SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

When speaking about agreement, consider the following points:

1. NUMBER is a shared grammatical category between the indefinite articles and nouns, and
between the demonstratives and nouns. Hence, there has to be agreement.
2. Pronouns exhibit both NUMBER and GENDER; thus both grammatical categories have to agree.
3. When the simple present tense is used, agreement between subject and verb is very important.

Thus one can say: He is an honest man. These lessons are new. Nobody is allowed to stay here.
But one cannot say: He is an honest men; This lessons are new; and Nobody are allowed to stay here.
These are all ungrammatical sentences.

1. The verb agrees with its subject in person and number.

a. A singular subject requires a singular verb.
E.g. A young man lives in the future.
The customer asks for a discount.

b. A plural subject requires a plural verb.

E.g. Young men live in the future.
The customers asks for a discount.

2. Compound subjects connected by and and both require a plural verb.

E.g. The walls and the ceiling are beautifully decorated.
Bob and Ted look like twins.
Both John and his sister are going to the party.

Exception: When the subjects refer to the same person, thing, or idea, the verb is singular.
E.g. The secretary and treasurer of this class is absent. (same person)
The secretary and the treasurer are absent. (two persons)
His friend and fellow author is attending a seminar. (one person)
His friend and his fellow author are attending a seminar. (two persons)

3. Phrases like together with, accompanied by, as well as, in addition to, including, etc. which
intervene between subject and verb do not affect the verb.
E.g. The bus, loaded with boxes of fruits and vegetables, was abandoned in a solitary
road.
My sister, together with her friends, arrives tonight.

4. Indefinite pronouns such as some, all, most, any, and none take singular or plural verbs depending
on the number of the object of the of-phrase that follows.
E.g. Some of the things were lost.
Most of the music is difficult to appreciate.
Most of the students do not like to study.
All of the cake was eaten by my brother.
All of her dresses do not fit her.
Has any of this evidence been presented?
Have any of my friends called me?

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 None of the evidence points to his guilt.
None of our students were involved.

5. Fractions are singular or plural depending upon the object of the of-phrase.
E.g. One-third of the orange is rotten.
One-third of the oranges are rotten.
One-half of tee money was stolen.
One-half of the men were laid off.

6. A collective noun takes a singular verb when the speaker is thinking of the group as a unit; it takes
a plural verb when the speaker is thinking of the individual member of the group.
E.g. The team was ranked first in the nation. (team as a single unit)
The team were talking over some new plays. (team as its members)

7. Compound subjects joined by or, nor, eitheror, neithernor, the verb agrees with the nearest
subject.
E.g. My brother or my sister is likely to be at home.
Neither Oscar nor his friends were present at the symphonies.

8. Each, neither, either, one, no one, everyone, someone, anybody, nobody, another, and anything
are singular pronouns and they require singular verbs.
E.g. It seems that everyone wants more money.
Neither is trustworthy.

Note: Each other is used when referring to two persons or things; one another is used when
referring to more than two.
E.g. My best friend and I always help each other.
The people in the community help one another.

9. Several, few, both, and many are always plural. They are used only with plural nouns.
E.g. Several students join the rally.
Many were surprised at the final score.
Few members attend the meeting.
Both of your excuses are plausible.

10. Much and little are singular. They are only used with singular nouns.
E.g. A little kindness is what I only ask from you.
Much water was taken from the jar.

11. The verb agrees with its subject, not with its predicate noun.
E.g. Ricardos chief interest is rocks and minerals.
His hobby is reading and writing poems.

12. The verb agrees with the positive subject, not with the negative.
E.g. Susan, not her sister, is going to Manila.
I, not my friends, am buying the dresses.

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13. Nouns ending in s but are singular in meaning use singular verbs.
E.g. mumps, measles, economics, mathematics, physics, ethics, news, intramurals,
civics, athletics, social studies, calisthenics, statistics, gymnastics, phonics,
acrobatics, aesthetics

Mathematics is very easy.

Physics is a very complicated subject.

14. Plural verbs are used for nouns plural in form and meaning.
E.g. scissors, pliers, pants, trousers, spectacles, oats, goods, glasses, refreshments,
riches, ashes, clippers, thanks, shoes, shorts, tongs, socks, proceeds, slacks

My pants need to be washed.

The scissors are very sharp.

15. Words or phrases that express periods of time, weights, measurements, and amount of money
require singular verbs.
E.g. Five hours is too long to read a short story.
Three hundred pesos is not enough.
Five miles is an average distance for me to run.

16. The expression the number takes singular verb and the expression a number takes a plural verb.
E.g. The number of errors was surprising.
A number of errors were made by both teams.

17. A singular verb is used when the subject is a title of a book, play, story, novel, movie, or musical
composition and company name.
E.g. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy.
Girl on Fire was sung by Alicia Keys.
Delmonico Brothers specializes in organic produce and additive-free meats.

