Subject-verb Agreement Problems

3.1 Problems with a Coordinate Subject

3.2 Problems with Expressions of Quantity as Subject

3.3 Other Problems of Subject-verb agreement

3.1 Problems with a Coordinate Subject

I. Coordination with “and” or “both… and” 1. usually treated as plural when it refers to

two or more than two persons / things2. treated as singular when it refers to only

one person or thing.

The poet and singer has come. poet and singer

A and B = 2 partsThe A and the B = 2 partsThe A and B=1unit

DeterminerHead word

Wits and humour abounds in the book.

War and peace is a constant theme in the history.

Truth and honesty is the best policy.

The hustle and bustle of the city life fatigues many people.

Salt and water is also a kind of medicine.

Egg and rice is her usual breakfast.

Wits and humour

War and peace

Truth and honesty

hustle and bustle

Salt and water

Egg and rice A. 两种抽象的东西被看作是一个不可分割的整体B. 两个名词已构成一种食品

Observe the Following Sentences:

3 Elliptical Construction with And:Elliptical construction with and has a

plural mean and the predicate verb takes Pl. form.

Good and bad taste are inculcated by example.

What I say and think are no business of yours.

Good and bad taste

Good taste and bad taste

What I say and what I think

What I say and think

4 when modified by each/every/many a

When the coordinated noun phrases by and are preceded by each, every, no, many a, the verb usually takes singular form.

Every boy and every girl in this room is entitled to a copy.

Many a man and woman in this community finds himself or herself in need.

No teacher and no students is admitted.

II. Coordination with or/ either… or/ nor/neither… nor/not only ... but also1. Here the problem of concord is generally dealt with according to

the principle of proximity.

2. But in informal style, items coordinated by “neither… nor”, “not only ... but also” can sometimes be regarded as plural.

Not only the switches but also the old wiring has / (have) been changed.

My sisters or my brother is likely to be at home.

Neither the players nor the coach was / (were) overconfident.

My sisters or my brother is

Neither the players nor the coach was / (were)

Not only the switches but also the old wiring has / (have)

Either my father or my brothers are coming.Either my father or my brothers are

3) Subject + as much as; Subject + as well as

• The form of the following verb is determined by the subject.

• subordinate constructions :more than, rather than, no less than;

• prepositional phrases : in addition to, with, along with, together with, except, including, like, accompanied by, besides, but.

Exercise:1. Neither Russia nor the united states_______ (has,

have) been able to discover a mutual satisfactory plan for gradual disarmament.

2. Even minor amendments or innovations_______ (was, were) given heavy publicity.

3. His friend and fellow author _______ (was, were) cool to the idea of collaborating on a cookbook.

4. All this effort and sacrifice _______ (has, have) helped to alleviate poverty.

5. _______ (Is, Are) January and February the coldest months of the year

has

werewas

has

Are

6. In many years of service, neither Philips nor I _______ (has, have) seen anything like it.

7. It became necessary to involve every man, woman and child who _______ (was, were) willing to help.

8. Law and order_______ (means, mean) different things to people with different political opinions.

9. If your wife or husband_______ (is, are) proficient in English, there are many study courses from which they can choose.

10. Every change of season, every change of weather, indeed, every hour of the day, _______(produces, produce) some change in the hues and shapes of these mountains.

have

was

means

is

produces

3.2 Problems with Expressions of Quantity as Subject

• Quantitative expressions fall into categories: Definite and Indefinite.

I. Expressions of Definite Quantity as Subject

1. When a definite quantity is regarded as a single unit, the verb takes the singular form

2. When used in the sense of the individuals that constitute the quantity, the verb takes the plural form.

There were 6 silver dollars in each of the stockings. (the coins)

He thought that 65 dollars was not too much to ask.

3. Fraction / Percentage + of-phrasethe form of the verb is determined by the

noun in the of-phrase. A plural noun in the of-phrase requires a

plural verb; A singular or a mass noun in the of-phrase

is to be followed by a singular verb

Over 60% of the city was destroyed in the war.

Two-thirds of the swampland has been reclaimed for farming.

Nearly 50% of the doctors are women.

4 If the subject is an expression of “A plus / and B” or “A multiplied by B”, the verb can either take the singular or the plural form.

5 If the subject is one of “A minus B” or “A divided by B” the verb can only be singular.

Seven plus / and five (7+5) makes / make twelve.

Forty minus fifteen (40-15) leaves twenty-five.

Five times eight (5x8) is / are forty.

Forty divided by eight (40÷8) is five.

6 one in / out of +plural noun the verb takes singular form in formal style. but in informal style it can be plural

One in ten students has / have failed the exam.

One out of twenty was / were badly damaged.

II. Expression of indefinite quantity as subject

1 When the subject is a noun phrase composed of “all of …, some of …, none of …, half of …, most of …, etc”, the number of the verb is determined by the noun in the of-phrase.

2 This is also true of “lots of, heaps of, loads of, scads of, plenty of, + noun”

All of the cargo was lost.All of the crew were saved.Lots of food is going to waste.Lots of people are waiting outside.

3 When the subject is a noun preceded by “a portion of, a series of, a pile of, a panel of”, the verb invariably takes the singular form, whatever the forms of the noun.

4 when the subject is a noun, singular or plural, preceded by “a kind / sort / type of” or by “this kind / sort / type of”, the verb takes singular form.

A substantial portion of the reports is missing.

A series of accidents has been reported.

This kind of man annoys me.

That type of car is old-fashioned.

5 If “kind / sort / type of” is preceded by “these / those” and followed by a plural noun, the verb should be plural.

These sort of machines are up to date.

6 If the subject is noun phrase composed of “many a+ noun” or “more than one + noun”, this kind of noun phrase, though notionally plural, is treated as singular.

Many a man has done his duty.

More than one game was lost.

7 If the subject is a plural noun preceded by “an average of/a majority of”, the verb form is determined by the notion of the noun phrase: if the noun head is the word “average/majority” the verb should be singular; if the head is the plural noun, the verb should be plural.

An average of 25 applications a month is not unusual.

An average of 25 persons apply each month.

1. The central portions of the book _______(is, are) devoted to this theory.

2. Almost two thirds of the land in the northwest areas of the country ______(is, are) not suitable for farming.

3. Half of the money I spend on advertising ________(is, are) wasted, and the trouble is I don’t know which half.

4. Most of the coffee we produce _________(is, are) for export---a high percentage _____(goes, go) to the US.

Exercise:are

is

is

isgoes

5. About half of the women in this area _______(is, are) working-wives. None of them _______(has, have) much time to do housework.

6. Some of the furniture _______(has, have) been moved to another room in the house.

7. I’ll keep a third of the money and the rest _______ (is, are) yours.

8. Most of the residents ________(has, have) already left the island; the rest ________(is, are) preparing for the typhoon.

arehas have

has

is

haveare

9. It’s a big studio, so there _______(is, are) lots of room for all my things.

10.Loads of sand _______(was, were) dumped by the roadside so that there was hardly any space for two cars to pass.

is

was