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Grammar
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Subject-Verb Agreement
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Subject-Verb
Agreement, part 1
Agreement in English refers to a pattern in which a
speaker or writer pays attention to the properties of the subject and marks
these properties by either adding or omitting a final ‑s on the
verb. Example: They stay (no ‑s) vs. Everyone
stays. The relevant properties of a subject are number and person;
also important are the sentence properties of tense and mood. Number = for example, singular, plural, noncount. Noncount nouns and
pronouns refer to stuff that cannot be counted; they include mass nouns like water
and cake as well as abstract nouns like intelligence and research
and cannot be made plural. Plural nouns and pronouns refer to countable
things of which there are two or more; they include regular plurals ending in
‑s as well as irregular plurals like feet and phenomena.
Singular nouns and pronouns refer to countable things of which there are
less than two. In subject-verb agreement, singular and noncount subjects are
treated the same way: they correspond with the final ‑s on the
verb. Person = for example, first, second, third. First person references
include the speaker/writer. Second person references
include the addressee/reader. Third person references
exclude both the speaker/writer and the addressee/reader. Verbs with
first and second person subjects do not change according to the subject’s
number. Tense = for example, present, past. Past tense sentences do
not mark agreement between subject and verb, except when the verb is was or
were. Mood = for example, indicative, subjunctive,
imperative. Imperative verbs (commands)
and subjunctive verbs (suggestions, demands) do not mark subject-verb
agreement.
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 2 In present-tense,
indicative clauses, make a verb agree with a third-person, singular or
noncountable subject by adding ‑s to the verb. Incorrect: No fair-minded person actually believe
that Fox News is unbiased. Correct: No fair-minded person actually believes
that Fox News is unbiased. [1]
Subject-Verb
Agreement, part 3
Spelling rule: If a verb
ends in a consonant letter + y, change the y to i and add ‑es. Incorrect: Validating
our children's fantasys teaches them to trust their own emotions and
build stronger selves. Correct: Validating our children's fantasies
teaches them to trust their own emotions and build stronger selves. [2]
Subject-Verb
Agreement, part 4
Make a verb agree with a
plural subject, or I, or you, by deleting or omitting ‑s. Incorrect: Creative individuals tends to be smart,
yet also naïve at the same time. Correct: Creative individuals tend to be smart, yet
also naïve at the same time. [3] Incorrect: When I has a job that takes a lot of
effort… I pretends I’m in jail. If I’m in jail, time is of no
consequence. Correct: When I have a job that takes a lot of
effort… I pretend I’m in jail. If I’m in jail, time is of no
consequence. [4] Incorrect: I thinks it is very important to find a
way to be detached from what you writes. Correct: I think it is very important to find a way
to be detached from what you write. [5]
Subject-Verb
Agreement, part 5
Compound subjects (two
or more nouns joined with and) require the same agreement
marking as plural nouns. Incorrect: Sam and Eric always travels
together. Correct: Sam and Eric always travel
together. Incorrect: Corn,
rice, and wheat is
especially adapted to catastrophe. Correct: Corn,
rice, and wheat are
especially adapted to catastrophe. [6]
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 6 Noncount nouns
require the same agreement marking as singular nouns. Incorrect: Obesity afflict an estimated 93 million
Americans. Correct: Obesity afflicts
an estimated 93 million Americans.
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 7 Some nouns with a
collective meaning are singular in form. Incorrect: Our
school team have won all their games. (Except: correct in British
English) Correct: Our
school team has won all its games.
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 8 Be alert for plural
nouns that are not marked with the plural noun suffix ‑s; in
other words, irregular plurals. Incorrect: Bacteria is all around us. Correct: Bacteria are all around us. Examples
of nouns with irregular singular or plural marking: addendum, addenda alga, algae alumna, alumnae (feminine) alumnus, alumni (masculine or
mixed gender) amoeba, amoebae/amoebas analysis, analyses antenna, antennae/antennas apex, apices/apexes appendix, appendices/appendixes
automaton, automata axis, axes bacillus, bacilli bacterium, bacteria barracks, barracks basis, bases cactus, cacti/cactuses cervix, cervices/cervixes child, children crisis, crises crisis, crises criterion, criteria crossroads, crossroads curriculum, curriculums/curricula
datum, data deer, deer diagnosis, diagnoses die, dice emphasis, emphases erratum, errata fish, fish/fishes focus, foci foot, feet formula, formulae/formulas fungus, fungi gallows, gallows goose, geese headquarters, headquarters hypothesis, hypotheses index, indices, indexes larva, larvae louse, lice man, men matrix, matrices/matrixes
means, means medium, mediums/media memorandum, memoranda/memorandums mouse, mice nebula, nebulae/nebulas neurosis, neuroses nucleus, nuclei oasis, oases octopus, octopi/octopuses ovum, ova ox, oxen parenthesis, parentheses person, people/persons phenomenon, phenomena radius, radii series, series sheep, sheep sock, sox/socks species, species stimulus, stimuli stratum, strata syllabus, syllabi/syllabuses symposium, symposia/symposiums synopsis, synopses terminus, termini thesis, theses thesis, theses tooth, teeth vertebra, vertebrae vortex, vortices woman, women
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 9 Locate the head noun in
long subjects with post-modifying phrases or clauses (nouns that are far away
from their verbs). Always make the verb agree with the head noun. Disregard
the nouns in the modifying phrases or clauses. Example: For almost half the year rain
and snowmelt from the mountains to the south and west cover
the land with an irregular, slowly moving skin of water that eventually ends
up in the province’s northern rivers, which are sub-subtributaries of the
Amazon.[7]
Subject-Verb
Agreement, part 10 Check subject-verb
agreement in inverted sentences—where the subjects follow their verbs. Correct: "Not
only does a library contain infinite riches in a little room,
but we may sit at home and yet be in all quarters of the earth." [8] Correct: Below us was the Beni, a
Bolivian province about the size of Illinois and Indiana put together, and
nearly as flat. [9]
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 11 A compound subject with or
has singular or plural agreement, according to the last noun in the compound. Incorrect: Bill Cosby or the Three Stooges is
enough to make anybody laugh. Correct: Bill Cosby or the Three Stooges are enough
to make anybody laugh. Correct: The Three Stooges or Bill Cosby is
enough to make anybody laugh.
