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Subject/Verb Agreement RulesThe number of the subject is not changed by a phrase following the subject.Examples: Jane, as well as Laura and John, is always late.The cherries in that bowl are very sweet.Indefinite pronouns (pronouns that do not refer to a specific person, place or thing) are:A – Always Singular (each, either, neither, -one, -body, etc)B – Always Plural (several, few, both, many, etc)C – Singular or Plural depending on meaning of the sentence (part, any, all, most, none)Examples:Everyone needs to be needed.Few of his books are still in print.Some of the flowers were blooming.Some of the assignment was very pound subjects may take singular or plural verbs depending on whether the words joined are singular or plural, and what the connecting word is. Subjects joined by “and” take a plural verb. Singular subjects joined by “or” take a singular verb. When “or” and “nor” join a singular and a plural subject, the verb agrees with the closer subject.Examples:Peaches and nectarines are related.An apple or a pear is a healthy snack.Either the director or the actors are always late.Either the actors or the director is always late.When the subject follows the verb, as in questions and in sentences beginning with “here” and “there,” be careful to determine the subject and make sure that the verb agrees with it.Examples:Where is Jane going?Here are Jane and Lisa.There is a fly in my soup.There are three flies in my soup.Collective nouns may be either singular or plural, but they are usually singular.Examples:The audience is very noisy.The audience were squirming in their seats.(Note: The above sentence, while correct, sounds awkward. It is best to rewrite the sentence: Members of the audience were squirming in their seats.)Expressions stating amount (time, money, weight, etc) are usually singular when the amount is considered as a unit but plural when considered as a number of separate units. Examples:Seven dollars is a lot to spend on a comic book.Seven dollars were lying on the floor.Expressions, titles, names of countries, and a few nouns which look plural in form usually take a singular verb.Examples:Physics is an easy course.The Friends of Morris Library has an annual banquet.When the subject and the predicate nominative are different in number, the verb agrees with the subject, not with the predicate nominative.Examples: The bride’s bouquet was roses and lilies of the valley.Concerts are my favorite way to relax.(Note: The above sentences, while correct, sound awkward. In such a situation, it is best to rewrite the sentence: The bride carried a bouquet of roses and lilies of the valley. I relax when I go to concerts.)“Every” or “many a” before a word or series of words is followed by a singular verb. Examples:Many a teacher works late into the night grading papers.Every boy and girl in the class is going on the trip.In formal English, verb in clauses that follow the phrase “one of those” are almost always plural.Example:Susie is one of those s|udents who are always prepared.“The number of” is singular. “A number of” is plural.Examples:The number of stars in the sky seems infinite.A number of stars have not been named.Subject/Verb Agreement RulesThe number of the subject is not changed by a ________________ following the subject.Examples: Jane, as well as Laura and John, __________ always late.The cherries in that bowl ____________ very sweet.Indefinite ______________ (pronouns that do not refer to a specific person, place or thing) are:A – Always Singular (each, either, neither, -one, -body, etc)B – Always Plural (several, few, both, many, etc)C – Singular or Plural depending on meaning of the sentence (part, any, all, most, none)Examples:Everyone ___________ to be needed.Few of his books ________ still in print.Some of the flowers _______ blooming.Some of the assignment ______ very pound subjects may take singular or plural verbs depending on whether the words joined are singular or plural, and what the connecting word is. Subjects joined by “_________” take a ____________ verb. Singular subjects joined by “_______” take a __________________ verb. When “or” and “nor” join a singular and a plural subject, the verb agrees with the __________________ subject.Examples:Peaches and nectarines _________ related.An apple or a pear ___________ a healthy snack.Either the director or the actors ________ always late.Either the actors or the director _________ always late.When the subject __________________ the verb, as in questions and in sentences beginning with “here” and “there,” be careful to determine the subject and make sure that the verb agrees with it.Examples:Where _______ Jane going?Here ________ Jane and Lisa.There ________ a fly in my soup.There ________ three flies in my soup.Collective nouns may be either singular or plural, but they are usually _______________.Examples:The audience _____ very noisy.The audience ______ squirming in their seats.(Note: The above sentence, while correct, sounds awkward. It is best to rewrite the sentence: Members of the audience were squirming in their seats.)Expressions stating amount (time, money, weight, etc) are usually _______________ when the amount is considered as a unit but ________________ when considered as a number of separate units. Examples:Seven dollars ___________ a lot to spend on a comic book.Seven dollars ___________ lying on the floor.Expressions, titles, names of countries, and a few nouns which look plural in form usually take a __________________ verb.Examples:Physics __________ an easy course.The Friends of Morris Library __________ an annual banquet.When the subject and the predicate nominative are different in number, the verb agrees with the ________________, not with the predicate nominative.Examples: The bride’s bouquet _________ roses and lilies of the valley.Concerts ___________ my favorite way to relax.(Note: The above sentences, while correct, sound awkward. In such a situation, it is best to rewrite the sentence: The bride carried a bouquet of roses and lilies of the valley. I relax when I go to concerts.)“Every” or “many a” before a word or series of words is followed by a singular verb. Examples:Many a teacher works late into the night grading papers.Every boy and girl in the class is going on the trip.In formal English, verb in clauses that follow the phrase “one of those” are almost always plural.Example:Susie is one of those students who ____________ always prepared.“The number of” is singular. “A number of” is plural.Examples:The number of stars in the sky _____________ infinite.A number of stars ______________ not been named. ................
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