SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

STRUCTURE: Subject-Verb Agreement 1. When the following words are used as SUBJECTS, they are always singular. Some of these words are plural in meaning, but they always require singular verbs. everyone each nobody anything someone everybody either nothing anyone somebody everything neither no one anybody something

Everyone is here.

Neither of these books is very new.

2. When each or ever comes before singular subjects joined by and, a singular verb is required. Every man and woman is eligible to vote. Each student and teacher has a locker. 3. Words that come between a subject and its verb do not change the number of the subject. Prepositional phrases often have this position. The manager together with his three men The manager in addition to his three men The manager along with his three men Everyone except him One of the most enjoyable parties
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is here. is leaving soon. is leaving soon. has a pen was here.

4. THERE, HERE, and WHERE are never subjects. When a sentence begins with one of these words, the subject comes after the verb. There are no dogs in this neighborhood. Here is the result of the experiment. 5. Subjects joined by AND and BOTH AND take a plural verb (but see Rule 2). A red Toyota and a blue Suzuki are parked outside. Both tigers and elephants are becoming extinct. 6. SEVERAL, MANY, BOTH, FEW are plural words and always take a plural verb. Both are going to attend a lecture. Only a few have passed the exam. 7. Some nouns are always plural in form and always take plural verbs. Clothes : trousers, pants, jeans, sunglasses Tools : scissors, pliers, tweezers Abstract : riches, thanks, means However, some of them are followed by a singular verb when used in expressions such as A PAIR OF , A WORD OF His pants are still at the cleaners. That pair of pants is dirty. Your thanks are enough for me. A word of thanks is enough.
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8. When subjects are joined by the following structures, the verb must agree with the closer subject. S1 S2 V Neither the students nor the teacher is allowed to smoke. Neither the teacher nor the students are allowed to smoke. Either the students or the teacher comes late. Either the teacher or the students come late. Not only the workers but also the supervisor is coming soon. 9. Many words may be singular or plural depending on what they refer to: NONE, ALL, SOME, ANY, MAJORITY, MOST, HALF, etc. When these words are followed by a prepositional phrase, the number of the object of the preposition will determine whether the words are singular or plural. All of the book has been destroyed. All of the books have been thrown away. All of the money is in blank. 10. The expression A NUMBER OF is plural, and the expression THE NUMBER OF is singular. A number of people were missing from class. The number of Komeringnese students in this class is small. 11. Expressions stating one amount of time, money, weight, volume, etc. are plural in form but take a singular verb. Two weeks is enough time for a nice vacation. Five hundred dollars is a lot to lose in a week.
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12. Some words are always plural in form but singular in meaning. These words require singular verbs. Academic subjects : mathematics, physics, economics, statistics Diseases : measles, mumps, herpes Abstract nouns : news, ethics, politics Mathematics is a difficult subject. The news was very good. 13. Titles of books and movies, even if plural in form take singular verbs. The Strait Times is good to read. Star Wars is a good movie. 14. Collective nouns are usually singular, but may be plural if the members are functioning independently. Watch the pronouns for the clues to the singular or plural nature of the subject. Some of these words are CLASS, TEAM, POLICE, COMMITTEE, AUDIENCE, FAMILY, FACULTY, etc. The class has its final test on Saturday. The class are working on their individual projects today. 15. Some nouns use the same form for both singular and plural meanings. The pronouns and modifiers with these words will indicate whether they are singular or plural in meaning. Always with s: species, series, etc. Never with s: sheep, deer, etc. That species is rare. Those species are common. That deer is young. Those deer are old.
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16. Nouns for nationality that end with ese, -ch, or sh may be singular or plural depending on their meaning.. When the word refers to a language, it takes a singular verb. When the word refers to the people of the country, it takes a plural verb and is preceded by the article THE. French is a Romance language. The French are romantic. English is spoken in the U.S. The English love tea. 17. English has borrowed words from other languages. Some of these words have unusual singular and plural forms. Origin Greek Greek Latin singular plural -is -es -on -a -us -i (male) -a -ae -um -ix/-ex -a examples basis-bases criterion-criteria radius-radii alumnus-alumni (female) alumna-alumnae alga-algae datum-data -ices index-indices

The algae in the pool are hard to remove. The radius of the circle is two inches.

