Subject-Predicate Agreement

Subject-Predicate Agreement

Nadiia TEPLUKHINA,
a teacher-methodologist,
Sumy gymnasium  1

 

The materials under consideration give the opportunity for both teachers and students to refresh their knowledge on such essential grammar phenomenon as Subject-Predicate Agreement. It seems to be especially important as the above-mentioned aspect is not sufficiently highlighted in up-to-date methodological literature. Besides, it would be beneficial for students to get access to this information in order to obtain good command of the English grammar.

 

Concord (Subject-Verb Agreement)

Concord refers to a formal agreement in person, number, gender or tense (or more than one of these combined) between two or more parts of a sentence.

There are three persons: the first, second and third. The first person is the person speaking; the second is the person spoken to, and the third person is the person that one talks or writes about. The third person may not be a person at all. Any person or thing that one talks or writes about is one’s third person.

For example: John, my school, the earth etc.

There are only two numbers: singular and plural.

There are three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter.

Tense, of course, refers to present, past and future times.

 

1. Singular noun + with, together with, etc

A singular subject that begins a sentence followed by with, together with, along with, as well as, including, in addition to, accompanied by, etc. takes a singular verb.

Examples

Mike, together with Nick and Bob, was drafted into the army.

John, like his two brothers, was often in debt.

France, together with 5 other countries, is attending the conference on pollution.

Ellen, as well as the other girls in her form, dislikes classical music.

 

2. Two singular subjects joined by and

Two singular subjects that are joined by and, take a plural verb.

Examples

- A hammer and a saw are useful tools.

- The stapler and the glue are in the top drawer.

- The director and the assistant director are in the office.

Exceptions

A compound subject referring to a single person, or two or more things considered as a unit, is singular.

- My best friend and adviser has gone out. (a single individual was both friend and adviser)

- Fruit and cheese is my mom’s favourite dessert.

- The soccer coach and athletic director of our leisure centre is Mr. Robertson.

 

3. Or, nor, either … or, neither … nor

When two subjects both of which can be singular or plural or one singular and the other plural, are joined by or, nor, either … or, neither … nor, the verb agrees with the last subject.

Examples

- Neither Norman nor his sister is listening.

- Either the mountains or the seashore is enjoyable.

- Either you or I am responsible for the consequence.

- Either I or you are responsible for the consequence.

 

4. One of the + plural noun + who

An expression like “X” is one of the + plural noun + who/ that/ which, etc.” takes a plural verb.

Examples

- He is among the students who have scored high marks.

- George is one of those men who always excel in tests.

- It’s one of those accidents that happen when you’re overtired.

- The tiger is one of the wild animals which are very dangerous to man.

Exception

The expression: “X” is the only one of the + plural noun that/which, who, etc.” takes a singular verb.

Examples

- Helen is the only one of the girls who has applied for the scholarship.

- He is the only one of the students who is regularly absent from class.

- Mathematics is the only one of the subjects that gives me a headache.

 

5. Each either, etc

(a) A noun that follows expressions like:

each, either, every, many a, much, neither, this, that, little, a little  must be singular.

(b) Similarly, a noun that follows expressions like:

a few, a series of, another of, either of, few, many, neither of, one of, several, these, those, varies must be plural.

Note

Although a noun following another of, either of, neither of, one of is plural, the verb that comes after all of these, must be singular.

Examples

- Neither of us is very happy about your decision.

- Another of the students has been dismissed from school.

- One of the cars has broken down.

- Either of us is going to be fined.

 

6. Indefinite Pronouns

The following indefinite pronouns may be either singular or plural: all, any, most, none, some

Examples

- Some of the paint is on sale.

- Some of the houses are on sale.

- All of the players have received their letters.

- All of the paper has been consumed,

- Most of the photographs in the magazine are in full colour.

- Most of the money has been spent.

 

7. Collective Nouns

Collective nouns can take either singular or plural verbs. Some of the collective nouns are:

Class, choir, family, herd, jury, orchestra, series, majority, team

Examples

- My family is very large.

- My family are all tall.

- The church choir is singing.

- The church choir are not singing in on voice.

 

8. A number/the number

The expression a number takes a plural verb, while the expression the number takes a singular verb.

 

Examples

- A number of students are absent today.

- The number of students absent today is 5.

- A number of complaints on marking have been reported.

- The number of complaints on marking has reached 20.

 

9. When a word intervenes between subject and verb

A verb always agrees with its own subject no matter whether another word intervenes between them.

Examples

- The welfare of these children depends on your generosity.

- Our main topic of conversation was the new books that arrived last week.

- One of the reasons for his many mistakes is his absent-mindness.

