SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT
GENERAL RULE:
If the subject is singular, the verb should be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.
S ingular ingular
Mang Ato is a clown. S ingular ingular
P lural lural
lural P lural
students are sitting outside the building.
The
n n intervening phrase or clause does not affect the subject verb agreement.
RULE # 1. A
ingular S ingular
The The actor most ad mi red red by the dents is on stu den stage. S ingular ingular
o or more singular subjects joined by or or nor must have a singular verb.
RULE # 2. Tw
subject
verb
A car or a bus bus is the only means of tr av avel there.
Only
th the f ather s or th the moth mother s are to be invited. The The teacher s or th the parents go with with the students. P lural lural subjects joined by or / nor
o or more plural subjects joined by or or nor must have plural verb.
RULE # 3. Tw
If one or more singular subjects are joined to one or more plural subj subjec ects ts by or or nor, nor, the the subject closest closest to the verb determines agreement.
RULE # 4.
ingular S ingular
Neith Neither David nor my parents are going with with us. plural
plural
compound subject joined by and is generally plural and must have a plural verb.
RULE # 5. A
Compound subjects
One boy and one girl are the finalists. plural
Ex ceptions:
If the parts of a compound subject add up to one thing, the compound subject is singular, it should take a singular verb. Compound subject add up to one thing
singular
Ham and eggs is a hearty breakfast.
If the compound subject is preceded by every or each , a singular verb is required. Compound subject
singular
E very very dog and cat w as as inoculated.
1.Both oth my boss boss and her partner (collect, collects) collects) old coins.
2. Tina or Kathy (plan, plans) to repres represent us us.
3. Neith Neither Jack or Tim (want, nor T wants) to make the delivery.
4. The The old books books in the attic (was, were) were) thrown away.
5. The The climate of both both countries tries ( is is , are) re) very good.
1.Dark clouds and and rain (ha (has, have) have) been fore forec cast today. today. 2.Fr uits and and veget vegetable bles (pr (pr ovid vide, pr ovid vides) many minerals inerals..
3.
Spag Spagh hetti tti and and meatb eatba alls (i (is, are) her f avo avorit rite dish. sh. 4. A train train or several everal buse buses( is, are) avail available ble on Sun Sundays ays.
5.
Both the the twin twins s and and Ni Nida ( is, are) vis visiting Grandmoth andmother er.. 6. Either ther my uncle or my parents arents (phone (phone,, phone phones s) each each
7.
A car car ton ton of gra gr apes f r r om om Ce Cebu (wa (was, were) were) delivered ivered. 8. The veget vegetable bles in the the ste stew ( is, are ) tasty sty.
9.
The president ent and and owner of the company company (ta (talk,ta ,talks) about the the pr oble oblem. 10. My uncle, as we well as my my cousin cousins s (is,are) s,are) coming coming
