Grammar Lecture 4

Subject-Verb Agreement
 Subject- Verb Agreement
 When the subject of a sentence is
composed of two or more nouns or
pronouns connected by and, use a plural
verb.
She and her friends are at the fair.

My friend and I am in the same class.

My friend and I are in the same class.
 When a subject contains both a singular
and a plural noun or pronoun joined by
or, or nor, the verb should agree with the
part of the subject that is nearer the verb.

The boy or his friends run every day.

His friends or the boy runs every day.
My friend or I am in danger.
But What is This Person Game?
 Doesn't is a contraction of does not and
should be used only with a third-person
singular subject.
 Don't is a contraction of do not and should
be used only with a first-person or a
second-person subject.
For example,
He doesn’t like it.
They don’t like it.
 First-Person Subject
 The speaker/utterer of a sentence is first
person and requires a first person
pronoun.
I (Singular)
We (Plural)
 Second-Person Subject
 The addressee of a sentence is Second
Person and requires a second-person
pronoun.
You (Singular)
You (Plural)
 Third-Person Subject
 The person that is neither the speaker
nor the addressee of a sentence is a third
person and calls for a third-person
pronoun.
He, she and it (Singular)
They (Plural)
 Hows Yew?

How are You?

Let us go then you and I
When the evening is spread against the sky!
 Two Three One (231)
 In a sentence, pronouns are placed in the
following sequence.

Second Person
Third Person
First Person
 Subject-Verb Agreement
 The words each, each one, either, neither,
everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone,
nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are
singular and require a singular verb.

Everybody in the class knows Mr. Jehangir.

Either of you are correct.
Either of you is correct.
Mr. Abrar are our grammar teacher!
 Nouns such as civics, mathematics, and
news require singular verbs.

The news are at six.

The news is at six.

The United States of America is a big country.

Mr. Abrar is our grammar teacher.
 In sentences beginning with there is or
there are, the subject follows the verb.
Since there is not the subject, the verb
agrees with what follows.
For example,
There are many questions.
There is a question.
 Collective nouns are words that imply
more than one person but that are
considered singular and take a singular
verb, such as: group, team, committee, class,
and family.

The team runs during practice.

The committee decides how to proceed.
This class is very intelligent.
 In very few cases, the plural verb is used if
the individuals in the group are thought of
and specifically referred to.

My family have never been able to agree.

Pakistan have won the final match.
 Expressions such as with, together with,
including, accompanied by, in addition to, or
as well as do not change the number of
the subject. If the subject is singular, the
verb is too.
The President, accompanied by his wife, is
traveling to India.
Ahmad, as well as Ali, deserves it.
Thank You!