10. Nouns ending in  -ics

Most nouns ending in  -ics take singular verbs, for example:

athletics, acoustics, statistics, civics, economics, gymnastics, mathematics, physics, phonetics, aesthetics, genetics, linguistics, and semantics.

Some nouns ending in  -ics may take either singular or plural verbs. These among others, include:

acoustics, athletics, ethics, politics and tactics.

These nouns are considered singular when referring to an organized body of knowledge, and plural when referring to activities, qualities, or individual facts.

Examples

- Athletics (activity in games) is required of every student.

- Athletics (various games) provide good recreation.

- Acoustics is an interesting study.

- The acoustics of the hall are good. Statistics is a science.

- The statistics were easily assembled.

Note

There are other nouns most of which end in  -s, that take plural verbs, while still others take singular verbs

(a) The following usually take plural verbs:

barracks, eyeglasses, pliers, environs, scissors, shears, slacks, thanks, trousers, data, media.

(b) The ones below take singular verbs

Measles, mumps, news, social students, the United Nations, the United States, billiards, gallows, dominoes, draughts.

Of course, there are other nouns which do not end in  -s, hut take a plural verb, for example:

Cattle, clergy, police, people, cavalry, infantry, poultry and vermin, etc.

Remember that some nouns that have unchanged plurals like, deer, sheep, trout, and salmon take plural verbs.

 

11. Titles of Newspapers, Books, etc

A title of a newspaper, book or magazine, even when plural in form, takes a singular verb, for example:

- “Twice-Told Tales” was written by Hawthorne.

- “The New York Times” has a wide circulation.

- “The Arabian Nights” is an excellent book.

- “Sons and Daughters” was written by D.H. Lawrence.

 

12. Fractions

With fractions, the shape of the verb is determined by the form of the noun that follows the fraction. That is to say if the following noun is plural, then the verb is plural; if the following noun is singular or uncountable, the verb is singular.

Examples

- Two-thirds of the country is covered with forests.

- Two-thirds of the students are boys.

- One quarter of the books have been paid for.

- One-quarter of the bottle is empty.

An exception: one quarter of the class are girls.

 

13. Minutes, hours, weight, distance, etc

Words like minutes, hours, weight, distance, etc are usually singular even though they may be plural in form.

- Thirty minutes is half of an hour.

- 40 kilos is not difficult to lift.

- The distance between the capital and the next town is only 50 kilometers.

 

14. Adjective that has become a noun

An adjective that has become a noun is plural in meaning and therefore takes a plural verb although it does not end in  -s,  e.g.

- The poor need our sympathy.

- The rich are lucky in that they have everything.

- The illiterate in India should be taught to read and write.

Adjectives that can be nouns include, among others.

Aged Educated injured powerful

blind elderly living rich

brave free needy sick

dead handicapped old starving

deaf homeless oppressed strong
disabled hungry poor uneducated

unemployed weak wealthy wounded

 

15. Not, not only

When the word not, or and not precedes one of the two nouns (or subjects) in a sentence, the verb agrees with the other subject that does not have not, and not before it.

- Action, not words, is immediately needed.

- Words, and not action, are first needed.

- Thanks, and not unthankfulness, are what he deserves.

 

16. Many a, more than one

Certain idiomatic expressions with plural meanings take singular verbs,  e.g.

- Many a child has been punished for misbehaving.

- More than one student is absent from class.

- Many a merchant has been seriously reprimanded for evading taxation.

 

17. Points on Case

The nominative case of a pronoun after a linking verb.

After a linking verb, the pronoun usually takes the nominative (subjective) case.

- It is I

- It is they.

- That is he.

Note

Informal: It’s me. That’s him. It’s them.

 

18. Object of a verb or preposition

A pronoun that is the direct or indirect object of a verb or preposition is used in the objective case.

- Give that rod to James and me.

- He invited Jim and me to the dance.

- Between him and me there is little to talk about.

 

19. A pronoun before a gerund

A pronoun that comes before a gerund should be used in the possessive case.

- We fully approve of their marrying.
- I feel encouraged by his refusing to accept a bribe.

 

20. Pronouns in Apposition

Pronouns in apposition take the same case as the noun or pronoun of which they are appositives.

- All will attend the party – they and we. (They and we is in apposition with all, which is the subject of the verb will attend.) So they and we is in the nominative case.

- He knew both of them – him and her.

The object of the verb knew is both. Him and her is in apposition with both, and therefore takes the objective case.

 

21. Form of a Pronoun after than

Usually a pronoun after than is in the nominative case. This is because part of the verb to be is understood after the pronoun.

- You can be taller than she (is).

- I am as happy as they (are).

