Subject Verb Agreement

The boy make his parents proud.

I. How to make the subject agree with the verb.
1. First identify the subject. (The boy)
2. Recall that a singular subject needs a singular verb (a verb with “s”) and a plural subject needs a plural verb (verb without “s”) (make = makes)
The boy with the most awards makes his parents proud.

Other examples:
Brosia cleans the house (Brosia = singular subject; cleans = singular verb (a verb with “s”))
His hobbies make Utoy active (His hobbies = plural subject; make = plural verb (verb without “s”))

II. Agreement with Compound Subjects
When the subject is made up of two or more nouns connected by and, use a plural verb.
Utoy and his friends are cute.
Tiny and Brosia go to malls.

When the subject is made up of two or more nouns connected by and, but they refer to the same thing, use a singular verb
My professor and friend is with me. (The professor and friend are the same person)
The bow and arrow is primitive. (The bow and arrow is a package deal)

When the subject is made up of singular and plural nouns connected by or, the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is closer to it.
The chef or his assistants run…
His assistants or the chef runs…

III. Phrases that Confuse Things
Don’t be misled by phrases that come between the subject and the verb.
◦ one of the boxes is missing
◦ the people who read that report are worried
◦ The leader, as well as his members, is here
◦ the women with the baby talk quietly

IV. Indefinite Pronouns
The following words are always singular and require a singular verb:
◦ each, each one
◦ either, neither
◦ everyone, anyone, someone, no one
◦ everybody, anybody, nobody
Nobody wants to fail.
Either is a good choice.

V. Some singular nouns end with an “s,” and require a singular verb:
mathematics news measles

The news makes me unhappy.

VI. Collective Nouns
Collective nouns that refer to more than one person are usually treated as a single unit:
Group team committee class
The class is listening to the teacher. (as one, the class listens)

However, when the action is being done by individual members of the group, the collective noun takes a plural verb.
The class are arguing about the trip. (all the students in the class are arguing)

VII. Nouns like the following are always plural (because they are made of two parts):
Scissors tweezers trousers pants

My scissors are gone.

Your pants look good.

VIII. Distances, Time, Money
Distances, periods of time and amounts of money will ALWAYS take a singular verb
Five years is a long time to be away.
2 kilometeres is a long walk.
Php 40,000 is what his laptop costs.

IX. Fractions
The verb will be singular or plural depending on the noun that is used in the fraction:
Half of the cake is gone. (cake =singular, so verb is singular)
One-fourth of the milk was used. (milk =singular)

Half of the oranges are yours. (oranges = plural)
One fourth of the students need help. (students=plural)

X. “Here” and “There”
In sentences starting with the word “there” and “here,” the subject usually follows the verb.
Here are your keys.
There are many questions.

XI. Gerunds and Infinitives
Gerunds and Infinitives always take the singular verb
To get high scores is my dream.
Singing makes me happy.

XII. Adjectives used as nouns always take plural verbs
The humble are blessed. The good inherit the earth.

XIII. “A number” and “The number”
“A number” always takes a plural verb
A number of boys misbehave in class.

“The number of" is always singular.
The number of voters IS increasing.