RULES IN SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

1. The verb must agree with the subject.

a. Singular subjects require singular verbs. What constitutes a singular subject?
i. A singular noun (Dennis, chair, bike, cat, wind, tree)
Ex. Jorin cooks hotdogs for breakfast.
ii. Personal pronouns, singular, third person-(he, she, it)
Note: Refrain from using pronouns as subjects unless there is a noun
antecedent previously mentioned in the same or another sentence,
Ex. The Revenger’s squad movie is the highest grossing film for MMFF 2018.
It gives a lot of joy to the audience.
iii. Collective nouns taken as a unit (Ex. choir, team, herd, family, majority,
minority)
Ex. The family eats dinner together.
iv. Mass nouns (Ex. sand, water, air, gas, oil, rice, flour, blood)
Ex. The air makes us alive.
v. Indefinite pronouns considered as singular. (Ex. another, any, anybody,
anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, no one,
nobody, nothing, one, somebody, someone, something)
Ex. No one told me there is no class today.
vi. Indefinite pronouns, (all, any, more, most, much, none, some) when referring
to mass nouns.
Ex. More Filipinos apply for passport.
vii. Singular demonstrative pronouns (this, that)
Ex. This requires further review.
viii. Fractions of a unit or mass nouns. The fractions must be written in words.
Ex. One fourth of the cake was eaten by my brother.
ix. Measurements (volume, distance, length) time, quantities and sums of money
considered as a unit
Ex. One million pesos is the grand prize of the raffle.
x. Personal pronoun I (only with the verb “to be “in the past tense)
 Ex. I was worried with my exams.
xi. Percentage of a unit or mass noun (The percentage must be written in words)
Ex. Fifty percent of my allowance goes to my piggy bank.

b. Plural subjects require plural verbs

What constitutes a plural subject?
i. All plural count nouns (Ex. children, buses, trees, dogs, marbles etc.)
Ex. The women enjoy the beauty of pageant shows.
ii. The personal pronoun I in the present tense, and present perfect tense,
except with the verb “to be” in present progressive tense .
Ex. I have paid my dues already.
Note; The personal pronoun I in the present tense of the verb “to be” uses the
form “am”
Ex. I am working on my assignments.
iii. Personal pronoun You whether singular or plural.
Ex. You do well at school.
iv. All plural personal pronouns (we, they) in present, present progressive,
past progressive and present perfect tenses.)
Ex. We have planned to travel abroad this year.
v. Plural demonstrative pronouns (these, those)
Ex. Put your dirty clothes in the pail. Those need intense washing.
vi. Indefinite pronouns (all, none, most, some) when they refer to count
nouns.
Ex. All of the teachers received gifts from their loving students.
vii. Plural indefinite pronouns (both, few, many, others, several)
Ex. Few people attended the health seminar.
viii. Collective nouns taken individually
Ex. The choir are enjoying their performance.
ix. Adjectives used as a subject
Ex. The beautiful receives a lot of recognition.
 Note: Public can be an adjective or a noun. As a noun, it is classified as
collective noun
Ex. #1. The public (noun- a unit) deserves transparency in the acts of public
(adj.) servants.
#2 .The public (as individuals) have the right to choose their leader.
x. Fractions of a quantity
Ex. One half of the bread has been shared to the street children.
xi. Percentage of count nouns
Ex. Additional two percent is added to the current bill of water.

2. Singular subjects connected by and require a plural verb.

Ex. The prey and predator constitute the food chain.

EXCEPTIONS TO THE ABOVE RULE

a. Singular subjects connected by and but are preceded by Each or Every take on a
singular verb.
Ex. Each policeman and soldier gets salary hike this year.
b. Singular subjects connected by and but are preceded by Many a take on a
singular verb.
Ex. Many moment and event in our lives shapes our personality.
c. Singular subjects connected by and but refer to only one thing or person take on
a singular verb.
Ex. The writer and author of the book inspires me to read more.
d. Food considered as a unit take on a singular verb.
Ex. Bread and coffee makes a great food combination.
e. Numbers when added together take on a singular verb
Ex. Two and three equals five.
f. Cliches take on a singular verb
Ex. Forever and ever expresses eternal love.
3. Singular subjects connected by or… nor, either… or, neither …nor, not only… but
also, require singular verbs.
Ex. Either John or James gets the merit.
4. Subjects connected by or or nor, either… or, neither …nor, not only… but also, not
…but that differ in person or in number will have the verb agreeing with the nearer
subject.
Ex. Not only the Korean shows but also American shows have entertained
the Filipino audience.
5. Singular subjects connected by correlative conjunction both ... and will require a
plural verb.
Ex. Both Mama and Papa agree to let me join the camping.
6. Intervening words, phrases or clauses do not in any way affect the agreement
between the subject and the verb.

