Subject-Verb Agreement RULES
Subject-Verb Agreement RULES
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|RULE 1: |
|A verb must agree with its subject in number and in person. In other words, if the subject is singular (only one) , the verb should be singular, and if the subject|
|is plural (more than one), the verb should be plural. |
|Correct Example: The boy IS going to the movies. |
|Rule 2: Subject and Verb Separated by Words |
|RULE: When words come between the subject and the verb, a subject/verb agreement error can occur. It is important to remember that an object of a prepositional |
|phrase is never the subject of the sentence. |
|Correct Example: The two main goals of my life are to go to college and get a good job. |
|Rule 3: Plural Subjects |
|RULE: If a subject has two or more parts connected by and, the subject is almost always plural. If the parts of the subject refer to the same person or thing, |
|however, the subject should be treated as singular. |
|Correct: My mother and father are going to the movies. |
|Rule 4: Subjects Joined by Or or Nor |
|RULE: If a subject has two or more parts joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearest to the verb. |
|Incorrect: Neither the president nor the vice president are aware of the changes in the plan. |
|Correct: Neither the president nor the vice president is aware of the changes in the plan. |
|Rule 5: |
|The pronouns each, everyone, every one, everybody, anyone, anybody, someone, and somebody are singular and require singular verbs. Do not be misled by what follows|
|the word “of.” |
|Examples: |
| |
|Each of the girls sings well. Every one of the cakes is gone. |
Subject-Verb Agreement PRACTICE
|SENTENCE |RULE TO SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER |
|English and history (is are) my two favorite subjects. | |
| | |
|Neither the students nor the teacher (is are) aware that there will be a fire drill today. | |
| | |
|Neither the dog nor the kitten (is are) willing to eat the leftover meatloaf. | |
|The football team (is are) going to win the championship game. | |
| |
|Directions: Rewrite each sentence below. Keep your verbs in the PRESENT TENSE, but change |
|the verbs so that they agree with the subject that the verb relates back to. |
1. Both my brother and my mother talks on the phone every night.
2. Either my sisters or my brother owe my father $20.
Will Smith, one of history’s most popular actors, are the father of Jaden Smith.
Each of the students are very smart.
The group of people are very hungry.
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