Grammar Lesson: Subject-Verb Agreement Situations (page 2)

Here are some important rules and situations regarding subject-verb agreement.

• Singular nouns and pronouns use the contraction doesn't while plural nouns and pronouns use the contraction don't.
  This piece doesn't look like the one we need. (singular noun subject)
  He doesn't need to exercise that frequently. (singular pronoun subject)
  These occasions don't need to be photographed. (plural noun subject)
  They don't remember your saying that. (plural pronoun subject)

Note: Avoid using contractions in formal writing. Contractions are allowable in dialogue.

• A collective noun (a name that refers to a group of people, animals, or things, though they are singular in form) can be used as a singular or plural noun.
• If the collective noun refers to a unit or as a whole, use a singular verb and pronoun.
  The squad is meeting this afternoon. Its president is Kanisha. (Squad is considered a unit since all of its members will be meeting as a unit. Thus, Its [not Their] is an appropriate pronoun reference.)
• When a group is considered as individuals, the collective noun is plural.
  The squad brought their notebooks. (Squad refers to individual members so the pronoun their is warranted.)
• Some nouns that look as if they are plural take singular verbs and pronouns. These nouns include civics, economics, genetics, gymnastics, mathematics, news, physics, social studies, and others.
  Physics is a challenging subject for Mitch because it demands much time and intelligence. (It is a pronoun reference to physics.)
  Social studies is an interesting subject.

An expression of an amount, including fractions, measurements, percentages, and time periods, can be singular or plural depending on its use.

Two-sixths equals one-third. (Two-sixths is considered a single unit.)
Sixteen hours is a very long time to wait. (Sixteen hours is a unit of time, one block of time according to the sentence.)
Five dollars were left on the table. (These are five separate dollars; use the plural verb, were.)
Two-thirds of the drummers are practicing. (Drummers is plural; use the plural verb, are.)

A verb that precedes the sentence's subject agrees with the subject in number. In the following sentences, the verb is in italics, and the subject is underlined.

Here is a fortune cookie for you. (singular subject and verb)
There are seven board games over there. (plural subject and verb)

The title of a book, city, country, film, magazine, organization, painting, sculpture, or song that is plural still takes a singular verb. (The italicized subjects and the underlined verbs below are singular.)

Des Moines is Iowa's capital city.
The Rolling Stones was my uncle's favorite rock group.

When a relative pronoun, such as that, which, or who, starts an adjective clause, the clause's verb agrees in number with the noun or pronoun to which the relative pronoun refers.

The woman who is directing the chorus is Ms. Linden. (Who refers to the singular noun, woman.)
The ladies who are singing together are Kate and Moe. (Who takes a plural verb, are, because it refers back to ladies, a plural noun.)

Activity 3- Subject-Verb Agreement Parade

How well do you know your subject-verb agreement rules? Here are twenty sentences that will test your knowledge of these rules. Underline the correct verb in each sentence.

1. One-tenth of the test papers (has, have) been collected.
2. Mathematics (is, are) Harold's most challenging subjects.
3. Where (is, are) your books, Princess?
4. They (doesn't, don't) recall that incident.
5. Carrots (is, are) a good source of nutrition.
6. Only one-fourth of your time in the library (was, were) spent productively.
7. One-third of the participants (has, have) their cards.
8. There (is, are) only one dollar left in the box.
9. Where (is, are) your backpack, Carlos?
10. Lyle (doesn't, don't) want to order the food just yet.
11. Fifteen dollars (was, were) my change from the purchase.
12. Twelve days (is, are) left for you to register for the new semester.
13. All of the senators at today's session (wasn't, weren't) happy with what happened.
14. Three dimes (is, are) at the bottom of the pool.
15. Twenty percent of the order (has, have) been delivered.
16. His statistics (is, are) fabulous.
17. Statistics (is, are) my first-period class.
18. Here (is, are) some advice for you, Ty.
19. There (is, are) at least three reasons why you should join the organization.
20. Three-fourths of the process (has, have) been completed.

