in
brushing up on your
grammar, keep in mind the
following rules:

3. 1.) The general rule is that singular
subjects require singular verbs and
plural subjects require plural verbs.
Examples:
Robinhood steals from the rich and
helps the poor.
The books are on the table.

4. 2.) The pronouns I and you take a
plural verb.
Examples:
You are not alone.
I sympathize with the prosecutor who
covered his ears.

5. Exception:
I is used with am in the present tense
and with was in the past tense.
Examples:
I am the leader of the group.
I was surprised when she walked out of
the room.

6. 3.) When the sentence begins with
there, the verb must agree with the
subject that follows.
Examples:
There are rice fields in Nueva Ecija.
There is a boy waiting for you outside.

7. 4.) Compound Subjects
a. Compound subjects connected by
AND usually require a plural verb.
Examples:
The teacher and the student learn from
each other.
The director and the producer are
present at the awards night.

8. b. Compound subjects connected by
AND but are considered a single unit
or refer to the same person or thing
require a singular verb.
Examples:
Peace and calm reigns over the
country.
The director and producer was present
at the awards night.

9. Note:
When each part of the compound
subject has a limiting word each, this
indicates that they represent different
persons or things and therefore the
verb required is plural.

10. c. When compound subjects connected
by AND are modified by the words
each, every, no or many a, the
verb is singular.
Examples:
Each officer and member is expected
to help.
Many a boy and girl has volunteered to
help.

11. d. In compound subjects connected by
or or nor, the verb agrees with the
nearer subject part.
Examples:
Either the players or the coach is
welcome to attend the planning
session.
Neither the book nor the papers were
found.

12. 5.) Collective nouns usually require
singular verbs.
Examples:
The committee adjourns.
The band plays regularly at the local
bar.

13. Exception:
If the idea denotes separate
individuals, a plural verb is required.
Examples:
The committee disagree on the voting
procedure.
The band are cleaning their own
instruments.

14. 6.) Indefinite Pronouns
a.
Each, none, one, either, neither, muc
h, nobody, somebody, something, eve
rything, anyone, etc. require singular
verbs.
Examples:
Everyone is expected to cooperate.
Each takes home a million pesos.

15. b. Both, few, several and some require
plural verbs.
Examples:
Many are called but few are chosen.

16. 7.) Nouns plural in form but singular
in meaning (e.g.
news, mumps, measles; Mathematics
economics, politics;
Philippines, Maldives; and titles of
books, movies, etc.) require singular
verbs.

17. Examples:
Measles is a contagious disease.
Mathematics is considered a difficult
subject by most students.
The Philippines lags behind other
countries in economic development.
Trees is a poem by Joyce Kilmer.

18. 8.) Some nouns are always plural (e.g.
scissors, tweezers, pants, eyeglasses,
etc.) and therefore require plural
verbs.
Examples:
The scissors are missing.
Your eyeglasses look good on you.

19. 9.) The expression a number takes a
plural verb; the expression the
number takes a singular verb.
Examples:
A number of journalists were killed.
The number of slain journalists is high.

20. 10.) Words joined to the subject by
expressions such as with, together
with, as well as, accompanied
by, not, or including are
considered parenthetical; therefore
they do not affect the number of the
verb.

21. Examples:
The teacher, as well as the
students, learn in the classroom.
Noynoy, not Mar, is the leader of the
government.

22. 11.) Amount of money, length of
time, unit of measurement and
fraction require a singular verb.
Examples:
Sixteen hours is a long time to travel.
Five thousand pesos is too much for a
daily allowance of a student.
Three-fourths is enough.

23. 12.) Fractions take a singular verb if
the object of the OF-phrase that
follows is singular; and a plural verb
if the object of the OF-phrase is
plural.
Examples:
Half of the apples were rotten.
Half of the apple pie was eaten by you.

24. 13.) The number of the verb ties with
the number of the relative pronoun
used as a subject.
Examples:
The people who know her find her very
annoying.
He is one of the students who were
arrested during the rally.

25. REMEMBER:
The verb agrees with the subject, not
the modifier, intervening phrase or
predicate noun.
Examples:
The roots of the tree anchor it to the
soil.
A five hundred peso-bill was found
on the table.
My objection is the too many errors.

26. REMEMBER:
Sometimes, sentence might be
grammatically correct but
awkward.
Examples:
Awkward: Either he or I am the
first.
Better: Either he is the first or I am.

27. THE END