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SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT Basic Rule The basic rule states that a singular subject takes a singular verb, while

a plural subject takes a plural verb. NOTE: The trick is in knowing whether the subject is singular or plural. The next trick is recognizing a singular or plural verb. Hint: Verbs o not !or" their plurals b# a ing an s as nouns o. $n or er to eter"ine which verb is singular an which one is plural, think o! which verb #ou woul use with he or she an which verb #ou woul use with the#. Exa"ple: talks, talk %hich one is the singular !or"& %hich wor woul #ou use with he& %e sa#, 'He talks.' There!ore, talks is singular. %e sa#, 'The# talk.' There!ore, talk is plural. Rule 1 Two singular subjects connecte b# or or nor re(uire a singular verb. Example: )# aunt or "# uncle is arriving b# train to a#. Rule 2 Two singular subjects connecte b# either*or or neither*nor re(uire a singular verb as in +ule ,. Examples: Neither -uan nor .ar"en is available. Either /iana or .ase# is helping to a# with stage ecorations. Rule 3 %hen $ is one o! the two subjects connecte b# either*or or neither*nor, put it secon an !ollow it with the singular verb a". Example: Neither she nor $ a" going to the !estival. Rule 4 %hen a singular subject is connecte b# or or nor to a plural subject, put the plural subject last an use a plural verb. Example: The serving bowl or the plates go on that shel!. Rule 5 %hen a singular an plural subject are connecte b# either*or or neither*nor, put the plural subject last an use a plural verb. Example: Neither -enn# nor the others are available. Rule 6 0s a general rule, use a plural verb with two or "ore subjects when the# are connecte b#an . Example: 0 car an a bike are "# "eans o! transportation. Rule 7 1o"eti"es the subject is separate !ro" the verb b# wor s such as along with, as well as, besi es, or not. $gnore these expressions when eter"ining whether to use a singular or plural verb. Examples: The politician, along with the news"en, is expecte shortl#. Excite"ent, as well as nervousness, is the cause o! her shaking. Rule 8 The pronouns each, ever#one, ever# one, ever#bo #, an#one, an#bo #, so"eone, an so"ebo # are singular an re(uire singular verbs. 2o not be "isle b# what !ollows o!.

Examples: Each o! the girls sings well. Ever# one o! the cakes is gone. NOTE: Ever#one is one wor when it "eans ever#bo #. Ever# one is two wor s when the "eaning is each one. Rule 9 %ith wor s that in icate portions3percent, !raction, part, "ajorit#, so"e, all, none, re"ain er, an so !orth 3look at the noun in #our o! phrase 4object o! the preposition5 to eter"ine whether to use a singular or plural verb. $! the object o! the preposition is singular, use a singular verb. $! the object o! the preposition is plural, use a plural verb. Examples: 6i!t# percent o! the pie has isappeare . 7ie is the object o! the preposition o!. 6i!t# percent o! the pies have isappeare . 7ies is the object o! the preposition. One8thir o! the cit# is une"plo#e . One8thir o! the people are une"plo#e . NOTE: H#phenate all spelle 8out !ractions. 0ll o! the pie is gone. 0ll o! the pies are gone. 1o"e o! the pie is "issing. 1o"e o! the pies are "issing. None o! the garbage was picke up. None o! the sentences were punctuate correctl#. O! all her books, none have sol as well as the !irst one. NOTE: 0ccor ing to )erria" %ebster9s 2ictionar# o! English :sage, '.learl# none has been both singular an plural since Ol English an still is. The notion that it is singular onl# is a "#th o! unknown origin that appears to have arisen in the ,;th centur#. $! in context it see"s like a singular to #ou, use a singular verb< i! it see"s like a plural, use a plural verb. =oth are acceptable be#on serious criticis". Rule 1 The expression the nu"ber is !ollowe b# a singular verb while the expression a nu"ber is !ollowe b# a plural verb. Examples: The nu"ber o! people we nee to hire is thirteen. 0 nu"ber o! people have written in about this subject. Rule 11 %hen either an neither are subjects, the# alwa#s take singular verbs. Examples: Neither o! the" is available to speak right now. Either o! us is capable o! oing the job. Rule 12 The wor s here an there have generall# been labele as a verbs even though the# in icate place. $n sentences beginning with here or there, the subject !ollows the verb. Examples: There are !our hur les to ju"p. There is a high hur le to ju"p. Rule 13 :se a singular verb with su"s o! "one# or perio s o! ti"e. Examples: Ten ollars is a high price to pa#. 6ive #ears is the "axi"u" sentence !or that o!!ense. Rule 14 1o"eti"es the pronoun who, that, or which is the subject o! a verb in the "i le o! the sentence. The pronouns who, that, an which beco"e singular or plural accor ing to the noun irectl# in !ront o! the". 1o, i! that noun is singular, use a singular verb. $! it is plural, use a plural verb.

