UWF Writing Lab Rules of Thumb for SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Webb Hixon 1 Created by April Turner Revised by Savanna.

UWF Writing Lab Rules of UWF Writing Lab Rules of Thumb for SUBJECT/VERB Thumb for SUBJECT/VERB

AGREEMENT AGREEMENT

from from

Real Good Grammar, Too Real Good Grammar, Too

by Mamie Webb Hixonby Mamie Webb Hixon

11

Created by April Turner Revised Created by April Turner Revised by Savanna Richter (9/29/09) by Savanna Richter (9/29/09)

Revised by Mamie Webb Hixon Revised by Mamie Webb Hixon June 26, 2010 June 26, 2010

””Grammar operates on the principle Grammar operates on the principle that if it sounds right, it is probably that if it sounds right, it is probably

wrong.”wrong.”-Author Unknown-Author Unknown

• When Jill gets a brilliant idea, she always say When Jill gets a brilliant idea, she always say something worth hearing.something worth hearing.

• Do either of you have a pencil? Do either of you have a pencil? • He is one of the millions of Americans who smokes.He is one of the millions of Americans who smokes.• Every man, woman, and child on the cruise ship were Every man, woman, and child on the cruise ship were

issued a life jacket.issued a life jacket.• The media is not invited to the Senator’s press The media is not invited to the Senator’s press

conference.conference.• Each of the applicants have already been notified.Each of the applicants have already been notified.• The faculty is still debating the issue among The faculty is still debating the issue among

themselves.themselves.• Either the class officers or the faculty advisor make Either the class officers or the faculty advisor make

the final decision.the final decision.22

Rule 1Rule 1

• Use a verb ending in Use a verb ending in –s–s if your subject is a if your subject is a he, she, he, she, or or it.it.

• Singular subjects include, but are not Singular subjects include, but are not limited to, these:limited to, these:– Singular nouns: Singular nouns:

• A A listlist of phone numbers of phone numbers isis available. available.• A major A major problemproblem isis smokers. smokers.

– Singular indefinite pronouns such as Singular indefinite pronouns such as each, one, each, one, either, neithereither, neither, and pronouns ending with , and pronouns ending with -one, --one, -body, body, and and -thing: -thing: • EachEach of us of us needsneeds a key. a key.

– Subjects preceded by Subjects preceded by eacheach, , everyevery, or , or many amany a::• Every Tom, Dick, and HarrietEvery Tom, Dick, and Harriet hashas an opinion. an opinion. 33

Singular Subjects, cont.Singular Subjects, cont.– Subjects preceded by Subjects preceded by the number ofthe number of: :

• The number of studentsThe number of students attending college attending college isis very high.very high.

– Titles/names of companies, books, plays, Titles/names of companies, books, plays, movies, etc.: movies, etc.: • The Centers for Disease ControlThe Centers for Disease Control isis in Atlanta, in Atlanta,

Georgia.Georgia.– Gerunds: Gerunds:

• Recycling telephone directoriesRecycling telephone directories helpshelps save save landfill space each year.landfill space each year.

– Relative pronouns referring to singular Relative pronouns referring to singular antecedents: antecedents: • Ora is the Ora is the only oneonly one in the group in the group whowho smokessmokes..

– Subjects joined by Subjects joined by or, nor, either…or, or, nor, either…or, or or neither…norneither…nor::• Either the class officers or the Either the class officers or the faculty advisorfaculty advisor

makes the final decision.makes the final decision. 44

Singular Subjects, cont.Singular Subjects, cont.

Some words ending in –Some words ending in –icsics

AcousticsAcoustics requiresrequires an understanding of mathematics. an understanding of mathematics.

Certain words borrowed from Greek and LatinCertain words borrowed from Greek and Latin

criterioncriterion mediummedium phenomenonphenomenon

The main criterion for passing this course The main criterion for passing this course isis attendance. attendance.

