RULES ONRULES ONSUBJECT SUBJECT

VERB VERB AGREEMENTAGREEMENT

GENERAL RULES:GENERAL RULES:If the subject is If the subject is singular, the verb singular, the verb should be singular.should be singular.

If the subject is plural, If the subject is plural, the verb must be the verb must be plural.plural.

SpecificSpecific RulesRules

RULE # 1.RULE # 1. An An intervening intervening phrase or clause phrase or clause does not affect does not affect the subject verb the subject verb agreement.agreement.

RULE # 2.RULE # 2. Two or Two or more singular more singular subjects joined subjects joined by by oror or or nor nor must have a must have a singular verb.singular verb.

RULE # 3.RULE # 3. Two or Two or more plural more plural subjects subjects joined by joined by oror or or nor nor must have must have plural verb.plural verb.

RULE # 4.RULE # 4. If one or more If one or more singular subjects are singular subjects are joined to one or joined to one or more plural subjects more plural subjects by by oror or or nor, nor, the the subject closest to the subject closest to the verb determines verb determines agreement.agreement.

RULE # 5.RULE # 5. A A compound compound subject joined subject joined by by and and is is generally plural generally plural and must have and must have a plural verb.a plural verb.

Exceptions: Exceptions: If the parts of a compound subject If the parts of a compound subject

add up to one thing, the compound add up to one thing, the compound subject is singular, it should take a subject is singular, it should take a singular verb. singular verb.

RULE # 6.RULE # 6. There is (was, There is (was, has been) should be has been) should be used when the used when the subject that follows subject that follows is singular; there are is singular; there are (were, have been), (were, have been), when the subject when the subject that follows is plural.that follows is plural.

RULE # 7.RULE # 7. A A linking verb linking verb must agree with must agree with its subject, its subject, regardless of the regardless of the number of its number of its predicate predicate nominative.nominative.

Rule #8. Doesn't is a contraction of does not and should be used only with a singular subject. Don't is a contraction of do not and should be used only with a plural subject.

Rule #8. Doesn't is a contraction of does not and should be used only with a singular subject. Don't is a contraction of do not and should be used only with a plural subject.

Exceptions

In the case of the first person and second person pronouns I and you, the contraction don't should be used.

Exceptions

In the case of the first person and second person pronouns I and you, the contraction don't should be used.

Rule #9. The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are singular and require a singular verb.

Rule #9. The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are singular and require a singular verb.

Note: All, none, some may take either a singular or a plural verb according to their meaning.

Note: All, none, some may take either a singular or a plural verb according to their meaning.

Rule #10. Nouns such as civics, mathematics, dollars, measles, and news require singular verbs.

Rule #10. Nouns such as civics, mathematics, dollars, measles, and news require singular verbs.

Rule #11. When a relative pronoun is used as a subject of the verb, verb must agree in person and number with the antecedent of the pronoun.

Rule #11. When a relative pronoun is used as a subject of the verb, verb must agree in person and number with the antecedent of the pronoun.

Rule #12. Some nouns like pants, trousers, jeans, shears, scissors, tweezers, and pliers are always plural.

Rule #12. Some nouns like pants, trousers, jeans, shears, scissors, tweezers, and pliers are always plural.

Rule #13. When a collective noun such as audience, army class committee, company, family, flock, swarm, group, herd, jury, team denotes a collection regarded as a unit, it requires a singular verb.

Rule #13. When a collective noun such as audience, army class committee, company, family, flock, swarm, group, herd, jury, team denotes a collection regarded as a unit, it requires a singular verb.

Exception: When it refers to persons or things included in the collections, it requires a plural verb.

Exception: When it refers to persons or things included in the collections, it requires a plural verb.

Rule #14. Nouns denoting quantity and amount such as number, half, part, portion, and plenty may take a singular or plural verb according to their meaning.

Rule #14. Nouns denoting quantity and amount such as number, half, part, portion, and plenty may take a singular or plural verb according to their meaning.

Rule #15. Fractions take a singular verb if the object of the following of-phrase is singular; they take a plural verb if the object of the following of- phrase is plural.

Rule #15. Fractions take a singular verb if the object of the following of-phrase is singular; they take a plural verb if the object of the following of- phrase is plural.

Rule #16. If the subjects are affirmative and negative, the verb agrees in the person and number with the affirmative subject.

Rule #16. If the subjects are affirmative and negative, the verb agrees in the person and number with the affirmative subject.

RULE # 17RULE # 17.. Remember that Remember that in the inverted word in the inverted word order, the subject order, the subject comes after the comes after the verb.verb.