Subject Verb Agreement

Subject Verb Agreement

By Gwen Penny

​SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT WITH COLLECTIVE NOUNS

​A collective noun takes a plural verb when the speaker is thinking of the individual members of the group.

The staff have gone their separate ways for the holidays.

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A collective noun takes a singular verb when the speaker is thinking of the group as a unit.

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​The team is winning the game.

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Multiple Choice

The audience _____entering the theater. (The speaker is thinking of the individuals in the audience.)

• Was

• Were

Multiple Choice

The audience _____one of the best. (The speaker is thinking of the audience as a whole, a single unit.)

• was

• were

Multiple Choice

The team _____ eighteen to three to buy new uniforms.

• has voted

• have voted

Multiple Choice

The team _____the semifinals.

• has won

• have won

​SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

AMOUNT: QUANTITY/TIME

​Expressions stating amount (time, money, measurement, weight, volume, fractions) are usually singular when the amount is considered as a unit.

Five years has been a long time to wait.

Two thirds of the day is spent in school.

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However, when the amount is considered as a number of separate units, a plural verb is used.

The last six miles were the most scenic.

Two third of the holidays fall on a Friday or a Monday.​

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Multiple Choice

Forty dollars _____ too much to pay for the jeans.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

One half of the receipts ______ in a shoe box.

• was found

• were found

​SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

SINGULAR NOUNS WITH PLURAL FORMS

​A few nouns, such as mumps, measles, civics, economics, mathematics, physics, although plural in form, take a singular verb.

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The mumps usually lasts three days.

Nuclear physics is a controversial branch of science.

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Multiple Choice

Neither civics nor mathematics _____his best subject.

• is

• are

​SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

TITLES

​The title of a book or the name of an organization or country, even when plural in form, usually takes a singular verb.

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Lilies of the Field is on the late show tonight.

Friends of the Earth has held a membership drive.

The United States was represented at the summit conference.

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Multiple Choice

The Society of Procrastinators _____ postponed the annual meeting.

• has

• have

Multiple Choice

A Tale of Two Cities _____made into a movie for television.

• was

• were