Subject Verb Agreement

baby bones
puppies milk
SUBJECT-VERB
AGREEMENT
PA U L R O M A N O B . R O Y O
T- 1
SUBJECT-VERB
AGREEMENT QUIZ
DIRECTION: CHOOSE THE SENTENCE IN
WHICH THE SUBJECT AND VERB AGREE.
1.
A. Every one of the shirts has a green collar.
B. Every one of the shirts have a green collar.
2.
A. This singer, along with a few others, play the
harmonica on stage.
B. This singer, along with a few others, plays
the harmonica on stage.
3.
A. Sandals and towels are essential gear for a
trip to the beach.
B. Sandals and towels is essential gear for a trip
to the beach.
4.
A. The president or the vice president are
speaking today.
B. The president or the vice president is
speaking today.
5.
A. Either Cassie or Marie pays the employees
this afternoon.
B. Either Cassie or Marie pay the employees
this afternoon.
6.
A. Either the sculpture or the paintings are in
the museum today.
B. Either the sculpture or the paintings is in the
museum today.
7.
A. The coat or the hats are in that closet.
B. The coat or the hats is in that closet.
8.
A. Each of the dancers twirls brilliantly.
B. Each of the dancers twirl brilliantly.
9.
A. Mustard greens are my favorite vegetable.
B. Mustard greens is my favorite vegetable.
10.
A. Everybody at the party was enjoying the
food.
B. Everybody at the party were enjoying the
food.
ANSWERS
DIRECTION: CHOOSE THE SENTENCE IN
WHICH THE SUBJECT AND VERB AGREE.
1.
A. Every one of the shirts has a green collar.
B. Every one of the shirts have a green collar.
Explanation: The pronoun one is singular and
requires singular verbs. Do not be misled by the
object of the preposition.
2.
A. This singer, along with a few others, play the
harmonica on stage.
B. This singer, along with a few others, plays
the harmonica on stage.
Explanation: Sometimes the subject is separated
from the verb by words such as along with, as well as,
besides, or not. Ignore these expressions when
determining whether to use a singular or plural verb.
3.
A. Sandals and towels are essential gear for a
trip to the beach.
B. Sandals and towels is essential gear for a trip
to the beach.
Explanation: Two subjects connected by and
require a plural verb.
4.
A. The president or the vice president are
speaking today.
B. The president or the vice president is
speaking today.
Explanation: Two singular subjects connected by
or require a singular verb.
5.
A. Either Cassie or Marie pays the employees
this afternoon.
B. Either Cassie or Marie pay the employees
this afternoon.
Explanation: Two singular subjects connected by
or, either/or, or neither/nor require a singular
verb.
6.
A. Either the sculpture or the paintings are in
the museum today.
B. Either the sculpture or the paintings is in the
museum today.
Explanation: When a singular and plural subject
are connected by or, either/or, or neither/nor, the
verb agrees with the subject closer to it.
7.
A. The coat or the hats are in that closet.
B. The coat or the hats is in that closet.
Explanation: When a singular and plural subject
are connected by or, either/or, or neither/nor, the
verb agrees with the subject closer to it.
8.
A. Each of the dancers twirls brilliantly.
B. Each of the dancers twirl brilliantly.
Explanation: The pronoun each is singular and
requires singular verbs. Do not be misled by the
object of the preposition.
9.
A. Mustard greens are my favorite vegetable.
B. Mustard greens is my favorite vegetable.
Explanation: The subject, “Mustard greens”, is
plural and requires the plural verb “are”.
10.
A. Everybody at the party was enjoying the
food.
B. Everybody at the party were enjoying the
food.
Explanation: The pronoun everybody is singular
and requires singular verbs.
LET’S HAVE REALITY CHECK-UP
1. Are you satisfied with the result?
2. What did you find out about yourself after
answering the test?
3. Do you think you still need some
improvement? How are you going to enhance
your grammatical skills?
SUBJECT-VERB
AGREEMENT
PA U L R O M A N O B . R O Y O
T- 1
BASIC RULE
• Singular subjects must have singular verbs.
Plural subjects take plural verbs.
Examples:
•My brother bakes delicious cookies.
•My sisters decorate the Christmas tree.
FOUR TIPS TO HELP YOU APPLY THE PRINCIPLE THAT
A VERB MUST AGREE IN NUMBER WITH ITS SUBJECT:
TIP #1
Add an -s to the verb if the subject is a singular
noun: a word that names one person, place, or
thing.
• Mr. Eko drives a hard bargain.
TIP #2
Add an -s to the verb if the subject is any one of
the third-person singular pronouns: he, she, it,
this, that.
• He drives a minivan.
• It looks like rain.
• This confuses me.
• That takes the cake.
TIP #3
Do not add an -s to the verb if the
subject is the pronoun I, you, we, or
they.
•I make my own rules.
•You drive a hard bargain.
•We take pride in our work.
TIP #4
Do not add an -s to the verb if
two subjects are joined by and.
•Jack and Sawyer often argue
with each other.
EXCEPTION TO THE RULE
• We have to keep a certain spelling rule in mind when
adding -s to a verb that ends in the letter -y: in most cases,
we need to change the y to i before adding es.
Example:
carry-carries try-tries hurry-hurries
Exceptions:
say-says enjoy-enjoys.
WHICH ONE IS CORRECT?
A. Talent develops in quiet places.

