SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT EXPLANATIONS

The rules for agreement are simple, but need emphasizing because breaking them often goes unnoticed.  Simply, every verb must agree with its subject in number (singular or plural); every pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number (singular or plural).

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

With ordinary nouns and verbs, most writers are aware of their status as singular or plural.  Problems arise in complex sentences with multiple phrases and/or clauses that confuse the matter.  Also, some words seem to defy logic and are “special problems.”

Special Problems of Subject-Verb Agreement

1.  Using “either … or” and “neither … nor.”

If these correlatives join singular subjects, the verb must be singular.

Example:  Either my sister or my brother visits China every year.

If these correlatives join plural subjects, the verb must be plural. 

Example:  In the Olympics, neither the Chinese nor the Americans compete well against the Russians.

If these correlatives join a singular noun with a plural noun, the verb agrees with the noun closest to it.

Examples: 

Neither Jake nor his brothers play the violin.

Either the 6000 fans or the announcer misunderstands the official’s ruling.

2.  Nouns joined by “and” govern a plural verb.

            Examples:

            Respectability and contentment accompany old age.

            Blocking for the quarterback and carrying the ball are two requirements of fullbacks.

3.  The verb should not be affected by a phrase between the subject and verb.

Examples:

The faculty, as well as many of the students, does not understand the new policy. (subj. and verb are both singular)

The space between the two cars allows no room for opening the doors.

4.  Using “a number of” or “the number of”

As a subject, “a number” followed by “of” takes a plural verb.

Example:  A number of travelers in the Southwest have witnessed meteor showers.

As a subject, “the number” followed by “of” takes a singular verb.

Example:  The number of different ideas students can generate astounds me.

5.  The following pronouns are singular, and therefore take a singular verb:

another

anybody

anyone

anything

each

either

everybody

everyone

everything

much

neither

nobody

no one

nothing

one

other

someone

something

somebody

Examples:

Each of the books is over a thousand pages long.

Anything my brother paints amazes me.

Nobody has the right to steal from another.

6.  The following pronouns are plural:  several, few, many, others, both.

Examples:

Several of the participants knew the answers.

A few of the students were enthusiastic.

Many of the papers were torn.

Both of the brothers played baseball.

7.  The following pronouns are singular or plural, depending on what follows them:  some, none, most, all.

Examples:

Some of the movies were funny.

Some of the cake was left over.

None of my students like me.

None of the field was plowed.

Most of my students are brilliant.

Most of the food is awful.

All of the books in the library are damaged.

All of the time was spent in mourning.

8.  Collective nouns are singular in form and usually take a singular verb.

Examples:

The pod of whales clusters around the biggest male for protection.

That choir sings beautifully.

The flock of geese travels south.

Note:  Exceptions to this rule occur when the writer thinks of the elements of the collective noun as individuals rather than as a groupl

Examples:

The Board of Education flounder during budget considerations.

As the gaggle of geese on the ground waddle here and there, they make a mess.