Subject Verb Agreement

Subject verb agreement can be one of the more challenging aspects of writing. While short clauses provide for an easily identifiable subject, longer clauses with extensive phrases can make proper subject verb agreement more of a challenge.

The first and most important rule in subject verb agreement is that the verb must agree with the intended number of the subject.

To accomplish that task, follow two occasionally not so simple tasks.

1. Identify the real subject
2. Determine whether subject is singular or plural

The first step is often made difficult by phrases and/or sentence structure that work to obscure the true subject.

Prepositional phrases are one of the main culprits in the misidentification of the true subject of the clause. Remember, objects cannot be subjects, so the object of a preposition cannot be a subject of a clause.

Among the constitutional rights we cherish is freedom.

AMONG is a preposition; therefore, RIGHTS is the object of the preposition. FREEDOM is the subject of the sentence.

The group of protesters is blocking the entrance to the building.

OF is a preposition; therefore, PROTESTERS is the object of the preposition. GROUP is the subject of the sentence and it is singular.

The annual rituals of the group confuse the neighbors.

OF is a preposition; therefore, GROUP is the object of the preposition. RITUALS is the subject of the sentence and it is plural.

Parenthetical phrases can also work to obscure the true subject. Phrases such as “as well as,” “such as,” “along with,” “rather than,” “accompanied by” and “including” introduce items that are NOT considered when determining whether a verb is singular or plural.

The quiz, as well as all workbook exercises, was collected.

QUIZ is the subject. The parenthetical expression does not affect the verb.

His jacket, not his shirt or his socks, always seems to match his slacks.

JACKET is the subject. It is singular. The parenthetical expression does not affect the verb.

Her birthday celebration, together with the upcoming holiday, makes for a very full calendar.

CELEBRATION is the subject. The parenthetical expression does not affect the verb.

The president and vice president, accompanied by the board of directors, plan to vote against changing the company bylaws.

PRESIDENT and VICE PRESIDENT are the subject. The verb is plural.

Expletives (There, Here) are false subjects. Disregard them completely when determining the subject that the verb must agree with.

There are fewer students in this class.

The true subject in this sentence is STUDENTS.

Officer, here is the person I was telling you about.

The true subject in this clause is PERSON.

Predicate nominatives can lead to some confusion when determining the true subject. Remember to find the subject and verb combination first and then begin to determine whether that subject is singular or plural.

The war-torn country’s only relief was the food and medical supplies dropped from the sky.

The true subject in this sentence is RELIEF.

The explanation provided by the agency was farming practices, population growth and international aid.

The true subject in this sentence is EXPLANATION.

When the parts of a compound subject are joined by or, but, either … or, neither … nor, not only … but also the verb must agree with the subject nearest to the verb.

Neither the Oregon players nor the coach was overconfident.

“Coach” is closest to the verb so the verb agrees with “coach.”

Neither the Oregon coach nor the players were intimidated by Arizona.

Just the reverse here. “Players” is closest.

Collective nouns and certain plural words may take singular or plural verbs-depending on the meaning in the sentence.

TEST: If the word indicates people or things working together as an identifiable unit, a singular verb is used.

The jury was seated at 9 a.m.

“It” was seated.

The jury were being interviewed by the media.

The subjects are the individual members of the jury; the sentence could be rewritten as: “The jurors were … “)

Politics is a hot topic.

Politics as a single topic.

The mayor’s politics are offensive.

Politics in this case can be seen as several actions over time.

The pronouns ANY, NONE or SOME and the nouns ALL and MOST:

• take singular verbs when they refer to a unit or quantity

Some of the money was missing.

An amount of money.

• take plural verbs when they refer to number or individuals

Some of the gold coins were missing.

A number of coins.

The pronoun NONE

• takes a singular verb when its meaning is “No Single One” or “Not One”

None of the gold coins was missing.

Not one of the coins

• takes a plural verb when its meaning is “No Two” or “No Amount”

None of the goods were missing.

no amount of the goods

None of the forests were destroyed.

no amount of the forests

When the subject is a fraction or a word such as HALF, PART, PLENTY or REST, its intended number is suggested by the object of the preposition that follows it.

Three-fourths of the enemy’s army is wounded.

Three-fourths of the enemy’s soldiers are wounded.

First it might be helpful to remember that the singular form of all verbs — except “to be” and “to have” — is formed by adding “s” or “es.” For example: dives, runs, answers, crashes, presses and tosses.

When used as a subject or adjective these indefinite pronouns are always singular and, therefore, they take singular verbs.

These pronouns may be used as subjects, and they take a singular verb.

• Everyone has been invited.
• She said that something was all she wanted for her birthday.
• The Democratic leadership suggested two solutions but neither was acceptable to the committee chair.

When they are used as adjectives, the noun they modify always takes a singular verb.

• Neither solution works for the committee chair.
• Each tragedy gives the population given less time to recover from the previous shock.

The number–when used as subject of a sentence (an organized unit)—takes a singular verb.

• The number of tenants without heat is increasing.

Subjects that stand for definable units of money, measurement, time, organization, food and medical problems always take singular verbs.

• Six months is not enough time.
• Five thousand dollars is the minimum bid.
• Ham and eggs is my favorite meal.

Singular subject followed by phrases “such as,” “together with” and “as well as” take a singular verb.

• The tax measure, together with its amendments, has passed.

When all parts of a compound subject are singular and refer to same person or thing.

• The head of the expedition and mayor of the village was the same person.

When the subject is followed by the phrase “the only one of.”

• Jake is the only one of the runners who has finished.

BUT: When the subject is followed by the phrase “one of the” or “one of those,” the verb agrees with the object of the preposition

• Jake is one of those runners who have finished.
  • In this case, Jake is one of many [those] runners. The verb “have” agrees with “those runners” not with Jake.)

Always Plural Subjects

When a compound subject is joined by a coordinating conjunction (and), it takes a plural verb IF the subjects refer to different people or things and if the subject cannot be considered a unit.

Your investments and property are sure to increase in value.

Two nouns, not a single unit = plural

Ham and eggs is Oralee’s favorite breakfast.

Two noun, a single unit = singular

The indefinite pronouns BOTH, FEW, MANY, SEVERAL always take plural verbs.

Both are acceptable choices.

It makes sense that the verb is plural. “Both” means “two” and “two” is plural.

“A number” as the subject of a sentence always takes plural verbs.

A number of tenants are in the building.

Be aware of “irregular” plural nouns. Although they do not end in “s,” they always take plural verbs.

The news media are under attack.

singular of media: medium

The teacher is happy when her children are learning.

Men, women, sheep, etc. fall into this category