Subject-Verb Agreement Study Notes

Subject-Verb Agreement Study Notes

Singular Versus Plural Subjects

• Definition: The subject and verb must agree in number (singular or plural).
• Singular Subjects: Require singular verbs.
  • Example: The cat runs.
• Plural Subjects: Require plural verbs.
  • Example: The cats run.

Compound Subjects

• Definition: A compound subject consists of two or more subjects joined by "and" or "or/nor."
• Subjects Joined by "And": Take a plural verb.
  • Example: The dog and the cat are playing.
• Subjects Joined by "Or/Nor": The verb agrees with the nearest subject.
  • Example: Either the dog or the cats are barking.
  • Example: Either the cats or the dog is barking.

Indefinite Pronouns

• Definition: Indefinite pronouns refer to non-specific persons or things.
• Singular Indefinite Pronouns:
  • Examples: anyone, everyone, someone, no one, each, either, neither.
  • Require singular verbs.
  • Example: Everyone is welcome.
• Plural Indefinite Pronouns:
  • Examples: few, many, several, both.
  • Require plural verbs.
  • Example: Many are attending.
• Indefinite Pronouns That Can Be Singular or Plural:
  • Examples: all, some, any, none, most.
  • The verb form depends on the noun they refer to.
  • Example: All of the cake is gone (singular), All of the cookies are gone (plural).

Exceptions To Rules

• Collective Nouns: May take singular or plural verbs depending on context.
  • Singular: The team wins (acting as one unit).
  • Plural: The team are arguing among themselves (members acting individually).
• Titles and Names: Always take a singular verb.
  • Example: The United States is a country.
• Fractions and Percentages: The verb agrees with the noun that follows.
  • Example: One-third of the cake is left. (cake = singular)
  • Example: Three-quarters of the players are here. (players = plural)

Remember: Always identify the subject of the sentence to ensure correct verb agreement.

Subject-Verb Agreement Study Notes

• Subject and verb must agree in number (singular or plural).
• Singular subjects require singular verbs (e.g., "The cat runs").
• Plural subjects require plural verbs (e.g., "The cats run").

Compound Subjects

• Compound subjects consist of two or more subjects combined with "and" or "or/nor."
• Subjects joined by "and" take a plural verb (e.g., "The dog and the cat are playing").
• When joined by "or/nor," the verb agrees with the nearest subject (e.g., "Either the dog or the cats are barking" vs. "Either the cats or the dog is barking").

Indefinite Pronouns

• Indefinite pronouns refer to non-specific entities.
• Singular indefinite pronouns include "anyone," "everyone," "someone," "no one," "each," "either," "neither," and require singular verbs (e.g., "Everyone is welcome").
• Plural indefinite pronouns include "few," "many," "several," "both," and require plural verbs (e.g., "Many are attending").
• Indefinite pronouns that can be singular or plural (like "all," "some," "any," "none," "most") depend on the noun they refer to (e.g., "All of the cake is gone" vs. "All of the cookies are gone").

Exceptions To Rules

• Collective nouns may take singular or plural verbs based on context:

  • Singular when acting as a unit (e.g., "The team wins").
  • Plural when members act individually (e.g., "The team are arguing among themselves").

• Titles and names always take a singular verb (e.g., "The United States is a country").

• For fractions and percentages, the verb agrees with the noun that follows:

  • Singular example: "One-third of the cake is left."
  • Plural example: "Three-quarters of the players are here."

• Identifying the subject of the sentence is essential for ensuring correct verb agreement.

Subject-Verb Agreement Overview

• Subject-verb agreement ensures that the verb matches the subject in number: singular or plural.

Singular Subjects

• Singular subjects require singular verb forms.
• Examples include:
  • "The dog barks."
  • "She runs every morning."
• Indefinite pronouns, such as each, either, neither, anyone, everybody, and someone, are considered singular.
  • Example: "Everyone is invited to the party."

Plural Subjects

• Plural subjects require plural verb forms.
• Examples include:
  • "The dogs bark."
  • "They run every morning."
• Indefinite pronouns that are plural include both, few, many, and several.
  • Example: "Many were present at the meeting."

Compound Subjects

• When singular subjects are joined by "and," they take a plural verb.
  • Example: "The cat and the dog are playing."
• For "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the closest subject.
  • Example: "Either the teacher or the students are responsible."

Exceptions to Rules

• Collective nouns (team, group) may be singular or plural based on context:
  • Singular Example: "The team wins the championship."
  • Plural Example: "The team are arguing amongst themselves."

Tips for Ensuring Agreement

• Determine whether the subject is singular or plural.
• Be aware of nouns that appear plural but are singular (e.g., news, mathematics).
• Recognize that phrases such as "along with," "as well as," and "in addition to" do not change the subject-verb agreement.

Practice for Understanding

• Assess subject-verb agreement in sentences:
  • Incorrect: "The list of items are on the table."
  • Correct: "The list of items is on the table."
  • Correct Example: "A group of students is presenting today."

Subject-Verb Agreement Overview

• Subject-verb agreement involves the grammatical concordance of subjects and verbs in number (singular or plural).

Singular Subjects

• A singular subject necessitates a singular verb.
• Example sentences illustrating this:
  • "The dog barks."
  • "She runs every morning."

Plural Subjects

• A plural subject requires a plural verb.
• Example sentences illustrating this:
  • "The dogs bark."
  • "They run every morning."

Identifying Subjects

• The subject of a sentence indicates the main focus or topic.
• Identification involves locating the primary noun or pronoun.

Compound Subjects

• Compound subjects formed by joining two singular subjects with "and" take a plural verb.
  • Example: "The cat and dog are playing."
• When singular subjects are connected by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
  • Example: "Either the cat or the dogs are barking."

Indefinite Pronouns

• Certain indefinite pronouns like "everyone" and "each" are singular and take singular verbs.
  • Example: "Everyone loves pizza."
• Conversely, pronouns such as "few," "many," and "several" are plural and take plural verbs.
  • Example: "Many are called but few are chosen."

Collective Nouns

• Collective nouns, such as "team," "group," and "class," can be treated as singular or plural based on the context of their usage.
  • Singular usage example: "The team wins the game."
  • Plural usage example: "The team are arguing among themselves."

Exceptions and Special Cases

• Titles of works like books and movies are considered singular, requiring singular verbs.
  • Example: "The Chronicles of Narnia is a popular series."
• Phrases like "each" and "every" are followed by singular verbs.
  • Example: "Each of the players is ready."

Common Errors

• Misidentifying the subject can lead to incorrect verb forms.
• Be cautious of adjectives and prepositional phrases that may separate the subject from the verb.

Practice Tips

• Prioritize identifying the subject in sentences.
• Be attentive to conjunctions and phrases that may influence the subject’s number.

Explore the rules of subject-verb agreement in this informative study guide. Learn how to match singular and plural subjects with their appropriate verbs, and understand complex subjects, including compound and indefinite pronouns. Test your understanding through examples and rules provided.