I have identified eight major rules of subject-verb agreement. This is quite a bit to remember for one quiz, especially when one considers there are several supporting points to these rules. Therefore, I break the list of rules in half when it’s time to do objective grammar testing. I cover the first four subject-verb agreement rules on the second objective exam and the last four rules on the third objective exam. By the way, there are four objective exams in the semester for my Developmental English/Writing course. But this information would be great to cover in College Composition as well. Moreover, the Developmental English instructor may choose to cover only the most common rules of Subject-Verb Agreement. The comprehensive final contains some subject-verb agreement questions too.

Sometimes the subject and verb aren’t next to each other. Usually the type of phrase, which comes between the subject and verb, is a prepositional phrase.Remember that a prepositional phrase can never have the subject; the noun or pronoun in the prepositional phrase is the object of the preposition. You may wish to review the lists of words commonly used as prepositions, especially the two-letters ones. I have underlined the prepositional phrases in this section of examples. You could actually use proper subject-verb agreement by accident when the sentence subject and the noun in the interrupting phrase share the same number.

EXAMPLES: The house with the red tiles shows Mexican architectural influence.

The leaders of the basketball team were the point guard and center.

This structure usually occurs in questions starting with the “w” words (what, where, who, when, and why) and “how” as well as statements starting with “here” or “there”. Note that the third example shows that the subject can come between the auxiliary verb and the main verb. This situation is different from the typical subject-verb-object (S-V-O) structure of English sentences. Sometimes we begin sentences with a prepositional phrase for variety. More often than not, the subject still comes before the verb. I have italicized the subjects in this section of examples.

EXAMPLES: Where is my wallet?

There are many tall students in this room.

Why don’t you have your essay yet?

In the gym are three new fiberglass backboards. (prepositional phrase, verb before subject. Note that there is no comma between the prepositional phrase and the verb).

Besides the gym, the Glass Recreation Center has meeting room, an indoor track, tennis courts and even a fishing pond. (prepositional phrase, subject before verb. Here we have the prepositional phrase followed by a comma).

4. Compound Subjects

By definition, compound sentences have a subject and verb in each independent clause. The subjects and verbs could be singular or plural. Compound subjects take plural verbs because they’re joined with “and”; moreover, they are in the same clause. Again, I have italicized the subjects in these sentences.

EXAMPLES: Anthony and Aaron play basketball for the school.

Randy and I teach English.

However, when the two words refer to the same thing, the verb stays singular since we don’t have a compound subject in these cases. But it looks like one! I call it a “counterfeit compound subject.”

EXAMPLES:

Research and Development builds the future for businesses and colleges.

Sanford and Son is Herb’s favorite TV show.

Harper and Row publishes books.

Some words function like “and” but don’t make a subject into a compound subject, often because they are prepositions: “as well as,” “together with,” “along with,”

“including,” “with,” and “in addition.” Thanks again to that website in Hartford, CN: Capital Community College and TheWriter’s Craft with their many authors.

EXAMPLE: Mr. Jones along with Mrs. Smith is copying papers for the students.

The girls ____________me (Rule 1, 3^rd person Present)

That pug__________her (Rule 1).

The free Tejano concert artists on June 19______Joe Lopez and three others. (Rule 2, Phrase between Subject and Verb).

The best student in the afternoon classes________ from Jacksonville. (Rule 2).

Where_________that money you owe me? (Rule 3, Subject after Verb)

There ___________fewer absences this semester. (Rule 3)

Mary and I __________grants acquisition information (Rule 4, Compound Subjects).

Spanish Verb Drills and Spanish Verbs: Ser and Estar_____ fine textbook supplements (Rule 4).

Most indefinite pronouns take singular verbs. Many are compound words that start with “any, every, no,” and “some”; they end with “one, body,” and “thing”. See the table at the end of this section. Only five always take plural verbs: “others, both, many, few,” and “several”. Remember the acronym, OBMFS.

Some indefinite pronouns can take a singular or plural verb based on whether the noun to which they are referring is uncountable (singular) or countable (plural). Uncountable words are far less common. They’re really tiny like sand, sugar, rice, etc. These varying indefinite pronouns may also be used as adjectives before a noun. The varying indefinite pronouns are “all, any, more, most, none,” and “some.” I’ve italicized the verbs this time.

EXAMPLES:

A collective noun refers to a group of living beings or things as a single unit; therefore, these nouns take singular verbs. Unlike indefinite pronouns, the collective noun may become plural by simply adding an “-s” when necessary, and then we need a plural verb.

EXAMPLES:

Collective nouns often include group activities like “audience, class, crowd, faculty, jury, school, staff,” and “team”; frequently, collective nouns are military like “army, air force, navy, battalion, and “squadron.” Social animals can get together in herds (mammals), flocks (birds), and schools (fish). That audience was very polite yet noisy.

An amount takes a singular verb because the amount is treated as a unit, a singular noun. Sums and products take singular verbs in mathematical equations. Fractional expressions vary depending on the meaning. I’ll italicize the verbs this time.

What do we do when a singular and plural subject are joined by “or”? Make the verb agree with the nearest subject. Obviously, when “or” connects two singular nouns, the verb will be singular. This time, I’ll italicize the subject that is nearest the verb. Here are some other expressions that fit this pattern: "either...or," "neither...nor," and "not only...but also."

EXAMPLES:

What do we do when we have a positive subject and a negative subject of different numbers? Let’s check that website again begun by the late Dr. Charles Darling of Hartford, Connecticut. The verb must agree with the positive subject. This rule subdivision would receive my vote for "Teach After Passing Developmental English."

EXAMPLES

Some words end in “-s” but refer to one unit and take singular verbs like “mathematics, physics, statistics, thermodynamics, news,” and “measles.” Notice how many of these words are technical subjects. Some words ending in “-s” refer to a single thing yet are plural and require a plural verb – such as “assets” and “earnings.” Lots of clothes with two limbs take plural verbs even when you’re just referring to one pair such as “pants, jeans, glasses,” and “trousers.” The title of a book or work of art is always singular even if a noun in the title is plural. This time, I’ll underline the verb. As for the subjunctive mood, that area is so complicated that it merits a separate small grammar chapter section.

V. Indefinite Pronouns (usually take singular verbs)

1. Nearly everyone in China likes rice.

2. Some like grammar better than a kick in the head (countable-plural).

VI. Collective Nouns (usually singular)

7. Flocks of birds fly south for the winter.

VII. Agreement with Nearest Subject when Joined by “or” & with Positive Subject if Other Subject is Negative.

8. Coach or his players shoot baskets during lunch.

reddish-orange in eight out of ten kittens.