Remember that a complete sentence requires a verb and a subject—or “action” and a subject doing the action. In most cases, the verb changes form depending on the nature of the subject. Subject – verb agreement just means that the subject and verb correctly match in their corresponding form.
I go jogging every day. NOT I goes jogging every day.
They run the river once per summer. NOT They
runs the river once per summer.
Interfering Prepositions
In the above
examples, it’s easy to see the error and identify the correct sentence.
Sometimes, however, it’s harder to identify the subject of the sentence and
determine whether the subject is singular or plural. Even though some of the
words below seem to indicate a plurality of people or things, they are singular
when used as subjects.
|
Anyone |
Each |
Everything |
|
Everyone |
Nobody |
Somebody |
|
No one |
Everybody |
Anybody |
|
Someone |
|
|
When a
prepositional phrase (a phrase depending on a preposition, such as in) comes between one of these subjects
and a verb, things get a little trickier. When the object of the preposition is
plural, it’s tempting to make the verb plural to match. Instead, mentally cross
out the prepositional phrase, or anything else that comes between the subject
and the verb, to ensure agreement.
Tempting: Everything about the new curtains have to be changed.
Correct: Everything about the new curtains has to be changed.
Tempting:
Each of the cupcakes need pink
frosting.
Correct: Each of
the cupcakes needs pink
frosting.
Tempting: Everybody on the freeway in their overheated cars were honking their horns.
Correct: Everybody on the freeway in their overheated cars was honking their horns.
Five words (subject pronouns) make an exception to
the above rule: none, most, all,
any, and some. When a preposition comes between one of these subjects and a verb, the
word at the end of the prepositional phrase (object of the preposition)
determines whether the verb will be plural.
Correct:
All of the leaves have been
raked.
Also
correct: All of the leaf has been
eaten by the insect.
Correct: Are any of
the teammates going to the party?
Also
correct: Is any of the syrup left in
the bottle?
Compound Subjects
When a sentence has multiple
subjects joined by the word and, the
subject is plural.
Fresh
fruit and water are a good way to start the day.
A
warm bath and a cup of hot cocoa make the perfect end to a day of
skiing.
When the word or joins two subjects, the subject closest to the verb determines whether
the verb will be plural or singular.
Either my
shoes or my necklace was stolen.
Either my
necklace or my shoes were stolen.
Collective Nouns
Some nouns seem like they indicate multiple people
or things, but most often function as a single unit. A few common collective
nouns are family, team, nation, gang, herd, committee, and class.
Incorrect:
I have a big family, and they
are getting bigger.
Correct:
I have a big family, and it
is getting bigger.
Incorrect:
The whole football team are in need
of new helmets.
Correct:
The whole football team is in need
of new helmets.
Also
correct: Each player on the football team needs a new
helmet.
Verbs before Subjects
Subjects usually come before the verb in the sentence. Sometimes,
however, verbs come before subjects. This most often occurs when a sentence
begins with there’s or here’s.
Incorrect:
Here’s the papers I
borrowed.
Correct: Here
are the papers I
borrowed. (subject = papers)
Incorrect:
There’s more sodas in the
fridge.
Correct: There
are more sodas in the
fridge. (subject = sodas)
Subject-Verb Agreement–Exercise A
In the following sentences, mentally cross out the words that come
between the subject and verb, then indicate whether the subject and verb are in
agreement. Not all sentences are incorrect.
(Remember that
this is only an exercise to determine subject-verb agreement; there is nothing wrong with additional words coming between subjects and verbs.)
1. Anybody on four wheels are required to be trained.
2. Everything under this roof is in order.
3. Someone from the recruiters call every day.
4. Each of the children are happy.
5. Anything beyond the loading stations are
inaccessible.
6. No one but athletes understand this problem.
7. Everybody except weirdoes like pizza.
8. Nobody at these parties ever say hi.