Examples: 1al"a is the scientist who writes*write the reports. The wor in !ront o! who is scientist, which is singular. There!ore, use the singular verb writes. He is one o! the "en who oes* o the work. The wor in !ront o! who is "en, which is plural. There!ore, use the plural verb o. Rule 15 .ollective nouns such as tea" an sta!! "a# be either singular or plural epen ing on their use in the sentence. Examples: The sta!! is in a "eeting. 1ta!! is acting as a unit here. The sta!! are in isagree"ent about the !in ings. The sta!! are acting as separate in ivi uals in this exa"ple. The sentence woul rea even better as: The sta!! "e"bers are in isagree"ent about the !in ings. M!S"#ACE$ M%$!&!ERS 0 "isplace "o i!ier is a wor , phrase, or clause that is i"properl# separate !ro" the wor it "o i!ies * escribes. =ecause o! the separation, sentences with this error o!ten soun awkwar , ri iculous, or con!using. 6urther"ore, the# can be ownright illogical. Exa"ple

The exa"ple above suggests that a '(l) *a+ owns a watch. )isplace "o i!iers can usuall# be c(,,ec-e) b# moving the "o i!ier to a "ore sensible place in the sentence, generall# next to the wor it "o i!ies. Exa"ple

Now it is the .a-c/ that is '(l)0 T/e,e a,e se1e,al 2i+)s (3 *is4lace) *()i3ie,s5 10 Mis4lace) a)6ec-i1es are incorrectl# separate !ro" the nouns the# "o i!# an al"ost alwa#s istort the inten e "eaning. Exa"ple ,

.orrect the error b# placing the a jective next to the noun it modifies.

.orrecte

Exa"ple >

.orrecte

1entences like these are co""on in ever# a# speech an or inaril# cause their listeners no trouble. However, the# are (uite i"precise an , there!ore, s/(ul) /a1e N% 4lace i+ 7(u, .,i-i+'0 20 "lace*e+- (3 a)1e,8s can also change "eaning in sentences. 6or exa"ple, the sentences below illustrate how the place"ent o! just can change the sentence9s "eaning. Just "eans (+l7 J(/+ was picke , +( (+e else:

Just "eans that -ohn was picke +(.5

Just "eans that -ohn hoste (+l7 -/e 4,(',a*9 +(-/i+' else:

Each o! these sentences sa#s so"ething logical but (uite different, an its correctness epen s upon what the writer has in "in . O!ten, misplacing an adverb not onl# alters the inten e "eaning, but also creates a sentence whose "eaning is highl# unlikel# or co"pletel# ri iculous. This sentence, !or exa"ple, suggests that we brought a lunch slowly:

To repair the "eaning, "ove the a verb slowl# so that it is near ate.

%atch out !or a verbs such as only, just, nearly, merely, an almost. The# are o!ten "isplace an cause an uninten e "eaning. This sentence, !or exa"ple, "eans that $ onl# c(+-,i8u-e) the "one#:

+epaire , however, the sentence "eans that $ contribute onl# :1 0

?ike a jectives, a verbs are co""onl# "isplace in ever# a# speech, an "a# not cause listeners i!!icult#. However, such sentences are (uite i"precise an , there!ore, s/(ul) /a1e N% 4lace i+ 7(u, .,i-i+'0 30 Mis4lace) 4/,ases "a# cause a sentence to soun awkwar an "a# create a "eaning that oes not "ake sense. The proble" sentences below contain "isplace phrases that "o i!# the wrong nouns. To !ix the errors an clari!# the "eaning, put the phrases next to the noun the# are suppose to "o i!#. Exa"ple , 4a bu#er with leather seats&5