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 12 Past tense sentences do
not mark agreement between subject and verb, except when the verb is was or
were. The verb be is
the only verb that has an agreement rule in the past tense. Use was to agree with a singular or
noncount subject, and were to agree with a plural subject.
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 13 Use the verb were
as the unreal-conditional form of be with a subject of any number. Incorrect: I
wish Cher was my mother’s best friend. Correct: I
wish Cher were my mother’s best friend.
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 14 (Adapted from http://www.udel.edu/eli/questions/g16.html) Do not add ‑s
to a verb in the present subjunctive form. The present subjunctive is the
form a clause will take if it complements a verb, or abstract noun, of
suggestion, strong urging, or requirement. Can you explain how the following sentences
differ grammatically and semantically due to the presence/absence of the 3rd
person singular ~s? (1)
Bill and Hillary insist that Chelsea behave. In sentence (1) the verb “behave” is correct because
of the nature of the verb “insist.” There is a group of verbs that are
followed by the subjunctive verb form in a that-noun clause. Such verbs
include, “advise,” “demand,” “insist,” “recommend,” “propose.” Such sentences
generally express importance or urgency. Except for the verb “to be,” the
subjunctive is the simple form of the verb (without the “to”). So in sentence
(1) Bill and Hillary are insisting that Chelsea do something. It’s important
and urgent. (1) Bill and Hillary insist that Chelsea
behave. However,
it is possible that sentence (2) is correct in a different context. (2)
Bill and Hillary insist that Chelsea behaves. Imagine that friends are criticizing the way Bill
and Hillary are raising Chelsea. The friends think that Chelsea is
ill-mannered and doesn’t behave. But Bill and Hillary disagree with their
friends’ assessment. Bill and Hillary firmly believe that Chelsea is
well-behaved. In sentence (2) Bill and Hillary insist that the proposition
that Chelsea behaves is true. Here they are insisting that a fact is true
whereas in sentence (1) they are demanding that Chelsea do something. [10] The Subjunctive is used after the following verbs: (Adapted
from http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/subjunctive.html)
The Subjunctive is used after the following expressions:
Should as Subjunctive
After many of the above expressions, the word "should" is sometimes
used to express the idea of subjunctiveness. This form is used more
frequently in British English and is most common after the verbs
"suggest," "recommend" and "insist." The doctor recommended that she should see a specialist about
the problem. Professor William suggested that Wilma should study harder for
the final exam. [11]
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 15 The present subjunctive form of be is
always just be. Correct: Bill
and Hillary insist that Chelsea be on her best behavior.
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 16 Always use the base form
after a modal verb (can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might,
must). Do not add ‑s. Incorrect: An instructor should
exemplifies the things he seeks to teach. Correct: An instructor should
exemplify the things he seeks to teach. [12]
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 17 Follow the rule for
modals when dare and need are used (occasionally) as modals. Correct: How dare he be presidential while running
for, you know, president. [13] Correct: A listener need not
understand the cello to be moved by its playing. [14]
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 18 Always use a base form
as an infinitive verb (following to).
Do not add ‑s. Incorrect: Declines of societies tend to follows
swiftly on their peaks. Correct: Declines of societies tend to follow
swiftly on their peaks. [15]
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 19 Be alert for “bare
infinitives,” which do not follow to. Bare infinitives complement make,
let, have, and occasionally some sensory-perception verbs. Incorrect: If
you love somebody, let them goes. Correct: If
you love somebody, let them go. Incorrect: How
many people would like to see Obama wins the election? Correct: How
many people would like to see Obama win the election?
