Subject Verb Agreement

While grammar is not as static a science as is typically assumed, there are 10 main rules of subject verb agreement that attempt to objectify part of the English language form. Most of the concepts of subject verb agreement are straightforward, yet some aspects of singular and plural usage in English grammar are more complicated.

We will use the standard of underlining subjects once and verbs twice. (please bare if any errors are there while jotting down)

Being able to find the right subject and verb will help you correct errors of subject-verb agreement.

Basic Rule. A singular subject (she, Tom, car) takes a singular verb (is, goes, shines), whereas a plural subject takes a plural verb.

Example: The list of items is/are on the desk.
If you know that list is the subject, then you will choose is for the verb.

Rule 1. A subject will come before a phrase beginning with of. This is a key rule for understanding subjects. The word of is the culprit in many, perhaps most, subject-verb mistakes.

Hasty writers, speakers, readers, and listeners might miss the all-too-common mistake in the following sentence:

Incorrect: A bouquet of yellow roses lend color and fragrance to the room.

Correct: A bouquet of yellow roses lends . . . (bouquet lends, not roses lend)

Rule 2. Two singular subjects connected by or, either/or, or neither/nor require a singular verb.

Examples:
My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today.
Neither Josh nor Charlie is available.
Either Kishore or Samir is helping today with stage decorations.

Rule 3. The verb in an or, either/or, or neither/nor sentence agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to it.

Examples:
Neither the plates nor the serving bowl goes on that shelf.
Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on that shelf.

This rule can lead to bumps in the road. For example, if I is one of two (or more) subjects, it could lead to this odd sentence:

Awkward: Neither she, my friends, nor I am going to the festival.

If possible, it's best to reword such grammatically correct but awkward sentences.

Better:
Neither she, I, nor my friends are going to the festival.
OR
She, my friends, and I are not going to the festival.

Rule 4. As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are connected by and.

Example: A car and a bike are my means of transportation.

But note these exceptions:

Exceptions:
Breaking and entering is against the law.
The bed and breakfast was charming.

In those sentences, breaking and entering and bed and breakfast are compound nouns.

Rule 5a. Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by such words as along with, as well as, besides, not, etc. These words and phrases are not part of the subject. Ignore them and use a singular verb when the subject is singular.

Examples:
The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her shaking.

Rule 5b. Parentheses are not part of the subject.

Example: Josh (and his trusty Harry) was always welcome.

If this seems awkward, try rewriting the sentence.

Rule 6. In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject follows the verb.

Examples:
There are four hurdles to jump.
There is a high hurdle to jump.
Here are the keys.

NOTE:

The word there's, a contraction of there is, leads to bad habits in informal sentences like There's a lot of people here today, because it's easier to say "there's" than "there are." Take care never to use there's with a plural subject.

Rule 7. Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as a unit.

Examples:
Three miles is too far to walk.
Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
BUT
Ten paisas (i.e., Rupees bills) were scattered on the floor.

Rule 8. With words that indicate portions—e.g., a lot, a majority, some, all—Rule 1 given earlier in this section is reversed, and we are guided by the noun after of. If the noun after of is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb.

Examples:
A lot of the pie has disappeared.
A lot of the pies have disappeared.
A third of the city is unemployed.
A third of the people are unemployed.
All of the pie is gone.
All of the pies are gone.
Some of the pie is missing.
Some of the pies are missing.

NOTE

In recent years, the SAT testing service has considered none to be strictly singular. However, according to various Dictionary of English Usage: "Clearly none has been both singular and plural since Old English and still is. The notion that it is singular only is a myth of unknown origin that appears to have arisen in the 19th century. If in context it seems like a singular to you, use a singular verb; if it seems like a plural, use a plural verb. Both are acceptable beyond serious criticism." When none is clearly intended to mean "not one," it is followed by a singular verb.

Rule 9. With collective nouns such as group, jury, family, audience, population, the verb might be singular or plural, depending on the writer's intent.

