Asian Computer College

Group 1Sherwin Ferrer

Alver John DulayKennethe Anne Felix

Gelsy FranciscoG r

Where is place of letter r1?It is in the upper

part of this slide .I am also going

there. Do you want to come with me?

Sure why not.

Here comes my friends.

What is Subject-Verb Agreement?

Subject and Verb must agree Subject and Verb must agree to each otherto each other

The Basic Principle

• If the subject is singular it also takes a singular verb.

• If the subject is plural it also takes a plural verb.

Example sentenceExample sentence

She goes to our house every Monday.

subject “She” is singular

verb ”goes” is singular

Most nouns ending in /s/ or /es/ is plural

Singular pronouns like she , he and its take singular verb

Additional only

Example sentenceExample sentence

They go to our house every Monday.

subject “They” is plural

verb ”go” is plural

Additional onlyTo form singular verbs add /s/ or /es/ to the verb (for regular one).E.g. serve = serves

The Rules to be followedThe Rules to be followed

Press START to begin.

Rule #1Rule #1

The cabinet of medicines are near the kitchen.

A verb must agree with its subject, not with any additive phrase in the sentence such as a prepositional or verbal phrase. Ignore such phrases.

subject

verb

The cabinet of medicines is near the kitchen.

verbExample: Ms. Hixon's record (of community service, outstanding teaching, and university involvement) qualifies for her promotion.

verb

Rule #2Rule #2

In an inverted sentence beginning witha prepositional phrase, the verb still agrees with its subject.

Beneath your desk is some papers.

subject

verb

Beneath your desk are some papers.Example: At the end of the Christmas holidays come the best sales.

sales is the subject.come is the verb.

Gladys Knight, as well as the Pips, are riding the midnight

train to Georgia.

subject

verb

Rule #3Rule #3

Prepositional phrases beginning with the compound prepositions such as along with, together with, in addition to, and as well as should be ignored, for they do not affect subject-verb agreement.

Gladys Knight, as well as the Pips, is riding the midnight

train to Georgia.

subject

verb

Example:A driver's license, together with two other pieces of identification, is required.

subject verb

Rule #4Rule #4

You are my problem.

My problem is you.

subject

verb

Subjectivecomplement

The verb is plural because the subject is a special pronouns that needs a

plural verb.

verb

A verb must agree with its subject, not its subject complement.

Rule #5Rule #5

When a sentence begins with an expletive such as there, here, or it, the verb agrees with the subject, not with the expletive.

There are students in the backyard of the school.

subject

verbexpletive

The verb is plural because students is plural also.There are apples left on the table for you.

subject

verb

expletive

Rule #6Rule #6

Indefinite pronouns such as each, either, one, everyone, everybody, and everything are singular while several, few, both, and many are plural. Some such as all, some, most, and none may be singular or plural depending on their referents.

Somebody in Detroit loves me.

Both of my sorority sisters have decided to live off campus.

Some of the food are eaten already.

subject

verb

subject verb

Note: None is singular when it means "no one of" or "not a single one."

Rule #7Rule #7

Fractions such as one-half and one-third may be singular or plural depending on the referent.

Half of the students were on the rally.

verb

The verb is plural because the referent (students) is also plural.

Half of the mail has been opened by the directress. subject

Jim and Tammy is friends since grade 1.

subjectverb

conjunction

Rule #8Rule #8

Subjects joined by and take a plural verb unless the subjects are thought to be one item or unit.

Jim and Tammy are friends since grade 1.

subjectverb

conjunction

Guns and Roses is my favorite rock group

subjectverb

conjunction

Rule #9Rule #9

In cases where the subjects are joined by or, nor, either. . .or, or neither. . .nor, the verb must agree with the subject closer to it.

Either the police or the guards are responsible for the breakout last night.

subjectverb

The verb is plural because the nearer subject is guards which is also plural.

Neither the students nor the teacher is responsible for paying the broken fan.

subject

verb

Rule #10Rule #10

Relative pronouns, such as who, which, or that, which refer to plural antecedents require plural verbs. However, when the relative pronoun refers to a single subject, the pronoun takes a singular verb.

She is the one who makes pottery.

subject

verb

relative pronoun

The verb of the relative pronoun is singular because “one” is singular.

