Subject-Verb Agreement: The Complete Guide to Grammatical Harmony ```html
Subject-Verb Agreement: The Complete Guide to Grammatical Harmony
In the vast landscape of English grammar, few concepts are as foundational—or as frequently misunderstood—as Subject-Verb Agreement (SVA). It is the cornerstone of clear, professional, and grammatically correct writing. Without proper SVA, sentences feel disjointed, and the writer's credibility can be undermined. This comprehensive guide serves as your ultimate resource, dissecting the rules, clarifying the tricky exceptions, and offering practical exercises to ensure your subjects and verbs are always in harmonious agreement.
At its core, the principle is elegantly simple: a singular subject must take a singular verb, and a plural subject must take a plural verb. Yet, the complications arise when other elements—phrases, clauses, and indefinite pronouns—intervene between the subject and its corresponding verb. Mastering SVA means learning to identify the true subject, regardless of the words surrounding it.
Why Subject-Verb Agreement Matters
Proper subject-verb agreement is not just about following arbitrary rules. It's about:
- Clarity: Clear agreement helps readers instantly understand who or what is performing an action.
- Professionalism: Correct grammar signals attention to detail and enhances credibility in academic and professional contexts.
- Test Success: SVA questions appear on standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, GRE, and TOEFL.
- Effective Communication: Proper grammar ensures your message isn't lost in distracting errors.
I. The Foundational Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
The journey to SVA mastery begins with three unbreakable core tenets. These rules apply to simple, declarative sentences and form the basis for understanding more complex structures.
Rule 1: The Basic Singular/Plural Match
Singular Subjects take verbs that usually end in -s (in the present tense). Plural Subjects take verbs that do not end in -s.
Plural: The dogs bark loudly. (Subject: dogs, Verb: bark)
This pattern reverses from what we might expect: singular nouns often don't end in -s (dog, child, woman), while singular verbs in the present tense typically do end in -s (barks, runs, writes). Plural nouns often end in -s (dogs, children, women), while plural verbs typically don't (bark, run, write).
Rule 2: Don't Be Fooled by Intervening Phrases
The subject is never found in a prepositional phrase (e.g., of the books, in the corner, with the students) or an appositive phrase that separates it from the verb. Always look past these phrases to find the main subject.
Correct: The car (with the custom wheels) is fast.
Correct: The students (in the back row) look tired.
Quick tip: To identify the subject, mentally cross out prepositional phrases that begin with words like of, in, on, at, with, by, for, from, to, about, between, among.
Rule 3: Compound Subjects Joined by "And"
Generally, when a compound subject is joined by 'and', it takes a plural verb because you are combining two or more separate entities.
Exception: If the two subjects joined by 'and' are considered a single unit or refer to the same person/thing, they take a singular verb.
My friend and colleague is retiring next month. (One person holds both titles.)
II. Indefinite Pronouns and the Tricky Subjects
This is where SVA often becomes confusing. Indefinite pronouns—words that refer to people or things without specifying exactly who or what they are—can be singular, plural, or dependent on context.
A. The Always Singular Indefinite Pronouns
The following pronouns always require a singular verb, even if they seem to refer to multiple people or things. It's helpful to remember that most of the words ending in -one, -body, and -thing are included here.
| Pronoun Category | Examples | Verb Form |
|---|---|---|
| -one words | everyone, someone, anyone, no one | Singular |
| -body words | everybody, somebody, anybody, nobody | Singular |
| -thing words | everything, something, anything, nothing | Singular |
| Other singulars | each, either, neither, one | Singular |
Nobody knows the answer to that riddle.
Neither of the dresses fits well.
Common Mistake Alert!
Many people mistakenly use plural verbs with "everyone" or "everybody" because these words seem to refer to groups. Remember: Everyone is (not are) coming to the party.
B. The Always Plural Indefinite Pronouns
A smaller group of indefinite pronouns is always treated as plural and requires a plural verb.
- Both
- Few
- Many
- Several
- Others (when not preceded by "the")
Many were invited to the ceremony.
Few understand the complexity of the issue.
C. Indefinite Pronouns Dependent on Context (The "SNAP" List)
Some indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural. Their number depends on the object of the prepositional phrase that follows them. A helpful acronym is S.N.A.P. (Some, None, All, Most, Any, Part/Plenty, etc.).
If the object of the preposition is singular or non-count, use a singular verb. If the object is plural or count, use a plural verb.
Some of the students have arrived. (Students are plural/count)
Most of the cookies were eaten. (Cookies are plural/count)
Memory Aid
Think of the SNAP pronouns as chameleons—they change to match their surroundings. Look at the noun in the prepositional phrase to determine whether to use a singular or plural verb.
III. Complex Cases and Advanced Exceptions
Moving beyond the basics, we must address the exceptions that challenge even experienced writers. These rules deal with correlative conjunctions, quantity, and inverted sentence structure.
A. Correlative Conjunctions ("Either... or," "Neither... nor")
When subjects are joined by correlative conjunctions, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. This is often called the Rule of Proximity.
- Either... or
- Neither... nor
- Not only... but also
Neither the teacher nor the students are ready for the test. (The verb are agrees with the plural students.)
Either the employees or the manager is responsible. (Manager is singular, so use is.)
Pro Writing Tip
When using correlative conjunctions, try to place the plural subject closer to the verb to avoid awkward constructions like "Either the employees or the manager is responsible." Instead, write: "Either the manager or the employees are responsible."