Examples:
All of my family has arrived OR have arrived.
Most of the jury is here OR are here.
A third of the population was not in favour OR were not in favour of the bill.

NOTE

Anyone who uses a plural verb with a collective noun must take care to be accurate—and also consistent. It must not be done carelessly. The following is the sort of flawed sentence one sees and hears a lot these days:

The staff is deciding how they want to vote.
Careful speakers and writers would avoid assigning the singular is and the plural they to staff in the same sentence.

Consistent: The staff are deciding how they want to vote.

Rewriting such sentences is recommended whenever possible. The preceding sentence would read even better as:

The staff members are deciding how they want to vote.

Rule 10. The word were replaces was in sentences that express a wish or are contrary to fact:

Example: If Jill were here, you'd be sorry.

Shouldn't Jill be followed by was, not were, given that Jill is singular? But Jill isn't actually here, so we say were, not was. The sentence demonstrates the subjunctive mood, which is used to express things that are hypothetical, wishful, imaginary, or factually contradictory. The subjunctive mood pairs singular subjects with what we usually think of as plural verbs.

Examples:
I wish it were Friday.
She requested that he raise his hand.

In the first example, a wishful statement, not a fact, is being expressed; therefore, were, which we usually think of as a plural verb, is used with the singular subject I.

Normally, he raise would sound terrible to us. However, in the second example, where a request is being expressed, the subjunctive mood is correct.

Note: The subjunctive mood is losing ground in spoken English but should still be used in formal speech and writing.

Cheers...

Secularism WTF in it!!!

What you see may shock you. And it better do. This is the plight of a few Hindu families who live in a town in India. This has been happening for years, only facing media silence and “secular” ignorance. Before Puja, I came to know from some source, that Bengal police should be alert, coz what could happen (Khagragarh Incident) last year now may turn this year. So this year’s some un-necessary hazardous checking(which was to please or report the seniors as proof) in running auto, where I was also checked was there. Who knew something like this was waiting for us. Latest effect of communal violence in Hazinagar area of North 24Paragans District, West Bengal where houses have been burnt, cash and valuables looted and resident of the house and place have been kicked and punched brutally. The God saved their lives miraculously otherwise miscreants have beaten them to death. It is not a matter of religion or religious community but it is infact a matter of proper investigation that why such incidence is recurrent and rampant in this area. There are people who are demotivating simple people to indulge in violence and give it a colour of communal riot. The videos and images you are going to see below are from Hazinagar area, which is in the heart of Kolkata. It’s was there Muharram rally passing by a Hindu colony … Sudden few chap from Muslim community started breaking a Mata Rani temple in the way …. From there the almost destroyed all temples. Store and houses in the way…its happening in West Bengal North 24 parganas Hazinagar and Naihati area.” “Local MLA of TMC party yesterday addressed the Hindu area by saying, “I have won the election by minority votes not your vote … So you just die or run from here”. Although I could not verify this by myself, it’s learnt that the area’s MLA was none other than Mamata Banerjee’s closest aid Mukul Roy’s son, Subhrangshu Roy! Forget the politicians then, I asked them if the local police at least was helping them. To this question too, their answer was filled with pain, anger, and sadness. They said the police had aligned with the local Muslim goons as per the instructions of the MLA and were now helping the Muslims achieves their agenda instead of helping the ones who were affected. What is happening here is pathetic. But some argue that the Hindus of Bengal have brought this upon themselves by voting in Mamata Banerjee. May be this is true, may be this is not, but at the end of the day, we sincerely urge Mamata Banerjee to take some action, if not to punish the culprits, at least to protect the victims. It is also impertinent to mention that each time when there is an action against Pakis.... by Indian Government or a winning cricket match over Pakistan, such incidence is bound to emerge. It is my suggestion and earnest request to authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly so that miscreants are booked behind bar and general public gets solace.