SPECIAL SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT CASES
Compound subjects, collective nouns, and
plural nouns used as titles of courses or subject areas can create confusion
regarding subject-verb agreement. Following are guidelines for using a singular
or plural verb in such cases.
1) Compound Subject Joined by
and—Singular Verb
Use the singular verbs for compound
subjects joined by and:
ç When the subject is considered a unit
(research and development)
ç When both parts of the subject are
modified by each or every.
Example:
- The secretary and treasurer has filed
the minutes.
- Each owner and every pet receives a
prize for entering our pet show.
2) Compound Subject Joined by
and—Plural Verb
Except for the cases already noted,
compound subjects joined by and take a plural verb.
Example:
- Rain and hail were falling at the same
time.
- Tom and Samira have resigned over this
matter.
- There are one book and two paintings on
the floor.
- Are the computer and the typewriter both
IBM?
3) Compound Subjects Joined by
or / nor—Singular Verb
Use the singular verb:
ç If the subject next to the verb is
considered singular or
ç If both parts of the subject are singular.
Example:
- The drawers or the closet is the place
to look.
- Is the horse or the pony loose again?
- Neither Alan nor Julie remembers
borrowing my car.
4) Compound Subjects Joined by
or / nor—Plural Verb
The plural verb is used if the subject
nearest the verb is plural or if both parts of the subject are plural.
Example:
- The closet or the drawers are the place
to look.
- The directors or the producers receive
all the credit.
- Neither the girls nor their teachers
were aware of the approaching high tide.
5) Plural Nouns—Singular Verb
Plural nouns used as the titles of courses
or subject areas or as measurements or units of quantity (dollars, pounds,
inches) take a singular verb.
Example:
- Humanities has a long, involved reading list.
- I weighed myself, and twelve pounds has
to go!
- Forty miles seems a long way to walk in
one day.
- Is $2,500 a good price for this car?
6) Collective Nouns—Singular or
Plural Verbs
To emphasize the collective noun as unit,
use the singular verb. To refer to individuals within the group, use the plural
verb.
Example:
- The fleet sails tomorrow at 04:30.
- The Seventh Fleet have three days to
repair their vessels.
- Everyone applauds how hard the council
works.
- The council are divided about the tax
reform issue.
- When is the team going to play its next
home game?
- The team need to recuperate from their
injuries
7) Prepositional Phrases and
Other Matters Set Off from the Subject
Prepositional phrases following subject or
material set off from the subject by commas generally does not influence
subject-verb agreement. To decide whether to use a singular or plural verb
form, simply block out the prepositional phrase or additional material and look
only at the subject and verb.
Example:
- None of the facts has been proven true.
(None of the facts has)
- Any of these students writes well. (Any
‘one’ of these students writes)
- Many flowers, such as the tulip, grow in
northern climates. (Many flowers, such as the tulip, grow)
- My house, unlike those houses, looks
brand new. (My house, unlike those houses, looks)
NOTE: The exception to
this rule occurs when the word all is followed by a singular or plural noun or
pronoun. In this case, the prepositional phrase or material following all with
determine whether to use a singular or plural verb.
Example:
- All of my apple pie was eaten. (Singular pie takes the singular verb was eaten.)
- All of my apple pie was eaten. (Singular pie takes the singular verb was eaten.)
- All of my apple pies were eaten. (Plural
pies take the plural verb were eaten.)