Subject Verb Agreement

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Subject Verb Agreement
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• Rule 1
• Use a singular verb after each, neither, everyone,
   
• everybody, nobody, and someone. 
• Nobody is here.
• Everybody helps when there is a crisis.
• Somebody wants to speak to you.

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• Rule 2
• If you use either-or, look at the subject closest
  to the verb.  If the subject closest to the verb
  is singular, use a singular verb likewise, if
  the subject is plural, use a plural verb.
• Either Miss Brown or Jane writes on the
  blackboard.
• Either the teacher or the students write on the
  blackboard.

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• his also applies to not only. . .but also,
  and neither. . .nor.  The subject closest to the
  verb determines whether the verb is singular or
  plural.
• Not only Julie but also Georgette wants to visit
  grandma.
• Not only Julie but also all of the grandchildren
  want to visit grandma.
• Neither Miss Brown n or Jane writes on the
  blackboard.
• Neither the teacher n or the students write on
  the blackboard.

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• Rule 3
• When using as well as, except, in addition to, no
  less than, and with, the noun before these
  phrases determines the number.
• My problem with you is you don't listen!
• Ford in addition to Mercedes Benz is lowering its
  car prices to encourage better sales.
• The students in addition to the teacher are all
  receiving special recognition for their excellent
  research.  

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• Rule 4
• Measurements of money, time, and distance usually
  require a singular verb.
• One hundred dollars is a lot of money for a
  bottle of wine.
• Two hours is a long time to wait to see a doctor.
• 93,000,000 miles is the distance from the sun to
  the earth

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• Rule 5
• The following words almost always use
  the plural form of verbs all, both, few,
  many, several, and some.
• Some people in my office are very annoying
• Few mountain climbers have successfully reached
  the peak of Mt. Everest. 

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• Rule 6
• The word none needs special attention. Sometimes
  it uses a singular verb, and at other times, it
  uses a plural verb. When none means no one or not
  one, use the singular form of the verb. When none
  means or suggests more than one thing or person,
  use the plural form of the verb.
• None of them is able to do that job.
• None are helpless because they can always try.

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• Rule 7Here and there cannot be subjects.
  Therefore, if a sentence begins with here or
  there, look for the subject and write the correct
  form of the verb.
• Here is my jacket. (jacket is
  singular) Here are my shoes. (shoes is plural)

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• Rule 8
• When the word number is preceded with the word a,
  use a plural verb.  When the word number is
  preceded with the word the, use a singular verb.
• A number of people are waiting to see you
• .The number of stars in the sky seems countless.

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Subject Verb Agreement Quiz
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• Directions Select the correct form of the verb
  in the sentence.1.  Some people  is/are/am  very
  good at math.2.  Somebody   have/has    the
  winning lottery ticket.3.  The doctor who has
  visited dozens of countries and has helped
  thousands of patients all around the
  world   is/are/am   over there.4. 
  There   is/are/am   two sides to every
  argument.5.  5,280 feet   is/are/am   a mile. 

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• 6.  Jill as well as Jack   is/are/am   up the
  hill.
• 7.  Either Heather or I   go/goes  .
• 8.  A  There   is/are/am   a lot of people here.
•   B  Yeah.  Everybody   is/are/am   here for
  you.  All of them   is/are/am  waiting to listen
  to your speech.
• 9.  Ten dollars   is/are/am   a nice raise.  I
  need the extra money.  
• 10.  Rice   is/are/am   a common food all over
  the world.  It   is/are/am   very cheap.  Two
  bags of rice   cost/costs  only 7.

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• 11.  Either the bus driver or the motorcycle
  rider is/are/am responsible for the accident.
• 12.  Neither the 23 children in the class nor
  Tony seem/seems to be upset about failing the
  spelling bee.
• 13.  A large number of countries is/are/am members
  of the United Nations.

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• 14.  Not only the fans but also the team's head
  coach was/were shocked to be in the championship
  game.
• 15.  The number of computer advances is/are/am inc
  reasing every year.

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• 1.  Some people   are   very good at math. (see
  rule 5)
• 2.  Somebody   has    the winning lottery ticket.
• (see rule 1)
• 3.  The doctor who has visited dozens of
  countries and has helped thousands of patients
  all around the world   is   over there.
• The subject is doctor.  The verb is is.  All of
  the words between doctor and is form to make
  an adjective clause that describes doctor.  
• 4.  There   are   two sides to every argument.
• (see rule 7)
• 5.  5,280 feet   is   a mile. (see rule 4)

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• 6.  Jill as well as Jack   is   up the hill. (see
  rule 3)
• 7.  Either Heather or I   go   . (see rule 2)
• 8.  A  There   are   a lot of people here.
•   B  Yeah.  Everybody   is   here for you. 
  All of them   are   waiting to listen to your
  speech.
• (see rules 7, 1, and 5)
• 9.  Ten dollars   is   a nice raise.  I need the
  extra money.  
• (see rule 4)
• 10.  Rice   is   a common food all over the
  world.  It   is   very cheap.  Two bags of rice  
  cost    only 7. 
• (see rule 3)

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• 11.  Either the bus driver or the motorcycle
  rider is responsible for the accident. 
• (see rule 2)
• 12.  Neither the 23 children in the class nor
  Tony seems to be upset about failing the spelling
  bee. (see rule 2)
• 13.  A large number of countries are members of
  the United Nations. (see rule 8)

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• 14.  Not only the fans but also the team's head
  coach was shocked to be in the championship game.
  (see rule 2)
• 15.  The number of computer advances is increasing
  every year. (see rule 8)