Subject/Verb Agreement - Language Notes
Key: red = subject, purple = verb
RULES
- A singular subject takes a singular verb.
eg. Shaun, despite being told not to do so, washes the car with a sponge.
- A singular indefinite pronoun [used as a subject] takes a singular verb.
- The following singular indefinite pronouns [all / any / most / none / some] are plural, when the items they refer to can be counted, and therefore take a plural verb.
- The following singular indefinite pronouns [all, any, most, none, some] are singular when the items they refer to are difficult to count, or considered to be a quantity.
- A compound subject [2 or more subjects joined by a conjunction] is plural and takes a plural verb.
- A compound subject that is joined by OR or NOR is singular if both parts of the subject are singular. Therefore, it takes a singular verb.
- A compound subject that is joined by OR or NOR is plural if both parts of the subject are plural. Therefore, it takes a plural verb.
- If one part of a compound sentence, joined by OR or NOR, is plural while the other is singular, the verb must agree with the subject that is closest to it.
eg. Neither the (houses) nor the car belongs to Shaun.
- If a group acts together, the noun (acting as the subject) is considered to be singular and takes a singular verb.
- If the members of a group act separately, the noun (acting as the subject) is considered to be plural and takes a plural verb.
- Words that state amounts are singular and take a singular verb.
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
Cox N, Pettegrew B, McBain R. Grammar and Composition bk.1. Columbus, Ohio: SRA / McGraw-Hill
Schachter, N, Schneiter Williams K. Basic English Review: English the Easy Way. (8th ed.) United States: Thompson South-Western, 2005.
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