SUBJECT – VERB

AGREEMENT
USAGE
Diagnostic Test: What do you know?
Diego Rivera were one of Mexico’s greatest
artists. His murals and paintings have
influenced artists around world. Many portrays
historical subjects. For example, The History of
Mexico illustrates about 500 years of Mexican
history. Within this mural is several groups of
images. The first group show life in Mexico
before the arrival of the Spaniards. Others
portrays the Spanish conquest of Mexico and
the cruelty of colonialism. The images reflects
Rivera’s deep concern for the suffering of
common people.
A. Agreement in Number
Here’s the idea:
-A verb must agree with its subject in number.
Number refers to whether a word is singular or plural. A
word that refers to one person , place, thing, idea,
action, or condition is singular. A word that refers to
more than one is plural.

1.Singular and Plural Subjects:

-Singular subjects take singular verbs.
e.g.
The new museum displays works by local artists.
Singular Subject Singular Verb
 She enjoys the towering sculptures at the art center.

Marla works cooperatively with her classmates.

She listens carefully to their suggestions.

2.Plural subjects take plural verbs.
e.g.

Chicago’s art museums display priceless paintings.

Plural Subject Plural Verb

We enjoy the peaceful outdoor sculpture garden.

The players work together well as a team.

 They listen carefully to the coach.

Most nouns that end in s or es are plural. For example,

players is a plural noun. However, most verbs that end in
s are singular. Works is a singular verb form.
3. VERB PHRASES
-In a verb phrase, it is the first helping verb that agrees
with the subject. A verb phrase is made up of a main
verb and one or more helping verbs.
e.g.
Lou has volunteered for the teen hotline.

He is answering calls from troubled kids.

 Theresa has collected ceramic figurines.
Singular Helping Verb

She is building a large collection.

Friends have admired her interesting collection.

Plural Verb

They have been finding new figurines for her collection.

Callers have asked for help.

They have been seeking advice from their peers.

4.Contractions Doesn’t and Don’t
Two common contractions are doesn’t and don’t. Use doesn’t
with all singular subjects except I and You. Use don’t with all
plural subjects and with pronouns I and you.
e.g.
Tiffany doesn’t attend folk concerts.

You don’t like to shop.

They don’t enjoy noisy , crowded malls.

Samuel doesn’t use computer clip art.

We don’t like slick and professional illustrations.

Why It Matters In Writing?
When you revise your writing , you sometimes change a
subject from singular to plural, or vice versa. When you
revise, errors in subject-verb agreement can occur. If you
change a subject from singular to plural or vice versa, be sure
to change the verb as well.

e.g.
Tomorrow’s tryout is not Tomorrow’s tryout is
just a popularity contest. not just a popularity
The cheerleaders need contest. The cheerleading
upbeat students with squad needs upbeat
school spirit and athletic students with school
ability. spirit and athletic ability.
PRACTICE AND APPLY:
For each sentence, write the verb that agrees with the
subject.

1. A popular saying (is, are) “Opposites attract.”

2. On the contrary, we ( doesn’t, don’t) often seek
relationships with people who hold values and
attitudes different from our own.
3. Personality clashes (spoils, spoil) relationships.
4. Differences (creates, create) tension.
5. Typically, a talkative person (prefers, prefer) the
company of other sociable people.
6. A quiet individual sometimes (feels, feel)
more comfortable with fellow introverts.
7. Teens usually (selects, select) friends who
are most like them.
8. They sometimes (forms, form) tight-knit
groups called cliques.
9. Still, friendships (has, have) developed
among those with different personalities.
10. Open communication (helps, help) all
kinds of friends to get along.
B. COMPOUND SUBJECTS
• A compound subject is made up of two
or more subjects joined by a conjunction
such as and, or, or nor.

1.Subjects joined by AND

- A compound subject whose parts are
joined by and usually takes a plural verb.
e.g.
Career counselors and employers match
people with the right jobs.
- Sometimes a compound subject joined by and
refers to a single thing or idea, so a singular
verb is used.
e.g.
Law and order appeals strongly to
Veronica.
2. Subjects joined by OR or Nor
- when the parts of a compound subject are
joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with
the part closest to it.
e.g.

Neither outdoor work nor office

tasks suit Matt very well.

Neither office tasks nor outdoor

work suits Matt very well.

Practice and Apply!
Proofread each of the following sentences to find the
mistakes in subject-verb agreement. Then rewrite the
sentence correctly. If a sentence contains no error,
write correct.
1. Psychologists a and guidance counselors have linked
personality types to occupations.
2. For example, carpentry or engineering sometimes
attract introverted people.
3. Paramedics and police officers seeks adventure and
risk.
4. On the other hand, structure and order suits those
with good organizational ability.
5. Bookkeepers or office managers typically has
stable, practical personalities.
6. Problem-solving skills and strong verbal
communication is useful for judges
and business people.
7. Generally, neither lawyers nor head of a
company like to be told what to do.
8. Logic or good spatial perception is needed for
jobs in engineering and mechanics.
9. Trial and error are one way to find the right job.
C. Agreement Problems in Sentences
- Some sentences can be tricky, such as those
with subjects in unusual positions, those
containing predicate nouns, or those in which
prepositional phrases separate subjects and
verbs. Here are some tips for choosing the
correct verb forms in these situations.

