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Subject and Verb Agreement

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Jana Alexa Del Rosario
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14 views8 pages

Subject and Verb Agreement

Uploaded by

Jana Alexa Del Rosario
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SUBJECT AND VERB

AGREEMENT
Another thing to consider I the study of verbs is the agreement between the
subject and the verb. The general rule states that a verb must agree with its
subject in person and in number. This is seen clearly when the verb is in the
present tense. Here, the singular verb is -s form of the verb while the base
form is the plural verb.

RULES ON THE AGREEMENT OF SUBJECT AND VERB

1. The pronoun ‘you’ always ties with a plural verb.


You dance so well.
You are very generous.

2. Most indefinite pronouns like everyone, everybody, someone, one,


something, anyone, etc. are paired with singular verbs.
Everything is ready for the affair tomorrow.
Someone wants to see you.

3. Indefinite pronouns like both, several, and few tie with plural verbs.
Several have been chosen by the dean to represent the college.
Both like tall girls.
4. A collective noun is paired with a singular verb when it is taken as a unit
and with a plural verb when its members are considered individually.
The basketball team practices here every afternoon.
The class disagree on the site of the picnic.

5. Adjectives used as nominals are considered plural.


The are expected to lead the protest.
The intelligent are respected for their views.

6. Intervening words do not affect the agreement between the subject and
the verb.
The mother, with her young kids, visits her parents every month.
Juanito, with his brothers, lives in an apartment in Manila.

7. Compound subjects take plural verbs. When both subjects refer to the
same person or thing are closely associated with each other, use a singular
verb.
Tricia and Samantha attend the same school.
My husband and best friend supports all my endeavors.
8. Singular subjects joined by or, either . . . or or neither . . . nor take a
singular subject while plural subjects take a plural verb. If one subject is
singular and the other one is plural, the verb agrees with the subject nearer
to it.
Either Marsha or Ethel is coming today to see you.
Neither the boys nor the girls are interested in the picnic.
Either you or I am attending the conference.

9. When the subject is a title, a clause, a quotation, or a group of words, a


singular verb is used.
‘Titanic’ is the highest grossing movie in history.
‘Honesty is the best policy’ seems to have lost its essence.

10. The verb agrees with the subject, not with the predicate noun.
The best aspect of the show was the colorful costumes.
The different fresh juices are the specialty of its restaurants.

11. A singular subject follows the expletive it. Depending on the number of
the subject, a singular verb or a plural verb follows the expletive there.
It is the boys who are responsible for this mess.
There was a girl crying in the lobby this morning.
There are students who are interested in the scholarship grant.
12. Expression indicating an amount of money, a space of time, or a unit of
measurement take a singular verb when the subject is regarded as a unit.
Two-thirds of the town is under water.
Two yards of this cloth is not enough for her gown.

13. Relative pronouns referring to plural antecedents require a plural verb.


Baliuag University is one of the universities that were granted
autonomous by CHED.
Sonia is one of the students who attend the convention.

14. When the subject is a fraction, a singular subject is used when the object
of the of-phrase is singular and plural verb is used when the object of the of-
phrase is plural.
One-half of green mangoes have been sold.
Two-thirds of the cake was eaten by the children.

15. When one subject is used affirmatively and another is used negatively, the
verb agrees with the subjects used affirmatively.
The boy, not his olders brothers, takes care of their sister.
Not Alma, but her friends, want to hold a party next month.
16. The expression ‘the number of’ requires singular verb while ‘a number
of’ requires a plural verb.
The number of registered nurses in the country is 30,000.
A number of students are waiting for the dean outside.

17. Nouns that are plural in form but singular in meaning take singular verbs.
Mathematics is a challenging subject.
Politics makes or breaks friendships.

18. Some nouns are always used in the plural and take plural verbs.
His pants were bought from an exclusive shop.
These scissors are sharp.
QUIZ
Direction: Choose the correct verb from each pair in parentheses in the following sentences.

1. Their headquarters ( is , are ) located in Cubao, Quezon City.


2. One half of glass of milk ( was , were ) drunk by the baby.
3. ‘Tales of the Traveler’ ( was , were ) written by Irving.
4. A number of applicants ( come , comes ) to the office every day.
5. The students, not the teacher, ( monopolize , monopolizes ) the discussion.
6. Thanks ( was , were ) extended to the guest through the emcee.
7. Statististic ( is , are ) easy for people gifted in mathematics.
8. The number of errors ( has , have ) been determined.
9. Neither Deborah nor her brothers ( answer , answers ) me back when I reprimand them.
10. The United States ( do , does ) not offer much opportunities to foreigners.
11. The furniture ( has , have ) been delivered safely.
12. The owner and manager of the store ( pay , pays ) the delivery men.
13. The librarian, with his staff ( make , makes ) borrowing materials in the library easy for
the students.
14. My greatest disappointment in teaching ( is , are ) students failing in m y subject.
15. Every leaf, bud, and flower ( is , are ) very well taken care of in flower arrangement.
16. The arrival of my cousins ( promise , promises ) many good times.
17. The sound of the bells always ( please , pleases ) me.
18. At the back of the room, ( sit , sits ) many boys.
19. There ( is , are ) many pictures in the magazine.
20. Either the principal or the teachers ( attend, attends ) the meeting regularly.
QUIZ
Direction: Choose the correct verb from each pair in parentheses in the following sentences.

21. There ( remain , remains ) many exercise to finish.


22. Twenty million pesos ( has , have ) been appropriated for the project.
23. Neither the cat nor the dogs ( is , are ) fed enough.
24. Politics ( is , are ) a dirty game.
25. A number of students ( is , are ) transferring to the city.
26. It is one of the hospitals in London that ( is , are ) accepting nurses.
27. The number of boys entering the teaching profession ( has , have ) increased.
28. He is one of the teachers who ( is, are ) always present.
29. The binoculars ( is , are ) used to see far objects.
30. One-half of the towns ( has , have ) been under water.

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