Agreement of Subject and Verb

Rule 1: A verb in the present tense agrees with its subject in number and person.

Example:

Singular Plural
1. She writes news. 1. They write news.
2. The room is neat. 2. The rooms are neat.
3. Ted walks fast. 3. Ted and Nel walk fast.

Rule 2: Each, every, either, neither, anyone, anybody, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, no one,
nobody, and one are singular.

Example:

1. Everyone is excited.
2. Neither of the two has a pen.
3. Somebody is looking for you.

Rule 3: When the words some, any, none and all are followed by a phrase, the verb agrees with the
phrase.

Example:

1. Some of the boys are athletes

2. All of the money was spent.

Rule 4: A word that is plural in form but names a single object or idea takes a singular verb.

Examples are physics, mathematics, news, economics, measles and civics.

Example:

1. Mathematics is easy for me.

2. The news has reached him.

Rule 5: Intervening words like together, in addition to, as well as, including and similar modifiers after
the subject the subject do not affect the number of the subject.

Example:

1. The child, together with his mother, visits the park.

2. Raffy, as well as his friends, assists in the program.
Rule 6: Fractions may take singular or plural verbs depending on the of phrase.

Example:

1. Two-thirds of the time is for recitation.

2. Two-thirds of the girls are joining the trip.

Rule 7: A collective noun takes a singular verb when the group is thought of, and a plural verb when the
individuals are thought of.

Example:

1. My science class is putting up an exhibit.

2. My class are discussing plans for the exhibit.

Rule 8: The expression the number takes a singular verb; the expression a number takes a plural verb.

Example:

1. The number of delegates is big.

2. A number of delegates are late.