Ch. 10 - 2 Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Objectives Locate the subjects of verbs despite intervening elements and inverted sentence structure

Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Ch. 10 - 2

Objectives• Locate the subjects of verbs despite

intervening elements and inverted sentence structure.

• Make verbs agree with true subjects.• Make verbs agree with subjects joined

by and.• Make verbs agree with subjects joined

by or or nor.

Verb and Subject Agreement


• Select the correct verbs to agree with collective nouns and indefinite pronouns.

• Make verbs agree with quantities, fractions, portions, clauses, and a number or the number.

• Achieve subject-verb agreement within who clauses.

Verb and Subject Agreement


Locating Subjects and Making Them Agree With Verbs

Prepositional Phrases• In locating subjects, ignore prepositional

phrases. • Some of the most common prepositions

are of, to, in, from, for, with, at, and by.• Less easily recognized are the

prepositions except, but, like, and between.


What is the subject in this sentence?

1. One of the companies is hiring new employees.

Check your skill . . .











2. Letters from the president were sent recently.












3. Everyone except Ann and Leo is working.












Intervening Words• In locating subjects, ignore

intervening groups of words such as those introduced by in addition to, such as, as well as, including, and together with.



1. Randolph, Inc., along with several other companies, is submitting bids.












2. The buyer, as well as two of our operators, is examining the equipment.











There or Here• In sentences beginning with there or

here, look for the true subject after the verb.



There are several new products.

Inverted: Several new products are there.

Here is a list of potential customers.

Inverted: A list of potential customers is here.



Inverted Sentences• Look for the subject after the verb in

inverted sentences and in questions.



Across the street is a stationer’s shop.

Inverted: A stationer’s shop is across the street.

Is one of the clerks going to call?

Inverted: One of the clerks is going to call?



Subjects Joined by And• Subjects joined by and require a plural

verb.

Our office manager and our sales manager are interviewing applicants.

Writing concisely and proofreading carefully are important.

Basic Rules for Verb-Subject Agreement


Company Names and Publication Titles

• Although they may appear plural, company names and titles of publications are singular and require singular verbs.




Fagan, Dunn, and Roe, Inc., is expanding.

“Seven Secrets to Successful Investing” is enjoying great popularity.


Select the correct verb in this sentence.

1. A list of names and addresses (has/have) been prepared.




1. A list of names and addresses (has/have) been prepared.




2. The house along with its contents (was/were) insured.




2. The house along with its contents (was/were) insured.




3. There (is/are) a magazine and a book lying on the table.




3. There (is/are) a magazine and a book lying on the table.




4. Watts, Steiner, and Kerr, Inc., (appear/appears) to be moving.




4. Watts, Steiner, and Kerr, Inc., (appear/appears) to be moving.



Or and Nor• When two or more subjects are joined by

or or nor, the verb should agree with the closer subject.

Neither the house nor its outbuildings are insured.

Either Kevin or you are responsible for the supplies.

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules


Indefinite Pronouns• These indefinite pronouns are always

singular. anyone anybody anything

each either every everyone everybody everything neither nobody nothing

someone somebody



Indefinite Pronouns• These indefinite pronouns are always

plural.both

few many

several



Indefinite Pronouns• These indefinite pronouns are singular

or plural depending on the words to which they refer.

all more most some any none



Examples of Indefinite Pronoun Use

All of the policies are separate.

Few of the companies are interested.

Some of the food is left.

Most of the envelopes are unsealed.



Each, Every, and Many A• If the indefinite pronouns each, every,

and many a are used to describe two or more subjects joined by and, the subjects are considered singular.Many a driver and pedestrian is upset over the road closure.

Every period, comma, and semicolon is important.



Collective Nouns• Collective nouns such as faculty,

committee, and council may be singular or plural depending on their mode of operation.

• When a collective noun operates as a single unit, its verb should be singular.

The council is meeting Thursday. Next week the faculty is voting.




Collective Nouns• When the elements of a collective noun

operate separately, the verb is plural.

The faculty were concerned about their room assignments.


Select the correct helping verb in this sentence.

1. Either the book title or its chapter titles (has/have) to be revised.




1. Either the book title or its chapter titles (has/have) to be revised.




2. Most of the research for the report (is/are) completed.




2. Most of the research for the report (is/are) completed.




3. Every car, truck, and van (has/have) to be inspected.




3. Every car, truck, and van (has/have) to be inspected.



The Number• As a sentence subject, the number is

singular.

