Subject and Verb Agreement
When the subject follows the verb
When the subject follows the verb (especially in sentences beginning with the expletives "there is" or "there are"), special care is needed to determine the subject and to make certain that the verb agrees with it.
On the wall were several posters.
There are many possible candidates.
There is only one good candidate.
1. When the expletive "it" is the subject
The expletive "it" is always followed by a singular verb
Ex :
It is my car which stalls.
It is their cars which stall.
2. When words like "each" are the subject
When used as subjects, words such as :
• each, either, neither
• another
• anyone, anybody, anything
• someone, somebody, something
• one, everyone
• everybody, everything
• no one, nobody, nothing
take singular verbs.
Do not be confused by prepositional phrases which come between a subject and its verb. They do not change the number of the subject.
Ex:
Each takes her turn at rowing.
Neither likes the friends of the other.
Everyone in the fraternity has his own set of prejudices.
Each of the rowers takes her turn at rowing.
Every one of the fraternity members has his own set of prejudices.
3. When words like "none" are the subject
Other words such as
• none, any, all
• more, most, some
may take either singular or plural verbs, depending on the context.
Ex :
Some of the dollar was spent.
Some of the dollars were spent.
[Note: here the prepositional phrase does affect the subject. It tells you whether you are talking about a part of one thing (singular) or about a number of things (plural).]
4. When the subjects are joined by "and"
Subjects joined by "and" take plural verbs.
Be aware: phrases such as "in addition to," "as well as," and "along with" do not mean the same thing as "and." When inserted between the subject and the verb, these phrases do not change the number of the subject.
Ex :
Both Tom and Jane have English 167 papers due on Tuesday.
Tom, as well as Jane, has an English 207 paper due Tuesday
5. When singular subjects are joined by words like "or"
Singular subjects joined by "or," "nor," "either . . . or," or "neither. . . nor" take a singular verb.
Ex :
Either the man or his wife knows the truth of the matter.
Neither money nor power was important any longer.
6. When one subject is singular and one plural
If one subject is singular and one is plural, the verb agrees with the nearer subject
Ex :
Neither the television nor the radios work.
Neither the radios nor the television works.
7. When a linking verb is used
A linking verb ("is," "are," "was," "were," "seem" and others) agrees with its subject, not its complement.
Ex :
Joe's favorite dessert is blueberry muffins.
Blueberry muffins are Joe's favorite dessert.
8. When a collective noun is used
When regarded as a unit, collective nouns, as well as noun phrases denoting quantity, take singular verbs.
Ex :
The whole family is active.
(Family is a collective noun regarded as a unit.)
The family have met their
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When the subject follows the verb (especially in sentences beginning with the expletives "there is" or "there are"), special care is needed to determine the subject and to make certain that the verb agrees with it.
On the wall were several posters.
There are many possible candidates.
There is only one good candidate.
1. When the expletive "it" is the subject
The expletive "it" is always followed by a singular verb
Ex :
It is my car which stalls.
It is their cars which stall.
2. When words like "each" are the subject
When used as subjects, words such as :
• each, either, neither
• another
• anyone, anybody, anything
• someone, somebody, something
• one, everyone
• everybody, everything
• no one, nobody, nothing
take singular verbs.
Do not be confused by prepositional phrases which come between a subject and its verb. They do not change the number of the subject.
Ex:
Each takes her turn at rowing.
Neither likes the friends of the other.
Everyone in the fraternity has his own set of prejudices.
Each of the rowers takes her turn at rowing.
Every one of the fraternity members has his own set of prejudices.
3. When words like "none" are the subject
Other words such as
• none, any, all
• more, most, some
may take either singular or plural verbs, depending on the context.
Ex :
Some of the dollar was spent.
Some of the dollars were spent.
[Note: here the prepositional phrase does affect the subject. It tells you whether you are talking about a part of one thing (singular) or about a number of things (plural).]
4. When the subjects are joined by "and"
Subjects joined by "and" take plural verbs.
Be aware: phrases such as "in addition to," "as well as," and "along with" do not mean the same thing as "and." When inserted between the subject and the verb, these phrases do not change the number of the subject.
Ex :
Both Tom and Jane have English 167 papers due on Tuesday.
Tom, as well as Jane, has an English 207 paper due Tuesday
5. When singular subjects are joined by words like "or"
Singular subjects joined by "or," "nor," "either . . . or," or "neither. . . nor" take a singular verb.
Ex :
Either the man or his wife knows the truth of the matter.
Neither money nor power was important any longer.
6. When one subject is singular and one plural
If one subject is singular and one is plural, the verb agrees with the nearer subject
Ex :
Neither the television nor the radios work.
Neither the radios nor the television works.
7. When a linking verb is used
A linking verb ("is," "are," "was," "were," "seem" and others) agrees with its subject, not its complement.
Ex :
Joe's favorite dessert is blueberry muffins.
Blueberry muffins are Joe's favorite dessert.
8. When a collective noun is used
When regarded as a unit, collective nouns, as well as noun phrases denoting quantity, take singular verbs.
Ex :
The whole family is active.
(Family is a collective noun regarded as a unit.)
The family have met their
If You have question, write on comment please
Read more!
diposting oleh Arekalas91 pada
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