(AGREE) Subject-verb agreement

Subject Verb Agreement (singular and plural noun + action verb)Subject Verb Agreement (singular and plural noun + action verb) - Notes

Subject-verb agreement in English is a grammatical rule that states the verb in a sentence must agree in number with the subject. This means if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. For example, in the sentence “She walks to the store,” “she” is a singular subject and “walks” is a singular verb. However, in the sentence “They walk to the store,” “they” is a plural subject and “walk” is a plural verb.

To ensure proper subject-verb agreement, it is important to:

1. Identify the Subject and Verb: Determine the main subject and verb in the sentence to understand whether they are singular or plural.

2. Be Aware of Singular and Plural Forms: Know the singular and plural forms of subjects and verbs. For instance, most verbs add an ‘s’ or ‘es’ in the third person singular (he, she, it), such as “runs” or “watches.”

3. Watch for Tricky Subjects: Some subjects may seem plural but are actually singular, such as “mathematics” or “news.” Conversely, some subjects like “scissors” or “pants” are plural.

4. Pay Attention to Subject-Verb Distance: Sometimes, modifiers and phrases can separate the subject and verb. Ensure the verb agrees with the main subject, not with a noun in the modifying phrase. For example, “The box of books is on the table” (where “box” is the subject, not “books”).

5. Deal with Compound Subjects: When a sentence has a compound subject (two or more subjects connected by “and”), the verb should be plural. However, if the compound subject is connected by “or” or “nor,” the verb should agree with the subject closest to it.

6. Consider Indefinite Pronouns: Indefinite pronouns like “everyone,” “someone,” “each,” etc., are singular and require singular verbs.

Avoiding subject-verb agreement is actually not recommended as it leads to grammatical errors. Proper subject-verb agreement is essential for clear and correct English sentences.

Common errors writers make

Subject-verb agreement can be particularly challenging for English language learners. Here are some common issues they face, with examples:

1. Singular vs. Plural Confusion: Learners often struggle with understanding whether a subject is singular or plural, which affects the verb form.

   • Incorrect: “She have a cat.”

   • Correct: “She has a cat.”

2. Indefinite Pronouns: Words like “everyone,” “each,” “somebody,” etc., are singular, but learners often mistakenly use them with plural verbs.

   • Incorrect: “Everyone are happy.”

   • Correct: “Everyone is happy.”

3. Collective Nouns: Words that represent a group, like “team” or “family,” can be tricky. In American English, they are usually singular, but in British English, they can be both singular and plural depending on whether the group is seen as a unit or as individuals.

   • Incorrect (AmE): “The team are winning.”

   • Correct (AmE): “The team is winning.”

   • Correct (BrE): “The team are winning.”

4. Subjects Separated from Verbs: Phrases or clauses can separate the subject and verb, leading to confusion about the correct verb form.

   • Incorrect: “The list of items are on the table.”

   • Correct: “The list of items is on the table.”

5. Compound Subjects Joined by ‘Or’ or ‘Nor’: When subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb should agree with the subject closer to it, which learners often miss.

   • Incorrect: “Neither the teacher nor the students was ready.”

   • Correct: “Neither the teacher nor the students were ready.”

6. Regular and Irregular Verbs: Some learners struggle with the different forms of regular and irregular verbs.

   • Incorrect: “He go to school every day.”

   • Correct: “He goes to school every day.”

7. Overgeneralization of Rules: Sometimes, learners might overapply a rule they have learned, leading to mistakes.

   • Incorrect: “She do the homework every night.”

   • Correct: “She does the homework every night.”

8. Confusion with ‘There is’ and ‘There are’: Choosing between “there is” and “there are” depending on the subject that follows can be challenging.

   • Incorrect: “There is many reasons for this.”

   • Correct: “There are many reasons for this.”

9. Titles, Company Names, or Other Singular Nouns: These are often mistakenly treated as plural.

   • Incorrect: “Google have released a new product.”

   • Correct: “Google has released a new product.”

Understanding these common issues can help language learners focus on particular areas of difficulty in subject-verb agreement and improve their English grammar skills.

Understanding Collective Nouns and Subject-Verb Agreement in English

Collective nouns can be a tricky aspect of English grammar, especially when it comes to subject-verb agreement. Let’s dive into what collective nouns are, common misunderstandings, and how to use them correctly.

What Are Collective Nouns?

Collective nouns refer to a group of individuals or things as a single entity. Examples include words like “team,” “family,” “audience,” “committee,” and “class.” Despite referring to multiple members, these nouns are often treated as singular.

Common Misunderstandings

One of the most frequent misunderstandings with collective nouns is whether to use a singular or plural verb. This confusion arises because collective nouns can imply both the group as a whole (singular) and the individuals within the group (plural).

