Finding Subjects and Verbs

NOTE: We will use the convention of a thin underline for subjects and a thick underline for
verbs.

Being able to find the right subject and verb will help you correct errors of agreement.

Example: The list of items is/are on the desk.

Being able to identify the subject and verb correctly will also help you with commas and
semicolons as you will see later.

Definition. A Verb is a word that shows action (runs, hits, slides) or state of being (is, are, was,
were, am, and so on).

Examples: He ran around the block.

You are my friend.

Rule 1. If a verb follows to, it is called an infinitive phrase and is not the main verb. You
will find the main verb either before or after the infinitive phrase.

  Examples I like to walk.

:
The efforts to get her elected succeeded.
Definition. A Subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the verb.

Example: The woman hurried.

Woman is the subject.

Rule 2. A subject will come before a phrase beginning with of.

  Example A bouquet of yellow roses will lend color and fragrance to the room.
:

Rule To find the subject and verb, always find the verb first. Then ask who or what
3. performed the verb.

  Examples The jet engine passed inspection. Passed is the verb. Who or what
: passed? The engine, so engine is the subject. If you included the word
jet as the subject, lightning will not strike you. Technically, jet is an
adjective here and is part of what is known as the complete subject.

From the ceiling hung the chandelier. The verb is hung. Now, if you
think ceiling is the subject, slow down. Ask who or what hung. The
answer is chandelier, not ceiling. Therefore, chandelier is the subject.

Rule 4. Any request or command such as "Stop!" or "Walk quickly." has the understood
subject you because if we ask who is to stop or walk quickly, the answer must be
 you.

  Example (You) Please bring me some coffee.

: Bring is the verb. Who is to do the bringing? You understood.

Rule 5. Sentences often have more than one subject, more than one verb, or pairs of
subjects and verbs.

  Examples I like cake and he likes ice cream.

: Two pairs of subjects and verbs

He and I like cake.

Two subjects and one verb

She lifts weights and jogs daily.

One subject and two verbs

Basic The basic rule states that a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural
Rule. subject takes a plural verb.
NOTE: The trick is in knowing whether the subject is singular or plural. The next
trick is recognizing a singular or plural verb.

Hint: Verbs do not form their plurals by adding an s as nouns do. In order to
determine which verb is singular and which one is plural, think of which verb you
would use with he or she and which verb you would use with they.

  Example talks, talk

: Which one is the singular form? Which word would you use with he?
We say, "He talks." Therefore, talks is singular. We say, "They talk."
Therefore, talk is plural.

Rule 1. Two singular subjects connected by or or nor require a singular verb.

  Example My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today.

:

Rule 2. Two singular subjects connected by either/or or neither/nor require a singular

verb as in Rule 1.

  Examples Neither Juan nor Carmen is available.

:
Either Kiana or Casey is helping today with stage decorations.

Rule 3. When I is one of the two subjects connected by either/or or neither/nor, put it
second and follow it with the singular verb am.

  Example Neither she nor I am going to the festival.

 :

Rule 4. When a singular subject is connected by or or nor to a plural subject, put the
plural subject last and use a plural verb.

  Example The serving bowl or the plates go on that shelf.

:

Rule 5. When a singular and plural subject are connected by either/or or neither/nor, put
the plural subject last and use a plural verb.

  Example Neither Jenny nor the others are available.

:

Rule 6. As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are
connected by and.

  Example A car and a bike are my means of transportation.

:

Rule 7. Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by words such as along with, as
well as, besides, or not. Ignore these expressions when determining whether to use
a singular or plural verb.

  Examples The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.

:
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause
of her shaking.

Rule The pronouns each, everyone, every one, everybody, anyone, anybody, someone,
8. and somebody are singular and require singular verbs. Do not be misled by what
follows of.

  Examples Each of the girls sings well.

:
Every one of the cakes is gone.
NOTE: Everyone is one word when it means everybody. Every one is
two words when the meaning is each one.

Rule 9. With words that indicate portions—percent, fraction, part, majority, some, all,
none, remainder, and so forth —look at the noun in your of phrase (object of the
preposition) to determine whether to use a singular or plural verb. If the object of
the preposition is singular, use a singular verb. If the object of the preposition is
plural, use a plural verb.

  Examples Fifty percent of the pie has disappeared.

: Pie is the object of the preposition of.
 Fifty percent of the pies have disappeared.
Pies is the object of the preposition.

One-third of the city is unemployed.

One-third of the people are unemployed.

NOTE: Hyphenate all spelled-out fractions.

All of the pie is gone.

All of the pies are gone.

Some of the pie is missing.

Some of the pies are missing.

    None of the garbage was picked up.

    None of the sentences were punctuated correctly.

    Of all her books, none have sold as well as the first one.

NOTE: Apparently, the SAT testing service considers none as a singular word only. However,
according to Merriam Webster's Dictionary of English Usage, "Clearly none has been both
singular and plural since Old English and still is. The notion that it is singular only is a myth of
unknown origin that appears to have arisen in the 19th century. If in context it seems like a
singular to you, use a singular verb; if it seems like a plural, use a plural verb. Both are
acceptable beyond serious criticism" (p. 664).

Rule When either and neither are subjects, they always take singular verbs.
10.

  Examples Neither of them is available to speak right now.

:
Either of us is capable of doing the job.

Rule The words here and there have generally been labeled as adverbs even though they
11. indicate place. In sentences beginning with here or there, the subject follows the
verb.

  Examples: There are four hurdles to jump.

There is a high hurdle to jump.

Rule Use a singular verb with sums of money or periods of time.

12.

  Examples Ten dollars is a high price to pay.

:
Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
 Rule Sometimes the pronoun who, that, or which is the subject of a verb in the middle of
13. the sentence. The pronouns who, that, and which become singular or plural
according to the noun directly in front of them. So, if that noun is singular, use a
singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb.

  Examples Salma is the scientist who writes/write the reports.

: The word in front of who is scientist, which is singular. Therefore,
use the singular verb writes.

He is one of the men who does/do the work.

The word in front of who is men, which is plural. Therefore, use the
plural verb do.

Rule Collective nouns such as team and staff may be either singular or plural depending
14. on their use in the sentence.

  Examples The staff is in a meeting.

: Staff is acting as a unit here.

The staffs is in disagreement about the findings.

The staffs are acting as separate individuals in this example.

The sentence would read even better as:

The staff members are in disagreement about the findings.

Subjects and Objects, Active and Passive

A useful way to compare Subjects and Direct Objects is to observe how they behave in
active and passive sentences. Consider the following active sentence:

Active: Fire destroyed the palace

Here we have a Subject fire and a Direct Object the palace.

Now let's convert this into a passive sentence:

Passive: The palace was destroyed by fire
The change from active to passive has the following results:

1. The active Direct Object the palace becomes the passive Subject

2. The active Subject fire becomes part of the PP by fire (the by-agent phrase).