Subject-verb agreement /concord.
Subject-verb agreement means that there must be an agreement
between the subject (noun, noun phrase, noun clause, gerundial
phrase/gerund, or other equivalent) and the verb in a sentence.
The basic principle of subject-verb agreement is simple. If the subject is
singular, it should be followed by a
singular verb. If the subject is plural, it should be followed by a plural verb.
My uncle is a doctor. (Here the singular verb is agrees with the singular
subject uncle.)
My uncles are doctors. (Here the plural verb are agrees with the plural
subject uncles.)
Indefinite pronouns
The indefinite pronouns anyone, everyone, someone, no one and
nobody are always singular and take singular verbs.
Examples are given below.
Everybody has brought his or her violin. (NOT Everybody have…)
Nobody is interested in the project. (NOT Nobody are ….)
Someone has let the cat in. (NOT Someone have …)
Anyone who is interested in improving his or her English can join the club.
(NOT Anyone who are…)
The pronoun referring back to a singular indefinite verb is usually singular.
However, this can be a problem when the sex of the person is unknown.
And hence plural pronouns are now used to refer to indefinite pronouns in
a less formal style.
Everybody has brought their violins.
Anyone who is interested in improving their English can join the club.
Some indefinite pronouns can be plural or singular depending upon the
context. Examples are: some and all.
When they are used to modify uncountable nouns, they take the singular
verb. When they are used to modify plural nouns, they take a plural verb.
Some of the eggs are rotten.
Some of the meat has gone stale.
The indefinite pronoun none can be either singular or plural – it doesn’t
really matter whether it is followed by a singular verb or plural verb.
When a singular noun or pronoun is connected with another noun or
pronoun by using words like with, as well as, besides, together with, no
less than and other similar expressions, the verb is singular.
The shop, with its articles, was burnt down.
The ship, with its crew, was saved.
Silver as well as gold is a precious metal.
The father as well as his sons is industrious.
No one, besides James, knows it.
Kate, and not you, has won the prize.
James, together with his friends, was present.
When two subjects are joined by as well as, the verb agrees in number
and person with the first one.
Subject-verb agreement: either, neither, nor, or
Or and nor
Two singular nouns connected by or or nor take a singular verb.
Neither Charles nor Benjamin was present there.
Neither he nor his dad is good at driving.
When one of the subjects joined by or / nor is plural, the verb must be
plural, and the plural subject should come close to the verb.
Neither Peter nor his parents were aware of this.
Neither the old man nor his sons are willing to sell the cow.
When the subjects connected by or or nor are of different persons, the
verb agrees with the noun that comes closer to it.
Neither you nor he is responsible for this. (Here the verb is agrees with the
third person pronoun he.)
Either he or you are to clean up the mess. (Here the verb are agrees with
the second person pronoun
you.)
Either you or John has to pay for the drinks.
When a plural noun denotes a particular amount or quantity considered as
a whole, the verb is usually singular.
Hundred cents is equal to one dollar.
Two thousand dollars is a large sum to lose.
Ten miles is a long distance to cover in an hour.
The determiners each, every, anybody, every one etc.
The determiners each, every, every one, anybody, either, neither, no
one, nobody and many a should be followed by a singular noun and a
singular verb.
Many a man has lost his life at sea. (Here the expression many a is
followed by a singular noun and a singular verb.)
Neither candidate is fit for the job. (NOT Neither candidates are fit for the
job.)
We cannot put a noun immediately after every one. Instead we use the
structure every one of. Every one of should be followed by a plural noun
and a singular verb..
Every one of the boys seems to be excited about the picnic.
