EXERCISE

Choose the correct verb forms in the following sentences. Think about the agreement rules as you make your choices.

1. Henry and Bill (run, runs) three miles every day.

2. Either the doctor or the nurses (treat, treats) me at the clinic.

3. Fred, Carlos, and Bob, who (wants, want) the coach to buy new equipment, (claim, claims) it's affordable.

4. Each of the people on the platform (hears, hear) the train approaching.

5. The crew of the clipper ship (keep, keeps) the sails repaired.

6. Every one of the men (volunteer, volunteers) on the local fire fighting team.

7. The price of petroleum products (have, has) risen.

8. Neither the women nor the men (come, comes) to department meetings.

9. Here (is, are) the plans for the new building.

10. There (is, are) a flock of geese honking by the pond.

11. Either Jill or her mother and father (take, takes) the baby to daycare.

12. The members of the Portfolio Evaluation committee (read, reads) the essays.

13. A pride of lions (is, are) raising three orphan cubs.

14. Every child and adult (need, needs) to be praised for good work.

SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT:

1. It is certainly obvious that singular subjects should be linked to singular verb forms and plural subjects to plural verb forms. This connection between subject and main verb is called AGREEMENT IN NUMBER and is evident in the following example:

Clarissa was angry until her brothers were willing to swear off partying on weeknights.

We can see that "Clarissa" is one person and takes the singular form of the verb "was." "Brothers," on the other hand, is a plural subject, which means that the plural verb form "were" is the right choice.

IMPORTANT: Note that with regular verbs, the verb form that ends in "s" is third person singular.

Singular: Julia works; she works; he runs; it costs

Plural: Julia, Hussein, and Sofía work; they work; we run; they cost

When a phrase or clause comes between the subject and verb, the writer must be sure the verb agrees with the actual subject of the sentence:

The mother of all those children is here. (The mother...is here.)

The purpose of the rules and regulations was to ensure safety (The purpose...was....)

The tickets we are buying for the concert don't cost very much. (The tickets...don't cost....)

2. Certain words, called collective nouns, suggest a group (one group) of people or things and need call for singular verb:

A group of teachers and students is demonstrating in front of the administration building.

Our favorite married couple is Jack and Edna.

A flock of geese flies over our house every evening.

If you wish to use a plural verb, it may be best to rewrite the sentence in a natural way:

Some teachers and students are demonstrating in front of the administration building.

Our favorite married people are Jack and Edna.

The geese fly over our house every evening.

3. Ordinarily, compound subjects take the plural verb. However, there are certain exceptions. If a compound subject implies one thing, use the singular verb:

Macaroni and cheese is a quick meal ("Macaroni and cheese" is one dish.)

Simon and Schuster publishes many self-discovery books. ("Simon and Schuster" is one company.)

4. If compound subjects are joined by either/or or neither/nor the verb must agree with the subject closer to the verb:

Either Maria or the Valdezes visit Mrs. Jones each week.

Either the Valdezes or Maria visits Mrs. Jones each week.

Last week, though, neither Maria nor the Valdezes were able to see her.

Last week, though, neither the Valdezes nor Maria was able to see her.

5. Finally, the introductory word there cannot be the subject of a verb. The subject follows the verb and, as always, determines whether the verb is singular or plural:

There are over twelve thousand students at Cabrillo this semester.

There is a student here to sign up for English L.

There has been an increase in volunteer work at the Red Cross since the October earthquake.

There have been more volunteers at the Red Cross since the October earthquake.

EXERCISE

PART I: In the sentences below, CHOOSE the subject (who or what does the action?) that goes with the verbs in the parentheses. Next, CHOOSE the form of the verb that agrees with the subject. Sometimes you will be asked to explain the which of the rules applies to what you are working on. Be sure to consult appropriate sections of the lesson if you are not sure.

1. The point where these streets cross (is, are) the main intersection.

2. There (is, are) a whole crowd of people waiting in line.

3. There (is, are) many people waiting in line.

4. Rock and roll (is, are) my favorite music. Write the rule for sentence #4.

5. Either his tone or his words (has, have) offended Clarissa. Write the rule for sentence #5.

6. These seven poems, the only ones she herself saw in print, (shows, show) little of Emily Dickinson's magnificent talent.

7. Either Jason's two younger brothers or his sister (mows, mow) their grandmother's lawn every Monday.

8. The Allegria family (plans, plan) to spend the month of August in Spain. Write the rule for sentence #8.

9. Neither her expensive apartment nor the high food prices (has, have) changed Julia's mind about living in New York and pursuing a career as a photographer.

10. Eating nutritious foods and exercising regularly (is, are) necessary for good health.

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