Grammar TroublespotsGrammar Troublespots

subject-verb agreementsubject-verb agreement

Writing Center, University of Houston Writing Center, University of Houston

About this SectionAbout this Section

Each complete sentence should Each complete sentence should • express express a complete thought and and • have have a Subject and a Verb.

In this section you will learn more about: In this section you will learn more about: relationshipsrelationships between Subjects and Verbs, , problemsproblems regarding regarding Subject-Verb Agreement,,

ways to correctways to correct such problems. such problems.

Terms:Terms:

A Subject is a noun or pronoun is a noun or pronoun partnered with a predicate verb. partnered with a predicate verb.

Verbs have traditionally been defined as have traditionally been defined as words that show action or state of being.words that show action or state of being.

NOTE: Determining singular or plural endings can be Determining singular or plural endings can be confusing because an confusing because an –s–s ending on a nounending on a noun indicates indicates plural, whereas an plural, whereas an –s–s on a verbon a verb indicates singular. indicates singular.

Verbs that show Verbs that show agreementagreement

Agreement in number occursAgreement in number occurs with verbs used without auxiliaries in the Present with verbs used without auxiliaries in the Present

Simple Tense and Simple Tense and with the following auxiliaries: with the following auxiliaries: am/is/are; was/were; am/is/are; was/were;

do/does; has/have.do/does; has/have.

ExamplesExamples::

(singular)(singular) Acid rain cause Acid rain causess many troubles. many troubles.

(plural)(plural) Acid rain Acid rainss cause many troubles. cause many troubles.

Verbs that do not show Verbs that do not show agreementagreement

Auxiliaries like Auxiliaries like will, would, can, could, shall, will, would, can, could, shall, should, may, might,should, may, might, and and mustmust

do not changedo not change and and are always, whatever the subject, are always, whatever the subject, followed by the followed by the

simple form of the verbsimple form of the verb..

ExamplesExamples::

(singular)(singular) The river The river mightmight freeze.freeze.

(plural)(plural) The stream The streamss will will probablyprobably freezefreeze too.too.

Subjects with singular Subjects with singular verbsverbs

Words like Words like each, every, everyone, everybody, each, every, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, something, anyone, someone, somebody, something, anyone, anything, no one, nobody, nothinganything, no one, nobody, nothing

require require a single verba single verb and, therefore, and, therefore, are often troublesomeare often troublesome for for second-language learners.second-language learners.

ExamplesExamples::(singular)(singular) EverybodyEverybody isis happy. happy.(singular)(singular) EachEach student student hashas to be in class on time. to be in class on time.

Agreement with Agreement with therethere in subject positionin subject position

When a sentence starts with When a sentence starts with ThereThere plus a form plus a form of of bebe, the verb agrees with, the verb agrees with the head word of the the head word of the phrase that follows the verbphrase that follows the verb. .

Therefore, first determine if the head word is Therefore, first determine if the head word is singular or plural.singular or plural.

ExamplesExamples::

(singular)(singular) ThereThere is is one bottleone bottle on the table. on the table.

(plural)(plural) ThereThere are are a lot of peoplea lot of people in the room.in the room.

Compound subjectsCompound subjects When a sentence has When a sentence has a compound subjecta compound subject

(more than one subject), (more than one subject), the verb must be the verb must be plural in form.plural in form.

When the subject is formed with When the subject is formed with either…oreither…or or or neither…norneither…nor, , the verb agrees with the phrase the verb agrees with the phrase closest to it.closest to it.

ExamplesExamples::(pl.) (pl.) My aunt My aunt andand my sisters my sisters visit visit me every year.me every year.

(pl.)(pl.) EitherEither my aunt my aunt oror my sistersmy sisters visit visit me every year.me every year.

(sg.)(sg.) NeitherNeither my sisters my sisters nornor my auntmy aunt visit visits s me every year.me every year.

Agreement in relative Agreement in relative clausesclauses

When you write a relative clause beginning with When you write a relative clause beginning with who, which,who, which, or or thatthat,, look for its referentlook for its referent – the – the word that word that who, whichwho, which,, or or thatthat refers to. refers to.

The The referent determinesreferent determines whether the verb should whether the verb should be singular or plural.be singular or plural.

ExamplesExamples::(sg.)(sg.) The journalist The journalist whowho want wantss to interview you to interview you workworkss for a business magazine. for a business magazine.

(pl.)(pl.) The journalistThe journalistss whowho want to interview you want to interview you work for a business magazine.work for a business magazine.

Agreement with Agreement with one ofone of

Attention! Attention! One ofOne of is is followed by a plural noun followed by a plural noun and a singular verb,and a singular verb, agreeing with the head of agreeing with the head of word one.word one.

ExampleExample::

(sg.)(sg.) OneOne of of her friend her friendss like likess to swim. to swim.

Agreement with Agreement with somesome, , mostmost, , anyany, , allall, , nonenone

Quantity words like Quantity words like some, most, any, all,some, most, any, all, andand nonenone are used in the following pattern: are used in the following pattern:

a plural verb form with plural countable nouns, a plural verb form with plural countable nouns, a singular verb form with noncountable nouns.a singular verb form with noncountable nouns.

ExamplesExamples::

(pl.)(pl.) Most of Most of the student the studentss are fond of sports. are fond of sports.

(sg.)(sg.) Most of Most of furniture is very old. furniture is very old.

Materials used:Materials used:Sources:Sources: Raimes, Ann. Raimes, Ann. Grammar Troublespots: Grammar Troublespots:

An Editing Guide for StudentsAn Editing Guide for Students, , Cambridge University Press, 1998 Cambridge University Press, 1998

Artwork:Artwork: PowerPoint ClipArtPowerPoint ClipArt

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