B. Talent develop in quiet places.
A
TIP #1
Add an -s to the verb if the subject is a singular noun: a word that
names one person, place, or thing.
A. They sings out of key.

B. They sing out of key.
B
TIP #3
Do not add an -s to the verb if the subject is the pronoun I, you, we, or
they.
A. She follow a different drummer.

B. She follows a different drummer.
B
TIP #2
Add an -s to the verb if the subject is any one of the third-person
singular pronouns: he, she, it, this, that.
A. Charlie and Hurley enjoy music.

B. Charlie and Hurley enjoys music.
A
TIP #4
Do not add an -s to the verb if two subjects are joined by and.
A. The ladies buy groceries at the

market.
B. The ladys buy groceries at the
market.
A
RULES ON
SUBJECT-VERB
AGREEMENT
1. IF A SENTENCE BEGINS WITH HERE OR
THERE, THE VERB AGREES WITH THE
SUBJECT WHICH FOLLOWS IT.
Examples:
•Here are the ways on how to preserve meat.
•There is a huge gap between the rich and the
poor.
2. IF TWO SUBJECTS, ONE SINGLE AND ONE
PLURAL, ARE CONNECTED BY EITHER/OR
OR NEITHER/NOR, THE VERB AGREES WITH
THE NEARER SUBJECT.
Examples:
•Neither the players nor the coach is joining.
•Either the conductor or the singers are attending
the concert.
3. A SINGULAR SUBJECT FOLLOWED BY
INTERVENING WORDS OR PHRASES SUCH AS
WITH, AS WELL AS, IN ADDITION TO,
ACCOMPANIED BY, TOGETHER WITH AND NO
LESS THAN, TAKES A SINGULAR VERB.
Examples:
•Jake, accompanied by his sisters, is enrolling in PCC.
•Daddy, as well as my brothers, is enjoying the party.
4. SINGULAR SUBJECTS JOINED BY AND
REQUIRE A PLURAL VERB, EXCEPT WHEN
THEY MEAN ONE THING.
Examples:
•Larry and Mercy are reading novels.
•My teacher and friend is here.
5. TWO SINGULAR SUBJECTS JOINED BY
EITHER/OR OR NEITHER/NOR TAKE A
SINGULAR VERB.
Examples:
•Either Mommy or Daddy is coming with me at
the outbound.
•Neither Ferdie nor Dulce is waiting for you.
1. Here are the letters the applicants have made.

2. Here is the letters the applicants have made.
1. Alex, together with his aunts, are going to

Disneyland.
2. Alex, together with his aunts, is going to
Disneyland.
1. Neither the elders nor the child ride on the

ferris wheel.
2. Neither the elders nor the child rides on the
ferris wheel.
1. Either Elise or Melissa are attending the

masquerade party.
2. Either Elise or Melissa is attending the
masquerade party.
1. My co-worker and friend loves adventure.

