GRAMMAR REVIEW

(Subject Verb Agreement)

Rina Suryani Oktari, S.Kep, M.Si

OUTLINE
- Subject-verb agreement
- None/No
- Either/Neither
- Gerunds as subjects
- Collective nouns
- A number of/The number of
- There is/There are

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
Subject Separated from The Verb

Subject + [preposi0onal phrase] + Verb

The boys in the room are studying.
Several theories on this subject have been proposed.
The view of these disciplines varies from time to
time.
The danger of forest fires is not to be taken lightly.
The actress, along with her manager and some
friends, is going to a party tonight.
Mr. Robbins, accompanied by his wife and children, is
arriving tonight.

together with
accompanied by
along with
as well as

Exercise
1. John, along with twenty friends, (is/ are) planning a
party.
2. The picture of the soldiers (bring/brings) back many
memories.
3. The quality of these recordings (is/ are) not very
good.
4. If the duties of these officers (isnt/ arent) reduced,
there will not be enough time to finish the project.
5. The effects of cigarette smoking (have/ has) been
proven to be extremely harmful.

Exercise (2)
6. The use of credit cards in place of cash (have/ has)
increased rapidly in recent years.
7. Advertisements on television (is/ are) becoming more
competitive than ever before.
8. Living expenses in this country, as well as in many
others (is/ are) at an all-time high.
9. Mr. Jones accompanied by several members of the
committee (have/has) proposed some changes of the
rules.
10. The levels of intoxication (vary/varies) from subject to
subject.

Words That Always Take Singular

Verbs and Pronouns

Everybody who has not purchased a ticket should be in this line.

Something was under the house.
If either of you takes a vacation now, we will not be able to finish the
work.
Anybody who has lost his ticket should report to the desk.
No problem is harder to solve than this one.
Nobody works harder than John does.

NONE/ NO
None + of the + non-count noun + singular verb
None + of the + plural count noun + plural verb
No + singular noun + singular verb
Non-count noun

No + plural noun + plural verb

EITHER/ NEITHER
Neither + noun + nor + plural noun + plural verb
Either or

Neither + noun + nor + singular noun + singular verb

Either or

Neither John nor Bill is going to the beach today.

Either John or his friends are going to the beach today.
Neither John nor Jane is going to class today.
Either Maria or her friends are going to class today.

GERUNDS AS SUBJECTS
[verb + ing] (gerund) + singular

Knowing her has made him what he is.

Not studying has caused him many problems.
Washing with a special cream is recommended
for scalp infections.
Writing many letters makes her happy.

COLLECTIVE NOUNS

The flock of birds is circling

overhead.
A school of fish is being attacked by
sharks.
The organization has lost many
members this year.
Our team is going to win the game.

A NUMBER OF/ THE NUMBER OF

a number of + plural noun + plural verb

the number of + plural noun + singular verb

A number of students are going to the class picnis.

The number of days in a week is seven
A number of the applicants have already been interviewed.
The number of residents who have been questioned on this
matter is quite small.

NOUNS THAT ARE ALWAYS PLURAL

The pants are
in the drawer.
A pair of pants
is in the
drawer.
The pliers were
on the table.
These scissors
are dull.
This pair of
scissors is dull.

THERE IS/ THERE ARE

there is
there was + singular subject
there has been (or non-count)

there are
there were + plural subject
there have been

There is a storm approaching.

There have been a number of telephone calls today.
There was water on the floor where he fell.

Exercise
1. Neither Bill nor Mary (is/are) going to the play
tonight.
2. Anything (is/are) better than going to another movie
tonight.
3. Skating (is/are) becoming more popular every day.
4. A number of reporters (was/were) at the conference
yesterday.
5. Everybody who (has/have) a fever must go home
immediately.

Exercise
6. Your glasses (was/were) on the bureau last night.
7. There (was/were) some people at the meeting last
night.
8. The committee (has/have) already reached a decision.
9. A pair of jeans (was/were) in the washing machine
this morning.
10. Each student (has/have) answered the firs three
questions.

Exercise
11. Either John or his wife (make/makes) breakfast
each morning.
12. After she had perused the material, the
secretary decided that everything (was/were) in
order.
13. The crowd at the basketball game (was/were)
wild with excitement.
14. A pack of wild dogs (has/have) eliminated this
section of the training test.
15. The jury (is/are) trying to reach a decision.

Exercise
16. The army (has/have) eliminated this section of the
training test.
17. The number of students who have withdrawn from
class this quarter (is/are) appalling.
18. There (has/have) been to many interruptions in this
class.
19. Every elementary school teacher (has/have) to
take examination.
20. Neither Jill nor her parents (has/have) seen this
movie before.