 

22. The verb after how much

The expression how much can refer either to price, or the commodity, to be bought. If how much refers to price, it is followed by a singular verb. If on the other hand how much refers to the commodity to be bought it may be followed by singular or plural verb depending on the form of the following noun or pronoun.

- How much is this?

- How much is that car?

- How much are those books?

 

23. The Subjective Mood

The subjective mood expresses a contrary -to- fact situation, for example:

• Mother insists that Anna clean her own room (not cleans).

• I recommended that they be suspended (not are).

• We insist that he take every precaution (not takes).

 

Note

The past subjective form of the verb to be is were, or had been, for example

Past tense:
• I wish I were a musician. Or I wish I had been a musician.

• If the witness were honest, the accused would be acquitted.

• Do you wish he were your friend?

• I wish Michael were the president.

The subjective mood is used in the following situations:

1. (a) to express wishes e.g. I wish I were a millionaire.

(b) to express conditions that are doubtful or contrary to fact. In these cases, it is used after such words as: if, as if, though, and although

• If he were able, Frank would join the search party.

• Helen acted as if she were the only one who had failed.

2. were, be and the third person subjective forms of other verbs are used:

(a) to express commands or requests after the word that, e.g.

• The kidnappers demanded that the father come alone.

• The speaker asked that the audience be silent.

(b) in certain archaic phrases, for example:

• Heaven be praised.

• Far be it for me.

• Say what he will.

 

Was and Were after if

After if either was or were could be used depending on the meaning intended. Was can never be used after if in a clause that refers either to the present or to the future. Was expresses a reality in the past.

Were expresses a contrary to fact situation and always refers to either the present or the future time, for example:

• If John were here now, he would give the money I needed. (present)

• If ever I were to win a big prize in a lottery, I would buy a brand new car and also build a decent house. (refers to future)

When the clause that follows if refers to the past, the first and third persons singular must be followed by was. Were, in such cases, is always wrong, for example:

• If Richard was at the reception last night, he must have been presented to the princess.

• If I really was as rude as you say I was, I’m dreadfully sorry. I didn’t mean to be.

Look at the following short dialogue

Aster: Where was Tom yesterday?

Michael: Tom was attending the class with us the whole day.

Aster: If he was with us yesterday, I wonder why I did not see him.

A noun in the plural that has the function of an adjective takes the singular form, for example:

They live in an apartment of nine storeys. This becomes: They live in a nine storey apartment. Storey is part of the compound adjective a nine-storey and hence singular.

 

EXERCISE 1

Write the following sentences as in the example above.

1. Each of these tickets costs two dollars. These are                          .

2. That bag weighs fifty pounds. It is a                                   .

3. A train trip from Kyiv to Sumy takes seven hours. It is                       .

4. This book has 200 pages. It is a                                      .

5. There are seven letters in that word. It is a                               .

 

EXERCISE 2

Write the word in brackets in its correct form.

1. Twenty miles (is, are) a long way to walk.

2. The team (has, have) gone to the locker room to change (his, their) clothes.

3. Bread and milk (was, were) our usual Sunday night supper on the farm.

4. Many a man (has, have) spent too much for a used automobile.

5. The jury (has, have) been working for days to arrive at (its, their) decision.

6. The crowd (was, were) on their feet, yelling at the tops of their decision.

7. My mother was opposed to (me, my) taking piano lessons while I was in high school.

8. Jack, Bill, and (myself, me, I) are going on a camping trip next summer.

9. She prepared some coffee and sandwiches for (whomever, whoever) was hungry.

10. My interest in animals (goes, go) back to my childhood.

11. Everyone of these buttons (bring, brings) in a different situation.

12. One of the faucets (need, needs) fixing.

13. Either of these coats (fits, fit) you very well.

14. The clearness of these pictures (is, are) remarkable.
15. Flesh air and exercises (stimulate, stimulates) the appetite.

16. Much time and effort (was, were) spent on the decoration.

17. Only one of the boys (doesn’t, don’t) live near the school.

18. Either of these answers (is, are) correct.

 

EXERCISE 3

Show the grammatically correct form of the word in brackets.

