Microsoft Word - Subject-Verb_Agreement_Updated_May_26

Nicole'Calabro'@May'2015'

In'order 'for'the'subject'and'verb'to'agree'in'a 'sentence,'you'must'first'be'able'to'pick'out'the'

two'in'a'sentence:'

• verb:'words'that'show'state 'of'being'(am,'is,'are,'was,'been,'have,'etc.)'or'action'( r un,

jump,'spoke)'

• subject:'the'noun'or'pronoun'that'performs'the'verb'(girl,'dogs,'men,'frog)

*When'finding'the'subject'and'the'verb,'find'the'verb'first.''Then'ask'who'or'what'did'tha

action*'

• ex:''The'dog'jumped'over'the'fence.

'''''''verb='jumped.'What'jumped'over'the'fence?'The'dog.'

The,Major,Rule:''A'singular'verb'is'paired'with'a'singular'subject.''A'plural'verb'goes'with'a'

plural'subject.'

• ex:''The'pa ckage'is'in'the'mail.

''''The'packages'are'in'the'mail .'

Tip,#1:'Subjects'and'“of”'

Many'times,'the'subject'will'modified'by'a'phrase'beginning'with' the'word'of.''

Writers'will'sometimes'make'the 'mistake'of'having'the'ver b'agree'with'the 'noun'in'the'phrase '

containing '“of.”'

• Incorrect:'A'group'of'kids'run'down'the's treet.

• Correct:''A'group'of'kids'runs'down'the'street.

Tip,#2:''“Or,”'“either/or,”'“neither/nor”'

The'verb'in'a'sentence'containing'or,%either/or,%neither/nor'agrees'with'the'noun'or'pronoun'

closest'to'it.'

• ex:''Neither'the'dog'nor'the'cat'wants'to'go'outside.

'Either'steak'or'chicken'fingers'are'being'served'for'din ner.'

Tip,#3:''Subjects'connected'by'“and”'

When'two'or'more'subjects'are'conne cted'by'and,'use'a'plural'verb.''However,'you'must'check'

to'see'if'the'subject'is'a'compound'noun'(ex:'housewife,'office'manager)!'

• ex:''Softball'and'tennis'are'my'f avor ite'sports.

Tip,#4:''“Along'with,”'“as'well'as,”'“not,'besides”'

These'phrases'are'sometimes'found'in'between'the'subject'and'the'verb;'ignore'them'and'use'

a'singular'verb'if'your'subject'is'singular.'

• ex:''Rain,'along'with'snow'showers,'is'expected'this'afternoon.

Graduate,Writing,Lab,

Yale'Center' for'Teachin g'and'Learning'

Subject@Ve rb,Agree ment,

Tip,#5:,,Portions'

Words's uch'as'some,%all,%percent,%fraction,%m ajority,'etc.'indicate'portions'and'are'usually'followed'

by'“of.”''In'this'case,'the'noun'following'“of”'determines'the'verb.'

• ex:''A'percent'of'the'winnings'are'donated'to'charity.

Tip,#6:,,Dista nces,'sums,'periods'of't ime'

Singular'v erbs'are'used'when'these'nouns'are'considered'a'unit'(measurement,'amount,'etc.).'

• ex:'Twenty'dollars'is'a'good'bargain'for'that'shirt.

Tip,#7:,,“Here”'and'“there”'

When'sentences'begin'with'“there'is/there'are”'or'“here'is/here'are,”'the'grammat ical'subject'

comes'after't he'verb.'

• ex:''Here'are'the'directions'to'New'York'City.

Exercises:,

,,,,Choose'the'sentences'that'have'correct'subject\verb'agreement:'

1. The'dog'and'the'cat'is'taking'a'nap.

The'dog'and'the'cat'are'taking'a'nap.

2. Neither'the'rain'nor'the'snow'are'going'to'stop'the'parade.

Neither't he'rain'nor'the'snow'is'go ing'to'stop'the'parade.

3. The'pitcher,'as'well'as'the'other'players,'is'taking'the'field.

The'pitcher,'as'well'as'the'other'players,'are'taking'the'field.

4. Here'is'the'plan'for'the'experiment.

Here'are'the'plan'for'the'experiment.

5. The'bag'of'chips'are'going'in'the'lunchbox .

The'bag'of'chips'is'going'in'the'lunchbox.

Sources,and,Further,Reading/Practice:,

Adapted'from'The'Blue'Book'of'Grammar'a nd'Punctuation'