Subject-verb agreement

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

It is the art of making sure that the sentence parts connect in the right way.
The subject and verb work together to make the sentence sound good.

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​What is agreement?

If the subject is singular, the verb is singular.
If the subject is plural, the verb is plural.
When the subject is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by AND, use a plural verb.

​Third-person singular and plural

Multiple Choice

Annie and ther brothers ........... at the school

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Benito ........... know the answer

• doesn't

• don't

Fill in the Blanks

My teachers

arriving late.

​When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by "or" or "nor", use a singular verb.
When the compound subject contains both singular and plural nouns or pronouns joined by "or" or " nor", the verb should agree with the subject closest to it.

​When we use BOTH...AND, we use a plural verb form.
When correlative conjunctions join singular subjects, the verb must be also singular.
When they join singular and plural subjects, the verb must agree with the subject closest to it.

Neither Paul nor his brother is coming with us.

​Neither the teacher nor the students were present at the meeting.

​Correlative Conj.

James or John knows who is coming to the party.
The kids or the dog was destroying the plants.

​Joe nor the kids want pizza.

​FANBOYS

Examples:

Multiple Choice

The surfer or swimmers ..... responsable for the contaminated beach.

• is

• are

Fill in the Blanks

My aunt nor my uncle

(be) arriving tomorrow.

Multiple Choice

Neither threats (amenazas) nor hostile action ........ the enemy.

• scares

• scare

Multiple Choice

Neither she nor I ...... going to the festival.

• am

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Either Jenny or her children ..... at home

• is

• are

Singular indefinite pronouns use a singular verb.
One of the keys does not fit the lock.

​A plural verb is used for plural indefinite pronouns.
Many of our young people go to larger cities to find a job.
Pronouns that can be either singular or plural:
More of the story is found online. (More refers to Story)
More of the rules apply to that situation. (More refers to Rules)

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Verb agreement with indefinite pronouns

Multiple Choice

Both of them ....... the flute very well.

• plays

• play

Fill in the Blanks

Few

(be) reading this report.

Multiple Choice

Nobody ....... liver (hígado) for supper.

• likes

• like

Multiple Choice

Something ...... disgusting.

• smell

• smells

Fill in the Blanks

Each of the members

(have) the right to bring a guest.

Multiple Choice

All of the milk ........ spilled on the table.

• has

• have

Multiple Choice

Some of the bread ....... sold yesterday.

• were

• was

Multiple Choice

More of the songs ....... any good.

• are

• is

Fill in the Blanks

Some of the photos

(be) out of focus.

The noun or pronoun that follows such an expression determines whether the verb is singular or plural.
There is someone at the door.
There are many girls waiting for you.

​There is/There are

The verb form is determined by the noun or pronoun that follows the work OF.
One-third of this land is mine.
One-third of the students have graduate degrees.
A number of = is always plural.
The number of = is always singular.
A number of people miss the bus.
The number of people on the bus is 52. (52 is the number of people).

​Expressions of quantity

Subject-verb agreement

Multiple Choice

Half of his articles ......... published.

• were

• was

Multiple Choice

Fifty percent of the job ...... routine.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Fifty percent of the computers ........ CD-ROM drives.

• has

• have

Multiple Choice

A number of accidents always ........ as a result of rain.

• occurs

• occur

Fill in the Blanks

The number of injuries (heridos) from the war

(be) shocking.

Fill in the Blanks

There

two posters in my room.

Fill in the Blanks

There

a big wardrobe in my sister's bedroom.