s-v agreement

Subject-Verb
Agreement

BASIC RULE

Subjects and Verbs must always agree in
NUMBER

Singular subjects have singular verbs.

Plural subjects have plural verbs.

● Rule: When there is one subject and more

than one verb, the verbs throughout the
sentence must agree with the subject.

● Examples:

○ Research determines the truth of

information and expands one’s
knowledge.

● Rule: Intervening phrases do not affect

subject-verb agreement.

● Examples:

○ The girl in the yellow dress is my sister.
○ The girl holding flowers is my sister.

● Rule: In inverted sentences, find the true

subject and make the verb agree with it.

● Examples:

○ There are chairs in the hallway.
○ Do those forests contain Molaves?

Multiple Choice

The baby in the crib with flowers ______ Kate's daughter.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

The mango trees growing in the backyard _____ blocking the sunlight.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Here _____ the documents you asked for.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

______ the new kid speak English?

• Does

• Do

Agreement
with special
subjects

● Rule: Collective nouns name groups.

When you refer to them as a whole, use a
singular verb.

● Example:

○ The battalion gets ready for war.
○ The troop is waiting in the shed.

● Rule: For collective nouns as subjects,

when you refer to each member of a
group individually, use a plural verb.

● Examples:

○ The crowd rush to find their seats.
○ The family use the bathroom at

different times.

● Rule: For nouns which are plural in form

but singular in meaning, use the singular
verb.

● Examples:

○ The news is concerning.
○ Physics dictate that the activity is

impossible.

● Rule: Nouns such as scissors, pants,

binoculars, and eyeglasses are always
plural so they use a plural verb.

● Examples:

○ The scissors are on the table.
○ His eyeglasses change color when hit

by sunlight.

Multiple Choice

My new pants _____ being washed right now.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

The pack ______ together at night.

• hunt

• hunts

Multiple Choice

Mathematics _______ my favorite subject.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

The orchestra ________ their own instrument.

• carry

• carries

● Rule: When the subject of the sentence is

composed of two or more nouns or
pronouns connected by and, use a plural
verb.

● Examples:

○ The doctor and the patient are meeting.
○ The children listen well.

● Rule: When subjects are connected by

either/or and neither/nor, the verb takes
the number of the subject closest to it.

● Examples:

○ Either the kids or their teacher plays the

music every flag ceremony.

○ Neither me nor my parents are

attending the seminar.

Multiple Choice

Marsha and Taylor _______ the cleanliness of the shop.

• maintain

• maintains

Multiple Choice

Either Jake or his brothers ______ going to participate in the competition.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Either the dogs or the cat _______ a hole in the backyard.

• dig

• digs

Agreement
with
indefinite
pronouns

ALWAYS SINGULAR

each

everyone

nobody

anything

either

everybody

nothing

someone

neither

everything

anyone

somebody

one

no one

anybody

something

ALWAYS PLURAL

several

few

both

many

SINGULAR OR PLURAL

some

all

any

most

none

Multiple Choice

All the participants _______ surprised by the results.

• was

• were

Multiple Choice

Everyone ________ their responsibilities well.

• fulfill

• fulfills

Multiple Choice

Somebody _____ always assigned to check the room at the end of the day.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Several _______ convinced of the product's effectivity.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Nothing _____ inside the box.

• is

• are