The number of requests is growing yearly.

Advanced Applications


A Number• As a sentence subject, a number is

plural.

A number of stocks are traded daily.



Quantities and Measures• When they refer to total amounts,

quantities and measures are singular.

Five yards of fabric is the amount needed to complete that garment.



Quantities and Measures• When they refer to individual units

that can be counted, quantities and measures are plural.

Two gallons of paint were spilled in the accident.



Fractions and Portions• Fractions and portions may be

singular or plural depending on the nouns to which they refer.

One third of the bonds have been sold.

One third of the job has been completed.



A portion of our management team favors the plan.

A portion of the employees also favor the plan.



Who Clauses

• Verbs in who clauses must agree in number and person with the nouns to which they refer.



Who Clauses• In who clauses introduced by one of, the

verb is usually plural because it refers to the object of the preposition.

Judy Arnold is one of those instructors who are very professional.



Who Clauses• In who clauses introduced by the only

one of, the verb is singular.

Scott is the only one of our employees who is trained in computer programming.



Phrases and Clauses• Use a singular verb when the

subject of a sentence is a phrase or a clause.

Learning to operate all the pieces of office equipment is a big task.



Subject Complement• Although a complement may differ

from the subject in number, the linking verb should always agree with the subject.



The worst part of the job is typing and copying.



The worst part of the job is typing and copying. singular subject



The worst part of the job is typing and copying. singular subject linking plural

verb complement




verb complement




verb complement




verb complement

Better:




verb complement

Better: The worst parts of the job are typing and copying.




verb complement

Better: The worst parts of the job are typing and copying.




1. The number of registered students (is/are) greater than expected.




1. The number of registered students (is/are) greater than expected.




2. Fifty dollars (is/are) the price of the small table.




2. Fifty dollars (is/are) the price of the small table.




3. Two thirds of the businesses (has/have) already complied with the regulation.




3. Two thirds of the businesses (has/have) already complied with the regulation.




4. Professor Katusak is one of those professors who (get/gets) results with (her/their) students.




4. Professor Katusak is one of those professors who (get/gets) results with (her/their) students.



Correct any errors in this sentence. The sentence may already be correct.

1. A record of all equipment makes, models, and serial numbers are extremely important in case of fire or theft.

Chapter 10 - Quiz



1. A record of all equipment makes, models, and serial numbers are extremely important in case of fire or theft.

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1. A record of all equipment makes, models, and serial numbers is extremely important in case of fire or theft.

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2. The time and effort spent in preparing an inventory is well worth it.

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2. The time and effort spent in preparing an inventory is well worth it.

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2. The time and effort spent in preparing an inventory are well worth it.

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3. In attendance at the meeting over the weekend was the president and all members of the executive council.

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3. In attendance at the meeting over the weekend was the president and all members of the executive council.

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3. In attendance at the meeting over the weekend were the president and all members of the executive council.

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4. A summary of all the facts, as well as financial statements for three years, are contained in our final report.

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4. A summary of all the facts, as well as financial statements for three years, are contained in our final report.

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4. A summary of all the facts, as well as financial statements for three years, is contained in our final report.

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5. Every executive, every manager, and every employee is expected to know and support the mission statement.

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5. Every executive, every manager, and every employee is expected to know and support the mission statement.

Correct

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6. Neither the three new computers nor the laser printer are working properly.

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6. Neither the three new computers nor the laser printer are working properly.

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6. Neither the three new computers nor the laser printer is working properly.

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7. The executive committee have voted unanimously to recommend cuts.

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7. The executive committee have voted unanimously to recommend cuts.

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7. The executive committee has voted unanimously to recommend cuts.

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8. Some of the wage cuts for employees has to be made immediately.

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8. Some of the wage cuts for employees has to be made immediately.

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8. Some of the wage cuts for employees have to be made immediately.

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9. Nobody in management or in the ranks of employees want to see the company lose profits.

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9. Nobody in management or in the ranks of employees want to see the company lose profits.

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9. Nobody in management or in the ranks of employees wants to see the company lose profits.

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10. Either of the two plans submitted by the environmental groups is acceptable.

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10. Either of the two plans submitted by the environmental groups is acceptable.

Correct

Chapter 10 - Quiz


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Ch. 10 - 2 Mary Ellen Guffey, Business English, 8e Objectives Locate the subjects of verbs despite intervening elements and inverted sentence structure