Fractions are affected by the prepositional Fractions are affected by the prepositional phrase: if the object of the prepositional phrase phrase: if the object of the prepositional phrase is singular, then the fraction is considered is singular, then the fraction is considered singular; if the object is plural, the fraction is singular; if the object is plural, the fraction is plural.plural.

One half of the computers One half of the computers areare not not workingworking..

One half of the paper One half of the paper isis well written. well written.55

Singular Subjects, cont.Singular Subjects, cont.

• Some nouns ending in Some nouns ending in –s: news, –s: news, measles, mumps, hiccoughs, etc.measles, mumps, hiccoughs, etc.

MeaslesMeasles, best known for its skin rash, , best known for its skin rash, isis a very rare a very rare contagious disease that usually contagious disease that usually affectsaffects children. children.

AIDSAIDS causescauses severe damage to the immune system. severe damage to the immune system.

Terms of quantityTerms of quantity

The Democratic The Democratic majoritymajority favorsfavors the bill. the bill.

66

Singular Subjects, cont.Singular Subjects, cont.

77

Singular Indefinite PronounsSingular Indefinite Pronouns

eacheach everybodyeverybody everyoneeveryone

nobodynobody someonesomeone everythingeverything

somethingsomethingneitherneither

anybodyanybody anyoneanyone

no oneno one anythinganything

somebodysomebody eithereither

one one nothingnothing

88

ExamplesExamples

• Two of my favorite sitcoms are Two of my favorite sitcoms are EverybodyEverybody LovesLoves Raymond Raymond and and EverybodyEverybody HatesHates Chris. Chris.

• NeitherNeither of the passengers of the passengers waswas wearing a seatbelt.wearing a seatbelt.

• EachEach of the restaurants on the of the restaurants on the boardwalk boardwalk servesserves breakfast. breakfast.

99

Collective NounsCollective Nouns

• Singular when referring to the group as Singular when referring to the group as a unita unit

• juryjury teamteam committeecommittee

• ChoirChoir bandband facultyfaculty

• CrewCrew castcast familyfamily

The The juryjury has made has made its decision.its decision.

The The facultyfaculty selectsselects the students who will the students who will be recognized at the Honors be recognized at the Honors Convocation.Convocation.

1010

Rule 2Rule 2

• Use a verb that does not end in Use a verb that does not end in –s –s if if your subject is a your subject is a theythey. .

• Plural subjects include, but are not limited to, these: Plural subjects include, but are not limited to, these:

– Subjects joined by Subjects joined by or, nor, either . . . or, or, nor, either . . . or, or or neither . . . norneither . . . nor: : •Either the faculty advisor or the Either the faculty advisor or the class class

officersofficers make the final decisionmake the final decision..

– Plural indefinite pronouns: Plural indefinite pronouns: several, few, several, few, both, many both, many •BothBoth of us of us havehave a key. a key.

1111

Plural Subjects, cont.Plural Subjects, cont.

– Plural nouns ending in -Plural nouns ending in -ss: : clothes, clothes, sunglasses, scissors, manners, jeans, sunglasses, scissors, manners, jeans, jalousies, tights, Venetian blindsjalousies, tights, Venetian blinds •The The scissorsscissors are lyingare lying on the desk. on the desk.

– Subjects preceded by Subjects preceded by a number ofa number of: : •A number of studentsA number of students are majoringare majoring in law. in law.

– Relative pronouns referring to plural Relative pronouns referring to plural antecedents: antecedents: •He is one of the millions of He is one of the millions of peoplepeople whowho

smokesmoke..1212

Plural Subjects, cont.Plural Subjects, cont.

Subjects joined by “and” and “both . . . and”Subjects joined by “and” and “both . . . and”

Beach residents and mobile home residents Beach residents and mobile home residents worryworry about about thunderstorms and greatly fear tornadoes and hurricanes.thunderstorms and greatly fear tornadoes and hurricanes.

Both a teller and a guard Both a teller and a guard operateoperate the drive-in window at the the drive-in window at the bank.bank.

