Created by April TurnerCreated by April Turner

UWF Writing Lab Rules of UWF Writing Lab Rules of Thumb for SUBJECT/VERB Thumb for SUBJECT/VERB

AGREEMENT AGREEMENT

from from

Real Good Grammar, Too Real Good Grammar, Too

by Mamie Webb Hixonby Mamie Webb Hixon

Rule 1Rule 1

• Use a verb ending in Use a verb ending in –s–s if your subject is a if your subject is a he, she, he, she, or or it.it.

• Singular subjects include, but are not Singular subjects include, but are not limited to, these:limited to, these:– Singular nouns: Singular nouns:

• A A listlist of phone numbers of phone numbers isis available. available.• A major A major problemproblem isis smokers. smokers.

– Singular indefinite pronouns: Singular indefinite pronouns: • EachEach of us of us hashas a key. a key.

– Subjects preceded by Subjects preceded by eacheach, , everyevery, or , or many amany a::• Every Tom, Dick, and HarrietEvery Tom, Dick, and Harriet hashas an opinion. an opinion.

Singular Subjects, cont.Singular Subjects, cont.

– Subjects preceded by Subjects preceded by the number ofthe number of: : • The number of studentsThe number of students attending college attending college isis

very high.very high.– Titles/names of companies, books, plays, Titles/names of companies, books, plays,

movies, etc.: movies, etc.: • The Centers for Disease ControlThe Centers for Disease Control isis in Atlanta, in Atlanta,

Georgia.Georgia.– Gerunds: Gerunds:

• Recycling telephone directoriesRecycling telephone directories helpshelps save save landfill space each year.landfill space each year.

– Relative pronouns referring to singular Relative pronouns referring to singular antecedents: antecedents: • Ora is the Ora is the only oneonly one in the group in the group whowho smokessmokes..

– Subjects joined by Subjects joined by or, nor, either…or, or, nor, either…or, or or neither…norneither…nor::• Neither the players nor the Neither the players nor the coachcoach waswas present. present.

Rule 2Rule 2

• Use a verb that does not end in Use a verb that does not end in –s –s if if your subject is a your subject is a theythey. .

• Plural subjects include, but are not Plural subjects include, but are not limited to, these: limited to, these: – Subjects joined by Subjects joined by or, nor, either…or, or, nor, either…or, or or

neither…norneither…nor: : •Neither the coach nor the Neither the coach nor the playersplayers werewere

present.present.

– Plural indefinite pronouns: Plural indefinite pronouns: •BothBoth of us of us havehave a key. a key.

Plural Subjects, cont.Plural Subjects, cont.

– Plural nouns: Plural nouns: •The The scissorsscissors areare lying on the desk. lying on the desk.

– Subjects preceded by Subjects preceded by a number ofa number of: : •A number of studentsA number of students areare majoring in law. majoring in law.

– Relative pronouns referring to plural Relative pronouns referring to plural antecedents: antecedents: •He is one of the millions of He is one of the millions of peoplepeople whowho

smokesmoke..

Rule 3Rule 3

• Ignore prepositional phrases: Ignore prepositional phrases: – A A listlist of phone numbersof phone numbers isis available. available.

• Ignore Ignore there there and and herehere at the beginning of a at the beginning of a sentence: sentence: – ThereThere areare three three booksbooks on the censored list. on the censored list.

• Ignore appositives:Ignore appositives: – TheyThey eacheach havehave a ticket. a ticket.

• Ignore words synonymous with the subject: Ignore words synonymous with the subject: – ClothesClothes areare her her passionpassion.. Her Her passionpassion isis

clothesclothes..

Rule 4Rule 4

• Some subjects may be singular or plural Some subjects may be singular or plural depending on the meaning of the subject.depending on the meaning of the subject.– SomeSome of the food of the food isis cold. cold. – SomeSome of the vegetables of the vegetables areare cold. cold.– The The castcast waswas congratulated. congratulated. – The The castcast werewere practicing their lines. practicing their lines.– Fifteen minutesFifteen minutes isis a long time. a long time.– Fifteen minutesFifteen minutes remainremain..– StatisticsStatistics isis a difficult course. a difficult course. – Divorce Divorce statisticsstatistics areare alarmingly high. alarmingly high.

Let’s Practice!!!Let’s Practice!!!

• The sheriff along with two of her deputies The sheriff along with two of her deputies (were, was) checking licenses at the North (were, was) checking licenses at the North Road exit.Road exit.

• WASWAS• Some of the lots in our subdivision (was, Some of the lots in our subdivision (was,

were) not for sale.were) not for sale.• WEREWERE

• Here (is, are) the transistors and diodes that Here (is, are) the transistors and diodes that you purchased for your repair shop.you purchased for your repair shop.

• AREARE• Genetics (is, are) very difficult for beginning Genetics (is, are) very difficult for beginning

students to understand.students to understand.• ISIS

More Practice!!!More Practice!!!

• The number of girls in my football club The number of girls in my football club (was, were) surprising.(was, were) surprising.

• WASWAS• A number of the swimmers (is, are) going to A number of the swimmers (is, are) going to

the state competition.the state competition.• AREARE

• There (is, are) some error messages There (is, are) some error messages showing up in my program.showing up in my program.

• AREARE• Neither Betty nor Jane (type, types) more Neither Betty nor Jane (type, types) more

than fifty words per minute.than fifty words per minute.• TYPESTYPES