My sister is the one who is going to fight to the upcoming Olympics in China.

verbsubject

relative pronoun

Rule #11Rule #11

Subjects preceded by every, each, and many are singular.

Every man, woman, and child was given a life preserver.

subject

verb“Man ,woman and child” is considered singular even it is connected by and. It is because of the word “every”.

Each graduate and undergraduate is required to pass a proficiency exam.

graduate and undergraduate is the subjectis required is the verb

The verb is singular because of the word each in the start of the sentence.

verbsubject

Rule #12Rule #12

A collective noun, such as audience, faculty, or jury, requires a singular verb when the group is regarded as a whole and a plural verb when the members of the group are regarded as individuals.

The jury has made its decision.

The class is preparing for the upcoming competition.

subject verb

subjectverb

verb

subject

Rule #13Rule #13

Subjects preceded by the number of or the percentage of are singular, while subjects preceded by a number of or a percentage of are plural.

The number of vacationers in Florida is increasing. The verb is singular because of the phrase “the number of” that denotes what verb to use.

A number of vacationers are going to join the Alay-Lakad next week.

Rule #14Rule #14

Title of books, companies, name brands, and groups are singular or plural depending on their meaning.

Great Expectations is my favorite novel. subject

verb Naruto is my favorite cartoon.

Rule #15Rule #15

Certain nouns of Latin and Greek origin have unusual singular and plural forms.

SINGULAR PLURAL

criterion criteria

alumnus alumni

datum data

medium media

The data are available for inspection.

subjectverb

The only criterion for membership is a high GPA. .

subjectverb

Rule #16Rule #16

Some nouns such as deer, shrimp, and sheep have the same spelling for both their singular and plural forms. In these cases, the meaning of the sentence will determine whether they are singular or plural.

Deer are beautiful animals.subject

verb

The spotted deer is licking the sugar cube .

Rule #17Rule #17

Some nouns like scissors, jeans, and wages have plural forms but no singular counterparts. These nouns almost always take plural verbs.

The scissors are on the table.

subject verbScissors are always plural because it is a nouns that expresses being paired.

My Lee jeans fit me like a glove.

subjectverb

verbsubject

Rule #18Rule #18

Words used as words, not as grammatical parts of the sentence, require singular verbs.

Can't is the contraction for cannot.

Cats is the plural form of cat.

subjectverb

Rule #19Rule #19

Mathematical expressions of subtraction and division require singular verbs, while expressions of addition or multiplication take either singular or plural verbs.

Ten divided by two equals five.

verbFive times seven equals (OR equal) thirty-five.

verb

subject verb

verb

Rule #20Rule #20

Nouns expressing time, distance, weight, and measurement are singular when they refer to a unit and plural when they refer to separate items.

50 miles is to far for a human.

subject

Fifty yards is a short distance.

Rule #21Rule #21

Expressions of quantity are usually plural.

verbsubject

subject verb

Nine out of ten dentists recommend Crest. 910,936 out of 19,254,125 students passed the hardest exam in the Philippines.

Verbsubject

Rule #22Rule #22

Some nouns ending in -ics, such as economics and ethics, take singular verbs when they refer to principles, a system or a field of study

Ethics is being taught in the spring.

Physics is the most hate subject of my brother.

Rule #23Rule #23

Some nouns like measles,news, and calculus, which appear plural in form, is actually singular in number. These words take singular verbs.

Measles is a dreadful disease.

Verb

Subject

The new is an information for everyone.

Rule #24Rule #24

A verbal noun (infinitive or gerund) serving as a subject is treated as singular, even if the object of the verbal phrase is plural.

Hiding your mistakes does not make them go away.

Subject is hiding you mistakes

Verb is does

Making corrections is correcting your mistakes.

verbsubject

Rule #25Rule #25

A noun phrase or clause acting as the subject of a sentence requires a singular verb.

What I need is to be loved. Subject is what I need Verb is is

To love you is what I am for.

Rule #26Rule #26

A plural subjects followed by a singular appositive requires a plural verb; similarly, a singular subject followed by a plural appositive requires a singular verb.

When the girls throw a party, they each bring a gift.

Subject is they

Verb is bring