Some words ending in Some words ending in –ics–ics

Gloria’s Gloria’s politicspolitics areare left of the center. left of the center.

1313

Collective Nouns as PluralCollective Nouns as Plural

• Collective NounsCollective Nouns

The The familyfamily havehave set separate vacation set separate vacation itineraries.itineraries.

Terms of quantityTerms of quantity

The majority The majority of Republicans of Republicans areare opposed to the Health Care Reform opposed to the Health Care Reform Act.Act.

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Rules ContinuedRules Continued

• Ignore prepositional phrases: Ignore prepositional phrases: – A A listlist of phone numbersof phone numbers isis available. available.

• Ignore Ignore there there and and herehere at the beginning of a at the beginning of a sentence: sentence: – ThereThere areare three three booksbooks on the censored list. on the censored list.

• Ignore appositives – renaming pronouns or Ignore appositives – renaming pronouns or nouns:nouns: – TheyThey eacheach havehave a ticket. a ticket.

• Ignore words synonymous with the subject: Ignore words synonymous with the subject: – ClothesClothes areare her her passionpassion.. Her Her passionpassion isis

clothesclothes..

1515

Rules ContinuedRules Continued

• Some subjects may be singular or plural depending Some subjects may be singular or plural depending on the meaning of the subject.on the meaning of the subject.– SomeSome of the food of the food isis cold. cold. – SomeSome of the vegetables of the vegetables areare cold. cold.– The The castcast waswas congratulated. congratulated. – The The castcast werewere practicing their lines. practicing their lines.– Fifteen minutesFifteen minutes isis a long time. a long time.– Fifteen minutesFifteen minutes remainremain..– StatisticsStatistics isis a difficult course. a difficult course. – Divorce Divorce statisticsstatistics areare alarmingly high. alarmingly high. – Statistics Statistics showshow that college students’ writing skills have that college students’ writing skills have

declined. declined. – Statistics Statistics coverscovers a lot of information about qualitative a lot of information about qualitative

and quantitative analyses. and quantitative analyses.

1616

REVIEWREVIEW

1717

CORRECTIONS for CORRECTIONS for Sentences in Slide #1Sentences in Slide #1• When Jill When Jill getsgets a brilliant idea, she always a brilliant idea, she always sayssays

something worth hearing.something worth hearing.• DoesDoes either of you have a pencil? either of you have a pencil? • He is one of the millions of Americans who He is one of the millions of Americans who smokesmoke..• Every man, woman, and child on the cruise ship Every man, woman, and child on the cruise ship

waswas issued a life jacket. issued a life jacket.• The media The media areare not invited to the Senator’s press not invited to the Senator’s press

conference.conference.• Each of the applicants Each of the applicants hashas already been notified. already been notified.• The faculty The faculty areare still debating the issue among still debating the issue among

themselves.themselves.

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Let’s Practice!!!Let’s Practice!!!

• The sheriff, along with two of her deputies, The sheriff, along with two of her deputies, (were, was) checking licenses at the North (were, was) checking licenses at the North Road exit.Road exit.

• WASWAS• Some of the lots in our subdivision (was, Some of the lots in our subdivision (was,

were) not for sale.were) not for sale.• WEREWERE

• Here (is, are) the transistors and diodes that Here (is, are) the transistors and diodes that you purchased for your repair shop.you purchased for your repair shop.

• AREARE• Genetics (is, are) very difficult for beginning Genetics (is, are) very difficult for beginning

students to understand.students to understand.• ISIS 1919

More Practice!!!More Practice!!!

• The number of girls in my football club The number of girls in my football club (was, were) surprising.(was, were) surprising.

• WASWAS• A number of the swimmers (is, are) going to A number of the swimmers (is, are) going to

the state competition.the state competition.• AREARE

• There (is, are) some error messages There (is, are) some error messages showing up in my program.showing up in my program.

• AREARE• Neither Randi nor Pat (type, types) more Neither Randi nor Pat (type, types) more

than fifty words per minute.than fifty words per minute.• TYPESTYPES

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