SUBJECT- VERB AGREEMENT

It should be noted that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in person or thing and number.
Therefore, it is important to learn Subject-Verb Agreement in more detailed. The following are the
common rules for Subject-Verb Agreement.
1. When the following words are used as subjects, they are always singular. Some of these words are
plural in meaning, but they always require singular verbs.
everyone someone anyone no one each
everybody somebody anybody nobody either
everything something anything nothing neither

Nobody has been here.

Neither of those patients gets complaint.
2. When each or every comes before singular subjects joined by and, a singular verb is required.
Every man and woman is eligible to vote.
Each nurse and doctor has a locker.
3. Introductory it is singular and always followed by a singular verb.
It was the bells which awakened the patients.
It is her grades that worry him.
4. Words that come between a subject and its verb do not change the number of the subject. Prepositional
phrases often have this position.

together with
The doctor in addition to his residents is attending the seminar.
along with
as well as
Everybody except us has an appointment with the doctor.
5. There, here, and where are never subjects (except in a sentence like this one!). When a sentence
begins with one of these words, the subject comes after the verb.
There are no patients in this ward.
Here is the result of his blood test.
6. Subjects joined by and or both … and … take a plural verb (but see rule 2).
A red Honda and blue Ford are parked outside.
Both tigers and elephants are becoming extinct.
7. Several, many, both, few are plural words and always take a plural verb.
Many are going to attend the Nursing School.
Only a few have passed the university entrance test for health science.
8. Some nouns are always plural in form and always take plural verb.
clothes: trousers, pants, jeans, sunglasses
tools: scissors, pliers, tweezers

However, some of them are followed by a singular verb when used in expressions such as a pair of …,
a word of …
His pants are still at the cleaners.
but: That pair of pants is dirty.
Your thanks are enough for me.
but: A word of thanks is enough.
9. When subjects are joined by the following structures, the verbs must agree with the closer subject.
Neither the doctors nor the nurse is allowed to smoke.
Either the nurse or the doctors have your books.
Not only the nurses but also the doctor is coming soon.

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10. Many words may be singular or plural depending on what they refer to: none, all, some, any,
majority, most, half, etc. When these words are followed by a prepositional phrase, the number of
the object of the preposition will determine whether the words are singular or plural.
All of the book has been destroyed.
All of the books have been thrown away.
All of the medicine is in the bag

11. The expression a number of is plural, and the expression the number of is singular
A number of nurses were absent yesterday.
The number of Unsri Community Health Center nurses is not large.
12. Expressions stating one amount of time, money, weight, volume, etc are plural in form but take a
singular verb.
Two weeks is enough time for a nice vacation.
Five hundred dollars is required as a down payment.
Twenty gallons of gasoline costs a lot of money.
13. Some words are always plural in form but singular in meaning. These words require singular verbs.
academic subjects : mathematics, physics, economics, statistics, civics,…
diseases : measles, mumps, herpes, …
abstract nouns : news, ethics, politics, …

Mathematics is a difficult subject.

The news was really interesting.
14. Titles of books and movies, even if plural in form, take singular verbs
The New York Times is a good newspaper.
Romeo & Juliet attracts many young people.
15. Collective nouns are usually singular, but may be plural if the members are functioning
independently. Watch the pronouns for clues to the singular or plural nature of the subject. Some of
these words are class, team, police, committee, audience, family, faculty, etc.
That team has its rehearsal every other day.
The committee are preparing for their conference about health clinic.
16. Some nouns use the same form for both singular and plural meanings. The pronouns and modifiers
with these words will indicate whether they are singular or plural in meaning.
always with -s: species, series, etc.
That species is rare.
Those species are common.
never with -s: sheep, deer, fish etc.
That sheep eats a lot of grass.
Those deer belong to Mr. Aminudin.
17. Nouns for nationality that end with -ese, -ch, or -sh may be singular or plural depending on their
meaning. Some of these words are Chinese, French, English, etc. When the word refers to a
language, it takes a singular verb. When the word refers to the people of the country, it takes a plural
verb and is preceded by the article the.
Chinese has special letters of alphabets.
The Chinese love vegetables
18. English has borrowed words from other languages. Some of these words have unusual singular and
plural forms.
Origin singular plural singular (plural) examples
Greek -is -es basis (bases), crisis (crises)
Greek -on -a criterion (criteria),
phenomenon (phenomena).
Latin (m) -us -i radius (radii), alumnus (alumni).
Latin (f) -a -ae alga (algae), vita (vitae)
Latin (n) -um -a datum (data), medium (media).
Latin -ix/-ex -ices index (indices), appendix (appendices)

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Directions: Underline the subjects and fill in the blank with is or are.
1. Alumni of the university _______ invited to the graduation ceremony.
2. These bacteria ________ being studied by university scientists.
3. English __________ heard all over the world.
4. The Portuguese _________ fortunate to have such a beautiful coastline.
5. Many Vietnamese _________ living in the United States.
6. The criteria for promotion _________ clearly started.
7. The appendices ________ usually found at the back of a book.
8. Supernatural phenomena _________ of great interest to many people.

