The First Four Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement,

by Junaid Mascara
Note: I decided to break this unit in half since I cover the first half of the rules on the second
objective exam and the second half on the third exam.

1. The Present Tense of Regular Verbs

Subject-verb agreement is an issue only for the present tense and “was” versus
“were.” One problem concerns the third-person singular present tense verbs and plural
noun subjects; they both end in “-s”. Remember one and only one of the two ends
in “-s” when used together. This rule was included in the “1st Page of Grammar” near the
text’s beginning. No other verb requires an “-s” at the end. The second person takes a
plural verb--something that reveals itself in “to be,” present and past.
EXAMPLES: The cat meows. The cats meow. You are beautiful
Verbs never require an apostrophe, and neither do plural nouns that don’t
show possession. I’ll repeat this statement in the section on apostrophes. Unnecessary
apostrophes are my “pet peeve” when it comes to grammar mistakes.
It seems that the lack of change in English verb endings fools us. We have a lot
of helping verbs like will (future) and would (conditional) that seemingly make English
grammar easy concerning verbs. However, the first helping verb in a verb phrase must
agree with the subject, such as “He has helped his friend with English.” All regular past
tense verbs end in “-ed”. An English verb can’t be irregular on the basis of the present
tense, aside from “be,” “have,” and “do.” The general rule for an irregular verb is a verb
that does not end in “-ed” for the past or past participle.

2. Words between the Subject and Verb

Sometimes the subject and verb aren’t next to each other. Usually the type of
phrase, which comes between the subject and verb, is a prepositional phrase.
Remember that a prepositional phrase can never have the subject; the noun or pronoun in
the prepositional phrase is the object of the preposition. You may wish to review the
lists of words commonly used as prepositions, especially the two-letters ones. I have
underlined the prepositional phrases in this section of examples. You could actually use
proper subject-verb agreement by accident when the sentence subject and the noun in the
interrupting phrase share the same number.
EXAMPLES: The house with the red tiles shows Mexican architectural influence.
The leaders of the basketball team were the point guard and center.

3. Subject after Verb

This structure usually occurs in questions starting with the “w” words (what,
where, who, when, and why) and “how” as well as statements starting with “here” or
“there”. Note that the third example shows that the subject can come between the
auxiliary verb and the main verb. This situation is different from the typical subject-verb-
object (S-V-O) structure of English sentences. Sometimes we begin sentences with a
prepositional phrase for variety. More often than not, the subject still comes before the
verb. I have italicized the subjects in this section of examples.
EXAMPLES: Where is my wallet?
There are many tall students in this room.
Why don’t you have your essay yet?
In the gym are three new fiberglass backboards. (prepositional phrase,
verb before subject. Note that there is no comma between the prepositional phrase and
the verb).
Besides the gym, the Glass Recreation Center has meeting room, an
indoor track, tennis courts and even a fishing pond. (prepositional phrase, subject before
verb. Here we have the prepositional phrase followed by a comma).

4. Compound Subjects
By definition, compound sentences have a subject and verb in each independent
clause. The subjects and verbs could be singular or plural. Compound subjects take
plural verbs because they’re joined with “and”; moreover, they are in the same clause.
Again, I have italicized the subjects in these sentences.
EXAMPLES: Anthony and Aaron play basketball for the school.
Randy and I teach English.
 However, when the two words refer to the same thing, the verb stays singular
since we don’t have a compound subject in these cases. But it looks like one! I call it a
“counterfeit compound subject.”
EXAMPLES:
Research and Development builds the future for businesses and colleges.
Sanford and Son is Herb’s favorite TV show.
Barnes and Noble has a bookstore in South Tyler by the mall.

Some words function like “and” but don’t make a subject into a compound
subject, often because they are prepositions: “as well as,” “together with,” “along with,”
“including,” “with,” and “in addition.” Thanks to that website in Hartford, CN--started by
the late Charles Darling--and the Writer’s Craft with their many authors.
EXAMPLE: Mr. Jones along with Mrs. Smith is copying papers for the students.