.orrecte

Exa"ple > 4a corner s"oking pipes&5

.orrecte

Exa"ple @ 4a house "a e o! barbe wire&5

.orrecte

40 Mis4lace) clauses "a# cause a sentence to soun awkwar an "a# create a "eaning that oes not "ake sense. The proble" sentences below contain "isplace clauses that "o i!# the wrong nouns. To !ix the errors an clari!# the "eaning, put the clauses next to the noun the# are suppose to "o i!#. Exa"ple , 4a buttere wo"an&5

.orrecte

Exa"ple > 4a ha"per that +alph wore&5

.orrecte

Be ca,e3ul; $n correcting a "isplace "o i!ier, on9t create a sentence with two possible "eanings. Exa"ple

",(8le*5 2i the teacher sa7 this on )on a# or will she ,e-u,+ the essa#s on )on a#&5 .orrection A, 4"eaning the essa#s will be returne on )on a#5

.orrection A> 4"eaning that the teacher spoke on )on a#5

$ANG#!NG M%$!&!ERS 0 )a+'li+' *()i3ie, is a phrase or clause that is not clearl# an logicall# relate to the wor or wor s it "o i!ies 4i.e. is place next to5. Two notes about angling "o i!iers:

:nlike a "isplace "o i!ier, a angling "o i!ier cannot be correcte b# si"pl# "oving it to a i!!erent place in a sentence. $n "ost cases, the angling "o i!ier appears at the beginning o! the sentence, although it can also co"e at the en .

1o"eti"es the angling "o i!ier error occurs because the sentence !ails to speci!# an#thing to which the "o i!ier can re!er. Exa"ple ,

This sentence oes not speci!# ./( is looking toward the west. $n !act, there is nothing at all in the sentence to which the "o i!#ing phrase looking toward the west can logicall# re!er. 1ince the "o i!ier looking toward the west, is sitting next to the funnel shaped cloud, the sentence suggests that the cl(u) is oing the looking. Exa"ple >

This sentence "eans that "# "other enrolle in "e ical when she was nine #ears ol B 0t other ti"es the angling "o i!ier is place next to the wrong noun or noun substitute.

Exa"ple ,

=ecause o! the place"ent o! walking to the movies, this sentence suggests that the cloudburst is walking to the movies even though a possible walker 8 Jim 8 is "entione later. Exa"ple >

1ince having been fixed the night before is place next to Priscilla, the sentence "eans that ",iscilla .as 3i<e) -/e +i'/- 8e3(,e. 0s the above exa"ples show, angling "o i!iers result in inaccurate an so"eti"es ludicrous state"ents. =(. -( c(,,ec- )a+'li+' *()i3ie,s 2angling "o i!iers "a# be correcte in two general wa#s. C(,,ec-i(+ Me-/() >1 ,. ?eave the "o i!ier as it is. >. .hange the "ain part o! the sentence so that it 8e'i+s with the ter" ac-uall7 *()i3ie). @. This change will put the "o i!ier +e<- -( the ter" it "o i!ies. Thus, this angling "o i!ier

"a# be correcte to

Now the sentence "eans that ! .as l((2i+' -(.a,) -/e .es-0 :sing the sa"e "etho , this angling "o i!ier

"a# be correcte to

Now the sentence "eans that Ji* .as ),e+c/e) 87 -/e cl(u)8u,s-0 C(,,ec-i(+ Me-/() >2 ,. .hange the angling "o i!ier phrase to a subor inate clause, creating a subject an verb. >. ?eave the rest o! the sentence as it is. Thus, the angling "o i!ier

"a# be correcte to

Now the sentence "eans that ! 4not "# "otherB5 was nine #ears ol when "# "other enrolle in "e ical school. :sing the sa"e "etho , the angling "o i!ier

"a# be correcte to

Now the sentence "eans that the ca, 4not 7riscillaB5 was !ixe . .lick on the link below to co"plete the !inal exercise. "R%N%UN-ANTECE$ENT AGREEMENT 0 4,(+(u+ is a wor use to stan !or 4or take the place o!5 a +(u+. 0 wor can re!er to an earlier noun or pronoun in the sentence. Exa"ple:

%e o not talk or write this wa#. 0uto"aticall#, we replace the noun Lincoln's with a pronoun. )ore naturall#, we sa#

The pronoun his re!ers back to President Lincoln. President Lincoln is the ANTECE$ENT !or the pronoun his. 0n a+-ece)e+- is a wor !or which a pronoun stan s. 4ante C 'be!ore'5 The pronoun "ust agree with its antece ent in nu"ber. Rule5 0 singular pronoun "ust replace a singular noun< a plural pronoun "ust replace a plural noun. Thus, the "echanics o! the sentence above look like this:

Here are nine pronoun8antece ent agree"ent rules. These rules are relate to the rules !oun in subject8verb agree"ent. 10 A 4/,ase (, clause 8e-.ee+ -/e su86ec- a+) 1e,8 oes not change the nu"ber o! the antece ent. Exa"ple:

20 !+)e3i+i-e 4,(+(u+s as a+-ece)e+-s

1ingular in e!inite pronoun antece ents take singular pronoun re!erents.