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TOEFL PRACTICE EXERCISE 1 Underline the subject with which the missing verb must agree. Then, fill in the blank with the correct verb form from the two choices in parentheses. 1. No one in this group of contenders ___ a chance of beating the current speed record. (stands, stand) 2. Neither the education library nor the psychology library ___ the books that the professor recommended. (has, have) 3. Restricted ownership and enforced registration ___ two major approaches to handgun legislation. (is, are 4. There ___ no doubt in anyones mind about the guilt of the defendants. (was, were) 5. A gray and white car ___ parked outside the building. (is, are) 6. Sound and Sense ___ written for college students just beginning serious study of poetry. (was, were) 7. Every success and failure ___ to an individuals growth and maturity. (contributes, contribute) 8. The news on the local radio stations as well as newspaper accounts ___ that the prison riot was serious. (confirms, confirm) 9. It is still the women who ___ the burden of household chores. (bears, bear) 10. Neither all of the cookies nor all of the fruit ___ been eaten yet. (has, have)

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11. Unlike Americans who seem to prefer coffee, the English ___ a great deal of tea. (drinks, drink) 12. A family of mockingbirds ___ in the tree every spring. (nests, nest) 13. Outside the door ___ several rosebushes. (stands, stand) 14. Everything, including the clothes in the closets, ___ stolen from the apartment. (was, were) 15. To a do-it-yourself handyman, a pair of pliers ___ very useful. (is, are) 16. The number of days of vacation provided to university employees ___ constant from year to year. (remains, remain) 17. For intermediate level students, Steps in Composition ___ Useful reading and writing exercises. (provides, provide) 18. Despite the development of a vaccine, measles ___ still a Serious danger to adult victims. (is, are) 19. Statistics as well as a course in research methodology ___ required of all doctoral candidates (is, are) 20. In their statements to the press, the committee ___ expressing several surprising viewpoints. (is, are)

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EXERCISE 2 Identify the one underlined word or phrase, (A), (B), (C), or (D), that should be corrected or rewritten. 01. The ability to conceal themselves by camouflage enable some A B otherwise defenseless animals to survive. C D 02. The information on the various types of wasps and bees in the area A B were useful to environmentalists who were fighting the use of C D pesticides. 03. Compared to the number of paid holidays enjoyed by most A B employees in the company, three weeks of vacation seems generous. D C

04. Sponges, with a structural organization like that of a colony of A B one-celled animals, they stand at the lowest level of the animal C D kingdom.

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05. The large birdhouse together with the numerous birdfeeders A under the eaves attract a considerable number of different B C species in summers. D 06. Since snake eggs are tough and baby snakes can survive A alone at birth, neither the eggs or newborn snakes need B C D protection from the mother. 07. Digitalis is a drug which is prepared from the seeds and leafs A B C of a plant with the same name and is used as a cardiac D stimulant. 08. Benjamin Franklin, a famous American statesman, author, and scientist, he was born in 1709 and lived to the age of 84 A B C D 09. The most famous alumnus of the college were invited A to participate in the graduation ceremony and related B C activities scheduled for late May. D 10. At present, advertising is one of the most strictly regulated A B C industry in the USA. D
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TOEFL PRACTICE Directions: Choose the one word or phrase, (A), (B), (C), or (D), that best completes the sentence. 01. Gravity not only causes bodies to fall __ increases their speed. (A) and to (B) and also (C) but also (D) and so 02. Because sheep __ meat and wool, they are valued in many countries. (A) both produce (B) having both (C) both (D) produce both 03. Fainting can result from either a lack of oxygen __ a loss of blood. (A) or (B) and from (C) or from (D) and 04. __ oats and rye can endure severe winter weather. (A) Either (B) They are (C) Both (D) Both of Directions: Identify the one underlined word or phrase, (A), (B), (C), or (D), that should be corrected or rewritten. 05. Methods of flood control focus on preventing rivers from rising and to keep them within their banks. 06. Painters of the expressionist school concentrated on themes of horror, fear, and violent 07. The discovery of gold hastened the settlement of California as much, if not more than, the reports of the fertile land and the good climate.

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08. The Gadsden Purchase came about because of a boundary dispute and because a railway was proposed. 09. Cave explorers are called either spelunkers or speleology depending on whether they enter caves for sport or science. 10. Success in fencing requires not only skill and balance but also mental alertness and concentrate.

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