Example:

• Singular: The team is winning the match.

• Plural: The team are arguing among themselves.

In American English, collective nouns are typically treated as singular, while British English often treats them as plural. However, context can dictate the correct usage.

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

1. Singular Context: When the collective noun refers to the group as a single unit, use a singular verb.

   • Example: The committee decides on the new policy.

2. Plural Context: When the collective noun emphasizes the individual members within the group, use a plural verb.

   • Example: The committee are debating among themselves.

3. Consistency: Be consistent within your sentence or paragraph. If you start with a singular verb, continue using singular verbs for that collective noun.

   • Example: The family is planning a vacation. It has decided to go to the beach.

Tips to Avoid Misunderstandings

• Identify the Context: Determine whether the collective noun is acting as a single unit or as individual members.

• Check Regional Preferences: Be aware of whether you’re writing in American or British English.

• Consistency is Key: Maintain the same verb form throughout your writing to avoid confusion.

Practice Makes Perfect

Understanding and correctly using collective nouns with subject-verb agreement takes practice. Here are a few sentences to test your knowledge:

1. The jury (is/are) delivering its verdict.

2. The staff (is/are) meeting in the conference room.

3. The audience (was/were) clapping enthusiastically.

Answers:

1. The jury is delivering its verdict.

2. The staff are meeting in the conference room.

3. The audience were clapping enthusiastically.

By keeping these rules and tips in mind, you’ll be able to navigate the complexities of collective nouns and subject-verb agreement with confidence.

Subject-verb agreement with correlative conjunctions

See Understanding Conjunctions: A Guide for English Language.

Subject-verb agreement, a fundamental principle of grammar, dictates that a verb must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject. While usually straightforward, this rule becomes trickier when using correlative conjunctions. Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words that connect words, phrases, or clauses of equal grammatical rank. Common examples include:

• either…or…

• neither…nor…

• both…and…

• not only…but also…

• whether…or…

The challenge arises because these conjunctions often connect two subjects, creating a potential for confusion about which subject dictates the verb’s form. The general rule for subject-verb agreement with most correlative conjunctions (with one key exception) is this: the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. This is known as the “proximity rule” or the “rule of proximity.”

Let’s break down each pair:

1. Either…or… / Neither…nor…

These are the most common culprits for agreement errors. The verb agrees with the noun or pronoun that follows “or” or “nor.”

• Singular-Singular: Neither the cat nor the dog is responsible for the mess. (Both “cat” and “dog” are singular; thus, the singular verb “is” is correct.)

• Plural-Plural: Either the students or the teachers are going to the conference. (Both “students” and “teachers” are plural; thus, the plural verb “are” is correct.)

• Singular-Plural: Neither the director nor the actors are ready for the rehearsal. (“Actors,” the subject closer to the verb, is plural, so we use the plural verb “are.”)

• Plural-Singular: Either the apples or the banana is going to be used in the smoothie. (“Banana,” the subject closer to the verb, is singular, so we use the singular verb “is.”)

2. Not only…but also…

The same proximity rule applies here. The verb agrees with the subject following “but also.”

• Not only the coach but also the players were ecstatic about the victory. (“Players” is plural, so the verb is “were.”)

• Not only the students but also the teacher was impressed by the presentation. (“Teacher” is singular, so the verb is “was.”)

• Not only are the ingredients fresh, but also the chef is exceptionally talented.(“Chef” is singular, so we select the singular verb form “is.”)

3. Whether…or…

Again, the rule of proximity holds.

• I don’t know whether the rain or the snow is going to affect our travel plans. (“Snow” is singular.)

• He is unsure whether his colleagues or his boss supports his proposal. (“Boss” is singular, so the correct verb form is “supports”)

4. Both…and…

This is the exception to the proximity rule. “Both…and…” always takes a plural verb because it inherently joins two subjects, creating a compound subject that is always considered plural.

• Both the book and the movie were excellent. (Even if “movie” were singular, the verb would still be “were”.)

• Both Sarah and John are attending the meeting.

Key Takeaways & Common Mistakes:

• Proximity is Key (mostly): Remember, for either…or…, neither…nor…, not only…but also…, and whether…or…, the verb agrees with the closest subject.

• “Both…and…” is Always Plural: Don’t let the proximity rule trick you here. “Both…and…” always requires a plural verb.

• Don’t Be Distracted by Intervening Phrases: Phrases that come between the subject and the verb don’t affect agreement. Focus on the actual subjects connected by the correlative conjunctions.

• Read Carefully: When proofreading, pay close attention to sentences using correlative conjunctions to ensure correct subject-verb agreement. Double-check the subject closest to the verb and select the appropriate verb form.

Mastering subject-verb agreement with correlative conjunctions requires careful attention to detail and a clear understanding of the proximity rule (and its one exception). By consistently applying these principles, you can ensure your writing is grammatically sound and your meaning is clear.

