Module 11: Subject Verb Agreement

Subject Separated From The Verb 
When taking the TOEFL, you must always check the subject and verb to be sure they agree. However, sometimes it is difficult to decide exactly what the subject is if  the subject and verbs are separated.
                    

• The boys in the room are studying.

Very often, if the subject and verb are separated, they will be separated by a prepositional phrase. The prepositional phrase has no effect on the verb. The following expressions also have no effect on the verb.

• together with: The actress, along with her manager and some friends, is going to a party tonight.
• accompanied by: Mr. Ilham, accompanied by his wife and children, is arriving tonight.

Note: if the conjunction and is used instead of one of these phrases the verb would then be plural.

• The actress and her manager are going to a party tonight.

Words That Always Take Singular Verbs and Pronouns

• Any + Singular Noun: Everybody who has not purchased a ticket should be in this line.
• No + Singular Noun: No Problem is harder to solve than this one. 
• Some + Singular Noun: Something was under the house.
• Either and neither are singular if they are not used with or and nor: If either of you takes a vacation now, we will not be able to finish the work.

Formula NONE/NO

None can take either a singular or plural verb, depending on the noun which follows it.

• none + of the +  non-count or singular noun + singular verb: None of the counterfeit money has been found. 
• none + of he +  plural count noun + plural verb: None of the students have finished the exam yet.
• no + singular or non-count noun + singular verb: No Example is relevant to this case.
• no + plural noun _ plural verb: No examples are relevant to this case. 

Formula Either/Neither 

When either and neither are followed by or and nor, the verb may be singular or plural, depending on whether the noun following or and nor is singular or plural. If or or nor appears alone, the same rules applies, Study the following formulas.

• neither/either + nor/or  + plural noun + plural verb: Neither John nor his friends are going to the beach today.
• neither/either + nor/or  + singular noun + singular verb: Either John or Bill is going to the beach today. 

Formula Gerud As Subjects

If a sentence begins with (verb + ing) (gerund), the verb must also be singular 

• Not studying has caused him many problems.
• Writing many letters makes her happy. 

Formula Collective Nouns

Also many words indicating a number of people or animals are singular. The following nouns are usually singular. In some case, they are plural if the sentence indicates that the individual members are acting separately.

• Congress: Congress has initiated a new plan to combat inflation.
• Organization: The organization has lost many members this year.
• Government
• Family
• Team: Our team is going to win the game.
• Jury 
• Group
• Army 
• Majority: Majority can be singular or plural. If it is alone it is usually singular, if it is followed by a plural noun, it is usually plural.
  -The majority believes that we are in no danger.
  -The majority of the students believe him to be innocent.
• Committee: The committee has met, and it has rejected the proposal.
• Club 
• Minority 
• Class
• Crowd: The crowd was wild with excitement
• Public

The following nouns are used to indicate groups of certain animals. It is not necessary to learn the nouns, they mean the same as group and thus are considered singular.

• flock of birds, sheep: The flock of birds is circling overhead.
• herd of cattle: The herd of cattle is breaking away.
• pack of dogs
• school of fish: A school of fish is being attacked by sharks.
• pride of lions 

Collective nouns indicating time, money, and measurements used as a whole are singular

• Twenty-five dollars is too much to pay for that shirt.
• Fifty minutes is not enough time to finish this test.
• Twenty dollars is all I can afford to pay for that recorder.
• Two miles is too much to run in one day. 

Formula A Number of/The Number of 

• a number + plural noun + plural verb:
  A number of students are going to the class picnic. ( number of = many)
  A number of the applicants have already been interviewed.
• the number of + plural noun + singular verb:
  The number of days in a week is seven.
  The number of residents who have been questioned on this matter is quite small.

Formula Subject Pronouns

• It was she who called you. (after the verb be).
• We students are going to have a party. 
• Janet will make her presentation after him
  Jane will make her presentation after he finishes his speech. (A clause contains a subject and a verb. In the clause above, he is the subject and finishes is the verb.)
• John bought him a new car. (him = another person).
• John bought himself a new car. (himself = John)
• I myself believe that the proposal is good. (Reflexive pronouns can also be used for emphasis)
• She prepared the nine-course meal herself.