The document provides rules for subject-verb agreement in English sentences. It explains that the verb must agree with the subject in number, meaning a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb. It then lists 15 specific rules for subject-verb agreement, such as how nouns that are plural in form but refer to a singular thing take a singular verb, how indefinite pronouns require a singular verb, and how prepositional phrases do not usually affect the subject-verb agreement. Examples are provided to illustrate each rule.

1. Subject Verb-Agreement
The simplest guide to construct simple sentences
By the Grade 7 Emerald

2. Writing sentences is like solving a mathematical problem executing a simple addition of
numbers, one wrong number, results to a wrong solution. Like math, in English there is
also formula or pattern to be followed, in order to construct a correct sentence.
In every sentence, the verb must agree with it’s subject. A subject and it’s verb must agree
in number. Number in grammar studies relates to being singular or plural. SINGULAR
means ONE, and PLURAL means MORE than one
GRAMMAR

3. 1) Singular subjects takes singular verb. Add “s” to the action
word.
Examples:
Natalia is a talented girl.
Carlo plays guitar while washing dishes.
Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement

4. 2) Plural subjects takes plural verbs.
Examples:
Nowadays, the teens want to spent most of their time playing their gadgets.
Lost children were found at the abandoned building.
Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement

5. Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
3) Some nouns are plural in form but takes singular verb
news mumps mathematics economics
measles physics civics politics
athletics acoustics gymnastics billiards
Examples:
Mathematics is my favorite subject
News spreads quickly.

6. Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
4)If two subjects joined by “AND” but mean one thing,
singular verb is required.
Examples:
Egg and ham is her breakfast.
The dancer and the choreographer slays the performance.

7. Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
5) Indefinite pronouns require singular verb.
someone everyone no one
anyone something everybody
Examples:
Everybody wants to be somebody.
Something smells fishy.

8. Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
6) When adjectives are used as subjects and preceded by the
article “the”, a plural verb is required.
Examples:
The meek are to be exalted .
The poor are starving .

9. Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
7) Title of books, movies, novels, etc. are treated as singular
and take a singular verb.
Examples:
The Shallows is a scary movie.
The Hunger Games is an exciting show.

10. Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
8) Expressions of amount as subjects like fractions, the verb
agrees with the object of the phrase.
Examples:
One-fourth of the books are missing.
One-third of the building is finished.

11. Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
9)The words that come between the subject and the verb do
not affect the agreement.
Examples:
The girl, who got the prices, is on the television .
The students, who won the contest, were recognized.

12. Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
10)Prepositional phrases between the subject and the verb
usually do not affect the subject-verb agreement.
Examples:
The foods on the table are only for the visitors.
The dove inside the cage is for sale.

13. Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
11) When sentences start with “there” or “here”, the subject
will always be placed after the verb.
Examples:
Here are the results of the tests.
There is an airplane in her garage.

14. Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
12) The singular verb form is usually used for units of
measurement.
Examples:
Three scoops of powdered milk is enough.
Two cups of water was added.

15. Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
13) If a sentence starts with “A number” the verb will always be
plural. But if a sentence begins with the word “ The number”
the verb will always be plural.
Examples:
A number of performers were late.
The number of participants is quite big.

16. Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
14) When what is used as a subject and it means that, a singular
verb is required.
Examples:
What she really needs is understanding.
What I know is no one shall be blame on this.

17. Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
15) If there are two subjects connected by either…or,
neither…or, look on the subject nearer to the verb.
Examples:
Neither my mother or my sisters have attended the program.
Either the teachers or the president has announced the winners.

18. Were you paying
attention? ??
is areOR
Isa, together with her best friend, ______,
going to South Korea.

21. Were you paying
attention? ??
My dog ______ the most delicious and
sweetest bone in the world.
are am eat eats

24. Were you paying
attention? ??
What I really want_____ to eat something
spicy right now.
is OR are

27. Were you paying
attention? ??
A number of students ______ absent in
class.
were was has be

30. Were you paying
attention? ??
Bread and jam ___ her favourite breakfast.
isORare

33. Were you paying
attention? ??
Everybody ______ to know themselves..
be have wants want

36. Were you paying
attention? ??
The brave _____ rewarded.
are OR is

39. Were you paying
attention? ??
The jury_____ who the winner will be.
decide decides hadis

42. Were you paying
attention? ??
Two scoops of ice cream _____ all she can
eat..
is OR are

45. Were you paying
attention? ??
One-fourth of the cake _____ sliced.
are is Have been