2. My co-worker and friend love adventure.
6. IF A SINGULAR SUBJECT IS
FOLLOWED BY A PHRASE CONTAINING A
PLURAL NOUN, THE VERB IS SINGULAR.
Examples:
•One of the boys is yelling so loud.
•One of the members is against the rule.
7. THE INDEFINITE PRONOUNS SEVERAL,
FEW, BOTH, MANY, OTHERS ARE
ALWAYS PLURAL.
Examples:
•Both were asking to be freed.
•Several are seeking justice.
8. THE INDEFINITE PRONOUNS SOME,
MOST, ALL, NONE ARE SINGULAR OR
PLURAL ACCORDING TO THE MEANING OF
THE SENTENCE.
Examples:
•Some of the girls were absent.
•Some of the ice cream is left.
9. WHEN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING INDEFINITE
PRONOUNS IS THE SUBJECT, THE VERB IS
SINGULAR: EVERYBODY, EACH, NO ONE,
ANOTHER, ANYBODY, NOBODY, EVERY,
NOTHING, EVERYTHING, ANYONE, EITHER,
NEITHER, EVERYONE, SOMEBODY, SOMEONE.
Examples:
•Every man and woman in this hall is a member.
10. EXPRESSIONS OF TIME, MONEY,
WEIGHT, AND DISTANCE ARE SINGULAR
EVEN IF THE FORM IS PLURAL.
Examples:
•Two years is a long time to wait.
•One million dollars was given back to
the owner.
1. Many is called to recite the poem.

2. Many are called to recite the poem.
1. One of the students is attempting to cheat in

the examination.
2. One of the students are attempting to cheat in
the examination.
1. Everybody is unique.
2. Everybody are unique.
1. Two million pesos was awarded to the grand

champion of “The Voice”.
2. Two million pesos were awarded to the grand
champion of “The Voice”.
1. Some of the water are gone.

2. Some of the water is gone.
11. WHEN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
REFERS TO SEPARATE UNITS, THE VERB
IS PLURAL.
Examples:
•Five 25-centavo coins were found.
•Sixty 100-peso bills were added to the
budget.
12. THE FOLLOWING WORDS ARE ALWAYS
PLURAL: PANTS, TROUSERS, PLIERS,
SCISSORS, SHEARS, TONGS. HOWEVER, IF THE
WORD PAIR IS USED, THE VERB IS SINGULAR.
Examples:
•The pants are torn into two.
•The pair of scissors was placed on the
table.
13. CERTAIN NOUNS, THOUGH PLURAL
IN FORM, ARE SINGULAR IN MEANING
AND THEREFORE TAKE SINGULAR
VERBS.
Examples:
•Mathematics is my favorite subject.
•The latest news is alarming to the public.
14. WHEN THE WORD IS PRECEDED BY A, IT
TAKES A PLURAL VERB. WHEN IT IS
PRECEDED BY THE, IT TAKES A SINGULAR
VERB.
Examples:
•A number of students are waiting outside.
•The number of students outside is not recorded
yet.
15. WHEN FRACTIONS ARE USED, THE
VERB AGREES WITH THE OBJECT OF THE
OF PHRASE.
Examples:
•One half of the cake was consumed.
•One fourth of the employees were
attending the seminar.
1. The pair of tongs were used in picking the

marshmallows.
2. The pair of tongs was used in picking the
marshmallows.
1. Acrobatics are shown in many shows.

