What’s the Function?Subject/Verb Agreement

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Though many students may consider subject/verb agreement to be a rather inconsequential part of writing, it is actually extremely important.

To communicate effectively to an audience, a person must be able to express himself or herself coherently.

Clarity is key, and correct subject/verb agreement contributes to clarity.

Mastering basic skills such as subject/verb agreement builds a foundation for excellent writing.

How does subject/verb agreement contribute to good writing?

A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

Examples:She cleverly outsmarts him. (singular subject, singular verb)

They cleverly outsmart him. (plural subject, plural verb)

Rule #1

Use a singular verb with two singular subjects connected by “or” or “nor”.

Example: Julianne or Toby is going to work the late shift tonight.

Rule #2

Use a singular verb with two singular subjects connected by “either/or” or “neither/nor.”

Example: Neither Raul nor Janet is available to drive me to the movies.

Rule #3

When “I” is one of the two subjects connected by “either/or” or “neither/nor,” put the “I” second and use a (first-person) singular verb.

Example: Neither he nor I am planning a birthday party for Lisa.

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 dog or the cats have torn down the window shades in the living room.

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 Henry nor his friends know when the bikes were stolen.

Rule #6

Generally, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are connected by the word “and.”

Example: Jupiter and Saturn are located in our solar system.

Rule #7

When the subject is separated from the verb by an expression such as “along with,” “besides,” “as well as,” etc., determine the verb by using the original subject.

Example: Stephen, along with his sisters, is attending the school play tonight.

Rule #8

Use singular verbs with pronouns such as “anyone,” “anybody,” “each,” “everyone,” “every one,” “everybody,” “someone,” and “somebody.”

Example: Anyone who speaks during the test gets five points taken away.

Rule #9

With “portion words” – such as “percent,” “fraction,” “part,” “majority,” “some,” “all,” “none,” “remainder,” etc. – determine the verb by the object of the preposition.

Example:The majority of the cake is gone.A fraction of the cookies are left.

Rule #10

The expression “the number” requires a singular verb, while the expression “a number” requires a plural verb.

Example(s): The number of people attending is high.

A number of participants are not coming anymore.

Rule #11

Always use singular verbs with “either” and “neither” as subject.

Example(s):Neither of the students was willing to admit what happened.

Either of the students is able to enter the contest.

Rule #12

The subject follows the verb in sentences that begin with “here” and “there.”

Examples:There are four popsicles left in the freezer.

There is one ice-cream sandwich left.

Rule #13

Use a singular verb with periods of time or amounts in money.

Examples:Thirty dollars is a steep price.

Four years seems like such a long time.

Rule #14

The pronouns “who,” “that,” and “which” are made singular or plural depending on the noun in front of them.

Example(s):She is the student who collects cans for the clothing drive each year.

He is one of the club members who organize the car wash each year.

Rule #15

Collective nouns such as “staff” and “team” may be either singular or plural, depending on how they are used in the sentence.

Examples:The team usually wins the championship.(referring to the team as a unit)

The team are undecided about the lineup. (referring to individual members)

Rule #16

Apply your new knowledge on subject/verb agreement.

On Your Own

Review your answers with your partner. Were there observations you found that they did not?

What did they find you didn’t?

With a Partner

Review one of your already graded writing assignments.

What subject/verb errors do you notice?Are there trends with subject/verb errors?

Application