Exa"ple:

7lural in e!inite pronoun antece ents re(uire plural re!erents. 7?:+0?: several, few, both, many Exa"ple:

1o"e in e!inite pronouns that are "o i!ie b# a prepositional phrase "a# be either singular or plural.

E$THE+ 1$ND:?0+ O+ 7?:+0?: some, any, none, all, most

E xa"ples:

1ugar is uncountable< there!ore, the sentence has a singular re!erent pronoun.

-ewelr# is uncountable< there!ore, the sentence has a singular re!erent pronoun.

Ex a"ples:

)arbles are countable< there!ore, the sentence has a plural re!erent pronoun.

-ewels are countable< there!ore, the sentence has a plural re!erent pronoun. 30 C(*4(u+) su86ec-s 6(i+e) 87 and alwa#s take a 4lu,al re!erent. Exa"ple:

40 %ith c(*4(u+) su86ec-s 6(i+e) 87 or/nor, the re!erent pronoun agrees with the antece ent closer to the pronoun. Exa"ple A, 4plural antece ent closer to pronoun5:

Exa"ple A> 4singular antece ent closer to pronoun5:

Note: Exa"ple A,, with the plural antece ent closer to the pronoun, creates a s"oother sentence than exa"ple A>, which !orces the use o! the singular 'his or her.' 50 C(llec-i1e N(u+s 4group, jur#, crow , tea", etc.5 "a# be singular or plural, epen ing on "eaning.

$n this exa"ple, the jur# is acting as one unit< there!ore, the re!erent pronoun is singular.

$n this exa"ple, the jur# "e"bers are acting as twelve in ivi uals< there!ore, the re!erent pronoun is plural.

$n this exa"ple, the jur# "e"bers are acting as twelve in ivi uals< there!ore, the re!erent pronoun is plural. 60 Ti-les (3 si+'le e+-i-ies0 4books, organizations, countries, etc.5 take a singular re!erent. EE0)7?E1:

70 "lu,al 3(,* su86ec-s .i-/ a si+'ula, *ea+i+' take a singular re!erent. (news, measles, mumps, physics, etc) EE0)7?E:

80

very or !any a be!ore a noun or a series o! nouns re(uires a singular re!erent. EE0)7?E1:

90 "he number of vs. # number of be!ore a subject:

"he number of is singular.

# number of is plural.

NAME5?????????????????????????????????????????????????? E<e,cise 10 Su86ec--Ve,8 A',ee*e+1elect one answer !ro" the choices provi e a!ter each sentence. ,. Either the ph#sicians in this hospital or the chie! a "inistrator FFFF going to have to "ake a ecision. is are >. FFFFFF "# boss or "# sisters in the union going to win this grievance& $s 0re @. 1o"e o! the votes FFFFFFFFFF to have been "iscounte . see" see"s

SECT!%N5 ?????????

G. The torna oes that tear through this count# ever# spring FFFFF "ore than just a nuisance. are is H. Ever#one selecte to serve on this jur# FFFFF to be willing to give up a lot o! ti"e. have has I. /ara %olters, together with her tea""ates, FFFFFFFFF a !or"i able opponent on the basketball court. presents present J. He see"s to !orget that there FFFFFFFFFF things to be one be!ore he can gra uate. are is K. There FFFFFFF to be so"e people le!t in that town a!ter #ester a#9s !loo . have has ;. 1o"e o! the grain FFFFFFFFFF to be conta"inate . appear appears ,L. Three8(uarters o! the stu ents FFFFFFFFFF against the tuition hike. is are ,,. Three8(uarters o! the stu ent bo # FFFFFFFFFF against the tuition hike. is are