B. Subjects of Quantity (Fractions, Percentages, Money, Time)
Similar to the SNAP pronouns, subjects expressing quantity (fractions, percentages, amounts of money, or periods of time) are singular or plural based on the noun they refer to.
Two-thirds of the voters were present. (Voters are plural/count)
Fifty percent of the population votes in elections. (Population is singular)
Note on Money and Time: When the amount is viewed as a single, total unit, it takes a singular verb.
Three years is a long time to wait. (The period, 3 years, is treated as one duration.)
However, when referring to individual units, use a plural verb:
C. Collective Nouns
Collective nouns (e.g., team, committee, family, audience, group, staff, jury) name a group of people or things. The verb agreement depends on whether the group is acting as a single unit or as separate individuals.
| Collective Noun | Acting as Unit (Singular) | Acting as Individuals (Plural) |
|---|---|---|
| Team | The team wins the championship. | The team are arguing among themselves. |
| Committee | The committee meets every Tuesday. | The committee have conflicting opinions. |
| Family | My family lives in Chicago. | My family are all coming for the holidays. |
American vs. British English
In American English, collective nouns are more often treated as singular. In British English, they're more frequently treated as plural when referring to individual members. Know your audience when deciding which convention to follow.
D. Words Ending in 's' That Are Singular
Some nouns end in -s but are considered singular, such as fields of study, diseases, and titles.
| Category | Examples | Correct Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Fields of Study | Mathematics, Physics, Economics, Linguistics | Economics is a fascinating subject. |
| Diseases | Mumps, Measles, Rickets, Diabetes | Measles is highly contagious. |
| Games | Checkers, Billiards, Darts | Billiards is played on a felt table. |
| Titles/Names | The United States, The New York Times, The Grapes of Wrath | The United States has a diverse population. |
The United States is led by a president.
Important Exception: The word News is also singular: The news is concerning.
E. Inverted Sentences (Questions and "There is/are")
In questions and sentences beginning with "There is/are" or "Here is/are," the subject comes after the verb. You must still ensure agreement.
There are three books on the table. (Plural: books)
Where are the students? (Plural: students)
Quick Check
When using "there is/are," turn the sentence around to check agreement: "A book is there on the table" or "Three books are there on the table."
IV. Practice and Application: Solidifying Your Skills
Theory alone is not enough; mastery of SVA requires consistent practice. The best way to internalize these rules is to actively analyze and construct sentences.
A. Identifying the True Subject
In the following sentences, always start by eliminating intervening phrases to find the core subject:
Exercise 1: The boxes of old books (is/are) ready for donation.
Answer: are
Explanation: The subject is "boxes" (plural), not "books." The prepositional phrase "of old books" doesn't affect the verb choice.
Exercise 2: The politician, along with her staff, (is/are) arriving shortly.
Answer: is
Explanation: The subject is "politician" (singular). "Along with her staff" is a prepositional phrase that doesn't change the subject's number.
Exercise 3: One of the employees (has/have) requested a vacation day.
Answer: has
Explanation: The subject is "One" (singular). "Of the employees" is a prepositional phrase.
B. Applying the Proximity Rule
Choose the correct verb based on the subject closest to it:
Exercise 4: Neither the coach nor the players (was/were) pleased with the outcome.
Answer: were
Explanation: "Players" (plural) is closer to the verb, so we use the plural verb "were."
Exercise 5: Not only the manager but also the employees (wants/want) the day off.
Answer: want
Explanation: "Employees" (plural) is closer to the verb, so we use the plural verb "want."
Exercise 6: Either the reports or the analysis (needs/need) to be completed today.
Answer: needs
Explanation: "Analysis" (singular) is closer to the verb, so we use the singular verb "needs."
C. Comprehensive Quiz
Instructions: Select the correct verb for each sentence.
1. Each of the students (has/have) completed the assignment.
2. The committee (is/are) divided on the issue.
3. Physics (is/are) my favorite subject.
4. Some of the information (seems/seem) outdated.
5. There (is/are) several reasons for the delay.
Mastery Checklist
Before moving on, ensure you can confidently:
- Identify the true subject in any sentence, ignoring intervening phrases
- Correctly match singular/plural subjects with their verbs
- Apply the SNAP rule for indefinite pronouns
- Use the proximity rule for correlative conjunctions
- Recognize collective nouns and determine if they're acting as a unit or individuals
- Identify singular nouns that end in -s (like mathematics, news)
- Correctly use "there is" and "there are" based on what follows
V. Conclusion: The Harmony of Grammar
Subject-Verb Agreement is the ultimate grammar check—a test of your ability to maintain a consistent structure between the actors and the actions in your prose. While the intricacies of indefinite pronouns, correlative conjunctions, and collective nouns can be challenging, a simple reminder underpins every rule: find the core subject and ensure its quantity (singular or plural) matches the verb.
By applying these essential rules diligently, you not only avoid common errors but also elevate your writing to a level of clarity and authority that demands respect. Proper subject-verb agreement creates sentences that flow naturally, communicate precisely, and reflect well on your attention to detail.
Remember that mastery comes with practice. When editing your writing, make a final pass specifically to check subject-verb agreement. Read sentences aloud—your ear will often catch mismatches that your eye might miss. With time and attention, proper agreement will become second nature, and your subjects and verbs will forever sing in grammatical harmony.
Final Pro Tip
When in doubt about a particularly tricky sentence, try simplifying it. Remove modifiers, prepositional phrases, and extra clauses until you're left with just the subject and verb. Determine their agreement in this simplified form, then rebuild the sentence around that correct core.
Happy writing, and may your subjects and verbs always agree!
){kind=link}
0 Comments