Subject-Verb Rules

Rule 8

Singular subjects joined by OR or NOR take a singular verb. Neither the snow nor ice keeps the mail carrier from his rounds.

Rule 7

Subjects joined by AND take a plural verb. A hotdog and mustard seem to belong together. EXCEPTION: When a compound subject is considered as one thing or served in one dish, use a singular verb. Apple pie and ice cream is a favorite American dessert.

Rule 3

The number of the subject is not changed by a prepositional phrase or clause following the subject. This book about vampires is by Stephanie Meyer.

Rule 13

The title of a work of art or the name of an organization or a country, even when plural in form, takes a singular verb. Chaucer's Canterbury Tales includes many humorous characters.

Rule 16

The word YOU always takes a plural verb. You were late for dinner. I can be singular or plural. I am going to the store. I need a new coat.

Antecedent

The word the pronoun refers back to in the sentence: Bob lost his book on the bus. his refers back to Bob

Rule 6

The words some, any, none, all and most may be either singular or plural. This is the only time you will look inside the prepositional phrase to match the verb. Some (of the money) was saved. Some (of the tickets) were sold.

Rule 5

These words are plural: several, few, both, many, others Few (of the students) bring highlighters to the classroom.

Rule 4

These words are singular and require singular verbs: each, either, neither, one, everyone, no one, nobody, anyone, anybody, someone, somebody, everybody, person, and much. Neither (of the horses) is here. Everyone (on both teams) has to follow the rules.

Rule 9

When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by OR or NOR, the verb agrees with the closest subject. Neither the students nor the teacher regrets the hours of work. Neither the teacher nor the students regret the hours of work.

Rule 15

When the subject and the predicate nominative are different in number, the verb agrees with the subject. Crocuses are one of the first signs of spring. One of the first signs of spring is crocuses.

Rule 10

When the subject follows the verb, as in questions and sentences beginning with THERE or HERE, be careful to determine the real subject. Here are two letters for you. What is the time of the concert?

Rule 14

A few nouns, although plural in form, take a singular verb: aeronautics, civics, economics, mathematics, measles, news, mumps, physics, genetics, molasses, gymnastics Some words have no singular form: pliers, shears, pants, scissors, trousers Some words are taken from other languages and have different spellings in the plural: analysis=analyses; phenomenon=phenomena; nucleus=nuclei; radius=radii; parenthesis=parentheses

Rule 11

Collective nouns may be either singular or plural. If a collective noun is talking about one single unit, then it should have a singular verb. The football team practices every day.

Rule 17

DOESN'T and DON'T must agree with their antecedents. Remember the meaning: does not and do not

Rule 12

Expressions stating amounts (TIME, MONEY, MEASUREMENT, WEIGHT, VOLUME, FRACTIONS) are usually singular. Four score and seven years equals eighty-seven years. Fifty dollars seems a reasonable price.