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Agreement
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Section 9

Being able to identify the subject and verb
correctly will be essential in determining
agreement

It also helps you with commas (and semicolons
as you will see later)
Subject-Verb Agreement

The verb of a sentence must agree with its
subject in number



Meaning that singular subjects NEED singular
verbs
And, plural subjects NEED plural verbs
Note: verbs agree only with subjects NOT
predicate nominatives
Subject-Verb Agreement




The row of bushes was
was planted to form a
privacy screen.
The boats by the dock need
need repair.
is
Coach Brock, together with his players, is
leaving the tournament.
The stereo, including CD changer and speakers,
was
was on sale.
Subject-Verb Agreement

If a sentence asks a question or begins with there
or here, you must locate the subject and make
sure the verb agrees with it

There and here are rarely subjects



What is the title of your project?
There are thirty-five pages in this chapters.
Here are the ingredients for the recipe.
Subject-Verb Agreement

Titles of literary works, works of art,
organizations, cities, and countries are usually
singular even if they are plural in form



Pickwick Papers is a novel written by Charles
Dickens.
The Massacre of the Innocents by Giovanni Pisano
was used to adorn a pulpit in Italy.
General Motors is a huge corporation.
Subject-Verb Agreement

Collective nouns may be either singular or
plural.

Collective nouns name groups


A collective noun is singular when the group is
thought of as a unit


Jury, team, class, family, ect
The jury has been dismissed.
A collective noun is plural when the group is
thought of as individuals acting separately

The jury were unable to agree among themselves.
Subject-Verb Agreement

Expressions stating amounts (fractions,
measurements, money, time) may be either
singular or plural


They are singular when the amount is considered
a unit
They are plural when the amount is regarded as
separate parts
Subject-Verb Agreement




Two thirds of the milk was spilled on the floor.
Two thirds of the peanuts were gone.
Six dollars for a hamburger is expensive.
Six dollars were placed in separate envelopes
and distributed to the children.
Subject-Verb Agreement

Words ending in –ics can be singular or plural

Singular

Courses of study or sciences



Civics was his best subject in high school.
Mathematics is a pure science.
Plural

When they do not refer to courses or sciences


Gymnastics are performed before large audiences.
His ethics are not what they should be.
Subject-Verb Agreement

Compound subjects joined by and take a plural
verb


Jack and Joe were here today.
Sometimes subjects joined by and refer only to
one person or are considered one thing

In these instances, use a singular verb

Our quarterback and team captain is Jared Johnson.
Subject-Verb Agreement

When a compound subject is joined by or, nor,
either—or, neither—nor, the verb agrees with
the nearer subject


Either her helpers of the librarian is there to assist
you.
Either the librarian or her helpers are there to assist
you.
Subject-Verb Agreement

The following infinitive pronouns are singular
and take a singular verb:

Each, either, neither, one, everyone, everybody,
no one, nobody, anybody, anyone, anybody,
someone, somebody


Everyone in the room is working toward a definite
goal.
Neither of the contestants was well prepared.
Subject-Verb Agreement

The following indefinite pronouns are plural
and take plural verbs:

Both, few, several, many


Many of the flowers are in full bloom.
Several of the workers are receiving safety awards.
Subject-Verb Agreement

The following indefinite pronouns may be
either singular or plural:


Some, any, none, all, most
To determine the necessary verb, you need to
look at the context of the sentence


All of the land was cultivated.
All of the seeds were carefully planted.
Subject-Verb Agreement

A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in
number, gender, and person
Pronoun-Antecedent
Agreement

Number

A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in
number


If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun referring
to it must be singular
If the antecedent is plural, the pronoun referring to
it must be plural
Pronoun-Antecedent
Agreement

Use a singular pronouns to refer to the singular
indefinite pronouns:

Each, either, neither, one, everyone, everybody,
no one, nobody, anyone, anybody, someone,
somebody

Each of the girls came armed with their own ideas.


Correct?
Each of the girls came armed with her own ideas.

Correct
Pronoun-Antecedent
Agreement

Use plural pronouns to refer to the plural
indefinite pronouns:

Both, few, several, many

A few filled their nets with fish.
Pronoun-Antecedent
Agreement

The indefinite pronouns some, any, non, all,
most may be referred to by singular or plural
pronouns, depending on the sense of the
sentence


Most of the trees have lost their leaves.
Most of the castle retains its splendor.
Pronoun-Antecedent
Agreement

Pronouns that refer to compounds antecedents
joined by and are usually plural


Robert and Kevin visited their parents during the
holidays.
Pronouns that refer to compound antecedents
joined by or or nor usually agree with the
nearer antecedent


Neither Mark nor his bothers have received their
passports.
Neither Mark nor Tom has received his passport.
Pronoun-Antecedent
Agreement

Gender

A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in
gender

Antecedents of masculine gender (male sex) are
referred to by he, him, his


Mr. Wilson put some papers into his briefcase.
Antecedents of feminine gender (female sex) are
referred to by she, her, hers

The bride tossed her bouquet toward the
unmarried girls.
Pronoun-Antecedent
Agreement

Antecedents of neuter gender (no sex) are
referred to by it, its


The tree lost all its leaves.
Antecedents of common gender (sex not known)
are referred to by he, him, his

It is understood that masculine pronouns include
both male and female



Each speaker maintained his poise. (most correct)
Each speaker maintained their poise. (formally
incorrect—no longer seen as incorrect)
Each speaker maintained his or her poise. (politically
correct)
Pronoun-Antecedent
Agreement

Person

A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in
person



We can bring our picnic table. (first person)
Will you ask your mother for that recipe? (second
person)
Matt gave his speech first. (third person)
Pronoun-Antecedent
Agreement