Sample Sentences for the

First 4 Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement.
Don’t use any helping verbs like “can, should, will,” etc.
Only use the present tense or the past tense of “be”—was/were.
I. Present Tense with no infinitive: 3rd person singular and plural. Be careful with
apostrophe use.
1. The dog barks.
2. The dogs bark.
3. A lawyer’s cat plays with the other pets.
II. Words Between the Subject and Verb (usually prepositional phrases)
4. The basketball players at our college are highly skilled.
5. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
6. The quarterback from Lufkin is already a regional legend.
III. Subject after Verb (“w” questions, here/there).
7. Where is my coffee cup?
8. There are many teachers across the hall.
9. Here is my money for the concert tickets.

IV. Compound Subjects (Two or more separate subjects or two units that refer to
the same thing). Note: #11 is a Counterfeit Compound Subject so it’s singular not
plural like the other two.
10. Jack and Jill go up the hill.
11. Harper & Row publishes books.
12. Tim and I play soccer.

SV-A.Quiz: First Four Rules

 The rule number, according to my chapter section, will be listed
after the question.

1. The girls ____________me (Rule 1, 3rd person Present)

 like
 likes
2. That pug__________her (Rule 1).
 love
 loves
3. The free Tejano concert artists on June 19______Joe Lopez and three others. (Rule 2,
Phrase between Subject and Verb).
 was
 were
4. The best student in the afternoon classes________ from Jacksonville. (Rule 2).
 is
 are
5. Where_________that money you owe me? (Rule 3, Subject after Verb)
 is
 are
6. There ___________fewer absences this semester. (Rule 3)
 has been
 have been
7. Mary and I __________grants acquisition information (Rule 4, Compound Subjects).
 study
 studies
8. Spanish Verb Drills and Spanish Verbs: Ser and Estar_____ fine textbook
supplements (Rule 4).
 is
 are

First Four Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz Answers

1. a
2. b
3 b
4. a
5. a
6. b
7. a
8. b
Last Four Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement

5. Indefinite Pronouns
Most indefinite pronouns take singular verbs. Many are compound words that
start with “any, every, no,” and “some”; they end with “one, body,” and “thing”. See the
table at the end of this section. Only five always take plural verbs: “others, both, many,
few,” and “several”. Remember the acronym, OBMFS.
Some indefinite pronouns can take a singular or plural verb based on whether the
noun to which they are referring is uncountable (singular) or countable (plural).
Uncountable words are far less common. They’re really tiny such as sand, sugar, rice, etc.
These varying indefinite pronouns may also be used as adjectives before a noun. The
varying indefinite pronouns are “all, any, more, most, none,” and “some.” I’ve italicized
the verbs this time.
EXAMPLES:
Always Singular
Everyone has to do his or her work.
Almost nobody gets away with laziness forever.
Something for nothing is a poor option.
Is anybody home?
Always Plural
Others use you, but I just want to move in.
Both want a cat.
“Many are chosen, but few are called.”
Several like playing racquetball.
Varies
Some like grammar better than a kick in the head.
(This indefinite pronoun refers to a countable noun).
Some sand is in my shoe
(This indefinite adjective describes an uncountable noun).
Most of the class is here today! (refers to one group)
Most students love computers (refers to a lot of people).

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
Always singular
anybody every nobody somebody another each
anyone everybody no one someone much either
anything everyone nothing something one
neither everything

Always plural
both many few several others
 Singular or plural, depending on context
all more none
any most some

When Singular & Plural Subjects are Joined by “or”—and

When Positive & Negative Subjects are Joined.
What do we do when a singular and plural subject are joined by “or”? Make the verb
agree with the nearest subject. Obviously, when “or” connects two singular nouns, the
verb will be singular. This time, I’ll italicize the subject that is nearest the verb.
EXAMPLES:
 Either stucco or cement blocks are used for residential construction in Mexico.
 Either cement blocks or stucco is used for residential construction in Mexico.

What do we do when we have a positive subject and a negative subject of

different numbers? Let’s check Guide to Grammar & Writing--a website at Capital
Community College of Hartford, Connecticut. The verb must agree with the positive
subject.
EXAMPLES
 The cooks but not the head chef have ordered from the restaurant supply
company.
 It is not the assistant coaches but the head coach who calls the audibles.

