Subject verb AGREEMENT

SUBJECT – VERB AGREEMENT

Tb. Nugraha Adi Pratama, S.T.

NOUN / PRONOUNSingular nouns require singular verbs


My wife loves me


My wife loves me


My wife loves me


My wife loves me (add –s /-es to the verb)



Plural nouns require plural verbs



Plural nouns require plural verbsbut my other wives hate me










(DON’T add –s /-es to the verb)

NOUN / PRONOUNUncountable nouns are singular


My money is gone


My money is gone


My money is gone


My money is gonePhrase/clause that comes between the subject

and the verb doesn’t affect the verb



and the verb doesn’t affect the verbMy money that my other wives took is gone









and the verb doesn’t affect the verbMy money that my other wives took is goneThe cars of my wife are also gone



and the verb doesn’t affect the verbMy money that my other wives took is goneThe cars of my wife are also gone

NOUN / PRONOUNSome plural nouns don’t end in –s

NOUN / PRONOUNSome plural nouns don’t end in –s People, children, fish, police, cattle, mice, oxen,

e.t.c


e.t.c plural verbs are used for these nouns


e.t.c plural verbs are used for these nounsThose people are working hardThe police have caught the thief


e.t.c plural verbs are used for these nounsThose people are working hardThe police have caught the thief

NOUNS ENDING IN -SNouns ending in –ics take singular verbs when

they refer to an area of study


they refer to an area of studyStatistics is my least favorite subject





NOUNS ENDING IN -SCountries ending in –s is singular

The Philippines is in Asia The United States consists of 50 states







Titles, names, and illness are also singular



Titles, names, and illness are also singularThe Avengers is my son’s favorite filmThe United Nations is holding a conference



Titles, names, and illness are also singular The Avengers is my son’s favorite filmThe United Nations is holding a conference



Titles, names, and illness are also singular The Avengers is my son’s favorite filmThe United Nations is holding a conference

LANGUAGE AND NATIONALITIESAs a language


Chinese is her native languageEnglish is spoken in many countries







As people



As peopleThe Chinese have many forms of martial artsThe English love to drink tea







LANGUAGE AND NATIONALITIESAs a language (Use singular verbs)



LANGUAGE AND NATIONALITIESAs a language (Use singular verbs)


As people (Use plural verbs)The Chinese have many forms of martial artsThe English love to drink tea

ADJECTIVES / VERBS AS NOUNSAdjectives

ADJECTIVES / VERBS AS NOUNSAdjectivesThe rich send their children abroad to study



ADJECTIVES / VERBS AS NOUNSAdjectivesThe rich send their children abroad to studyVerbs

ADJECTIVES / VERBS AS NOUNSAdjectivesThe rich send their children abroad to studyVerbsThe haves live in luxurious housing complexes



ADJECTIVES / VERBS AS NOUNSAdjectivesThe rich send their children abroad to studyVerbsThe haves live in luxurious housing complexesBoth adjectives and verbs used as nouns refer to

people and take plural verbs

EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITYA lotSomeHalfTwo-thirdsMostAll

EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITYA lotSome of the (noun) Singular verbHalfTwo-thirdsMostAll

EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITYA lotSome of the (noun) Singular verbHalfTwo-thirds of the (nouns) Plural verbMostAll

EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITYThe verb form is determined by the

noun/pronoun which follows an expression of quantity



A lot of equipment is oldA lot of the students were earlySome of the car is greenSome of the cars are green













EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITYNumber vs A Number

EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITYNumber vs A NumberThe number is increasing

EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITYNumber vs A NumberThe number is increasing

EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITYNumber vs A NumberThe number is increasingA number of students were late

EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITYNumber vs A NumberThe number is increasingA number of students were late

EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITYNumber vs A NumberThe number is increasingA number of students were lateThe number is a subject, while a number is an

expression of quantity followed by a plural noun and a plural verb

EXPRESSIONS OF TIME, MONEY, WEIGHT, AND MEASUREMENT

These expressions are usually singular and take singuar verbs


These expressions are usually singular take singular verbs

Five thousand miles is too far to travelTen billion rupiahs is too expensive for a gem stoneFive hours of TOEFL tires me outFifteen kilograms is quite heavy for meFifty liters of petrol in a car is a full tank







EVERY AND EACHEvery and each are followed by singular noun

and require singular verb


and require singular verbEvery student likes a holidayEach member requires to register






and require singular verbEvery student likes a holidayEach member requires to registerEvery man, woman, and child needs loveEach novel and magazine is listed in the catalog





EVERY AND EACHEach of is followed by a plural noun but still

takes a singular verb



Each of the books has been signed by the author










INDEFINITE PRONOUN SUBJECTSThese indefinite pronouns are considered

singular, and so use a singular verb form :


singular, and so use a singular verb form :One, anyone, everyone, no one, someone,

everybody, anybody, nobody, somebody, anything, something, everything, and nothing




Somebody is missingEveryone is from Indonesia




Somebody is missingEveryone is from Indonesia


singular, have plural nouns, but still take singular verbs:



None of, one of, either of, neither of



None of, one of, either of, neither ofNone of my friends help meOne of my hobbies is photography



None of, one of, either of, neither ofNone of my friends helps meOne of my hobbies is photography



None of, one of, either of, neither ofNone of my friends helps meOne of my hobbies is photography

INDEFINITE PRONOUN SUBJECTSThese indefinite pronouns are considered plural,

and so use a plural verb form


and so use a plural verb formFew, both


and so use a plural verb formFew, bothFew agree with my proposalBoth of my hands hurt


and so use a plural verb formFew, bothFew agree with my proposalBoth of my hands hurt

CERTAIN EXPRESSIONSCertain expressions such as along with, as well

as, accompanied by, and together with, do not affect the main verb form



The student, accompanied by his parents, is attending the graduation tonight

The computer, along with the desk stand, is being moved













CERTAIN EXPRESSIONSNeither-nor and either-or use of the verb form

depends on the noun closest to the verb



Either the students or the teacher is talking









Either the students or the teacher is talkingEither the teacher or the students are talking







INVERTED SUBJECT - VERBAfter question words, negative expressions, place

expressions, and comparisons, the subject may come after the verb. The verb form depends on the subject



Next to the cars is my wifeWhat the hell are they trying to doThe cheetahs have faster land speed than do the other

cats




cats




cats

INVERTED SUBJECT - VERBUsing There + BeThere + Be introduces an idea that something exists in a

place


placeThere is a fly in my soupThere are 21 students in this room


placeThere is a fly in my soupThere are 21 students in this room

THE END

Azhar, B.S. (2009). Understanding and using English grammar (4th ed.). New York : Pearson Education

Phillips, D. (2001). Longman complete course for the TOEFL test: Preparation for the computer and the paper test. New York : Pearson Education

REFERENCES