SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Note:
Subject – Who/What
Verb – action word

SINGULAR PLURAL0

NOUN no “s” with “s”

VERB with “s” no “s”

1. A verb should agree with its subject in number; a singular noun/pronoun requires a singular verb;
a plural noun/pronoun requires a plural verb.

SINGULAR SUBJECT PLURAL SUBJECT

 A star is a luminous object. * Stars are luminous object.
 He is my student. * They are my students.

2. When two or more subjects are joined by “and,” the plural form of the verb is used.
 Junior and Lito are identical twins.
 My friends and I play together.

3. When one of two subjects are joined by or, nor or but is singular and the other is plural, the verb
agrees in number the nearer subject.
 Neither Lawrence nor his parents were present.
 Not only the girls but also her mother believes in superstition.

4. If the subjects are affirmative and negative, the verb agrees in person with the affirmative subject.
 They, not her, are the one to be punished.
 He, not us, is the one to sign the receipt.

5. Fractions take a singular verb if t object of the following of-phrase is singular; they take a plural
verb if the object of the following of-phrase is plural.
 One-half of the project is finished.
 One-half of the delegates have arrived.

6. Quantities and sums or multiples of numbers when expressing a single idea may take a singular
verb.
 Three feet is equivalent to one yard.
 One hundred pesos is too much to pay for a pair of socks.

7. A singular subject followed immediately by as well as, in addition to, including, no less than, with,
together with, or a similar construction, requires a singular verb.
 The teacher, as well as her students, donates a gift.
 The coach, together with his players, was praised.

8. A collective noun takes a singular verb when the group or unit is considered and a plural verb
when the individuals are thought of separately.
 The board has decided to fire the corporate secretary.
 The council has approved the passing of the ordinance.
 The board have argued about the issue of firing the secretary.
 The council are dividing themselves on the divorce issue.

Note: if the verb used in a statement implies agreement (e.g., decided, agreed, approved), the collective
noun is considered singular. However, if the verb used in a statement implies disagreement (e.g., divided,
argued, debated), the collective noun is considered plural.

9. Indefinite pronouns like every, each, everyone, everybody, everything, nobody, nothing, no one,
anyone, anybody, anything, someone, somebody, and something take a singular verb.
 Everyone is really busy during weekends.
  Nobody wants to be lonely.

10. Nouns in plural form but singular in meaning take a singular verb.
 Statistics is my favorite subject.
 Measles attack the whole town.

PARALLELISM
It is a balance within one or more sentences of similar phrases or clauses that have the same grammatical
structure.

1. PARALLELISM IN WORDS

A. NOUN
 The best sources of Vitamin A are green and yellow vegetables, dairy products, liver, and fish-liver
oils.

B. ADJECTIVES
 Our body needs to be healthy and strong.

C. VERBS
 Vitamin A regulates membranes, facilitates bone growth, increases reproduction ability, enhances
embryonic development, and makes skin healthier.

D. ADVERB
 Vitamin A should also be cautiously and moderately taken in.

2. PARALLELISM IN GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES

A. GERUNDS
 The land is shifting and shrinking.
 She likes skiing, camping, and hiking.

B. INFINITIVES
 He wanted three things out of college: to learn a skill, to make good friends, and to learn about life.
 Nash learned to read poems critically and to appreciate good essays.

DANGLING MODIFIER – It is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence.

WHO is doing the action/introductory statement?

1. Hoping to excuse my lateness, the note was written and given to my teacher.
 Hoping to excuse my lateness, I wrote a note and gave it to my teacher.

2. After reading the great new book, the movie based on it is sure to be exciting.
 After reading the great new book, Anna thought that the movie based on it is sure to be exciting.

3. Stuck standing in line, the elevator was keeping people from getting to the party.
 Stuck standing in line, people were getting impatient to get to the party.

4. After reading the original study, the article remains unconvincing.

 After reading the original study, I find the article unconvincing.

5. Having read your letter, my cat will stay indoors until the ducklings fly off.
 Having read your letter, we will keep our cat indoors until the ducklings fly off.

6. Walking through the cemetery, I saw the trees become long-fingered ghouls.
 Walking though the cemetery, I saw the trees become long-fingered ghouls.