AgreementAgreement

By: Efi Santhy PanjaitanBy: Efi Santhy Panjaitan

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Subject-Verb Subject-Verb AgreementAgreement

►The basic ruleThe basic rule states that a singular states that a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb. plural subject takes a plural verb.

►Notes: Notes: - we have to know whether the subject singular or we have to know whether the subject singular or

PluralPlural- we have to recognize whether a singular or plural we have to recognize whether a singular or plural

verbverb

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1. Subject – verb 1. Subject – verb agreement is separated by agreement is separated by prepositional phraseprepositional phrase

Example; Example; 1. The1. The studystudy of languages of languages isis very very interestinginteresting2. Several2. Several theoriestheories on this subject on this subject have have been been debateddebated3. The fear 3. The fear of rape and robbery of rape and robbery hashas causedcaused many people to flee the citiesmany people to flee the cities

Singular subject + (prepositional phrase) + Singular subject + (prepositional phrase) + singular verb singular verb

Plural subject + (prepositional phrase) + plural Plural subject + (prepositional phrase) + plural verbverb

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2. Subject with compound subject 2. Subject with compound subject has the verb in has the verb in pluralpluralwhile if it is thought together as one while if it is thought together as one person, one thing so the compound person, one thing so the compound subject will be subject will be singularsingular..

Example:Example:

1. Tigor and his brother 1. Tigor and his brother areare students students

2. Room and board 2. Room and board is is $30,- per month (when $30,- per month (when you think them as one)you think them as one)

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3. When a singular and plural 3. When a singular and plural subject are connected bysubject are connected byeither/or, neither/nor put the either/or, neither/nor put the verb of the sentence in verb of the sentence in accordance with the subject accordance with the subject near it.near it.

Example:Example:

1. neither jenny or 1. neither jenny or the othersthe others areare available available

2. the boy or 2. the boy or the girlthe girl isis waiting for me waiting for me

3. neither the managers nor 3. neither the managers nor the secretarythe secretary wantswants to leave.to leave.

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4. The indefinite pronouns such as: 4. The indefinite pronouns such as: each, every, either, neither, one, each, every, either, neither, one, every one, anyone, someone, every one, anyone, someone, anybody, everybody, somebody anybody, everybody, somebody are singular and required singular are singular and required singular verb.verb.Example:Example:►every oneevery one of these apples of these apples is is wormywormy►eacheach of the girls of the girls singssings well. well.

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5. Several indefinite pronouns are with 5. Several indefinite pronouns are with verb plural:verb plural:* several, some, a few, all, most, * several, some, a few, all, most, one-third, one-third, if you think is plural subject so the verb if you think is plural subject so the verb in the sentence become plural verb, and in the sentence become plural verb, and on the contrary.on the contrary.Example:Example:► 1. Some of the students are in the yard1. Some of the students are in the yard► 2. Some of the student is in the yard2. Some of the student is in the yard► 3. All of the pie is gone.3. All of the pie is gone.► 4. All of the pies are gone.4. All of the pies are gone.► 5. One-third of the people are unemployed.5. One-third of the people are unemployed.► 6. One-third of the city is unemployed.6. One-third of the city is unemployed.

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* None* None also can take either a singular also can take either a singular or plural verb, depending on the noun or plural verb, depending on the noun which follows it.which follows it.

Example:Example:► 1. None of the counterfeit money has been 1. None of the counterfeit money has been

foundfound► 2. None of the students have finished the 2. None of the students have finished the

exam yetexam yet

None + of the + non- count noun + singular verbNone + of the + non- count noun + singular verb

None + of the + plural count noun + plural verbNone + of the + plural count noun + plural verb

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6. Collective noun as subject:6. Collective noun as subject:* indicating a number of people or animals are * indicating a number of people or animals are singularsingular. In some cases they are . In some cases they are pluralplural if the if the sentence indicates sentence indicates that individual that individual members are acting separately.members are acting separately.Example: army, group, class, family, Example: army, group, class, family, organization, team, government, union, jury, organization, team, government, union, jury, flock, herd, etc.flock, herd, etc.Example: Example: ► the organizationthe organization hashas lost many members this year. lost many members this year.► our teamour team isis going to win the game going to win the game► the majoritythe majority believes believes that we are in no dangerthat we are in no danger► the majority of the studentsthe majority of the students believe believe him to be him to be

innocent.innocent.► the flock of birdsthe flock of birds isis circling overhead circling overhead

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* indicating time, money, measurement* indicating time, money, measurementExample:Example:1. twenty-five dollars is too much to pay the 1. twenty-five dollars is too much to pay the shirtshirt2. fifty minutes isn’t enough time to finish the 2. fifty minutes isn’t enough time to finish the quizquiztwo miles is too much to run in a daytwo miles is too much to run in a day

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7. The expression 7. The expression the numberthe number is is followed by “singular verb” while followed by “singular verb” while a a numbernumber is followed by “plural verb”. is followed by “plural verb”.

Example:Example:► 1. 1. a number of dressesa number of dresses wearwear at the at the

partyparty► 2. 2. the number of dressesthe number of dresses wearswears at the at the

partyparty

a number of + plural noun + plural verba number of + plural noun + plural verb

the number of + plural noun + singular verbthe number of + plural noun + singular verb

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8. Sentences beginning 8. Sentences beginning with the existential with the existential ‘there’, the subjects are ‘there’, the subjects are actually after the verb. actually after the verb.

Example:Example:► there is there is ice- creamice- cream in the glass in the glass► there was there was a studenta student in the room last night in the room last night► there are there are many orangesmany oranges on the table on the table

There is There is

There was + singular subject….(or non-count)There was + singular subject….(or non-count)

There has beenThere has been

There areThere are

There were + Plural subjectThere were + Plural subject

There have been There have been

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