Subject Agreement with the Verb

From: Subject: Subject Agreement with the Verb Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2012 04:53:58 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000026.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.6157 Subject Agreement with the Verb Subject Agreement with the Verb=20

It is usually pretty easy to match the verb with the = subject in = English. Only=20 in the present tense does the verb have more than one form. And except = for one=20 verb, only the third person singular is different. Besides, the third = person=20 singular present tense always ends in an s. We understand this = most of=20 the time.=20

Verb: To speak=20

I, you, we, they speak=20
he, she, it speaks

Verb: To do=20

I, you, we, they do=20
he, she, it does

Verb: To be (the only exception)=20

I am=20
you, we, they are=20
he, she, it is=20

The verb to be is also the only verb with more than = one=20 form in the past tense. See also the subjunctive = mood.=20

Verb: To be, past=20

I, he, she, it was=20
you, we, they were

Normally, none of this is a problem. However, there are a few = cases that=20 confuse writers and speakers.=20

Separated Subjects and Verbs=20

A phrase or clause often separates the subject and the = verb. The verb = must still=20 agree with the subject.=20

Incorrect: The climate in both = places=20 are mild.=20
Correct: The climate in both places = is mild.=20
(Climate is the subject, not places. It takes the = verb=20 is.)=20

Keep track of the subject, especially when there is a singular = pronoun or=20 collective noun for the subject and a plural element in the phrase that=20 separates the subject and verb.=20

Collective noun: A group of senators = was=20 calling for an investigation.=20
Singular pronoun: One of the many = galaxies was=20 proven to be near a black hole.

Compound Subjects=20

Two or more singular subjects joined = by=20 or or nor take a singular verb.=20

Correct: Neither John nor = Mary knows=20 what happened.=20

Two or more plural subjects joined by any conjunction = (including and,=20 or, but, or nor) take a plural verb.=20

Correct: Both men and women = are=20 allowed to enter.=20

If one or more singular subject is joined to one or more = plural=20 subject by or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject = closest to=20 the verb.=20

Incorrect: Neither Mary nor her = brothers knows what happened.
(Brothers is closer to the = verb and=20 is plural; the verb should agree with brothers).=20
Correct: Neither Mary nor her = brothers know=20 what happened.=20
Correct: Neither her brothers nor = Mary knows=20 what happened.=20

A compound subject whose parts are joined by and normally = takes a=20 plural verb.=20

Correct: Joe and his brother = know=20 what happened.=20

A compound subject whose parts are joined by and takes a = singular verb=20 in two special instances.=20

1. When the parts of the subject combine to form a single item.=20

Correct: One and one equals = two.=20
Correct: Cookies and cream is my = favorite=20 flavor.=20

2. When the compound subject is modified by the words each or=20 every.=20

Correct: Every boy and = girl has=20 to participate.=20

See also British vs.=20 American Grammar, The=20 Verb To Be, and Indefinite = Pronouns.=20

Complete=20 Contents
Glossary=20

Grammar = Contents=20

Do you remember your favorite subject from when you were in = school? Try finding your favorite = and=20 browse through hundreds of = online=20 degrees. Find the area of interest that you like the most and get = your=20 degree from a wide range=20 of schools today. (Notice = posted 31=20 Aug 2008)