Subject Verb Agreement

Subject Verb Agreement RULE - Some subjects always take a singular verb even though the meaning may seem plural. These subjects always take singular verbs:each, someone, either, anyone, neither, nobody, one, somebody,no one, anybody, everyone, everybodySomeone in the game was (not were) hurt.Neither of the men is (not are) working.RULE – The following words may be singular or plural, depending upon their use in a sentence,some, any, all, most. 1. Each of the girls (look-looks) good on skis. look looks 2. Everybody (was-were) asked to remain quiet. was were 3. Neither of the men (is-are) here yet. is are 4. (Is-Are) each of the girls ready to leave? is are 5. Several of the sheep (is-are) sick. is are 6. Some members of the faculty (is-are) present. is are 7. Nobody in the class (has-have) the answer. has have 8. Each of the girls (observe-observes) all the regulations. observe observes 9. All of the milk (is-are) gone. is are 10. Most of the seats (was-were) taken. was were Collective Nouns RULE – Subjects joined by "and"are plural. Subjects joined by or or Nor take a verb that agrees with the last subject. Bob and George are leaving.Neither Bob nor George is leaving.Neither Bob nor his friends are leaving.RULE – Collective nouns may be singular or plural, depending on their use in the sentence.A collective noun is a noun used to name a whole group.Following are some common examples:army, crowd, orchestra, audience, flock, public, class, group,swarm, club, herd, team, committee, jury, troop, United StatesThe orchestra is playing a hit song. (Orchestra is considered as one unit—singular.)The orchestra were asked to give their musical backgrounds. (Orchestra is considered as separate individuals—plural) 1. Margo and her parents (visit-visits) each other often. visit visits 2. Either the cups or the glasses (are-is) in the dishwasher. are is 3. Vern and Fred (need-needs) a ride to work. need needs 4. Neither Matt nor his brothers (was-were) at the party. was were 5.Either the workers or the boss (deliver-delivers) the merchandise. deliver delivers 6. The committee (work-works) hard for better schools. work works 7. The jury (was-were) polled for its verdict. was were 8. Either Joyce or Ellen (was-were) here was were 9. The United States (is-are) a country of contrast. is are 10. A magazine and a book (was-were) laying on the floor. was were 11. The family (is-are) occupied with its individual problems. is are RULE – Expressions of time, money, measurement, and weight are usually singular when the amount is considered one unit.Five dollars is (not are) too much to ask.Ten days is (not are) not nearly enough time.On occasion, however these terms are used in the plural sense:There were thirty minutes to countdown.RULE – Some nouns, while plural in form, are actually singular in meaning. Mathematics is (not are) an easy subject for some people.Physics is (not are) taught by Prof, Baldwin. mumps, home, economics, social studies, economics, measles, calisthenics, statistics, civics, physics, gymnastics, phonics, news, acrobatics, aesthetics, thesis, mathematics RULE – Don’t and Doesn’t must agree with the subject.Use doesn’t after he, she, it. Doesn’t he (not don’t) know how to sail?They don’t (not doesn’t) make movies like that anymore. 1. Mumps (is-are) one of the most uncomfortable diseases. is are 2. One hundred dollars (is-are) not a lot of money to some people. is are 3. She (doesn’t-don’t) look very well today. doesn't do 4. Twenty minutes (is-are) the amount of time it takes me to get home from work. is are 5. Gymnastics (is-are) easy for Angela. is are 6. Interesting news (is-are) what sells our paper. is are 7. A pound of cookies (cost-costs) about a dollar. cost costs 8. They (doesn’t-don’t) think they’ll win the game tonight. doesn't don't 9. He (don’t-doesn’t) speak very well. don't doesn't Troublesome Verbs