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Subject-Verb Agreement
What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-verb agreement means that a singular subject is matched with a singular verb or that a plural subject is matched with a plural verb. For example:- My box is under the stairs.
- My boxes are under the stairs.
- My box of toys are under the stairs.

More about Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement is linked to "verb conjugation." Verb conjugation just means "how a verb changes to agree with various subjects." For example, here are the conjugations of the verb "to be" and "to play" in the present tense:Subject | Conjugation of "To Be" | Conjugation of "To Play" |
---|---|---|
I | am | play |
you | are | play |
he / she / it | is | plays |
we | are | play |
you | are | play |
they | are | play |
Subject-Verb Agreement Mistakes
Even though subject-verb agreement is a simple concept, sometimes, it is difficult to know whether your subject is singular or plural. In other words, it is not always easy to know whether you should be using a singular verb (e.g., "is" and "plays") or a plural one (e.g., "are" and "play").Below are 13 issues that cause problems with subject-verb agreement. In all of these examples, the subject is shaded and the verb is in bold.
(Issue 1) "Someone" and "Anyone" Take Singular Verbs

- I hope that while so many people are out smelling the flowers, someone is taking the time to plant some. (Screenwriter Herbert Rappaport)
- The supreme irony of life is that hardly anyone gets out of it alive. (Author Robert Heinlein)
- Nobody is ever met at the airport when beginning a new adventure. (Author Elizabeth Warnock Fernea)
- No one knows what he can do till he tries. (Latin writer Publilius Syrus)
- If anyone goes to a psychiatrist, he ought to have his head examined.
- Anyone who forgets his passport will be sent home.
- Anyone who forgets his or her passport will be sent home.
- Anyone who forgets their passport will be sent home.
(Issue 2) "All" and "Some" Can Take a Singular or a Plural Verb

- All of the bread has been stolen.
- All of the cakes have been stolen.
- My theory is that all of Scottish cuisine is based on a dare. (Actor Mike Myers)
- Some of the worst mistakes of my life have been haircuts. (Singer Jim Morrison)
(Issue 3) "Number Of" Takes a Plural Verb...Most of the Time

- A number of men were strongly opposed to the changes.
- Lee, a number of cakes have been stolen from the buffet.
- The number of women was sixty-four.
- The number of women were sixty-four.
(Issue 4) Terms Like "Half Of," "the Majority Of," and "a Percentage Of" Can Be Singular or Plural

- Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half the time. (Author E. B. White)
- Half of the world knows not how the other half lives. (Poet George Herbert)
- Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation. (Politician Henry Kissinger)
- My guess is that well over 80 percent of the human race goes without having a single original thought. (Journalist H. L. Mencken)
(Issue 5) "None" Can Take a Singular or Plural Verb

- None of the team is ready.
- None of the team are ready.
Also, keep an eye out for the problem with "his/her/their" (see Issue 1 above). Look at this example:
- None of the team has polished their boots. (This acceptable, but it's untidy.)
- None of the team have polished their boots.
(Issue 6) The Words after "As Well As" Are Not Part of the Subject

- The king along with his sons is visiting tomorrow.
- The king and his sons are visiting tomorrow.
(Issue 7) "Either" and "Neither" Are Singular

- I'm not keen on beef or lamb, but either is preferable to tofu.
- Neither of the sisters is eligible to attend.
(Issue 8) "Or" Does Not Conjoin

- The king or his daughter is visiting tomorrow.
- The king and his daughter are visiting tomorrow.
- Neither the king nor his daughter are visiting tomorrow.
- It's very tasty as it is. Neither salt nor pepper is required.
- Either the king or the queen is coming to present the awards.
- Neither cakes nor chocolate are going to give you the nutrients you need.
- Neither cakes nor chocolate is going to give you the nutrients you need.
Here's a good tip: Edit your words to adhere to both rules. For example:
- Neither chocolate nor cakes are going to give you the nutrients you need.
("Logic Rule")
(Proximity Rule)
(Issue 9) Beware Modifiers between the Subject and the Verb

- A crate of sardines is more expensive than I thought.
- Simon, who is the oldest of the four brothers and who, just as he did before last year's contest, has been suffering back spasms, is expected to take the first leg.
- A container of nuts and bolts were found in the cellar.
(Issue 10) A List of Words That Cause Confusion

Word | Singular or Plural? |
---|---|
Agenda | Singular (even though it is the plural of "agendum") Read more about "agenda" being singular. |
Criteria | Plural (Unlike "data" and "agendum," "criteria" has retained its plural status because the singular "criterion" is still in common usage.) Read more about "criteria" being plural. |
Data | Mostly singular nowadays (even though it is the plural of "datum") Read more about "data" being singular. |
Glasses | Plural (Note: "Pair of glasses" is singular.) |
Measles | Singular |
Media | Singular or Plural (Treat "media" like a collective noun as opposed to the plural of "medium.") |
News | Singular |
Pliers | Plural (Note: "Pair of pliers" is singular.) |
Scissors | Plural (Note: "Pair of scissors" is singular.) |
Underpants | Plural (Note: "Pair of underpants" is singular.) |
(Issue 11) Collective Nouns Can be Singular or Plural

- The jury is late returning to the courtroom.
- The jury are all wearing different coloured shirts.
- The members of the jury are late returning to the courtroom.
(Issue 12) The Term "More Than One" Is Singular!

- More than one person was involved in this robbery.
- More than one swallow does a summer make, doesn't it?
- All I can say is that more than one of you have promised to return after the break.
(Issue 13) The Positive Element Governs the Verb

- The CEO not the board members makes the final decision.
- The kitchen has confirmed that the fish not the prawns was responsible for the vomiting outbreak.
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