Subject Verb Agreement

Question 1

Subjects preceded by each or every

Answer 1

Use singular verb

• Every dog and cat has paws.
• Each of these t-shirts is dirty.

Question 2

When each or every follows the subject

Answer 2

No effect

• They each are great tennis players.
• Three cats each chase birds.
• Three cats, each of which chases birds… → In this case, each precedes “which”

Question 3

Compound Subject

Answer 3

Use singular verb when the compound subject refers to a single entity

e.g., While rice and beans is a popular dish, some people prefer to combine beans with noodles.

Question 4

Number

Answer 4

• “The” number of → Singular
• “A” number of → Plural (doesn’t depend)

Question 5

Percentage

Answer 5

• “The” percentage of: Singular
• “A” percentage of: Depends

→ A percentage of the water is not contaminated.
→ A percentage of the lakes are not contaminated.

Question 6

Percent

Answer 6

Singular or plural depending on what the portion is a portion of

→ Ninety percent of the board was present.
→ Fifty percent of the board members are in favor of the acquisition.

THINK: Same as the “a percentage of” rule

Question 7

Fraction

Answer 7

Singular or plural depending on what the fraction is a fraction of

**→ Half of the class is** going on a field trip.
→ **One-third of the students have** shown interest.
→ **Two-thirds of the increase** **has** occurred since 1975.

THINK: Same as the “a percentage of” rule since fraction is a percentage!

Question 8

Idiomatic phrases that designate number of parts

Answer 8

Look at the noun object of the “of-phrase”

e. g., Half of the pie is blueberry.
e. g., Half of the slices are gone.

Question 9

Indefinite Pronouns: always singular

Answer 9

• Anybody, anyone, anything
• Each, either, every, everybody, everyone, everything
• Less, little
• Much
• Neither, no one, nobody, nothing
• Somebody, someone, something
• Whatever, whoever, whichever

EXCEPTIONS:

1. “Either…or” construction type: then follow the closest subject rule
2. When “whoever” type precedes a plural noun: use plural verb (e.g., Whoever the owners are)

Question 10

Indefinite Pronouns: always plural

Answer 10

• Both
• Few, fewer
• Many
• Others
• Several

Question 11

Indefinite nouns: can be either singular or plural depending on the referrents (don’t ignore the prepositional phrase)

Answer 11

SANAMM

• Some (…sun)
• Any (…Annie)
• None (…nun)
• All (…in awe)
• More (…smore)
• Most (…moist)

Examples:

• Some of the birds were already sleeping.
• Some of the water is still in the lake.

Question 12

Additive phrases don’t create plural subjects

Answer 12

• Sally, along with Joe and Sue, is going to the fair.
• Ringo, as well as other members of the band, has sent a request.

Question 13

Or, Nor, Either…Or, and Neither…Nor

Answer 13

The verb in a clause or sentence containing a compound subject joined by these conjunctions must agree with the subject noun to which it is closest. Verbs agree with whatever follows “or/nor”.

• Neither the bread nor the potatoes look very appealing.
• Neither the potatoes nor the bread looks very appealing.

Question 14

Collective Nouns: Rules

Answer 14

Use PLURAL when NOT acting as a single unit:

→ After the conflict resolution workshop had ended, the team were practicing speaking articulately to each other and using emotional intelligence to diffuse problems among members of the team.

Use SINGULAR when acting as a single unit:

→ The team is at the lake this weekend.

Question 15

Collective Nouns: Majority & Minority

Answer 15

Singular vs. plural depends on the context

• Plural: A majority of the students are already applying for jobs.
• Singular: A two-thirds majority of the ministers was required for the passage of a new amendment.

Question 16

When a subject begins with the word(s) “every,” “each,” “many a,” or “many an,” the subject always takes a singular verb.

Answer 16

• Each of us prefers a different style of cooking.
• Every guy at the prom looks amazing.

Question 17

Many a + singular or plural verb?

Answer 17

Singular

• Many a person among those people diagnosed with so-called incurable illnesses by physicians has found that…
• “Many a” means a large number of things

Question 18

Unusual Singular and Plural Forms

Answer 18

• Singular when act as subjects: mathematics, diabetes, mumps
• Plural when used to refer to a set of something:
  
  • His politics get in the way.
  • There aren’t any statistics to bolster the claim.
  • The economics of restaurant ownership make success difficult.