SVA handout

1. MENTARI INTERCULTURAL SCHOOL JAKARTA
Primary Years Programme (PYP)
SY 2018-2019
Name: _____________________
English Language Arts 5
Handout on Subject – Verb Agreement
1. Compound Subjects
a. Singular Subjects Joined by Or or Nor
Two or more singular subjects joined by or or nor must have a singular verb.
Example: Either green or blue is suitable for the background.
b. Plural Subjects Joined by Or or Nor
Two or more plural subjects joined by or or nor must have a plural verb.
Example: Neither the paints nor the brushes are in the studio.
c. Subjects of Mixed Number Joined by Or or Nor
If one or more singular subjects are joined to one or more plural subjects by or or nor, the subject
closest to the verb determines agreement.
Examples: Either a lantern or candles are used on the porch.
Either a candles or lantern is used on the porch.
d. Subjects Joined by And
A compound subject joined by and is generally plural and must have a plural verb.
Examples: A lantern and a candle are used on the porch.
Candles and lanterns are used on the porch.
Candles and a lantern are used on the porch.
*Exceptions occur when the parts of the compound subject equal to one thing and when the word
each or every is used before a compound subject. Each of these situations requires a singular verb.
Examples: Bread and butter was all they offered us.
Every chart and diagram was drawn with precision.
2. Collective Nouns
a. A collective noun takes a singular verb when the group it names acts as a single unit.
Examples: The team has won every game.
A flock of birds is flying overhead.
b. A collective noun takes a plural verb when the group it names act as individuals with different
points of view.
Example: The team are quarrelling in the locker room.
The flock of birds shove one another as they race for the pieces of bread.
Two General Rules
1. A singular subject must have a singular verb. Example: Janna bakes chocolate cakes.
2. A plural subject must have a plural verb. Example: These girls bake chocolate cakes.
*A phrase or clause that interrupts a subject and its verb does not affect subject-verb agreement.
Examples:
The decision of the politicians is upsetting too many people.
The families whose town was flooded during the typhoon need temporary shelter.

2. 3. Plural-looking Nouns – Nouns that are plural in form but singular in meaning agree with singular verbs.
Examples: Mathematics is my most difficult subject.
Measles threatens unborn babies.
4. Indefinite Pronouns
a. Singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs.
Example: Almost everyone likes his music.
When words like the following are used as subjects, they take singular verb.
Each Someone Everything Nothing Anybody
Everyone No one Anything Neither Somebody
Anyone Either Something Everybody Nobody
b. Plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs.
Example: Many in the class excel in writing.
When words like the following are used as subjects, they take plural verb.
Both Many Several
Few Others
5. Titles – A title is singular and must have a singular verb.
Examples: The Island of the Blue Dolphins is a novel by Scott O’Dell.
The Alchemist is a good book.
6. Amounts and Measurements – A noun expressing an amount or measurement is usually
singular and requires a singular verb.
Examples: Twenty-five cents starts the dryer.
Four tablespoons of salt has made the soup inedible.
*Half of the brochures were mailed yesterday. (Plural- Half refers to many
individual items.
*When the subject is a fraction, the verb agrees with the noun in the of-phrase that follows the fraction.
Examples: Three-fourths of that nation is poor.
One-half of the glasses are broken. (The noun in the of-phrase is glasses.)
7. The Number and A Number – The expression the number is followed by a singular verb while
the expression a number is followed by a plural verb.
Examples: The number of people we need to hire is thirteen.
A number of people have written about this subject.
8. Either and Neither – When either and neither are subjects, they always take singular verbs.
Examples: Neither of them is available to speak right now.
Either of us is capable of doing the job.
9. as well as, except, in addition to, no less than, and with – When using as well as, except, in
addition to, no less than, and with, the noun before these phrases determines the number.
Example: Ford in addition to Mercedes Benz is lowering its car prices to encourage better sales.
10. Confusing Subjects – A subject that comes after its verb must still agree with it in number.
Examples: Under the hen’s wing was a tiny chick.
(A tiny chick was under the hen’s wing.)
Which magazines does he buy?
(He does buy which magazines.)
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