Verb Part-2

 Verb

In the previous blog, we learned about verbs and their three main types. Now in the second part, we are going to learn about Subject-Verb Agreement.

What is the Subject-Verb Agreement?

Subject-Verb Agreement simply refers to the relationship between the subject and the verb of the sentence. The subject and the verb must agree with each other in number.

There are certain rules you will have to follow, in order to understand the concept completely.

Rules Of Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule 1 - A verb agrees with its subject in number.

a)Singular subjects take singular verbs.

Example: The girl is on time.

b)Plural subjects take plural verbs.

Example: The girls are on time.

Note: In the present tense, you add an 's' at the end of the verb to agree with the singular noun/pronoun and you remove an 's' to agree with the plural noun/pronoun.

Example:

1) She writes neatly.

2) They write neatly.

Rule 2 - Sometimes there may be a prepositional phrase or a clause between the subject and the verb. The verb must agree with the noun/subject in the main clause.

Example:

1) One of the eggs is broken.

In this sentence, the subject is 'One' and the verb 'is' are both singular.

2) The monkeys on the tree keep chattering and screeching the whole day.

In this sentence, the verb is the word 'keep'.

Rule 3 - Some subjects always take a singular verb although the meaning may seem plural. These subjects always take singular verbs.

Each - Someone

Either - Anyone

Neither - Nobody

One - Somebody

No one - Anybody

Everyone - Everybody

Example:

1) Someone in the game was (not were) hurt.

2) Neither of the men is (not are) working.

Rule 4 - The following words may be singular or plural depending upon their use in a sentence: some, any, all, most.

Example:

1) Most of the news is good. (Singular)

2) Most of the flowers were yellow. (Plural)

3) All of the pizza was gone. (Singular)

4) All of the children were late. (Plural)

Rule 5 - Two or more singular nouns joined by 'and' form a plural subject, and require a plural verb.

Example:

1) Bob and George are leaving.

In this sentence, two singular nouns are joined by 'and' but they are referring to only one idea, so they need a singular verb.

2) Bread and butter make my everyday breakfast.

In this sentence, both together form a meal.

Rule 6 - 'There' and 'Here' are never subjects. In sentences that begin with these words, the subject is usually found later on in the sentence.

Example:

1) There were five books on the shelf.

In this sentence, the verb 'were' agrees with the subject 'book'.

2) Here is the report you wanted.

In this sentence, the verb 'is' agrees with the subject 'report'.

Rule 7 - Collective nouns may be singular or plural, depending upon their use in the sentence.

Example:

1) The orchestra is playing a hit song.

In this sentence, the word 'orchestra' is considered as one unit -singular.

2) The orchestra were asked to give their musical backgrounds.

In this sentence, the word 'orchestra' is considered as plural.

Rule 8 - Expressions of time, money, measurement, and weight are usually singular when the amount is considered one unit.

Example:

1) Five dollars is (not are) too much to ask.

2) Ten days is (not are) not nearly enough time.

On occasion, however, these terms are used in the plural sense:

1) There were thirty minutes to countdown.

Rule 9 - Some nouns, while plural in form, is actually singular in meaning. 

Example:

1) Mathematics is (not are) an easy subject for some people.

2) Physics is (not are) taught by Prof, Baldwin.

Rule 10 - 'Don't' and 'Doesn't' must agree with the subject. Use 'Doesn't' after he, she, it.

Example:

1) Doesn't he (not don't) how to sail?

2) They don't (not doesn't) make movies like that anymore.

Rule 11 - We use a plural verb with nouns such as scissors, tweezers, trousers and shears. Similarly, nouns such as earnings, goods, proceeds, contents, and valuables only have a plural form and take a plural verb.

Example:

1) These clippers are really big.

Rule 12 - We use a singular verb with words like neither.... nor, either.....or. Subjects joined by or/nor take a verb that agrees with the last subject.

Example:

1) Neither the mother nor the grandmother is as talented in music as Vinita.

2) Neither Bob nor George is leaving.

3) Neither Bob not his friends are leaving.

Rule 13 - With words that indicate portions - percent, fraction, part, majority, some, all, remainder and so on, look at the noun in your 'of phrase' (object of the preposition) to determine whether to use a singular or a plural verb. If the object of the preposition is singular, use a singular verb. If the object of the preposition is plural, use a plural verb. 

Example:

1) Fifty percent of the students have completed the assignment.

In this sentence, the word 'student' is the object of the preposition 'of'.