,>. 0 high percentage o! the population FFFFFFFFF voting !or the new school. is are ,@. 0 high percentage o! the people FFFFFFFFF voting !or the new school. was were E<e,cise 20 Mis4lace) a+) $a+'li+' M()i3ie,s .hoose the correct sentence: , 0. $ hope so"eti"es to hear the stu ent s#"phon# concerts this se"ester. =. $ hope to so"eti"e hear one o! the stu ent s#"phon# concerts this se"ester. .. $ hope to hear one o! the stu ent s#"phon# concerts so"eti"e this se"ester. .hoose the correct sentence: > 0. 0!ter stu #ing all the evi ence, $ a" convince that 0l!ie i the right thing. =. 0!ter stu #ing all the evi ence, it is clear that 0l!ie i the right thing. .. $ a" convince that 0l!ie i the right thing a!ter stu #ing all the evi ence. .hoose the correct sentence: @ 0. %hen still in gra e school, "# parents eci e to "ove to .hicago. =. %hen $ was still in gra e school, "# parents eci e to "ove to .hicago. .. )# parents eci e when $ was still in gra e school to "ove to .hicago. .hoose the correct sentence: G 0. The stu ents who enjo#e the poetr# class !re(uentl# gave the instructor presents. =. The stu ents who enjo#e the poetr# class gave !re(uentl# the instructor presents. .. The stu ents who !re(uentl# enjo#e the poetr# class gave the instructor presents. .hoose the correct sentence: H 0. 7oorl# t#pe an hastil# proo!rea , there were several glaring errors in "# paper. =. 7oorl# t#pe an hastil# proo!rea , "# paper containe several glaring

errors. .. 7oorl# t#pe an hastil# proo!rea , several glaring errors were !oun in "# paper

.hoose the correct sentence: I 0. He or ere so"e auto parts !ro" a co"pan# in Vancouver which cost MJLL.LL. =. He or ere , which cost MJLL.LL, so"e auto parts !ro" a co"pan# in Vancouver. .. He or ere so"e auto parts, which cost MJLL.LL, !ro" a co"pan# in Vancouver. .hoose the correct sentence: J 0. To be an 1D0 o!!icer, #ou "ust have above average gra es. =. To be an 1D0 o!!icer, #our gra es "ust be above average. .. Nour gra es "ust be above average to be an 1D0 o!!icer. .hoose the correct sentence: K 0. ?ike "an# other applicants, !inancial ai "ust be given to 0aron i! he is to atten college. =. ?ike "an# other applicants, 0aron "ust receive !inancial ai i! he is to atten college. .. ?ike "an# other applicants, the school "ust give 0aron !inancial ai i! he is to atten college. .hoose the correct sentence: ; 0. $! #ou !ollow 0irline 0venue to East GJth 1treet, there shoul onl# be light tra!!ic. =. $! #ou !ollow 0irline 0venue to East GJth 1treet, there shoul be onl# light tra!!ic .. $! #ou !ollow 0irline 0venue to East GJth 1treet, there onl# shoul be light tra!!ic. .hoose the correct sentence: ,L 0. 0s we approache the su""it o! .a#use 7ass, "ixe hail an snow pelte us. =. )ixe hail an snow pelte us approaching the su""it o! .a#use 7ass. .. 0pproaching the su""it o! .a#use 7ass, "ixe hail an snow pelte us.

E<e,cise 30 ",(+(u+ - A+-ece)e+- A',ee*e+.hoose the correct pronoun in each sentence below. ,. 2uring earl# rehearsals, an actor "a# !orget 4H$1*HE+, THE$+5 lines. >. The %ashington tea" was opportunistic< 4$T, THEN5 took a vantage o! ever# break. @. 0 person nee s to see 4H$1*HE+, THE$+5 entist twice a #ear. G. The co""ittee "e"bers put 4$T1, THE$+5 signatures on the ocu"ent. H. $! an# one o! the sisters nee s a ri e, 41HE, THEN5 can call "e. I. %hen so"eone has been rinking, 4HE*1HE, THEN5 "a# rive poorl#. J. $! the boar o! irectors controls the co"pan#, 4$T, THEN5 "a# vote !or a raise. K. Neither the pilot nor the atten ants gave 4H$1*HE+, THE$+5 opinion about the "ishap. ;. Each o! these co"panies ha 4$T1, THE$+5 books au ite . ,L. 1o"e o! the china has lost 4$T1*THE$+5 luster.

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