Subject Verb Agreement- McGraw-Hill

Business English at Work
© 2003 Glencoe/McGraw-Hill

Subject-VerbSubject-Verb
AgreementAgreement
Objectives
Select single verbs that agree with single subjects
and plural verbs that agree with plural subjects.
Identify phrases between subjects and verbs that do
not affect the choice of the verb.
Use verbs that agree with subjects joined by and,
or, and nor correctly.
Select linking verbs that agree with subjects.
PP 11-1a
continuedcontinued

AgreementAgreement
Objectives
PP 11-1b
continuedcontinued
Select verbs that agree with indefinite pronouns
used as subjects.
Use verbs that agree with collective nouns.
Use verbs that agree with money, time periods,
numbers, and measurements.
Use correct verbs with subjects in inverted
sentences.
Use verbs that agree with plural nouns and gerund
phrases.

AgreementAgreement
General Principles of
Subject-Verb Agreement
PP 11-2
A verb must agree with its subject in–
Person Number
a) first
b) second
c) third
a) singular
b) plural

AgreementAgreement
Singular Subject—Singular Verb
PP 11-3
Use a singular verb with a singular subject.
Add s or es to a present part of a singular verb
when the subject is third person singular.
Use the simple subject to determine the correct
verb form.
an employee (decides, decides)
I (speak, speaks)
she (plan, plans)
experience (bring, brings)
he (reaches, reaches)
you (agree, agrees)
the telephone (ring, rings)

AgreementAgreement
Plural Subject—Plural Verb
PP 11-4
Use a plural verb with a plural subject.
Do not add s to a plural verb used with a plural subject
(a plural noun is formed by adding s or es, but this is
not true with the plural form of a verb).
Use the simple subject to determine the correct verb
form.
the managers (cooperate, cooperates)
employees (compromise, compromise)
they (decide, decides)
members (disagree, disagrees)
we (discuss, discusses)

AgreementAgreement
Pronoun You—Plural Verb
PP 11-5
Use a plural verb with both the second-person
singular or second-person plural subject you.
you determine you think you are
you both work you are all qualified

AgreementAgreement
Intervening Words and Phrases
PP 11-6a
The verb must agree with the subject, not with
the object of the prepositional phrase that may
appear between the subject and the verb.
My lack of experience keeps me from accepting a
leadership role.
The items on the agenda determine the length of
our meetings.
The members of our team work well together.

AgreementAgreement
Intervening Words and Phrases
PP 11-6b
Disregard modifying phrases such as along with, in
addition to, together with, accompanied by, as
well as, and in conjunction with.
Use commas to set aside these modifying phrases
when they are placed between the subject and the
verb.
Patti, along with several other committee members, prepares
our agenda.
Patience, in addition to the ability to listen, plays an important
part in success.

AgreementAgreement
Compound Subjects
Joined by And
PP 11-7
Use a plural verb with a compound subject joined by
and or both . . . and.
The manager and team members meet every week.
Both Rachel and Rick work in the evenings.
Use a singular verb with a compound subject that
refers to the same person or thing or is considered a
single unit.
My friend and coworker has participated in panel discussions
on teamwork.

AgreementAgreement
Compound Subjects
Joined by Or or Nor
PP 11-8
Make the verb agree with the subject nearest
the verb when a compound subject is joined by
or or nor or by either . . . or or neither . . . nor.
Either Penny or Zola is expected to replace Maurey on
the committee.
Neither the supervisor nor the committee members were
available after 5 p.m.

AgreementAgreement
Compound Subjects With Many a,
Many an, Each, and Every
PP 11-9
Use a singular verb when the words many a, many an,
each, and every immediately precede a compound
subject. The subject that follows one of these four
expressions is considered singular; the verb must agree.
Many a staff meeting and brainstorming session has resulted in
numerous creative ideas.
Every supervisor and department manager needs good
communication skills.
Each workshop participant and observer receives feedback in a
timely manner.

AgreementAgreement
Linking Verbs
PP 11-10
A linking verb should agree with its subject,
not its subject complement (predicate noun or
pronoun).
Time management skills were the first workshop
topic at our company retreat.
Compliments are a way to start a conversation.