Exceptions to the proximity rule

While the proximity rule is a strong guideline for subject-verb agreement with correlative conjunctions, there are nuances and situations where it’s either bent, broken, or viewed differently, particularly in less formal contexts. Here’s a breakdown of the exceptions and complexities:

1. The “Both…and…” Exception (Already Covered, but Reinforces It):

As established, “both…and…” always takes a plural verb. This is the most straightforward and consistent exception to the proximity rule because it inherently creates a compound, plural subject.

2. Collective Nouns and the Proximity Rule:

Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, committee, audience, staff) can be singular or plural depending on whether they are acting as a single unit or as individuals within the unit. This already introduces a layer of complexity to subject-verb agreement in general. When combined with correlative conjunctions, it adds another layer:

• Singular Sense (Unit): If the collective noun is acting as a single unit, and it’s the closer subject, the verb is singular.

  • Neither the players nor the team is ready to concede defeat. (Here, “team” is acting as a single unit.)

• Plural Sense (Individuals): If the collective noun emphasizes the individual members, and it’s the closer subject, a plural verb might be preferred, particularly in British English. American English often still favors the singular for consistency.

  • Neither the manager nor the staff are happy with the new policy. (Focuses on the individual staff members’ unhappiness – more common in British English).

  • Neither the manager nor the staff is happy with the new policy. (Focuses on the staff as a unit - more common in American English).

The key here is context and intended meaning. The proximity rule is still a good starting point, but the nature of the collective noun can override it.

3. Notional Agreement (Agreement by Meaning, Not Just Form):

This is where things get subjective and stylistic. Notional agreement (also called semantic agreement or synesis) means choosing the verb form based on the intended meaning of the subject, rather than strict grammatical form. This often happens when a singular noun is conceptually plural.

• Example (Potentially Controversial): Neither John nor his friends is coming tonight.

  • Grammatically (Proximity Rule): “Friends” is plural; the verb should be “are.”

  • Notionally: The speaker might be thinking of the whole group as a single unit (the absence of the entire group). In this case, “is” could be used, especially in informal speech. However, this is highly debatable and generally considered incorrect in formal writing. It’s much safer to stick with “are.”

• Example (Less Controversial, More Common): Consider the noun “number.”

  • A large number of students was/were absent. “A number” is technically singular, but usually takes a plural verb because it refers to multiple individuals. If paired with “neither…nor” and another plural noun is closer, this effect is strengthened.

The problem with notional agreement is that it’s subjective. What sounds “right” to one person might sound wrong to another. In formal writing, it’s best to avoid relying on notional agreement when using correlative conjunctions and stick to the proximity rule (except for “both…and…”).

4. Formal vs. Informal Usage:

In informal spoken English, the proximity rule is sometimes relaxed, especially when the subjects are very closely related in meaning.

• Informal (and Technically Incorrect): Neither the bread nor the butter was on the table.

  • “Bread and butter” can be perceived as a single unit (like “peanut butter and jelly”). However, grammatically, “butter” is singular, and “was” is correct according to the proximity rule. Using “were” would be technically incorrect, but might slip by unnoticed in casual conversation. Always use “was” in formal writing.

5. Pronoun Agreement (A Related, but Separate Issue):

While not directly an exception to the verb agreement rule, pronoun agreement with subjects joined by correlative conjunctions follows a similar principle of proximity. The pronoun agrees with the closer antecedent.

• Neither the teacher nor the students brought their books. (“Students” is closer to the pronoun, so we use the plural “their.”)

• Neither the students nor the teacher brought her book. (Or, “his” book, or to be gender-neutral, “their” book - though this singular “they” is becoming increasingly accepted, it can still raise eyebrows in formal writing).

  In Summary and Practical Advice:

• The Proximity Rule is Your Best Friend: For the vast majority of cases, especially in formal writing, follow the proximity rule for either…or…, neither…nor…, not only…but also…, and whether…or….

• “Both…and…” is Always Plural: This is the non-negotiable exception.

• Collective Nouns Require Careful Thought: Consider whether the collective noun is acting as a unit or as individuals, and let that guide your verb choice (but still be mindful of proximity).

• Avoid Notional Agreement in Formal Writing: While it exists, it’s too subjective and prone to error.

• When in Doubt, Rephrase: If you’re unsure about the correct verb form, the best solution is often to rewrite the sentence to avoid the ambiguity. For example, instead of:

  “Neither the coach nor the players is/are happy,” you could write: “The coach is not happy, and neither are the players.” or “The coach and the players are both unhappy.”

By understanding these exceptions and complexities, you can navigate the sometimes-tricky world of subject-verb agreement with correlative conjunctions with greater confidence and accuracy.