Concord or Agreement of Subject and Verb

Concord or
Agreement of Subject and Verb

Agreement of subject and verb means that verbs (in the present tense) agree with their subjects in number (singular or plural) and in person (first, second or third).

There are three ways one can make an error with this rule.

not correctly identifying the subject of the verb (top half of table below)

making a mistake about whether the subject is singular or plural (bottom half of table below)

using the incorrect verb form (see models)

In the examples below, the subject is in bold letters while its verb is in red.

Watch out ...

Example

Explanation

for words that come between the subject and the verb The flowers in the garden need watering.

Our attic, which was infested with termites, needs a new floor. The words "in the garden" modify the subject. The noun "garden" may be mistaken for the subject.

In the second example, "attic" is the subject; ignore the words between the subject and the verb.

when the subject comes after the verb There are many children in the playground. Verbs usually follow subjects. When this normal order is reversed, it is easy to become confused.

Rephrase: Many children are in the playground.

for subject complement My favorite dessert is muffins.

Muffins are my favorite dessert. When a subject ( e.g., singular "dessert" ) is renamed by a subject complement which is different in number ( e.g., plural "muffins" ), confusion may creep in: Should the verb agree with the subject or the complement?

Remember always to make the verb agree with its subject ( and not with the complement, even if the complement is different in number ).

for expressions such as together with, along with, as well as, in addition to and accompanied by The governor, together with his press secretary, was shot. These expressions ( such as together with ) seem to convey the plural meaning but they do NOT change the grammatical number of the subject.

for collective nouns A herd of buffaloes is grazing in the field. Collective nouns emphasize the group as a unit; therefore treat collective nouns as singular unless the meaning is clearly plural

Example: The class (members) are debating among themselves.

for uncountable nouns
modified by adjectives such as some, most and a lot of A lot of homework was assigned to the students.

Most of the equipment was damaged by the fire.

Some of the missing luggage has been found. Although adjectives such as a lot of, most and some convey a plural meaning, uncountable nouns are considered as singular even when modified by these adjectives.

for uncountable nouns
( with plural forms ) Athletics is recommended for every student.

Measles is an infectious disease. Uncountable nouns (such as athletics, economics, mathematics, physics, statistics, measles, mumps and news) are considered as singular, despite their plural forms.

Exception: When used to describe the separate items in the respective fields of study, these words are plural.

Example: Athletics include high jump, long jump, triple jump and pole vault.

for indefinite pronouns Has everyone completed their homework?

Everybody was laughing at him. Most indefinite pronouns are singular even though some of them (e.g., everyone, everybody) appear to have plural meanings.

Some of the beads are missing.

Some of the lemonade has evaporated. Some indefinite pronouns (all, any, some) are singular or plural depending on what they are referring to. Is the thing referred to countable or uncountable?

When used with countable nouns, these indefinite pronouns are plural.

for compound subjects
connected by and The governor and his press secretary were shot. Compound subjects are usually plural.

Exceptions:

When the words or phrases (connected by and) function as a single unit ...

Fish and chips is a popular item on the menu.

When the words or phrases refer to the same person / thing ...

Jean, my friend and co-worker was surprised by my decision to resign.

When the compound subject is preceded by each or every ...

Each tree, shrub and vine needs to be sprayed.

for compound subjects
connected by or, nor, not only ... but also Neither the teacher nor her students were impressed by the presentation.

Neither the students nor the teacher was impressed by the presentation. Make the verb agree with the noun nearest to it.

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Watch out ...	Example	Explanation
for words that come between the subject and the verb	The flowers in the garden need watering. Our attic, which was infested with termites, needs a new floor.	The words "in the garden" modify the subject. The noun "garden" may be mistaken for the subject. In the second example, "attic" is the subject; ignore the words between the subject and the verb.
when the subject comes after the verb	There are many children in the playground.	Verbs usually follow subjects. When this normal order is reversed, it is easy to become confused. Rephrase: Many children are in the playground.
for subject complement	My favorite dessert is muffins. Muffins are my favorite dessert.	When a subject ( e.g., singular "dessert" ) is renamed by a subject complement which is different in number ( e.g., plural "muffins" ), confusion may creep in: Should the verb agree with the subject or the complement? Remember always to make the verb agree with its subject ( and not with the complement, even if the complement is different in number ).
for expressions such as together with, along with, as well as, in addition to and accompanied by	The governor, together with his press secretary, was shot.	These expressions ( such as together with ) seem to convey the plural meaning but they do NOT change the grammatical number of the subject.
for collective nouns	A herd of buffaloes is grazing in the field.	Collective nouns emphasize the group as a unit; therefore treat collective nouns as singular unless the meaning is clearly plural Example: The class (members) are debating among themselves.
for uncountable nouns modified by adjectives such as some, most and a lot of	A lot of homework was assigned to the students. Most of the equipment was damaged by the fire. Some of the missing luggage has been found.	Although adjectives such as a lot of, most and some convey a plural meaning, uncountable nouns are considered as singular even when modified by these adjectives.
for uncountable nouns ( with plural forms )	Athletics is recommended for every student. Measles is an infectious disease.	Uncountable nouns (such as athletics, economics, mathematics, physics, statistics, measles, mumps and news) are considered as singular, despite their plural forms. Exception: When used to describe the separate items in the respective fields of study, these words are plural. Example: Athletics include high jump, long jump, triple jump and pole vault.
for indefinite pronouns	Has everyone completed their homework? Everybody was laughing at him.	Most indefinite pronouns are singular even though some of them (e.g., everyone, everybody) appear to have plural meanings.
for indefinite pronouns	Some of the beads are missing. Some of the lemonade has evaporated.	Some indefinite pronouns (all, any, some) are singular or plural depending on what they are referring to. Is the thing referred to countable or uncountable? When used with countable nouns, these indefinite pronouns are plural.
for compound subjects connected by and	The governor and his press secretary were shot.	Compound subjects are usually plural. Exceptions: When the words or phrases (connected by and) function as a single unit ... Fish and chips is a popular item on the menu. When the words or phrases refer to the same person / thing ... Jean, my friend and co-worker was surprised by my decision to resign. When the compound subject is preceded by each or every ... Each tree, shrub and vine needs to be sprayed.
for compound subjects connected by or, nor, not only ... but also	Neither the teacher nor her students were impressed by the presentation. Neither the students nor the teacher was impressed by the presentation.	Make the verb agree with the noun nearest to it.


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