SEEMENTUBJECT –VERB- AGR RULES. Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental rule in English grammar that ensures subjects and verbs in a sentence agree in number (singular or plural).

SUBJECT-VERB-AGREEMENT RULES

1. SUBJECT –VERB- AGREEMENT UCS1173 ENGLISH FOR GENERAL PURPOSES SEMESTER : JULY 2024

2. INTRODUCTION Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental aspect of English grammar and there are several rules that guide the correct use of verbs depending on the subject. These rules cover the most common situations for subject-verb agreement in English. Understanding and applying these rules can help in constructing grammatically correct sentences .

3. RULES 1. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs: The cat runs fast. (singular) The cats run fast. (plural) 2. With compound subjects joined by 'and', use a plural verb: The teacher and the student are in the classroom. 3. With compound subjects joined by 'or' or 'nor', the verb agrees with the subject closer to it: Either the teacher or the students are responsible. Neither the students nor the teacher is responsible.

4. 4. With indefinite pronouns (everyone, someone, each, nobody, etc.), use a singular verb: Everyone is invited to the party. Each of the players has a unique skill. 5. With collective nouns (group, team, committee, etc.), the verb can be singular or plural depending on whether the group is acting as one unit or as individuals: The team is winning. (acting as one unit) The team are arguing among themselves. (acting as individuals)

5. 6. When subjects are preceded by 'each' or 'every', use a singular verb: Each student has a book. Every man and woman is responsible. 7. Titles of single entities (books, movies, organizations) are treated as singular: "The Lord of the Rings" is an epic novel. 8. In sentences beginning with 'there' or 'here', the verb agrees with the subject that follows it: There is a problem. There are many problems.

6. 9. With distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as a single unit, use a singular verb: Five dollars is enough. Ten miles is a long distance. 10. When a sentence has two subjects connected by 'as well as', 'with', 'along with', 'together with', 'including', etc., the verb agrees with the first subject: The principal, along with the teachers, is attending the meeting. The book, including all the chapters, is on the table.

7. 11. Plural form subjects that have singular meanings take a singular verb: Mathematics is challenging. The news is on at 6 PM.

8. REVISION Rule 1: Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs. Exercise 1: The dog (bark/barks) loudly. Answer: The dog barks loudly. Explanation: " Dog" is a singular subject , so it takes the singular verb " barks .“ The dogs (bark/barks) loudly. Answer: The dogs bark loudly. Explanation: " Dogs " is a plural subject , so it takes the plural verb "bark."

9. Rule 2: With compound subjects joined by 'and', use a plural verb. Exercise 2: The teacher and the student (is/are) talking. Answer: The teacher and the student are talking. Explanation: "The teacher and the student" is a compound subject joined by "and ," so it takes the plural verb "are.“ 2. Bread and butter (is/are) my favorite breakfast. Answer: Bread and butter is my favorite breakfast. Explanation: "Bread and butter" is considered a single entity in this context, so it takes the singular verb "is."

10. Rule 3: With compound subjects joined by 'or' or 'nor', the verb agrees with the subject closer to it. Exercise 3: Either the teacher or the students (is/are) responsible. Answer: Either the teacher or the students are responsible. Explanation: " Students" is closer to the verb , and it is plural , so the verb " are" is used. Neither the students nor the teacher (is/are) responsible. Answer: Neither the students nor the teacher is responsible. Explanation: " Teacher" is closer to the verb , and it is singular , so the verb "is" is used.

11. Rule 4: With indefinite pronouns (everyone, someone, each, nobody, etc.), use a singular verb. Exercise 4: Everyone (is/are) invited to the party. Answer: Everyone is invited to the party. Explanation: "Everyone" is an indefinite pronoun and takes a singular verb " is.“ Each of the players (has/have) a unique skill. Answer: Each of the players has a unique skill. Explanation: "Each" is an indefinite pronoun and takes a singular verb "has."

12. Rule 5: With collective nouns (group, team, committee, etc.), the verb can be singular or plural depending on whether the group is acting as one unit or as individuals. Exercise 5: The team (is/are) winning. Answer: The team is winning. Explanation: "Team" is acting as one unit , so it takes the singular verb " is.“ The team (is/are) arguing among themselves. Answer: The team are arguing among themselves. Explanation: "Team" members are acting as individuals , so it takes the plural verb " are."

13. Rule 6: When subjects are preceded by 'each' or 'every', use a singular verb Exercise 6: Each student (has/have) a book. Answer: Each student has a book. Explanation: "Each" is a singular subject , so it takes the singular verb " has.“ Every man and woman (is/are) responsible. Answer: Every man and woman is responsible. Explanation: "Every" makes the subject singular , so it takes the singular verb " is." .

14. Rule 7: Titles of single entities (books, movies, organizations) are treated as singular. Exercise 7: "The Lord of the Rings" (is/are) an epic novel. Answer: "The Lord of the Rings" is an epic novel. Explanation: The title of the book is treated as a single entity , so it takes the singular verb " is.“ The United Nations (is/are) an international organization. Answer: The United Nations is an international organization. Explanation: The name of the organization is treated as a single entity, so it takes the singular verb "is ."

15. Rule 8: In sentences beginning with 'there' or 'here', the verb agrees with the subject that follows it . Exercise 8: There (is/are) a problem. Answer: There is a problem. Explanation: " Problem" is a singular subject , so it takes the singular verb " is .“ Here (is/are) the documents you requested. Answer: Here are the documents you requested. Explanation: " Documents" is a plural subject , so it takes the plural verb " are ."

16. Rule 9: With distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as a single unit, use a singular verb. Exercise 9: Five dollars (is/are) enough. Answer: Five dollars is enough. Explanation: The amount of money is considered a single unit , so it takes the singular verb "is ." Ten miles (is/are) a long distance. Answer: Ten miles is a long distance. Explanation: The distance is considered a single unit , so it takes the singular verb " is."

17. Rule 10: When a sentence has two subjects connected by 'as well as', 'with', 'along with', 'together with', 'including', etc., the verb agrees with the first subject. Exercise 10: The principal , along with the teachers, (is/are) attending the meeting. Answer: The principal, along with the teachers, is attending the meeting. Explanation: The verb agrees with "the principal ," which is singular , so it takes the singular verb "is .“ The book , including all the chapters, (is/are) on the table. Answer: The book, including all the chapters, is on the table. Explanation: The verb agrees with "the book," which is singular , so it takes the singular verb " is ."

18. Rule 11: Plural form subjects that have singular meanings take a singular verb. Exercise 11: Mathematics (is/are) challenging. Answer: Mathematics is challenging. Explanation: " Mathematics " is a singular subject despite its plural form, so it takes the singular verb " is.“ The news (is/are) on at 6 PM. Answer: The news is on at 6 PM. Explanation: " News" is a singular subject despite its plural form , so it takes the singular verb "is ."