Portfolio 2: Subject-Verb Agreement

Basic Principle: Singular subjects need singular verbs; plural subjects need plural verbs. My brother is a nutritionist. My sisters are mathematicians

I assume everyone knows and follows the Basic Principle mentioned above. I will be looking at special cases of SVA.

1. Indefinite Pronouns
   

The indefinite pronouns anyone, everyone, everybody, someone, no one, nobody are always singular and, therefore, require singular verbs.

• Everyone has done his or her homework.
  
• Somebody has left her purse.
  

Some indefinite pronouns — such as all, some — are singular OR plural depending on what they're referring to. (Is the thing referred to countable or not?) Be careful in choosing a verb to accompany such pronouns.

• Some of the beads are missing.
  
• Some of the water is gone.
  

On the other hand, there is one indefinite pronoun, none, that can be either singular OR plural; it often doesn't matter whether you use a singular or a plural verb — unless something else in the sentence determines its number

• None of you claims responsibility for this incident?
  
• None of you claim responsibility for this incident?
  
• None of the students have done their homework. (In this last example, the word their precludes the use of the singular verb.
  

1. Pronouns
   

The pronouns neither and either are singularand require singular verbs even though they seem to be referring, in a sense, to two things.

• Neither of the two traffic lights is working.
  
• Which shirt do you want for Christmas?
  Either is fine with me.
  

1. Phrases
   

Phrases such as together with, as well as, and along with are not the same as and. The phrase introduced by as well as or along with will modify the earlier word (mayor in this case), but it does not compound the subjects (as the word and would do).

• The mayor as well as his brothers is going to prison.
  
• The mayor and his brothers
  are going to jail.
  

1. Conjunction
   

The conjunction or does not conjoin (as and does): when nor or or is used the subject closer to the verb determines the number of the verb. Whether the subject comes before or after the verb doesn't matter; the proximity determines the number.

• Either my father or my brothers are going to sell the house.
  
• Neither my brothers nor my father is going to sell the house.
  
• Are either my brothers or my father responsible?
  
• Is either my father or my brothers responsible?
  

1. Others
   

The words there and here are never subjects.

• There are two reasons [plural subject] for this.
  
• There is no reason for this.
  
• Here are two apples.
  

Some words end in -s and appear to be plural but are really singular and require singular verbs

• The news from the front is bad.
  
• Measles is a dangerous disease for pregnant women.
  

On the other hand, some words ending in -s
refer to a single thing but are nonetheless plural and require a plural verb.

• My assets were wiped out in the depression.
  
• The average worker's earnings have gone up dramatically.
  
• Our thanks go to the workers who supported the union.