23 RULES OF SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

1. The subject and verb must agree in number.

*Gelo sings gracefully.

2. Compound subject take plural verb.

*Rosa and Carmen are the best friends in school.

3. A compound subject referring to a single person takes a singular verb.

*My confidant and adviser is my mother.

4. Compound subjects modified by each and every are singular.
*Every Father and mother carries out the assigned role.
5. The verb agrees with its subject, not with the predicate nominative.

*Books and magazines are the only material for his report.
6. When compound subjects are joined by or, nor, either-or, neither-nor,
the verb agrees with the subject nearer it.

*Neither the singers nor the composer is benefited by the concert.

7. When regarded as a unit, a collective noun is singular.

*The committee stands firm to impose its decision.

8. When regarded as individuals, a collective noun is plural.

*The audience are clapping their hands after each number.

9. When preceded by the article a, the subject number is plural.
*A number of poor children are afflicted by the epidemic.
10. When preceded by the article the, the subject number is singular.
*The number of absentees from the English class is reduced.
11. The verb agrees with the affirmative, not with the negative subject.

*You, not I, are accountable for the loss of the book.

12. Singular indefinite pronouns
like someone, anyone, each, neither, either, take singular verbs.
*Someone is by your side to support you at the confrontation.
13. The plural indefinite pronouns such as all, both, several, few, many,
take plural verbs.
*Few have come and attended however.
14. Many a followed by a singular noun takes singular verb.
*Many a novel has been written on love.
15. Nouns plural in form but singular in meaning takes singular verb.

*Statistics provides the numerical data in question.

16. Scissors, refreshments, clothes, pliers, etc. are always plural.
*Refreshments are now served at the canteen.
17. Impersonal pronoun it at the beginning of a sentence is followed by
a singular verb.
*It is his suggestions that finally take precedence.
18. An amount of money, space of time or unit of measurement even in
plural form, take a singular verb.
*Three meters of cloth makes a dress for my size.
19. Fractions are singular or plural depending upon the of phrase.
*One half of the class misses out the first period.
20. Adjectives used as a nouns are considered plural.
*The old need some recognition to feel that they are belong.
21. Singular verbs are used with mathematical abstractions.
*Four times eight is thirty two.
22. The indefinite pronoun none is singular but may occasionally
require plural verb.
*None of the students have done their homework.
23. A relative pronoun used as a subject of the verb takes a verb that
agrees with the antecedent of the pronoun.

*He, who is your brother and friend, understands your situation.