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 20 Always use a –d
or –n participle form after the auxiliary verb in a passive
construction. (The passive auxiliary is always a form of be.) Do not
add ‑s to a passive participle. Incorrect: As native peoples have vanished, the distinction between
anthropologists and archaeologists has blurs. Correct: As native peoples have vanished, the distinction between
anthropologists and archaeologists has blurred.
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 21 Use the passive participle
form of the verb when you form “reduced passives” (also called “participial
clauses” or “participial phrases”), which do not follow be. Incorrect: Guides by the pristine myth, mainstream
environmentalists want to preserve as much of the world’s land as possible in
a putatively intact state. Correct: Guided by the pristine myth, mainstream
environmentalists want to preserve as much of the world’s land as possible in
a putatively intact state. [16] If you are not sure
whether you are writing reduced
passive. you can try the following test: temporarily paraphrase a reduced
passive-voice dependent clause as a regular passive: [They are guided by the pristine myth.]
[M]ainstream environmentalists want to preserve as much of the world’s land
as possible in a putatively intact state.
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 22 Always use a ‑d
or ‑n participle after the auxiliary in a perfect verb. Do not
add ‑s. Incorrect: Some
anthropologists have calls the Amazon forest itself a cultural
artifact—that is, an artificial object. Correct: Some anthropologists have called the Amazon forest
itself a cultural artifact—that is, an artificial object. [17]
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 23 Always use an ‑ing
participle after the auxiliary in a present continuous (present progressive)
verb. Do not add ‑s. Incorrect: The entertainment industry is tries
to turn Peer-to-Peer into a bad name. Correct: The entertainment industry is trying
to turn Peer-to-Peer into a bad name. [18]
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 24 Be aware of ‑ing
participles used in “reduced clauses” in the active voice (also called
“participial clauses” or “participial phrases”). You can temporarily
paraphrase a reduced active-voice dependent clause as a regular adjective
clause, if you are not sure.
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 25 Collective Nouns may take either
singular or plural depending on British vs. American. American: Our school team has
won all its games. British: Our school team
have won all their games. [19]
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 26 Some Common and Proper Nouns ending in
‑s always take singular verb inflection. Correct: No news is
good news. Correct: This series is
very interesting. Correct: Physics is
a difficult subject. [20]
Subject-Verb
Agreement, part 27 Titles of books, plays, operas, films,
etc. always take singular verb inflection. Correct: Great
Expectations was written
by Dickens. [21]
Subject-Verb
Agreement, part 28 Nouns occurring in sets of 2 are
singular with the noun pair, plural when pair is absent. Correct: A pair of
trousers is in the sofa. Correct: Todd’s trousers are
on the sofa. [22]
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 29 A number of vs. the number of have different
agreement: A number of takes plural and the number of takes
singular. Correct: A number of
students have dropped that course. Correct: The number of
students in this school is 2,000. [23]
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 30 Fractions and percentages are singular
when modifying a non-count noun and plural when modifying a plural noun;
singular or plural when collective. Correct: One half of the
toxic waste has escaped. Correct: Two thirds of the
students are satisfied with the class. Correct: One
percent of the population of Egypt is Christian/ are
Christians. (depending on meaning) [24]
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 31 Majority and minority in the abstract meaning take
singular agreement; with a specific meaning they can take either singular or
plural. Correct: The great
majority is helpless. Correct: The majority was/were
determined to press its/their victory. [25]
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 32 Plural unit words are singular when
the focus is on the single amount, but can be plural when the focus is on the
individual units. Correct: Two million
dollars is a lot of money. Correct: Our last two
dollars are on the table. [26]
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 33 Arithmetical operations are always
singular. Correct: Four minus two equals
two. Correct: Four minus two is
two. [27]
Subject-Verb
Agreement, part 34 Quantifiers are singular if the head
noun is non-count, plural if the head noun is plural. Correct: A lot of nonsense
was published about that incident. Correct: A lot of people were
present when it happened. [28]
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 35 None, all, each and every are controversial except for none
referring to a non-count noun. Correct: None of the prisoners has escaped. Also OK: None of the prisoners
have escaped. Correct: None of the toxic waste has escaped. [29]
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 36 Relative-clause antecedents are
controversial. In other words, some experts will insist that the verb in the relative
clause should agree with the noun immediately before it. Others will find it
clearer for the verb in the relative clause to agree with an earlier noun
that is more topical. Correct: Marsha
is one of those rare individuals who have finished the M.A.
early. Also OK: Marsha is one of those
rare individuals who has finished the M.A. early. [30]
Subject-Verb Agreement, part 37 Clausal and phrasal subjects are
controversial. In other words, some experts find it acceptable for the verb
to agree with the noun after the verb in those cases where the subject
is a phrase or clause representing a grammatically embedded sentence. Other
experts insist that the verb in these situations should be singular/noncount,
as with gerund subjects. Correct: What
they want is revolutions everywhere. Also OK: What
they want are revolutions everywhere. [31]
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