7. Collective Nouns
A collective noun refers to a group of living beings or things as a single unit;
therefore, these nouns take singular verbs. Unlike indefinite pronouns, the collective
noun may become plural by simply adding an “-s” when necessary, and then we need a
plural verb.
Collective nouns often include group activities like “audience, class, crowd,
faculty, jury, school, staff,” and “team”; frequently, collective nouns are military like
“army, air force, navy, battalion, and “squadron.” Social animals can get together in herds
(mammals), flocks (birds), and schools (fish).
EXAMPLES:
 That audience was very polite yet noisy.
 Both juries were hung and didn’t reach a verdict.
 The air force seems to get more emphasis in war since 1990.
 Those squadrons receive decorations every year.
 A buffalo herd is no longer a rare sight; in fact, buffaloes
were removed from the endangered list.

An amount takes a singular verb because the amount is treated as a unit, a singular
noun. Sums and products take singular verbs in mathematical equations. Fractional
expressions vary depending on the meaning. I’ll italicize the verbs this time.
 $2.29/pound is a good deal for a roast.
 Three-fourths of our student body votes Democrat.
 Three-fourths of the professors vote Republican.
8. Special Cases: Looks are Deceiving
Some words end in “-s” but refer to one unit and take singular verbs like
“mathematics, physics, statistics, thermodynamics, news,” and “measles.” Notice how
many of these words are technical subjects. Some words ending in “-s” refer to a single
thing yet are plural and require a plural verb – such as “assets” and “earnings.” Lots of
clothes with two limbs take plural verbs even when you’re just referring to one pair such
as “pants, jeans, glasses,” and “trousers.” The title of a book or work of art is always
singular even if a noun in the title is plural. This time, I’ll underline the verb. As for the
subjunctive mood, that area is so complicated that it merits a separate small grammar
chapter section.
 Sometimes “no news is good news.”
 Our thanks go to the maintenance worker who removed the
moldy carpet.
 My newest black jeans are my favorite pair.
 Originally in the Sixties, The Avengers was a British
detective series starring Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg;
now The Avengers is a movie about comic book
superheroes.

Sample Sentences for the Last 4 Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement

V. Indefinite Pronouns (usually take singular verbs)

1. Nearly everyone in China likes rice.
2. Some like grammar better than a kick in the head (countable-plural).
3. The sugar stays in the big, sturdy sack (uncountable noun-singular).
4. Both want information on actually starting a website (OBMFS-plural).
VI. Agreement with Nearest Subject when Joined by “or” & with Positive Subject if
Other Subject is Negative.
5. Coach or his players shoot baskets during lunch.
6. The players or the coach shoots baskets during lunch.
7. Not the babies’ daddies, but the mother cat has the dominant fur color gene—
reddish-orange in eight out of ten kittens.
VII. Collective Nouns (usually singular)
8. Our basketball team has a lot of potential.
9. That crowd is loud but pleasant.
10. Flocks of birds fly south for the winter.
VIII. Special Cases
11. Statistics was always my favorite Math class (a class that looks plural).
12. My black jeans are my best-looking pair (two-pronged unit).
13. The good news about the new students’ grades is wonderful.

Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz: Last Four Rules

9. Everybody________you when you sing the blues (Rule 5, Indefinite Pronouns).

 love
 loves

10. Both__________fish sauce and Sriracha hot sauce in their Vietnamese stew
(pho) (Rule 5).
 love
 loves

11. The U.S. Air Force_________been playing a more important role in combat since the
Gulf War (Rule 6, Collective Nouns).

 has
 have

12. The audience_________famous songs along with the band. (Rule 6).

 sings
 sing

13. Either the cats or the dog_____my dinner when I go to the kitchen.
(Rule 7: Agreement with Nearest Subject when Joined by “or” & with Positive Subject if
Other Subject is Negative).

 eats
 eat

14. Internet websites, not Mom__________that Black Irish were mixed: African-
American and White, explaining Grandmother Elrod’s resemblance to Josephine Baker.
(Rule 7).

 reveals
 reveal

15. Physics________his favorite subject (Rule 8, Special Cases).

 was
 were

16.My glasses __________adjusting immediately. (Rule 8)

 needs
 need
 Last Four Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz Answers

9. b
10. a
11. a
12. b
13. a
14. b
15. a
16. b