Type: Comprehensive Grammar
Title: Subject-Verb Agreement Rules II
Level: 1 - Beginner
Tags: level 1, beginner, subject-verb agreement rules, collective nouns, fractions, percentage, percent,
sums of money, compound subjects, either, neither, or, and, conjunctions, periods of time
NOTES TO TRAINER - These notes are for trainers only. They are not visible to learners.
SUGGESTED OBJECTIVE:
To identify subject-verb agreement rules
Subject-Verb Agreement Rules II
Collective nouns are
seen as a singular
entity, so they use
singular verbs.
However, when the
sentence refers to
individual members of
the group/collection, it
uses a plural verb.
Titles of books, names
of organizations, and
names of countries are
always singular.
With words that
indicate portions —
“percent”, “fraction”,
“part”, “majority”,
“some”, “all”,
“remainder”, etc. —
look at the noun in the
"of" phrase. If the
noun is singular, use a
singular verb. If the
The jury decides on the verdict.
The jury are arguing about the merits of the case.
(The members of the jury are arguing about the
merits of the case.)
Little Women is a good book.
One-third of the city is unemployed.
noun is plural, use a
plural verb.
One-third of the cities were hit by the storm.
Four hundred dollars is too much to pay for a
bottle of wine.
Use a singular verb
with sums of money or
periods of time.
Three minutes is the longest time I can hold my
breath underwater.
Compound subjects
joined by “and” are
always plural, unless
they are seen as a
single unit.
My computer and my cellphone are my most
useful possessions.
Ham and eggs is my favorite breakfast.
Either the files or the binder is in the drawer.
Either the binder or the files are in the drawer.
When compound
subjects are joined by
“either...or...,”
“neither...nor...,” or
"not only...but also...,"
the verb agrees with
the subject nearest it.
Neither the director nor the members like the
proposal.
Not only the members but also the director likes
the proposal.