Subject Verb Agreement

Subject Verb Agreement 🌹

Subject verb agreement simply means the subject and verb must agree in number. This means both need to be singular or both need to be plural.

Here are some examples of subject verb agreement  

{( the subject is bolded and the verb is  starred*):}

1 - My dog always growls* at the postal carrier.

2 -  Basketballs roll* across the floor.

3 - I  don't understand* the assignment.

4 - These clothes are* too small for me.

5 - Peter doesn't like* vegetables

🌸 Compound Subject 🌸

 Compound subjects (two subjects in the same sentence) usually take a plural verb, unless the combination is treated as singular in popular usage or the two subjects refer to the same thing or person. Here are some examples of subject verb agreement with compound subjects.

1- Sugar and flour are* needed for the recipe.

2- Neither my dad nor my brothers know* how to ski.

3 - Pepperoni and cheese are* great on a pizza.

4- Corned beefand cabbage is* a traditional meal in Ireland. 

( popular usage )

5- The creator and producer is* arriving soon.

 (both refer to same* *person)

While using " or" or " nor" in a compound subject containing a singular and plural subject, the verb agrees with the closest subject.

 Examples of compound subjects using or, neither-nor, or either-or include:

1• My mom or  dad is* coming to the play. (singular)

2• Neither gray nor white is* my favorite color. (singular)

3• Either Grandpa or my sisters are* going to the park. 

(closest subject is plural)

4• Either my sisters or Grandpa is* going to the park. 

(closest subject is singular)

5•  Neither she nor I am* going to college. 

(closest subject is singular)

🦋 Singular Indefinite Pronouns🦋 

Here are some examples of subject

verb agreement with singular indefinite pronouns

1- Each gets* a trophy for playing.

 

2- Somebody will pay* for this.

3- Anybody is* more fun than you.

4- Something is* very wrong here.

5- Everybody enjoys* a good book.

6- Nothing has* been determined as of yet.

🌹 Plural Indefinite Pronouns 🌹

Here are some examples of subject verb agreement with plural indefinite pronouns:

1- Both are* qualified for the job.

2 - Several are*already on location.

3- Some sugar is* required for taste. 

( sugar is uncountable so singular verb is used) 

4- Most of the cookies were* eaten. 

( cookies are countable so plural verb used)

🌻 Collective Nouns🌻

Collective nouns can be singular or plural depending on meaning. Here are some examples of subject verb agreement with collective nouns

1-The committee meets* here every Thursday. ( singular)

2-The crowd is* getting angry. ( singular)

3-The jury has* finally reached a decision. ( singular)

4-The majority rules* most of the time. ( singular)

5-The staff have* gone their separate ways for the holidays. (plural).