Subject-Verb Agreement Rules: Units of Measurement, Connectors, and Plural Verbs

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules with Units of Measurement, Connectors, and Plural Verbs

Introduction

Mastering subject-verb agreement is crucial in ensuring accurate communication through writing. Here are some key concepts related to subject-verb agreement that you may encounter:

1. Units of measurement: When dealing with measurements, a singular verb form is typically used.
2. Plural subjects connected by connectors: The verb form depends on the connector used and the proximity of the subjects.
3. Plural verbs: Plural subjects require plural verbs.

Let's delve deeper into each of these concepts.

1. Units of Measurement

For units of measurement, a singular verb form is generally preferred. This ensures consistency and clarity in the sentence structure. Here's an example:

There are three miles to walk.

Notice that the verb form "to walk" is consistent with the singular subject "three miles."

2. Connectors and Plural Subjects

When dealing with plural subjects connected by connectors like "and, nor, neither/nor, either/or," the verb should agree with the last noun in the series, assuming the subjects have equal significance. For instance:

She or I run every day.

In this example, the last noun in the series is "she," so the verb form is "runs." Similarly:

Potatoes, pasta, or rice goes well with grilled chicken.

Here, the last noun in the series is "rice," so the verb form is "goes."

However, if the subjects have unequal importance, the verb should agree with the subject closer to it. Consider:

Neither Bob nor his brothers walk to the store.

In this case, "neither Bob nor his brothers" is connected by "nor," so the verb form "walk" reflects the plural nature of the subjects.

3. Plural Verbs

For plural subjects, a plural verb form is necessary. For example:

My aunt and my uncle is arriving by train today.

This sentence would be improved by changing the verb form to reflect the plural subject:

My aunt and my uncle are arriving by train today.

Remember, the key is to match the verb form with the appropriate subject, regardless of whether it's singular or plural. This practice ensures clear and accurate communication in your writing.