Subject-Verb Agreement

University Learning Center

PC 247 / AC I 160
Developed by Chris Losa

Keep Your Eyes Open

Although

often overlooked, problems with SubjectVerb Agreement are REAL!

To help

avoid these errors, we will discuss:

How to make Subjects and Verbs agree in number,
What to do with tricky subjects like Each and Every,
What to do with compound subjects

Learn

to spot and correct these errors and become a

Recognizing Subjects and

Verbs
A complete

sentence must have a SUBJECT and a

VERB.
The

subject is the who or what that performs the

action.

The

verb is the action word.

 The

Spot the Subject and Verb

players on our side are strong.

The players on our side are strong.
Players

Once

is the subject and are is the verb.

youve identified the Subject and the Verb,

you have to make sure they agree in Number.
Singular subjects require singular verbs and plural
subjects require plural verbs.

What Next?
An

easy way to make your subjects and

verbs agree is to think about the S.
Usually, plural nouns end with the letter S
and singular nouns do not.
Verbs are the opposite:
For the most part, singular verbs end with
the letter S and plural verbs do not.

Therefore . . .
The

carS run, but the car runS.

The

plural noun cars takes the plural verb

run. There is only one S in the pair.

The

singular noun car takes the singular

verb runs. Again, There is only one S in the
pair.

BEWARE
Compound

subjects do not end with S.

Instead, compound subjects consist of two
or more subjects joined by and.
We treat these subjects like any other plural
subject.
The

student and the instructor work long

hours.

BEWARE
The

student and the instructor work long

hours.

The

subject consists of two people.

Therefore, it is plural.

BEWARE
BE

CAREFUL!

When

subjects are joined by and and

combine to form a single thing or person,
they are treated like a singular subject.

Use

a singular verb with such compound

subjects.

Example:
Spaghetti

and meatballs has a place on

many menus.

Spaghetti

and meatballs is acting as a unit,

as a singular subject.

Using Each and Every

Each

and Every are singular pronouns.

Therefore,
Every

they require singular verbs.

flying saucer was glowing.

Using Each and Every

BEWARE!
You always use a singular verb with each
and every, even if they precede subjects
joined by and.
Each alien hand and foot leaves a distinct
print.

Compound Subjects Joined

By Words Like Or
Be

careful when your subjects are joined by

the following words:

or
nor
either

. . . or
neither . . . nor
not only . . . but (also)

Compound Subjects Joined

By Words Like Or

In

such cases, the verb agrees with the

subject nearest it.

Example:

Either the instructors or the student knows

the answer.
Try

to ignore everything before the final

subject

Compound Subjects Joined

By Words Like Or
Either

the instructors or the student knows

the answer.

The

singular subject student requires the

singular verb knows.

What if the Subject is an

Indefinite Pronoun?
Indefinite

Pronouns refer to nonspecific

people or things. They are usually singular
and require singular verbs.

What if the Subject is an

Indefinite Pronoun?
The

following common Indefinite Pronouns

usually take singular verbs:

Another

each
everything
anybody either neither
anyone
every
nobody
anything everyone no one

nothing
somebody
someone
something

What if the Subject is an

Indefinite Pronoun?

BEWARE!

A few indefinite pronouns

none, some, more, most, any, and allcan
be either singular or plural, depending on
the context.

Example:
Some

of our streams are polluted; some

pollution is reversible, but all pollution is a
threat to nature

Making Verbs Agree With the

Antecedents of Who, Which,
and That
When

Who, Which, or That starts a clause,

the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun to
which Who, Which, or That refers (its
Antecedent).

Making Verbs Agree With the

Antecedents of Who, Which,
and That
The

scientist will share information with the

students who work with her.

George

the lab.

Jones is the student who works in

Using Singular Verbs with

Titles and Terms
Titles

and terms are treated as singular

subjectseven if they contain plural words.

Examples:
Les

Miserables is a popular musical.

Disciplinary measures is a euphemism
for punishment.

Youve Been Warned

See

if you can spot Subject-Verb Agreement errors.

Subjects

and Verbs must agree in number.

Be

careful with subjects like Each and Everythese

are singular.

Pay

close attention to subjects joined with words

like and and orthese subjects can be either
singular or plural.

Information Cited and

Paraphrased from
Troyka, Lynn Q. Quick Access: Reference
For Writers. 3rd Ed. New Jersey:
Prentice Hall, 2001.