Subjects in Unusual Positions

- A subject can follow a verb or part of a verb
in a question, a sentence beginning with here or
there, or a sentence in which an adjective, an
adverb, or a phrase is placed first.
Subjects in Unusual Positions
Type of sentence Examples
Question Does birth order shape
personality?
Sentence Here are some famous first-
beginning borns with successful
with here or careers.
there
Sentence From years of study come
beginning our ideas about birth order.
with phrase
Here’s how…Choosing the correct verb
(Is, Are) last-borns more rebellious than middle
children?
1. Turn the sentence around, putting the
subject before the verb.
e.g.
Last-borns (is, are) more rebellious than
middle children.
2. Determine whether the subject is singular or
plural.
e.g.
Last-borns (plural)
3. Make sure the subject and verb agree.
e.g.

Last-borns are more rebellious than middle

children.

Predicate Nouns
- In a sentence containing a predicate noun, the
verb should agree with the subject, not the
predicate.
e.g.
One interesting topic is dreams and their
meaning.
 Dreams are the voice of the subconscious.

Prepositional Phrases
- The subject of a verb is never found in a
prepositional phrase. Don’t be fooled by words
that come between a subject and a verb.
Mentally block out those words. To tell whether
the subject is singular or plural.
e.g.

This book by two psychologists describes

personality traits.
Some theories of personality development are
complex.

Practice and Apply!!

Correct problems with subject-verb agreement in
the sentences below. If a sentence contains no
error, write correct.
1. Does pets have personalities?
2. Studies of animal behavior suggest
differences in temperament.
3. There is many cats and dogs with distinctive
traits.
4. For example, pit bulls is an aggressive breed of
terrier.
5. On the other hand, a Chihuahua is a very timid
dog.
6. From careful observation comes new insights
into pet behavior.
7. Heredity is one factor in determining what your
pet is like.
8. There is some pets with serious behavioral
problems.
D. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS as SUBJECT

- Some pronouns do not refer to a definite,

or specific, person, place, thing, or idea.
These pronouns are called Indefinite
Pronouns.

- When used as subjects, some indefinite

pronouns are always singular, some are
always plural, and others can be singular
or plural, depending on how they’re used.
Indefinite Pronouns
Singular another anybody anyone
anything each either
everybody everyone everything
neither nobody no one
nothing one somebody
someone something

Plural both few many

several
Singular all any most
or Plural none some
- Singular indefinite pronouns take singular
verbs.
e.g.
Everyone wonders how twins get along.

Anything about twins fascinates me.

- Plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs.

e.g.
Many of my friends know a pair of twins.

Several are twins themselves.

Both of the twins are wearing red robes.

Each of the twins is wearing sunglasses.

Singular or Plural?

- The indefinite pronouns all, any, most, none, and

some can be either singular or plural. When you
use one of these words as a subject, think about
the noun it refers to. If the noun is singular, use a
e.g.

Most of this book deals with twin research.

All of the studies have been conducted by

scientists.

- Sometimes an indefinite pronoun refers to a

noun in a previous sentence.
e.g.
Sometimes Myla and Melissa coincidentally buy
the same outfit. Both are surprised to find out.
Practice and Apply!
Proofread each of the following sentences.
Then rewrite the sentences in which the verb
does not agree with its subject. If a sentence is
correct, write Correct.
1. Some of my relatives has twins in their families.
2. Several have volunteered for twin research
projects.
3. No one have explained why identical twins
behave so similarly.
4. Many of the researchers believes that these
twins act alike because they have the same
genes.
5. Some feels that similarities are due to a
common upbringing.
6. Among twins, many have strange stories to
tell.
7. Ask Royce and Brett; none of their friends likes
to play certain games with them.
8. Each of the boys know what the other is
thinking, so they have a competitive advantage.
9. Do anyone know how to explain this? At
summer camp, twin sisters start singing in their
sleep.
PROBLEM SUBJECTS
- When collective nouns, nouns ending in s, titles,
and numerical expressions are used as subjects, it
can be difficult to tell whether they take singular
or plural verbs.

Collective Nouns
- Name groups of people or things.
Common Collective Nouns
group class team

staff jury family committee

- Many collective nouns can take singular or
plural verbs, depending on how they are used.
When a collective noun refers to people or
things acting as a group, it takes a singular
verb.
e.g.
The choir performs each year in the talent
show.
(The choir members are acting together.)

The choir come from three different

schools.
(The choir members are acting as individuals.)
Some Nouns Ending in s
- Some nouns that ends in s or ics look
plural but are actually singular. When
used as subjects , they take singular
verbs.

Singular Nouns with Plural Forms

Measles news politics mathematics

Physics economics ceramics molasses
Politics attracts people with strong
leadership qualities.

The weekend news features local

personalities.

Titles
- Titles of works of art , literature, and
music are singular.
-Even a title consisting of a plural noun takes a
singular verb.

e.g.
The outsiders is a popular young-adult novel.