Kinds of intervening words, phrases or clauses

a. Adverb
Ex. Horror movies always make me feel thrilled.
b. Appositive - a word or phrase directly following the noun it modifies.
Ex. My sister’s favourite past time (watching tv), helps her in coping stress.
c. Prepositional Phrase (the most common intervening phrase)
Ex. The work (of the call center agents) needs good speaking skills.
d. Present participial phrase
Ex. The construction workers, (following the foreman’s order), practice until 7
o’clock on Fridays.
e. Infinitive phrase
Ex. My dream, (to become an Engineer) is fully supported by my family.
f. Past participial phrase
Ex. The Philippine basketball team, (led by Mr. Chot Reyes) are joining the
FIBA.
 g. Adjective clause
Ex. Henry, (whom the class A have chosen to be their President) excels in
academics.

7. Take note that in inverted sentences, the verb, especially the helping or auxiliary
verb, comes before the subject.

Kinds of Inverted Sentences

a. Sentences introduced by Here or There
Ex. (Here) comes the money.
Normal order of the sentence: The money comes (here).
b. Sentences introduced by Interrogative Pronouns. What, Which, Whom, Why,
When, Where, How
Ex. When do you find him missing?
Normal order of the sentence: You find him missing since when?
c. Sentences introduced by linking verb “to be”
Ex. Are you excited about playing the latest mobile game?
d. Sentences introduced by linking verb “to be”
Ex. Is Jodi starring in this great movie?
e. Sentences introduced by auxiliary verb “to do” or “to have”.
Ex. Does the food satisfies your cravings right now?
f. Sentences introduced by prepositional phrase
Ex. Behind every struggles lies a happy ending.
g. Sentences introduced by present participle
Ex. Waiting along the parking area of the mall are Filipino fans of KPOP idols.
h. Sentences introduced by past participle
Ex. Hidden among the bushes is a tamed lion.
8. Compound subjects in which one is used affirmatively and the other negatively, will
have the verb agreeing with the subject used affirmatively.
Ex. Jorin, not I, is giving out extra food to beggars.
I, not Jorin, am giving out extra food to beggars.
9. When the subject and the linking verb complement differ in number, the verb agrees
with the subject and not with the linking verb complement.
Ex. Maris’ studies and her income generating career as actress are her main
priority these days.
Maris’ main priority these days is her studies and income generating career
as actress.
10. Words that are plural in form but singular in meaning take on singular verbs.( news,
measles, chassis, mumps, viscus, abacus, atlas, abscess, aegis, genesis, apparatus,
neurosis, etc)
Ex. The genesis of everything is written in the bible.
11. Words ending in –ICS are singular in meaning if they refer to a subject, a branch of
science or a field of concentration.
Ex. Mathematics is taught starting primary school.
12. Words enclosed in parenthesis are not part of the subject
Ex. Joey (and his puppy) plays with the children affected of the Marawi crisis.
13. Some nouns may be construed as singular or plural according to context. (ashes*
(plural when referring to remains of cremation), wages, amends, remains,
accommodation, archives, bowels, communications, goods, wood, information, advice,
knowledge, barracks, crossroads, means, species, usually collective nouns)
Ex. Knowledge is power.
14. Series is singular when used to refer to a set of things even if it is followed by the
preposition of and a plural noun
Ex. A series of lab tests verifies the diagnosis.
15. Series takes on a plural verb when it refers to two or more sets of things
Ex. Two series of tests are prepared by Mrs. Cruz tomorrow.
16. Titles of books, essays, movies, plays, musical compositions, paintings or other
such works, that are plural in form, take on a singular verb.
Ex. The Ninja turtles is shown every Saturday morning.
17. Names of groups, organizations or countries that are plural in form, take on a
singular verb.
Ex. PDP-Laban supports federalism.
18. Some nouns take on only plural verbs (clothes, fireworks, scissors, trousers,*
credentials, earnings, headquarters, etc.)
Ex. MMFF’s earnings have reached 600 million pesos.
19. Some nouns take on a secondary plural form. (fish, water, hair, land, money*,
cheese, sand, etc)
Ex. The black hairs of the old lady are turning white as the years pass.
