Subject, verb and agreement full definition with rules .
Answers
Basic rule : Singular subjects must have singular verbs and plural subjects take plural verbs.
Rules :
1. The pronoun “YOU” always takes a plural verb.
2. If a sentence begins with HERE or THERE, the verb agrees with the subject which follows it.
3. If two subjects, one single and one plural, are connected by EITHER/OR or NEITHER/NOR, the verb agrees with the nearer subject.
4. A singular subject followed by intervening words or phrases such as WITH, AS WELL AS, IN ADDITION TO, ACCOMPANIED BY, TOGETHER WITH and NO LESS THAN, takes a singular verb.
5. Singular subjects joined by AND require a plural verb, except when they mean one thing.
6. Two singular subjects joined by EITHER/OR or NEITHER/NOR take a singular verb.
7. If a singular subject is followed by a phrase containing a plural noun, the verb is singular.
8. The indefinite pronouns SEVERAL, FEW, BOTH, MANY , OTHERS are always plural.
9. The indefinite pronouns SOME, MOST, ALL, NONE are singular or plural according to the meaning of the sentence.
10. When any of the following indefinite pronouns is the subject, the verb is singular: EVERYBODY, EACH, NO ONE, ANOTHER, ANYBODY, NOBODY, EVERY, NOTHING, EVERYTHING, ANYONE, EITHER, NEITHER, EVERYONE, SOMEBODY, SOMEONE.
11. Expressions of time, money, weight, and distance are singular even if the form is plural.
12. When the amount of money refers to separate units, the verb is plural.
13. The following words are always plural: PANTS, TROUSERS, PLIERS, SCISSORS, SHEARS, TONGS. However, if the word PAIR is used, the verb is singular.
14. Certain nouns, though plural in form, are singular in meaning and therefore take singular verbs.
15. When the word is preceded by A, it takes a plural verb. When it is preceded by THE, it takes a singular verb.
16. When fractions are used, the verb agrees with the object of the OF PHRASE.
17. These nouns may be singular or plural in meaning: ATHLETICS, GENETICS, POLITICS, GYMNASTICS, STATISTICS. When the noun refers to an organized activity, it is singular; when the noun refers to the activities of individuals within a group, or to varied activities, it is plural.
18. The name of a country is always regarded as singular.
19. Adjectives used as nouns are considered plural.
20. Collective nouns may be singular or plural depending on whether the individual members are acting individually or collectively. These nouns are: COMPANY, GROUP, COMMITTEE, CROWD, JURY, FLOCK, TEAM.
21. In the use of mathematical expressions, the following are accepted:
Examples:
▪ Seven plus three is ten.
▪ Seven and three are ten.
22. Titles of books, plays, articles, movies, etc. are regarded as singular even though words in the title may be plural.
23. Names of organizations take a singular verb when the whole
organization is referred to, and a plural verb when the members are referred to.
24. If a sentence begins with the expletive IT, the verb is always singular even if the subject that follows the verb is plural.