Direction: Underline the subject with which missing verb must agree.
Then, fill in the blank with the correct verb form from the two
choices in parentheses.
1. No one in this group of contenders stands a chance of beating the current speed record. (stands, stand)
2. Neither the education library nor the psychology library _______ the books that the professor
recommended. (has, have
3. Restricted ownership and enforced registration ______ two major approaches to handgun legislation. (is,
are)
4. There ______ no doubt in anyone’s mind about the guilt of the defendants. (was, were).
5. A ray and white car ______ parked outside the building. (is, are).
6. Sound and Sense _______ written for college students just beginning serious study of poetry.
(was, were)
7. Every success and failure _____ to an individual’s growth and maturity. ( contributes, contribute)
8. The news on the local radio stations as well as newspaper accounts __
______ that the prison riot was serious. (confirms, confirm).
9. It is still the women who _________ the burden of household chores. ( bears, bear).
10. Neither all of the cookies nor of the fruit ______been eaten yet. ( has, have)
11. Unlike Americans who seem to prefer coffee, the English _________ a great deal of tea.
(drinks, drink).
12. A family of mockingbirds ________ in the tree every spring. (nests, nest).
13. Outside the door ________ several rosebushes. (stands, stand)
14. Everything, including the clothes in the closets, ________ stolen from the apartment. (was, were).
15. To a do-it yourself handyman, a pair of pliers _______ very useful. (is, are).
16. The number of days of vacation provided to university employees ___
______ constant from year to year. (remains, remain)
17. For intermediate level students, Steps in Composition __________ useful reading and writing
exercises. (provides, provide).
18. Despite the development of a vaccine, measles ___________ still a serious danger to adult victims. (is,
are).
19. Statistics as well as a course in research methodology _____ required of all doctoral candidates. (is,
are).
20. In their statements to the press, the committee ________ expressing several surprising viewpoints. (is,
are).

Directions: Write the letter of the incorrect word or phrase in the blank
beside the sentence.

__B__ 1. All of the water that falls on the land eventually return to the Oceans.
A B
______ 2. Much changes that the earth undergoes are so slow that they are hardly noticed.
A B
______ 3. Some rocks have much of the characteristics of sand and mud found in and near
A B bodies of water.
______ 4. Work is a measure of the quantity of energy, or force, needed to move an object.
A B

______ 5. Fewer rain falls in the coastal desert of Peru than along the California coast.

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 A B
______ 6. In over 200 years there have been little changes in Isaac Newton’s theories about
A B motion and gravity.
______ 7. Modern geologist use many complex instruments to find underground deposits of
A B metals.
______ 8. All substance are composed of small particles called atoms.
A B
______ 9. A water below the earth’s surface is called ground water.
A B
______ 10. The amount of moisture in the atmosphere is less important
A
to us than the quantity of water that falls to earth.
B
Direction: Identify the one underlined word or phrase, (A), (B), (C) or
(D), that should be corrected or rewritten. Write your answer
in the blank.

____ 1. The ability to conceal themselves by camouflage enable some

A B
otherwise defenseless animals to survive.
C D
____ 2. The information on the various types of wasps and bees in the
A B
area were useful to environmentalists who were fighting the use of pesticides.
C D
____ 3. Compared to the number of paid holidays enjoyed by most
A B
employees in the company, three weeks of vacation seem generous.
C D
____ 4. Sponges, with a structural organization like that of a colony of
A B
one-celled animals, they stand at the lowest level of the animal kingdom.
C D
____ 5. The large birdhouse together with the numerous birdfeeders
A
under the leaves attract a considerable number of different species in the summer
B C D
____ 6. Since snake eggs are tough and baby snakes can survive alone at
A
birth, neither the eggs or newborn snakes need protection from the mother
B C D .
____ 7. Digitalis is a drug which is prepared from the seeds and leafs of
A B C
a plant with the same name and is used as a cardiac stimulant.
D
____ 8. Benjamin Franklin, a famous American statesman, author, and scientist, he was born in
A
1709 and lived to the age of eighty four.
B C D
____ 9. The most famous alumnus of the college were invited to
A B
participate in the graduation ceremony and related activities scheduled for late May.
C D
____ 10. At present, advertising is one of the most strictly regulated industry in the United States
____ A B C D