The basic rules in subject-verb agreement.

4. Subject-Verb
Agreement

5. Subject-Verb Agreement
Agreement in grammar means that
the subject and verb must be alike in
number.
A singular subject requires a singular
verb and a plural subject requires a
plural verb.

6. Subject-Verb Agreement
The first and most important rule in subject-verb
agreement is that the verb must agree with the
intended number of the subject.
To accomplish that rule, you must follow two
tasks:
1. Identify the real subject
2. Determine whether the subject is singular or
plural

10. Basic Rules

11. 1. The subject and verb must agree
in number, that is: singular subject
takes singular verb; plural subjects
take plural verb.

12. Examples:
Mr. Bataan is the jolliest man I know.
S V
The children sing with pride and
S V
confidence.

13. Examples:
Vince (is, are) the best news writer in
his grade.
The players (is, are) having a hard
time choosing a team.

14. 2. A compound subject joined by
and is generally plural and
requires a plural verb.

15. Examples:
San Antonio Spurs and New Jersey are
S V
our favorite basketball teams.
Richmond and Russel often argue with
S V
each other.

16. Examples:
Game of Thrones and Dolce Amore (is,
are) our favorite television shows.
Michael and Kristian always (eat, eats)
together during recess and lunch.

17. If two parts of a compound subject
refer to a single person or thing, or
form a single unit, the compound
subject is considered singular.

18. Examples:
Ham and egg is a popular combination.
S V
The manager and owner of the company is
S V
present in the meeting.

19. Examples:
Bread and butter (is, are) our daily food.
The famous singer and composer (has,
have) arrived at the concert venue.

20. 3. Singular subjects joined by OR or NOR take a
singular verb.
When a singular subject and a plural subject
are joined by EITHER OR/NEITHER NOR, the
verb agrees with the nearer subject.

21. Examples:
Either my father or my brothers are going
S V
to meet the buyer.
Either my brothers or my father is going
S V
to meet the buyer.

22. Examples:
Neither Noemi nor Chris was hurt in the
S V
accident.
Neither Chris nor Noemi was hurt in the
S V
accident.

23. Examples:
Either my mother or my father (is, are)
going to pick me up from school.
Neither Megan nor my sisters (was, were)
listening to my story.

24. 4. Collective nouns take a singular or
a plural verb depending on whether
the group is thought of as a whole
or as individuals.

25. a. When regarded as a unit/whole, a
collective noun is singular.
Examples:
The team is going to Mindanao to administer
S V
a sport seminar.
The battalion has been marching for peace and
S V
unity.

26. Examples:
The team (is, are) heading to the gym for
practice this afternoon.
The staff (meets, meet) on Tuesday mornings to
discuss customer complaints.

27. b. When regarded as individuals, a collective
noun is plural.
Examples:
The family are arguing about the upcoming
S V
elections.
The members of the class are working hard
on their projects.
S V

28. Examples:
The audience (is, are) listening to the
speaker of the seminar.
The members of the committee (was, were)
disagreeing with one another about the
project proposal.

29. SEATWORK

30. 1. Neither my brothers nor my father (has,
have) attended college.
2. Jerry is one of those people who (work,
works) too hard.
3. Maury and his brother (go, goes) to the
bowling alley every day.
4. The tapes in the glove compartment
(belong, belongs) to my father.
5. That man and his friends (meet, meets) for
coffee in the snack room.

31. 6. Dave always (wear, wears) nice shoes.
7. Either coffee or tea (is, are) my favorite
drink.
8. Neither the lion tamer nor the clowns (is,
are) signing any autographs tonight.
9. The books and the magazine (was, were)
placed on the table.
10. Phobos and Deimos (is, are) the two
moons of Mars.

32. 1. Neither my brothers nor my father (has,
have) attended college.
2. Jerry is one of those people who (work,
works) too hard.
3. Maury and his brother (go, goes) to the
bowling alley every day.
4. The tapes in the glove compartment
(belong, belongs) to my father.
5. That man and his friends (meet, meets) for
coffee in the snack room.

33. 6. Dave always (wear, wears) nice shoes.
7. Either coffee or tea (is, are) my favorite
drink.
8. Neither the lion tamer nor the clowns (is,
are) signing any autographs tonight.
9. The books and the magazine (was, were)
placed on the table.
10. Phobos and Deimos (is, are) the two
moons of Mars.