Subject-Verb Agreement
The basic principle of subject-verb agreement is quite simple. With singular or single subjects use the singular forms of verbs. With plural subjects (any number greater than one), use the plural forms of verbs.
EXAMPLES: The dog is near the fire hydrant. (singular subject, singular verb)
The dogs are near the fire hydrant. (plural subject, plural verb)
In some sentences, however, it is difficult to determine the correct subject and verb agreement. Look at the following sentence constructions and the correct methods for overcoming errors in subject and verb agreement.
A) Always use a plural verb for compound subjects (more than one) joined by the coordinating conjunction.
EXAMPLES: English and geography are not my favourite subjects.
A parrot, goose, and chicken were part of the rock show last night.
B) For subjects followed by or, either ...or, or neither .. nor, the verb must agree with the closest subject.
EXAMPLES: Davis or julia is the new singer in the band.
(singular subject, singular verb)
Either the tarts or the cake is to be served.
(singular subject, singular verb).
Either the cake or the tarts are to be served.
(plural subject, plural verb)
C) For singular subjects followed by with, in addition to, as well as, and including, the verb remains singular.
EXAMPLES: That child, as well as her parents, is recovering from a car accident. (singular subject,'singular verb')
The calligraphy set, including pen, nibs, paper, and instructions,
costs $15. (singular subject, singular verb).
D) Nouns that refer to a number of the people or things that make up one group are called collective nouns. Use a singular or plural verb with these nouns, depending on their meaning in the sentence.
Here is a partial list of collective nouns.
army crowd jury audience
faculty mob band family
number bunch fleet public
class flock swarm club
group team committee herd
EXAMPLES: The faculty of the college is well-known.
(faculty refers to a unified whole)
The faculty are discussing the exam schedule.
(faculty refers to its individual members)
C) Some nouns look plural in form but are singular and require a singular verb.
economics news mathematics physics measles
politics mumps
EXAMPLES Measles is an infectious disease.
The news is not good.
F) Indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural. Use the verb form that agrees with the form of the indefinite pronoun.
EXAMPLES: Everyone is at the cottage this weekend. (singular)
Many of her sweaters have moth holes. (plural)
G) Use a singular verb with nouns which express sums of money and measurement of time, distance, or quantity.
EXAMPLES: Three dollars is in rny'chequing account.
Four years in university is not really a long time.
Sometimes, however, nouns that express quantity are considered as items within a whole and require a plural verb.
EXAMPLES: Only two thirds of the entrants have completed the marathon.
Five of his six taxis are still roadworthy.
H) Use a plural verb when the word number is the subject, is preceded by a, and means many. Use.a singular verb when the word number is used to mean one and is preceded by the article.
EXAMPLES: A number of receipts were left on the counter. (plural)
The number of people in the parade is small. (singular)
I) Use a singular verb with the singular title of an article, book, play, or work of art, even when the title looks plural.
EXAMPLES: "The Loons" is a short story by Margaret Laurence.
Settlers of the Marsh is a novel by F. R Grove.
"Dragons Pail #2" was painted by Elizabeth Braune.