20. The expression “the number” takes on a singular verb while “a number” takes on
plural verb.
Ex. The number of internet cafes gradually decreases due to newer technology.
A number of cultural artists perform at the Araneta Coliseum.
21. “The contents” when used as a subject takes on a singular verb if it refers to quality
or mass noun and a plural verb when it refers to quantity or count nouns.
Ex. The contents of the box were (are) love letters . (plural noun)
The contents of the chest was (is) Grandma’s wedding dress.(a unit)
The contents of the jar was (is) strawberry jam. (mass noun)
22. Relative pronouns who, that, which will take on the number of the word they refer to.
Ex. This is the group of Brittania Islands that attracts many tourists around the
world. (this refers to group; that refers to Brittania islands)
23. In sentence constructions containing one of and only one of, in which a relative
pronoun is subject of the verb in the subordinate clause, the verb agrees with the
antecedent of the relative pronoun.
Ex. She is the only one whom Peter loves dearly. (Whom refers to one)
She is one of the top artists of the world who never stops making sensible
music. (She belongs to the top artists of the world who never stops making sensible
music)
24. Clauses when used as a subject depend on other words in context to determine the
number of its verb
Ex. What you plan requires an enormous outlay of money. (outlay is singular and
it determines the verb)
What you plan require skilled workers and good managers.(workers and
managers determine the number of the verb.)
25. A subject based on verbal noun (gerund or infinitive) is treated as singular
Ex. To have lots of money is the desire of many.
26. A subject consisting of a single noun clause is treated as singular.
Ex. How the baby manages to get out of his crib remains a mystery to his
parents.
27. Some nouns have the same form for singular and plural.( moose, tuna, milkfish,
species, deer)
Ex. Tuna makes a delicious sandwich.
28. Be careful of the plural forms of nouns derived from foreign language.( agendum-
agenda, datumdata; basis- basis; criterion-criteria; bacterium-bacteria; genus-genera;
phenomenon-phenomena,; die-dice, etc)
Ex. One criterion has been omitted from the list.
29. “It” can be personal pronoun or an expletive. An expletive is a sentence filler or
introducer. The most common expletives are here, there, and it . That, whether, and If
are considered expletives when they introduce noun clauses. The expletive It is also
called a false subject.
Ex. #1. It is obvious that he has studied hard.
Normal sentence: That he has studied hard is obvious. The clause functions as
subject of the sentence
#2. It makes sense to save a part of your monthly wages.
Normal order of the sentence: To save a part of your monthly wages makes
sense.
NOTE 1: In the normal order of the sentence, the expletive “it” disappears.
NOTE 2: Take care not to mistake the expletive “it” for the personal pronoun “it”.
 #3. It is amazing that Robin can read at the age of four.
Normal order of the sentence: That Robin can read at the age of four is amazing.
Ex. of It as Personal Pronoun: Robin’s mother enrolled him In L’Ecole. It is a
school that specializes in teaching gifted children.
It is a personal pronoun substituting for L’Ecole.
#4. It is wonderful to be alive.
Normal order of the sentence. To be alive is wonderful.

30. Quantifiers ( generally, indefinite pronouns used as modifiers: all, less, more, most.
much, some)when modifying a mass noun take on a singular verb; when modifying a
count noun take on a plural verb
Ex. More inhabitants of the island are leaving it for the big city each year.

31. Business names, companies, names of organizations may take on a plural form but
they will take a singular verb because they refer to only one entity. (The Residences,
Cojuangco and Sons, The Jaycees)
Ex. Mediaquest Holdings, a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust, is the vehicle being
considered to acquire GMA 7.

32. Names of Sports teams will require plural verbs. (even if they don’t end in
“s”)Basketball: Utah Jazz; Orlando Magic: Oklahoma City Thunder. Baseball: Boston
Red Sox; Chicago White Sox, English Premier League (Football) Arsenal, Chelsea,
Liverpool, Manchester United, ; European Football Real Madrid, Ajax (Amsterdam)
Juventus (Torino, Italy) AC Milan (Milan)
Ex. Miami Heat prevail over Chicago Bulls.