Subject-Verb Agreement: Exceptions Explained

Subject-Verb Agreement: Exceptions To Rules

• Collective Nouns

  • May take singular or plural verbs depending on context.
  • Singular when acting as a single unit (e.g., "The team wins the game").
  • Plural when emphasizing individual members (e.g., "The team are arguing among themselves").

• Indefinite Pronouns

  • Some indefinite pronouns are always singular (e.g., "everyone," "somebody") and take a singular verb.
  • Others can be plural or singular based on the noun they refer to (e.g., "all," "some," "none").
    • "All of the cookies are gone" (plural).
    • "All of the money is gone" (singular).

• Compound Subjects

  • Use a singular verb when joined by "and" if they refer to the same person or thing (e.g., "The bread and butter is on the table").
  • Use a plural verb if they refer to different people/things (e.g., "The cat and dog are outside").

• Titles of Works

  • Titles of books, movies, or other works are treated as singular (e.g., "The Grapes of Wrath is a classic").

• Amounts of Time/Distance

  • When stating a sum of money, time, or distance, a singular verb is used (e.g., "Ten dollars is too much").

• Fruits and Vegetables

  • When referring to a variety of items as a whole, a singular verb is used (e.g., "Tomatoes is my favorite vegetable").

• Split Infinitives

  • When an adverb separates the subject from the verb, the verb still agrees with the subject (e.g., "The dog, happily wagging its tail, runs fast").

• Parenthetical Elements

  • Words or phrases between the subject and verb do not affect agreement (e.g., "The car, as well as the bikes, is parked outside").

• Phrase Agreement

  • A phrase introduced by "along with," "as well as," or "together with" does not change the number of the subject (e.g., "The teacher, along with her students, is excited").

These exceptions are important to recognize to ensure proper subject-verb agreement in various contexts.

Collective Nouns

• Collective nouns may use singular or plural verbs based on context.
• Singular form is used when the group acts as one unit (e.g., "The team wins the game").
• Plural form is appropriate when highlighting individual members (e.g., "The team are arguing among themselves").

Indefinite Pronouns

• Certain indefinite pronouns like "everyone" and "somebody" are always singular and require singular verbs.
• Other indefinite pronouns, such as "all," "some," and "none," can be singular or plural depending on their referent.
• Example: "All of the cookies are gone" (plural) vs. "All of the money is gone" (singular).

Compound Subjects

• A singular verb is used when compound subjects are connected by "and" and refer to the same entity (e.g., "The bread and butter is on the table").
• A plural verb is needed when the subjects refer to different entities (e.g., "The cat and dog are outside").

Titles of Works

• Titles of books, movies, and other creative works are considered singular (e.g., "The Grapes of Wrath is a classic").

Amounts of Time/Distance

• Singular verbs are used for sums of money, time, or distance (e.g., "Ten dollars is too much").

Fruits and Vegetables

• When referring to a variety of items collectively, a singular verb is used (e.g., "Tomatoes is my favorite vegetable").

Split Infinitives

• The placement of an adverb between the subject and verb does not disrupt subject-verb agreement, which is based on the subject (e.g., "The dog, happily wagging its tail, runs fast").

Parenthetical Elements

• Words or phrases inserted between the subject and verb have no effect on subject-verb agreement (e.g., "The car, as well as the bikes, is parked outside").

Phrase Agreement

• Phrases introduced by "along with," "as well as," or "together with" do not alter the subject's number (e.g., "The teacher, along with her students, is excited").

Conclusion

• Understanding these exceptions is crucial for maintaining proper subject-verb agreement in diverse contexts.