Subject Verb Agreement
Remember that the
subject and verb in a sentence must agree in person and number.
The elevator (singular) works (plural)
very well. The elevators (plural) works
(plural)very well.
SUBJECT SEPARATED FROM
THE VERB
When taking the TOEFL, you must always check
the subject and verb to be sure the agree. However, sometimes it is difficult
to decide exactly what the subject is if the subject and verb are separated.
The boys ( plural) in
the room are studying (plural).
Very often, if the
subject and verb are separated, they will be separated be a prepositional
phrase. The prepositional phrase has no effect on the verb.
Subject +prepositional phrase + verb
The study ( singular) of languages is (singular) vey
interesting.
Several theories ( plural) on
this subject have been proposed( plural).
The view (singular) of these disciplines varies (singular)
from time to time
The danger (singular) of forest fires is (singular) not
to be taken lightly.
The following
expressions also have no effect on the verb
Together with, along with,
accompanied by, as well as
The actress, (singular) along with her manager and some
friends, is going (singular) to a party tonight
Note: if the
conjunction and is used instead of one of these phrase, the verb would then be
plural.
The actress and her
manger (plural) are going
(plural) to a party to night.
None / No
None can take either a
singular or plural verb, depending on the noun which follows it.
None + of the + non- count noun + singular + verb
None of the counterfeit
money had been found
None+ of the + plural count noun + plural verb
None of the students have finished the exam
yet.
No can take either a
singular or plural verb depending on the noun which follows it .
No + singular noun/ non-count noun + singular verb
No example is relevant
to this case
No + plural noun + Plural verb
No example is relevant to
this case
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 rule applies. Study the following formulas.
Neither/either + noun + nor/or +plural noun + plural
verb
Neither john nor his friends (plural)are going (plural
) to the beach today.
Either john or his friends are going to the beach
today.
Neither/either + noun + nor/or +singular noun + singular
verb
·
Neither john nor bill is going to the beach today.
·
Either john or bill is going to the beach today.