Chapter 23
Compound Subjects Joined By And
When a compound subject is connected by and, the verb that follows is usually plural.
Making Personal Pronouns Agree
A personal pronoun must agree with its antecedent in person, number, and gender.
Singular and Plural Subjects
A prepositional phrase that comes between a subject and its verb does not affect subject-verb agreement.
Indefinite Pronouns With Either Singular or Plural
The number of the indefinite pronoun is the same as the number of ts referent, or the noun to which it refers.
Subject and Work Agreement
The subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number.
Making Pronouns Agree in Number With Compound Nouns
Use a singular personal pronoun to refer to two or more singular antecedent joined by or or nor. Use a plural pronoun with two or more singular antecedents joined by and.
Making Personal Pronouns and Indefinite Pronouns Agree
Use a singular personal pronoun when its antecedent is a singular indefinite pronoun.
Avoiding Problems With Number and Gender
Use a singular pronoun to refer to a collective noun that names a group that is acting as a single unit. Use a plural pronoun to refer to a collective noun when the members parts of a group are acting individually.
Verb Agreement With Collective Nouns
Use a singular verb with a collective noun acting as a single unit. Use a plural verb when the individual members of the group are acting individually.
Compound Subjects Joined by Or or Nor
When a compound subject is made up of one singular and one plural subject joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject closer to it.
Agreement In Inverted Sentences
When a subject comes after the verb, the subject and verb still must agree with each other in number.
Indefinite Pronoun
When an indefinite pronoun is the subject of a sentence, the verb must agree in number with the pronoun.
Compound Subjects Joined by Or or Nor
When two singular subjects are joined by or or nor, use a singular verb. When two plural subjects are joined by or or nor, use a plural verb.