subject verb agreement
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENTEnglish for Specific PurposesAntonio Delgado, BSEd III
![Page 2: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
As an additional guide in brushing up on your grammar, keep in mind the following rules:
![Page 3: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
1.) The general rule is that singular subjects require singular verbs and plural subjects require plural verbs.
Examples:Robinhood steals from the rich and helps the poor.
The books are on the table.
![Page 4: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
2.) The pronouns I and you take a plural verb.
Examples:You are not alone.I sympathize with the prosecutor who covered his ears.
![Page 5: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Exception: I is used with am in the present tense and with was in the past tense.
Examples:I am the leader of the group.I was surprised when she walked out of the room.
![Page 6: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
3.) When the sentence begins with there, the verb must agree with the subject that follows.
Examples:There are rice fields in Nueva Ecija.
There is a boy waiting for you outside.
![Page 7: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
4.) Compound Subjectsa. Compound subjects connected by AND usually require a plural verb.
Examples:The teacher and the student learn from each other.
The director and the producer are present at the awards night.
![Page 8: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
b. Compound subjects connected by AND but are considered a single unit or refer to the same person or thing require a singular verb.
Examples:Peace and calm reigns over the country.
The director and producer was present at the awards night.
![Page 9: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Note: When each part of the compound subject has a limiting word each, this indicates that they represent different persons or things and therefore the verb required is plural.
![Page 10: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
c. When compound subjects connected by AND are modified by the words each, every, no or many a, the verb is singular.
Examples:Each officer and member is expected to help.
Many a boy and girl has volunteered to help.
![Page 11: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
d. In compound subjects connected by or or nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject part.
Examples:Either the players or the coach is welcome to attend the planning session.
Neither the book nor the papers were found.
![Page 12: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
5.) Collective nouns usually require singular verbs.
Examples:The committee adjourns.The band plays regularly at the local bar.
![Page 13: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Exception: If the idea denotes separate individuals, a plural verb is required.
Examples:The committee disagree on the voting procedure.
The band are cleaning their own instruments.
![Page 14: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
6.) Indefinite Pronounsa. Each, none, one, either, neither, much, nobody, somebody, something, everything, anyone, etc. require singular verbs.
Examples:Everyone is expected to cooperate.
Each takes home a million pesos.
![Page 15: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
b. Both, few, several and some require plural verbs.
Examples:Many are called but few are chosen.
![Page 16: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
7.) Nouns plural in form but singular in meaning (e.g. news, mumps, measles; Mathematics economics, politics; Philippines, Maldives; and titles of books, movies, etc.) require singular verbs.
![Page 17: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Examples:Measles is a contagious disease.Mathematics is considered a difficult subject by most students.
The Philippines lags behind other countries in economic development.
Trees is a poem by Joyce Kilmer.
![Page 18: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
8.) Some nouns are always plural (e.g. scissors, tweezers, pants, eyeglasses, etc.) and therefore require plural verbs.
Examples:The scissors are missing.Your eyeglasses look good on you.
![Page 19: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
9.) The expression a number takes a plural verb; the expression the number takes a singular verb.
Examples:A number of journalists were killed.
The number of slain journalists is high.
![Page 20: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
10.) Words joined to the subject by expressions such as with, together with, as well as, accompanied by, not, or including are considered parenthetical; therefore they do not affect the number of the verb.
![Page 21: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Examples:The teacher, as well as the students, learn in the classroom.
Noynoy, not Mar, is the leader of the government.
![Page 22: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
11.) Amount of money, length of time, unit of measurement and fraction require a singular verb.
Examples:Sixteen hours is a long time to travel.
Five thousand pesos is too much for a daily allowance of a student.
Three-fourths is enough.
![Page 23: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
12.) Fractions take a singular verb if the object of the OF-phrase that follows is singular; and a plural verb if the object of the OF-phrase is plural.
Examples:Half of the apples were rotten.Half of the apple pie was eaten by you.
![Page 24: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
13.) The number of the verb ties with the number of the relative pronoun used as a subject.
Examples:The people who know her find her very annoying.
He is one of the students who were arrested during the rally.
![Page 25: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
REMEMBER:The verb agrees with the subject, not the modifier, intervening phrase or predicate noun.
Examples:The roots of the tree anchor it to the soil.
A five hundred peso-bill was found on the table.
My objection is the too many errors.
![Page 26: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
REMEMBER:Sometimes, sentence might be grammatically correct but awkward.
Examples:Awkward: Either he or I am the first.
Better: Either he is the first or I am.
![Page 27: Subject verb agreement](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062405/555ab794d8b42ad0538b54ca/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
THE END