S-V Agreement: Making Subjects and Verbs Stop Arguing

Do your subjects and verbs argue as if they are attorneys in a court or law? Can they not agree who is supposed to be singular or plural? They don’t have to sue each other to make a good sentence!S-V Agreement is easy as your ABC’s.

First of all, if the subject is singular, the verb has to be singular as well. If the subject is plural, the verb has to be plural as well. Consider first and foremost the subject before writing your verb.

You were saying?             He thinks of us.

I say, hey!                           She tells me everything.

Different items joined by and or both is always plural:

Ham and cheese are ingredients for a wonderful sandwich.

…unless ‘and’ is joining two words of the same item.

Ham and cheese is my favorite sandwich.

Hot and spicy sounds exciting.

When two subjects are joined together by ‘or,’ ‘nor,’ ‘neither…nor,’ or by ‘either…or,’ the verb must agree with the nearest subject.

Photo from  grammar.ccc.commnet.edu

Either he or she is liable for the damage.Neither she nor they are going to the beach.

Mass nouns are always singular…

The sugar is spicy.

…unless a quantifier is used.

Two cups of sugar are enough.

Okay, so I've to admit: I, too, have difficulties with S-V Agreement. More than many of us have difficulties with subject and verb agreement. Then again, practice makes perfect!

Do you have any questions you would like us to answer? Drop us an email at youweresayin@yahoo.com.