Activity 4- Practicing Agreement

Practice using correct agreement by writing sentences that satisfy these directions. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Write a sentence using and to join a singular and a plural pronoun.
2. Write a sentence that starts with "Most of the animals … "
3. Write a sentence in which the plural pronoun them refers back to the subject.
4. Write a sentence using Anybody as the sentence's subject.
5. Write a sentence using Physics as the sentence's subject.
6. Write a sentence using the pair of correlative conjunctions, both and and.
7. Write a sentence using a male pronoun that refers back to the subject.
8. Write a sentence starting with "My favorite team… "
9. Write a sentence using Here as the sentence's first word.
10. Write a sentence using a single subject joined with a plural subject by the coordinating conjunction or.

Activity 5- How Well Do You Know Your Agreement

Test your knowledge of agreement by underlining the correct choice in each sentence.

1. Mathematics (is, are) Allyson's easiest class.
2. Each of the female contestants took (her, their) place on stage.
3. Everybody, including the pilots in the other section of the plane, (was, were) eager to hear the news.
4. Neither the president nor her closest confidantes (is, are) prepared to address this situation immediately.
5. Most of the photographs have no dark spots on (it, them).
6. These lifeguards (doesn't, don't) become distracted when they are on duty.
7. Anyone who purchased a defective radio should bring (his or her, their) receipt and radio back to the store.
8. Here (is, are) the directions on how to make the dinner.
9. One-fifth of the new physicians (is, are) from other countries.
10. Both of these walls (need, needs) to be repainted.
11. His favorite sandwich (is, are) bacon, lettuce, and tomato.
12. Our captain and team leader (is, are) Emma.
13. All of this carpet (has, have) been intricately woven.
14. Fifteen percent of the quarter's grade (is, are) class participation.
15. The Outsiders (was, were) the last book that Rachel read this year.

Answers

• Activity 1- Making the Wrong Right
  1. One of my friends is here in this room with the rest of us.
  2. The pillow is too hard on my neck.
  3. These oranges from Florida are juicy.
  4. A few of the painters at that table have finished their work.
  5. Before she started her workout, Lupita was listening to the broadcast.
  6. The university officials are now admitting more students.
  7. Proponents favor this new methodology of training doctors how to be more receptive to their patients' concerns.
  8. Then the physician inserts (or inserted) the fluid into the other vial.
  9. The film festival that was held in the mountains was well attended.
  10. Concert attendees admire that singer who really knows how to entertain her audience members.
  11. The number of graduates is higher this year.
  12. The people in our neighborhood in Queens are very friendly.
  13. You do not have to be at the gate that early.
  14. Some soldiers are on our train heading for Portland, Oregon.
  15. They do not have the winning ticket in last night's lottery.
• Activity 2- Knowing Your Subject-Verb Agreement
  1. are
  2. indicates
  3. are
  4. makes
  5. meet
  6. has
  7. leaves
  8. leave
  9. exchange
  10. captures
  11. attends
  12. is
  13. is
  14. are
  15. have
  16. help
  17. need
  18. provides
  19. attend
  20. is
• Activity 3- Subject-Verb Agreement Parade
  1. have
  2. is
  3. are
  4. don't
  5. are
  6. was
  7. have
  8. is
  9. is
  10. doesn't
  11. was
  12. are
  13. weren't
  14. are
  15. has
  16. are
  17. is
  18. is
  19. are
  20. has
• Activity 4- Practicing Agreement

(These are possible sentences.)

1. Rick and his pals went to the city last night.
2. Most of the animals stayed in their cages during the hailstorm.
3. They forget to take their sunglasses with them.
4. Anybody who would like to go on the field trip should bring his or her money to the main office this week.
5. Physics is a very challenging class.
6. Both the girls and their brother want to go to this restaurant for dinner.
7. Herman thought that he could move the bundles by himself.
8. My favorite team is the Detroit Tigers.
9. Here is tonight's plan.
10. Either my dad or his friends are going to go fishing with us.

• Activity 5- How Well Do You Know Agreement?
  1. is
  2. her
  3. was
  4. are
  5. them
  6. don't
  7. his or her
  8. are
  9. are
  10. need
  11. is
  12. is
  13. has
  14. is
  15. was