RULES TO REMEMBER IN SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

GENERAL RULE:1. : Singular subject takes singular verb;

plural subject takes plural verb. Examples: The participant performs amazingly.

We live in a spacious house.

ALWAYS SINGULAR2. Indefinite Pronouns such as each, every,

those which end with –one and -body, neither, either, and one, always take singular verb.Examples: Each student in this school does not pay for his tuition.

Every centavo counts. Someone knows the report. Everybody thinks of changing

humanity Neither of the assistants agrees

with the suggestion. Either of the girls wants to attend

the party. One of the diplomats was recalled.

3. Phrase such as the number Examples: The number of students in need of

ALWAYS PLURAL4. Indefinite pronouns such as both, few,

many and several always require the plural form of the verb.Example: Many are late today.

5. Phrase such as a number

Examples: A number of students continue to fail the exam.

6. Compound subjects joined by and take a plural verb.Examples: The man and his wife are in complete agreement.

EITHER SINGULAR OR PLURAL7. Indefinite pronouns such as all, any, most,

and some can be either singular or plural. It is determined by the object of the preposition that follows it.Examples: Some of the milk was donated to the typhoon victims.

Some of the pages were missing. 8. The verb agrees with the subject regardless

of the intervening words. Words joined to the subject by with, together with, accompanied by, as well as, etc. do not change the number of the subject.Example: The president with the engineers is in the conference room.

9. Compound subjects joined by neither-nor, either-or, take a verb that agrees with the nearer subject.Examples: Either Alice or her badminton buddies are bringing desserts.

Neither the students nor the teacher recognizes the strange markings.

10.Singular complement follows the expression there is, Plural complement follows there areExamples: There is the key to your car.

There are customers outside.