Subject-verb Agreement Flashcards
(15 cards)
The verb must agree with the subject in number and in person.
a.) If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular as well.
b.) if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural as well.
Basis Rule
Do not let a phrase between the subject and the verb trick you. The subject is what the verb agrees with, not a noun or pronoun in the phrase
Rule no. 1
If one subject is singular and the other is plural and they are connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also, use the subject that is closest to the verb
Rule no. 2
If a sentence starts with “there” or “here,” the subject will always come after the verb.
Rule no. 3
The indefinite pronouns “each,” “each one,” “either,” “neither,” “everyone,” “everybody”,”anyone,” “nobody,” “somebody,” “someone,” and “no one” are all singular and need a singular verb.
Rule no. 4
The indefinite pronouns “both”, “few”, “fewer”, “many”, “others”, and “several” are all plural and require a plural verb.
Rule no. 5
Although, few (all, any, some) can be singular or plural depending on the word they refer to, so check the subject first and make the verb agree with it.
Special Case
Nouns like “economics,” “politics,” “measles,” “mathematics,” “dollars,” and “news” need singular verbs.
Rule no. 6
When a noun is plural, like scissors, glasses, tweezers, shorts, trousers, shears, or binoculars, the verb must also be plural.
Rule no. 7
If two subjects are combined but still function as two separate subjects, use plural verb. However, if the two subjects appear as a single pair which cannot function without one another, use singular verb.
Rule no. 8
These expressions (half of, a percentage of, majority of) can be singular or plural depending on the word they refer to, so check the subject first and make the verb agree with it.
Rule no. 9
The phrase “the number of/one of” is followed by a plural noun and use a singular verb. However, with the phrase “a number of” uses a plural verb.
Rule no. 10
With an -ing verb used as a subject (gerund), always use a singular verb.
Rule no. 11
A publication, movie, literary piece, artwork or music with a plural noun or pronoun in the title can seem like you should use a plural verb, but if you’re talking about only one work, use a singular verb
Rule no. 12
Words stating amounts of time, money and measurement usually use singular verb as well as phrases with addition, multiplication, subtraction and division of numbers.
Rule no. 13
