Agreement in Number Review

Agreement in number, Indefinite Pronouns, Compound Subjects, and Unusual order Review

Agreement in Number

​A verb must agree with its subject in number. Number refers to whether a word is singular or plural.

A singular subject takes a singular verb.

Example: Jon enjoys adventure. (singular subject, singular verb

A plural subject takes a plural verb.

Example: Adventurous people enjoy travel. (plural subject, plural verb)

Multiple Choice

Volcanoes ____ in countries all over the world. (erupts, erupt)

• erupt
• erupts

Multiple Choice

In, addition, watchers (gathers, gather) information for scientists.

• gather
• gathers

Multiple Choice

The author (analyze, analyzes) the text.

• analyze

• analyzes

Multiple Choice

The closest towns' residents (moves, move) to a safer area.

• move
• moves

Multiple Choice

The watchers (warns, warn) the people who live near by.

• warn
• warns

Compound Subjects

A compound subject is made up of two or more simple subjects joined by a conjunction such as and, or, or nor.

The radio and the CD player are both playing.

Multiple Choice

Making Verbs Agree with Compound Subjects

Neither the night buses nor the subway (go, goes) to the school.

• go
• goes

Multiple Choice

Either the trumpeters or the tuba player (leaves, leave) the stage last.

• leave
• leaves

Multiple Choice

Students and teachers (is, are) already anticipating next year's concert.

• are
• is

Multiple Choice

The violin and cello (is, are) orchestra instruments.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Strings and percussion ( make, makes) am interesting combination.

• make
• makes

Multiple Choice

The parents and relatives (are, is) applauding loudest.

• are
• is

Always singular: another, each, everything, nothing, something, anybody, either, neither, one, anyone, everybody, nobody, somebody

Always Plural: both, few, many, several

It does not refer to a definite, or specific, person, place, thing, or idea.

Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects

Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects

Singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs.

Each of the phones was ringing.

Plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs.

A few of the calls were wrong numbers.

Multiple Choice

Someone (were, was) supposed to bring the net.

• was

• were

Multiple Choice

Most of the children (have, has) brought lunches.

• have
• has

Multiple Choice

Does the verb agree with the subject?

None of the students (are, is) absent.

• are

• is

Multiple Choice

Each of the parents (send, sends) care packages during the two weeks.

• send

• sends

Multiple Choice

Everyone (want, wants) to be a winner.

• want

• wants

Subjects in Unusual Order

• It is a sentence where the subject is not before the verb where you would expect to find it.

Four Categories of these "unusual" Sentences

1. Questions

2. Commands

3. Inverted sentences

4. Sentences that start with "here" or "there"