Subject-predicate agreement

1. The subject and the predicate must always agree in number. e.g.

The smallest kitten is in the basket, while the others are on the floor.

2. Numerical expressions usually have a single verb, though the plural form is possible, e.g.

Two and three is five.

Twice two is/are four.

3. Formal (dummy) subjects “here» and “there ” always agree with the first member of the enumeration, e.g.

Here is Tom and Jack. Here are the Johnsons and Mary.

There is a giraffe and 3 zebras in our Zoo.

There are 3 zebras and a giraffe in our Zoo.

4. Compound subjects connected by the conjunction “and” have a plural verb, e.g.

Sun and air are necessary for life.

Both the bread and the butter are fresh.

5. When the parts of the subject connected by the conjunction “and” form a single unit or when they refer to the same person or thing, they take a singular verb, e.g.

Bread and jam was usually served for the five o’clock tea.

Sue’s friend and adviser was surprised by her decision.

6. Most indefinite, negative and universal pronouns take a singular verb, e.g

		+ single verb

Somebody, someone, something

Anybody, anyone, anything

Everybody, everyone, everything

Nobody, no one, nothing

Either, neither, each, none

e.g. Somebody is asking for you.

Nobody has come yet.

Each of them is present.

Nether of the students has made a mistake.

Everybody is here.

None of these trades requires a college education. (though plural verb is also possible in Modern English - None of these trades require …)

7. In the sentences with compound subjects connected by the conjunctions

· either … or

· neither … nor

· nor

· not only … but also

the verb agrees with the subject which is nearer to it,

e.g. Not only my sisters but also my brother dislikes ice-cream.

Not only my brother but also my sisters dis like ice cream.

Neither you nor I am right.

Either my parents or my sister is at home.

Either my sister or my parents are at home.

1. The verb agrees with the first subject when compound subjects are connected by the following conjunctions:

• as well as
• along with
• in addition to
• together with
• more than
• as much as
• including
• rather than
• accompanied by

e.g. My parents as well as my sister are teachers.

My sister as well as my parents is a teacher.

My mother together with her colleagues was invited to the President.

Heavy rain together with high winds damages the crops.

High winds together with heavy rain damage the crops.

9. Collective nouns may have either singular or plural verbs depending on whether they denote a group of persons or things as a unit as individuals, e.g.

To some people the Royal Family symbolizes Great Britain. (The family is regarded as a unit)

The Royal Family have different feelings about Lady Diana’s death. (The family is regarded as individuals)

The class respects the teacher.

The class have been debating this question for an hour.

1. When units of measurements are used collectively, they are followed by a singular verb, e.g.

Three-fourths of the pie has been eaten.

When they refer to individual persons or things, they are followed by a plural verb, e.g.

One fourth of the drivers have been tested.

1. Always agree the predicate with the main word in the subject group, e.g.

A good set of golf clubs costs about $ 8,000.

Three hundred pounds (taken as a unit) is a big sum of money.

A four-weeks’ holiday was more than I had expected.

1. Singular subjects that have plural forms take a singular verb, e.g.

No news is good news.

Aerobics is very popular nowadays.

Mathematics is a difficult subject for some students.

Measles is a dangerous disease.

Drafts is a very simple game.

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