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Subject-Verb Agreement - Coggle Diagram
Subject-Verb Agreement
Basic Rule
A singular subject (she, Bill, car) takes a singular verb (is, goes, shines), whereas a plural subject takes a plural verb.
Rule
Rule 1
A subject will come before a phrase beginning with of. This is a key rule for understanding subjects. The word of is the culprit in many, perhaps most, subject-verb mistakes.
Incorrect: A bouquet of yellow roses lend color
and fragrance to the room.
Correct: A bouquet lends . . .
(bouquet lends, not roses lend)
Rule 2
Two singular subjects connected by or,
either/or, or neither/nor require a singular verb.
Neither the plates nor the serving bowl goes on
that shelf.
Rule 3
or, either/or, or neither/nor
This rule can lead to bumps in the road. For example, if I is one of two (or more) subjects, it could lead to this odd sentence.
Better:
Neither she, I, nor my friends are going to the festival.
Rule 4
As a general rule, use a plural verb with two
or more subjects when they are connected by and.
A car and a bike are my means of transportation.
But note these exceptions:
Rule 5
Rule 5a : Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by such words as along with, as well as,besides, not, etc. These words and phrases are not part of the subject. Ignore them and use a singular verb when the subject is singular.
The politician, -- along with the newsmen--, is
expected shortly.
Rule 5b : Parentheses are not part of the subject.
Joe -- (and his trusty mutt) -- was always welcome.
Rule
Rule 6
In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject follows the verb.
1.There are four hurdles to jump.
2.There is a high hurdle to jump.
3.Here are the keys.
The word there's, a contraction of there is,leads to bad habits in informal sentences like There's a lot of people here today, because it's easier to say "there's" than "there are." Take care never to use there's with a plural subject.
Rule 7
Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as a unit.
1.Three miles is too far to walk.
2.Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
3.Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
BUT
Ten dollars (i.e., dollar bills) were scattered on the floor.
Rule 8
With words that indicate portions—e.g., a lot, a majority,some, all—Rule 1 given earlier in this section is reversed, and we are guided by the noun after of. If the noun after of is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb.
1A lot of the pie has disappeared.
2.A lot of the pies have disappeared.
Rule 9
With collective nouns such as group, jury, family, audience, population, the verb might be singular or plural, depending on the writer's intent.
1.All of my family has arrived OR have arrived.
2.Most of the jury is here OR are here.
Rule 10
The word were replaces was in sentences that express a wish or are contrary to fact.
If Joe were here, you'd be sorry.
he subjunctive mood pairs singular subjects with what we usually think of as plural verbs.