1. Most men like (this, these) kind of shoes.

2. How much (is, are) those leather wallets?

3. Tracy avenue is the only one of our streets that (run, runs) from one end of the city to the other.

4. The owner or his friends (plan, plans) to use the boat this afternoon.

5. This is one of the greatest oil fields that (has, have) ever been discovered.

6. The orchestra (were, was) tuning up their instruments for their opening number.

7. Neither the hours nor the pay (are, is) satisfactory to most of the employees.

8. Three-quarters of our wheat (was, were) eaten by the grasshoppers.

9. Are you one of those readers who (don’t, doesn’t) read beyond the headlines?

10. Mrs. White’s greatest worry (was, were) her children.

11. Alex is one of those boys who (has, have) very little sense of humour.

12. About one of every three of our graduates now (goes, go) to college.

13. Five dollars (seem, seems) too much for dues.

14. This is one of the most freakish accidents that (has, have) ever occurred.

15. Two-thirds of the eggs (was, were) broken in shipment.

16. One of the most highly recommended safety devices (is, are) safety belts.

17. This kind of tires (gives, give) better traction in snow.

18. This pen and pencil set now (cost, costs) ten dollars.

 

EXERCISE 4

Make the subject and verb agree.

1. That is the only one of those watches that (require, requires) no winding.

2. The dumping of sewage and waste (make, makes) this an unhealthful place to live.

3. Either of these doors (lead, leads) to the auditorium.

4. The knowledge of these remarkable children (amaze, amazes) television listeners.
5. It is one of those programmes that (is, are) constantly interrupted by commercials.

6. Mrs. Perry, along with her two children, (has, have) gone to Paris.

7. Each boy and each girl (is, are) to work independently.

8. Every boy and girl (has, have) been urged to attend the play.

9. Neither teacher nor pupils (is, are) invited.

10. None (is, are) so blind as those who will not see.

11. “They” (is, are) a pronoun.

12. Doyle’s “The Five Orange Pips” (is, are) a fascinating story.

13. (Is, Are) either of the novels likely to become a best seller?

14. The cat or her kittens (are, is) to blame for turning over the Christmas tree.

15. A simple majority (is, are) sufficient to elect Gene class secretary.

16. There (come, comes) to my mind now the two or three men who were the most influential in my life.

17. A study of the many contrasts in the poetry of Browning and Tennyson (seem, seems) a good research topic.

 

EXERCISE 5

Correct the errors in agreement between the subject and the verb in the following:

1. Every door and window in the cottage were bolted.

2. Cheese, lettuce, and tomato are my favourite sandwich.

3. Mandarin, the language of millions of Chinese, top the list of the ten most widely spoken languages.

4. The secretary and treasurer of the photography club are Marvin Goldenberg.

5. Some of the paint are on sale.

6. Some of the houses is on sale.

7. All of the book are very interesting.

8. All of the actress’s jewelry were imitation.

9. Six months are needed to complete the work.

10. Three fourths of my salary go to the bank.

11. The number of the students entering college increase each year.

12. A number of these students intends to go onto vocational schools.

13. Measles are a very contagious disease.

14. The local news are on from six to seven o’clock in the evening.
15. Those scissors is dull.

16. Gymnastics take up most of my sister’s spare time.

17. Ten minutes after the end of the opera, the audience were still applauding.

18. Three miles are the distance from here to the next school.

 

Keys

Exercise 1

1. Each of these tickets costs two dollars. These are two-dollar tickets.

2. That bag weighs fifty pounds. It is a fifty-pound bag.

З. A train trip from Kyiv to Sumy takes seven hours. It is a seven-hour trip.

4. This book has 200 pages. It is a 200 page book.

5. There are seven letters in that word. It is a seven-letter word.

Exercise 2

1. is 10 goes

2. have … their 11. brings

3. was 12. needs

4. has 13. fits

5. has … its 14. is

6. were 15. stimulate

7. my 16. was

8. myself 17. doesn’t

9. whoever 18. is

Exercise 3

1. this 10. was

2. are 11. have

3. runs 12. goes

4. plan 13. seems

5. have 14. have

6. were 15. were

7. is 16. is

8. was 17. gives

9. don’t 18. costs

Exercise 4

1. requires 10. are

2. makes 11. is

3. leads 12. is

4. amazes 13. Is

5. are 14. are

6. has 15. is

7. is 16. come

8. has 17. seems

9. are

Exercise 5

1. Every door and window in the cottage was bolted.

2. Cheese, lettuce, and tomato is my favourite sandwich.

3. Mandarin the language of millions of Chinese tops the list of the ten most widely spoken languages.

4. The secretary and treasurer of the photography club is Marvin Goldenberg.

5. Some of the paints is on sale.

6. Some of the houses are on sale.

7. (correct)

8. All of the actress’s jewelry was imitation.

9. Six months is needed to complete the work.

10. Three-fourths of my salary goes to the bank.

11. The number of students entering college increases each year.

12. A number of students intend to go onto vocational schools.

13. Measles is a very contagious disease.

14. The local news is on from six to seven o’clock in the evening.

15. Those scissors are dull.

16. Gymnastics takes up most of my sister’s spare time.

17. (correct)

18. Three miles is the distance from here to the school.