2. Acrobatics is shown in many shows.
1. The number of enrolees is decreasing.

2. The number of enrolees are decreasing.
1. Twenty 500-peso bills is given to the needy.

2. Twenty 500-peso bills are given to the needy.
1. Three fourths of the tomatoes are rotten.

2. Three fourths of the tomatoes is rotten.
16. THESE NOUNS MAY BE SINGULAR OR PLURAL IN
MEANING: ATHLETICS, GENETICS, POLITICS,
GYMNASTICS, STATISTICS. WHEN THE NOUN REFERS TO
AN ORGANIZED ACTIVITY, IT IS SINGULAR; WHEN THE
NOUN REFERS TO THE ACTIVITIES OF INDIVIDUALS
WITHIN A GROUP, OR TO VARIED ACTIVITIES, IT IS
PLURAL.
Examples:
•Gymnastics is very popular among girls.
•The gymnastics shown in the field today were outstanding.
17. THE NAME OF A COUNTRY IS
ALWAYS REGARDED AS SINGULAR.
Examples:
•The Bahamas has beautiful
beaches.
•Philippines is a wondrous place.
18. COLLECTIVE NOUNS MAY BE SINGULAR OR
PLURAL DEPENDING ON WHETHER THE INDIVIDUAL
MEMBERS ARE ACTING INDIVIDUALLY OR
COLLECTIVELY. THESE NOUNS ARE: COMPANY,
GROUP, COMMITTEE, CROWD, JURY, FLOCK, TEAM.
Examples:
•The committee is against the plan.
•The committee are of different opinion.
19. TITLES OF BOOKS, PLAYS, ARTICLES,
MOVIES ARE REGARDED AS SINGULAR
EVEN THOUGH WORDS IN THE TITLE
MAY BE PLURAL.
Examples:
•”In Dreams Begin Responsibilities” is a story by D.
Schwartz.
•”Great Expectations” is a must-read novel.
20. NAMES OF ORGANIZATIONS TAKE A
SINGULAR VERB WHEN THE WHOLE
ORGANIZATION IS REFERRED TO, AND A PLURAL
VERB WHEN THE MEMBERS ARE REFERRED TO.
Examples:
•Lopez and Sons is a successful organization.
•Lopez and Sons are holding a two-day annual
meeting.
1. The staff was shocked by the news of their

boss.
2. The staff was shocked by the news of their
boss.
1. Statistics are a branch of mathematics.

2. Statistics is a branch of mathematics.
1. “Lord of the Rings” is my favorite movie.

2. “Lord of the Rings” are my favorite movie.
1. Paris are a majestic place.

2. Paris is a majestic place.
1. Hewlett and Packard is a famous company of

laptops.
2. Hewlett and Packard are a famous company
of laptops.
GROUP ACTIVITY:
SENTENCE-
MAKING GAME
ARRANGE THE SEPARATED GROUP
OF WORDS WRITTEN ON THE PAPER
STRIPS IN A RIGHT ORDER TO MAKE
AN ADMISSIBLE SENTENCE. MAKE
SURE THAT THE SUBJECT AND THE
VERB AGREE WITH ONE ANOTHER.
INDIVIDUAL
ACTIVITY:
CAN YOU SPOT
THE ERROR?
IDENTIFY THE ERROR IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING
SENTENCES. ENCIRCLE THAT ONE AND WRITE ON
TOP OF IT THE RIGHT WORD THAT WOULD MAKE
THE STATEMENT GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT.
1. A number of students needs counselling.

2. Neither the players nor the coach attend the try-out.
3. Either Nena or her friends has accepted the offer.
4. No one are to blame on the plight of the laborers.
5. Many is called to report to class.
6. Every Filipino are given equal opportunity to education.
7. My teacher and friend have written to me from New
York.
8. Few is sent to attend the training on Data Privacy
Awareness.
9. Their abiding interest have always been children of ages.
10. One half of the people is suffering from malnutrition.
FINAL OUTPUT:
JOURNAL
Create a journal that narrates your
experiences learning a subject-verb
agreement lesson. Make sure that the
subject and the verb must agree with
each other in the written composition
that you are going to make. Have fun!
THANK YOU.

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baby bones

A. Talent develops in quiet places.

A. They sings out of key.

A. She follow a different drummer.

A. Charlie and Hurley enjoy music.

A. The ladies buy groceries at the

1. Here are the letters the applicants have made.

1. Alex, together with his aunts, are going to

1. Neither the elders nor the child ride on the

1. Either Elise or Melissa are attending the

1. My co-worker and friend loves adventure.

1. Many is called to recite the poem.

1. One of the students is attempting to cheat in

1. Two million pesos was awarded to the grand

1. Some of the water are gone.

1. The pair of tongs were used in picking the

1. Acrobatics are shown in many shows.

1. The number of enrolees is decreasing.

1. Twenty 500-peso bills is given to the needy.

1. Three fourths of the tomatoes are rotten.

1. The staff was shocked by the news of their

1. Statistics are a branch of mathematics.

1. “Lord of the Rings” is my favorite movie.

1. Paris are a majestic place.

1. Hewlett and Packard is a famous company of

1. A number of students needs counselling.

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