AgreementAgreement
Indefinite Pronouns That Require
Singular Verbs
PP 11-11
Use a singular verb when the subject is one of the
following singular indefinite pronouns.
anybody either neither one
anyone everybody no one somebody
anything everyone nobody someone
each everything nothing something
Someone in our department commutes from Santa Rosa.
One of our team members always reacts strongly to
recommendations that appear costly.

AgreementAgreement
Indefinite Pronouns That Require
Plural Verbs
PP 11-12
Use a plural verb when the subject is one of
the following pronouns: both, few, many,
others, and several.
Several of our employees like to organize our retreat.
Many of our Website changes are the result of
customers’ suggestions.
Both of the team meetings are scheduled for Friday.

AgreementAgreement
Collective Nouns That Require a
Singular Verb
PP 11-13
Use a singular verb to refer to a group as one
unit.
This particular accounting team is extremely
accurate.
The public relations group responds quickly to any
questions about company operations.
The hiring committee has selected a candidate.

AgreementAgreement
Collective Nouns That Require a
Plural Verb
PP 11-14
Use a plural verb to refer to group members
acting as individual members of the group.
The team are selecting meeting dates for next year.
At Mission Hills Mortgage, a peer counseling group
help workers with work-related problems.
The committee need to stop promoting their
individual projects and make a group decision.

AgreementAgreement
Publications
PP 11-15
Use a singular verb when the name of a
publication such as a book, magazine,
software, or newspaper is used as a subject.
The Insider publishes our company
announcements.
The Internet Guide reviews Websites.

AgreementAgreement
Companies, Institutions, and
Organizations
PP 11-16
Use a singular verb when the name of a
company, an institution, or an organization is
used as a subject of a sentence.
Marriott International Inc. emphasizes the ability
to work as a member of a team.
Gateway Technical College makes teamwork a
part of each class.

AgreementAgreement
Money, Time Periods, Numbers,
and Measurements
PP 11-17
Use a singular verb with money,
measurements, time periods, or numbers
when referring to one total amount or unit.
Two hours is the time limit for all staff meetings.
Twenty dollars is the donation expected from
each employee.

AgreementAgreement
Fractional Amounts—
Singular Verbs
PP 11-18
Use a singular verb with expressions such as the
majority of, a part of, a portion of, a
percentage of or one-half of when the noun that
follows the word of is singular.
The majority of our team is in support of the software
update.
A small percentage of our meeting time involves
socializing.

AgreementAgreement
Fractional Amounts—
Plural Verbs
PP 11-19
Use a plural verb with expressions such as a
majority of, a part of, a portion of, a
percentage of, or one-half of when the noun that
follows the word of is plural.
A majority of my colleagues support the proposal.
A large percentage of company computers have
project management software.

AgreementAgreement
A Number/The Number
PP 11-20
Use a plural verb with the subject a number.
A number of the members of this committee
are eager to reorganize the department.
Use a singular verb with the subject the
number.
The number of accounting employees
increases as our business expands.

AgreementAgreement
Sentences Beginning with
Here and There
PP 11-21
Locate the subject in a sentence that begins
with here or there. The verb should agree
with the subject.
There are five candidates for the manager’s
position.
Here is the agenda for the meeting.

AgreementAgreement
Questions
PP 11-22
Locate the subject in a question, and make the
verb agree with the subject.
Do you agree with the recommendations of the
committee?
Why are you attending the leadership seminar
in California?

AgreementAgreement
Nouns Ending in ics
PP 11-23
Use a singular verb with a noun that ends in ics
when the noun refers to one topic of study.
Statistics prepares employees for analyzing data.
Use a plural verb with a noun that ends in ics
when the noun refers to more than one idea or
item.
The statistics from our Website are valuable in
analyzing our customers’ needs.

AgreementAgreement
Plural Nouns
PP 11-24
Use a plural verb with such nouns ending in s
as assets, dues, earnings, goods, grounds,
odds, proceeds, savings, and thanks when
these nouns are used as subjects.
The odds were against us, but we tried to get
additional support staff for the project team.
No dues are required from members of teams.

AgreementAgreement
Gerund Phrases
PP 11-25
Use a singular verb when a gerund phrase is
the subject of a sentence.
Completing leadership training takes
commitment.
Assuming leadership roles is important for all
employees.

Subject Verb Agreement- McGraw-Hill

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