6.6 Editing Focus: Subject-Verb Agreement

Readers of formal documents such as proposals expect writers to be aware of the conventions of grammar and punctuation. One such convention is subject-verb agreement .

The subject of a sentence names something. The predicate contains the verb , which expresses an action, an occurrence, or a state of being. The subject and verb in a sentence must agree. In standard English, “agreement“ means that a singular subject must have a singular verb (The underline bus end underline double underline leaves end double underline in five minutes) and a plural subject must have a plural verb (The underline buses end underline double underline leave end double underline in five minutes). However, some English dialects omit the -s ending for singular verbs or use a singular verb with a plural subject: The underline man end underline double underline ask end double underline for help. Property underline taxes end underline double underline was raised end double underline last year.

Subject-verb agreement gets tricky in several sentence constructions, which are described below. To check for subject-verb agreement in your writing, proofread your final draft by finding each subject and verb. Then use the following questions to test whether the subject and verb agree. For more on subject-verb agreement, see Verbs.

Is the subject compound? Two or more subjects joined by and take a plural verb in most sentences:

underline Basketball and wrestling end underline double underline are end double underline my favorite sports.

However, when the parts of the subject form a single idea or unit, the verb is singular:

underline Red beans and rice end underline double underline is end double underline my favorite meal.

underline Ten dollars end underline double underline is end double underline enough money for lunch.

When compound subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the word closest to it:

Either your uncles or your underline mother end underline double underline remembers end double underline your grandmother’s gumbo recipe.

Either your mother or your underline uncles end underline double underline remember end double underline your grandmother’s gumbo recipe.

Do other words come between the subject and verb? The verb must agree with the subject even when words and phrases come between them:

The underline price end underline of these shoes at all stores double underline is end double underline unbelievable.

A underline suitcase end underline containing sweaters, coats, and jackets double underline was end double underline found in the street.

Does the verb come before the subject? The subject and verb must agree even when the verb comes before the subject:

double underline Are end double underline underline Daniela and Juliana end underline waiting at the restaurant?

There double underline were end double underline three underline dogs end underline in the yard, all barking at the same time.

In my pocket double underline are end double underline a underline wallet and two pens end underline .

Is the subject an indefinite pronoun, such as everyone? Indefinite pronouns do not refer to specific people or things. Most indefinite pronouns take a singular verb, but not all.

The indefinite pronouns that take a singular verb include anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, somebody, someone, and something.

underline Everyone end underline on the team double underline practices end double underline all season.

underline Neither end underline of the wide receivers double underline feels end double underline ready for the season to end.

These indefinite pronouns take a plural verb: both, few, many, others, and several.

underline Several end underline of the athletes on the team double underline come end double underline from the same high school.

underline Both end underline wide receivers double underline have end double underline excellent stats.

A few indefinite pronouns take a singular or plural verb depending on whether the word they refer to is singular or plural. These include all, any, enough, more, most, none, and some. With these pronouns, use a singular or plural verb that fits the context of your sentence.

underline All end underline of these students double underline take end double underline at least one class in science or math. (plural)

underline Most end underline of his work double underline is end double underline original. (singular)

Is the subject a collective noun? Collective nouns, such as audience, band, class, crowd, family, group, or team, can take a singular or a plural verb depending on the context. When group members act individually, use a plural verb. Writers often add the word members for clarity. When the group acts as a single unit, which is the most common construction, use a singular verb:

The underline band end underline double underline rehearses end double underline every Thursday.

The union (members) still disagree on the contract terms.

Practice Subject-Verb Agreement

Select the correct verb to complete each sentence.

  1. Under the table ________ his slippers and socks. (is, are)
  2. The choir usually ________ in the auditorium. (meets, meet)
  3. Some of the actors ________ two roles. (performs, perform)
  4. Some of this song ________ familiar. (sounds, sound)
  5. Either my brother or my sisters ________ the keys to the truck. (has, have)
  6. ________ Whitney and her friend need a ride to the station? (does, do)
  7. The situation concerning the reports and their authors ________ under investigation. (is, are)
  8. Fifteen dollars and 40 cents ________ the amount of change she received. (is, are)

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