18. Some nouns (mass and abstract nouns) have no plural form and demand singular verbs.
E.g. bread, sugar, chalk, food, applause, milk, coffee, advice, patience, generosity,
diligence, ignorance, information, scenery, baggage, etc.

19. Every or many a before a word or series of words is followed by a singular verb.
E.g. Every man, woman, and child was asked to contribute.
Many a college student wishes to return to the easy days if the high school.

20. There are nouns that are always plural.

E.g. These goods are from Mrs. Cruz.
All the help (employees) are leaving.
Her kin (kinfolk) are far away.
The police (members of the police department) are coming.
Poultry (chickens) are hard to raise.
Her remains (dead body) are lying in state.
These trousers (pants) are expensive

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21. Some nouns are rarely made plural. In ordinary conversation use these as mass nouns.
E.g. advice (some advice, much advice, a piece of advice, a bit of advice)
candy (some candy, a lot of (much) candy, etc.)
food (little food, some (much) food, a platter of food)
grass (thick grass, much grass, a blade of grass)
chalk, clothing, blood, mail, paper, homework, money, graft, ammunition, soap,
help

Note: When a noun above is preceded by pieces of, kinds of, types of, etc., it is followed by a
plural verb.
E.g. Various kinds of clothing are sold at that store.
Many pieces of chalk are in the box.

22. Some nouns change their meaning with a change in form. These nouns are commonly used in the
singular; they carry a special meaning when used in plural.

E.g. Advice (counsel) His advice is generally followed.

Advices (orders, news, etc.) Early advices from abroad are e-mailed daily.
Candy (genera use) Here is some candy.
Candies (different kinds) Assorted candies are in this box.
Cloth (fabric) This cloth is lovely.
Clothes (finished garment) These clothes are for eveningwear.
Fish (collectively) There is some fish for dinner.
Fishes (different kinds) There are different fishes in the aquarium.
Food (general use) There was so much food.
Foods (different kinds) Canned foods are available in sari-sari store.
Fruit (general use) The fruit contains the plants seeds.
Fruits (different kinds) The fruits were piled on the market stalls.
Hair (entire growth on head) Her hair was adorned with a gold comb.
Hairs (strands) Many gray hairs show her age.
Glass (material) Molten glass is shaped in various ways.
Glasses (spectacles, vessel) My glasses are gold-rimmed.
Grass (general use) Grass turns brown in summer.
Grasses (different specimens) Grasses include sugarcane and bamboo.
Instruction (teaching) The instruction here is excellent.
Instructions (orders) All the instructions are followed in here.
Lace (general use) More lace is on her dress than on mine.
Laces (different kinds) Different laces are woven in the factory.
Land (isolated portion of the earth) Idle land invites squatters.
Lands (different nations) Foreign lands do not interest me any longer.
Paper (material for writing) Paper has become a precious commodity.
Papers (documents) These papers are legal.
People (general use) A nomadic people has no fixed native land.
Peoples (different races) Peoples of the world do not live in peace.
Pottery (industry) Pottery is profitable.
Potteries (Wares out of clay) These are expensive potteries.
Property (possession) Their property includes a condominium.

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 Properties (props)
Sand (whole stretch of sand)
Sand (individual grains)
Wood (lumber)
Woods (forest)
Work (product of labor)
Works (all products)
Their properties in our plays are imaginary.
The sand is warm.
The sands of time have run low.
Wood has become an expensive material.
The woods are dark and deep.
Work keeps her too busy to worry.
The works of Juan Luna are famous.

23. The verb of the sentence introduced by there and here agrees with the number of the subject
which is found after the verb.
E.g. There are workers staging a rally at Rizal Avenue.
There is no problem too great that God cannot solve.
Here are the general guidelines that will help you.
Here is a question for the contestant.

24. The verb of a relative clause agrees with the antecedent of the relative pronoun. In case of a
subject introduced by only one of the, the verb of the relative clause agrees with the subject,
one.
E.g. One of the students who are summoned by the dean is my classmate.
Only one of the students who is summoned by the dean is my classmate.

25. Adjectives when used as subjects and proceeded by THE take plural verbs.
E.g. The needy are to be helped.
The noble are to be honored.

26. With nouns always singular in form but either singular or plural in meaning, the verb agrees wiith
the meaning intended.

E.g. deer, sheep, swine, salmon, trout

Fifty sheep are grazing in the meadow. (more than one sheep)
A sheep is grazing in the meadow. (one sheep)

27. Nouns that express abstract ideas are usually singular in form. They require singular verbs.
E.g. poverty, courage, education, fun, happiness, laughter, luck, wealth, merriment,
piety, pity, presence, sadness, hatred, honesty

Courage is what you need.

My presence is not necessary.

28. Two nouns generally thought of together take a singular verb.

E.g. Bread and butter is good for breakfast.
Rice and fish is also good.

29. REMEMBER: ONLY THE SUBJECT AFFECTS THE VERB!

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