Lesson Eight: Agreement of Subject and Predicate
In the present tense, most verbs remain unchanged except for the third person singular. When you
use he, she, or it, or a noun that may be replaced by one of these pronouns, the verb gets an s on
it.
Ex.
I walk
you walk
he, she, it walks
we walk
you walk
they walk
Most of the time, people do not have a problem with this agreement except for a few instances.
Here are some problem areas.
1.
When plural words come between the subject and verb.
One of the boys (walk, walks) the fastest.
In this sentence, one is the subject, not boys; therefore, the singular subject one agrees with the
singular, third person, walks. The phrase “of the boys” is a prepositional phrase. To handle this
situation, first cross out any prepositional phrases.
If you are still unsure about which one to use, try the pronoun substitution check.
One of the boys (drive, drives) the best.
One of the boys (he) drives the best.
Of all the girls in the troop, Janice and Sally (was, were) the most helpful.
Of all the girls in the troop, Janice and Sally (they) were the most helpful.
Remember: of, on, from, with, to, in, for, by, at are the most common prepositions and generally introduce
prepositional phrases.
2.
The following pronouns are almost always used with singular verbs. Memorize them.
each
one
everyone
everybody (every single person)
nobody (no single person)
somebody (some single person)
Everybody in the room (is, are) listening.
Substitution check.
Every single person in the room is listening.
Each of the boys has his own. (he has)
3.
Although there are exceptions, none (not one) and any (any single one) are generally singular.
None of us drives. (not one of us)
Any of the girls sings. (any single one of the girls)
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Lesson Eight
anyone
someone
no one
4.
The following pronouns are always used with plural verbs.
several
both
few
many
Several in this box were broken. (they were)
Both of the doors in the cabinet have opened. (they have)
5.
Compound subjects joined by and are plural.
Joan and Sue (they) make the best pie.
Singular subjects joined by or or nor are singular.
Joan or Sue (she) makes the best pie.
When a singular word and a plural word are joined by or or nor in a compound subject, the verb
agrees with the subject nearer to it.
Bob or his brothers (they) drive to school.
In the subject—Bob or his brothers—brothers is closer to the verb “drive,” than Bob is; so it is,
they drive—brothers drive.
Neither the firemen nor the chief (he) knows how the fire started.
Chief is closer to the verb “knows” than firemen is; so it is, he knows—the chief knows.
6.
Here and there are never the subject of a sentence, so look elsewhere for the subject.
Wrong:
Right:
7.
The forms of “to be” agree with the subject, not the predicate word.
Wrong:
Right:
Time and hard work is the answer.
Time and hard work are the answer.
Wrong:
Right:
Songs was our contribution
Songs were our contribution.
The verb “to do” takes two forms in the present tense. See below.
I do
you do,
he, she, it does
we do
you do
they do
Generally, few people have trouble with this verb, except when it is used with the contraction nʼt.
Instead of saying John doesnʼt, many people say John donʼt. If you get in the habit of saying he
does not, rather than using the contraction, you can easily avoid this mistake. When a noun is used
in the sentence, use the pronoun substitution check as well as avoiding the contraction.
The police officer (donʼt doesnʼt) know.
The police officer (he) does not know.
Jack and Phil (donʼt doesnʼt) know either.
Jack and Phil (they) do not know either.
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Lesson Eight
8.
There is many reasons why you can not go.
There are many reasons why you can not go.
Lesson Eight: Agreement of Subject and Predicate
Subject / Predicate Agreement
Practice 1
Cross out the prepositional phrases, underline the subject, and put parentheses around the correct
form of the verb.
Mike and Phil (is, are) our best hitters.
2.
The girls with the red hair (is, are) my sisters.
3.
Here (is, are) your shoes.
4.
The stores in the mall (donʼt, doesnʼt) have my size.
5.
The boy in the red shirt and shorts (is, are) from our school.
6.
John or his sisters (donʼt doesnʼt) know how to behave.
7.
There (is, are) no houses or cars for sale at this time.
8.
A manager or one of the players (is, are) the one to flip a coin.
9.
There (is, are) a reason or cause for just about everything.
10.
Each of the dogs (has, have) a cage.
11.
Several of the team usually (miss, misses) the bus.
12.
Michaelʼs teacher (is, are) young and pretty.
13.
My brothers and Jack (drive, drives) to work every day.
14.
Both of the doors on the car (was, were) broken.
15.
Any of the students (is, are) eligible to sign up.
16.
Someone in the stands always (throw, throws) something on the field.
17.
Everybody in the stands (was, were) shouting.
18.
Bob or the policemen (was, were) on the scene first.
19.
The policemen or their sergeant (was, were) stopping people from entering.
20.
Any of the girls (read, reads) the part well.
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Lesson Eight
1.
Subject / Predicate Agreement
Practice 2
Cross out the prepositional phrases, underline the subject, and put parentheses around the correct
form of the verb.
Few of the boys (read, reads) well.
2.
Any of the students (is, are) capable enough.
3.
Ray or his partners (know, knows) how to lay pipe.
4.
The pictures on the desk (is, are) mine.
5.
Here (is, are) my tennis racquet and balls.
6.
There (is, are) flowers or vegetables for sale.
7.
A coach and two of his swimmers (is, are) late.
8.
The bullets on the table (was, were) mine.
9.
No one in the mountains (want, wants) to say where he is.
10.
There (donʼt, doesnʼt) seem to be an answer.
11.
One of the ways to learn (is, are) to practice constantly.
12.
Philʼs job (is, are) dull and dangerous.
13.
None of us (know, knows) the answer.
14.
In the winter, skates and skis (is, are) available.
15.
Nobody in the crowd (know, knows) how to do it.
16.
Everyone in the city (read, reads) the morning newspaper.
17.
That sailboat (donʼt, doesnʼt) sit in the water right.
18.
Of all the attorneys, his two lawyers (donʼt, doesnʼt) seem to know what they are doing.
l9.
Many of us (disagree, disagrees) with the governor.
20.
Few people in the building (know, knows) where the emergency exits are.
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Lesson Eight
1.
Subject/Predicates Agreement
Practice 3
Cross out the prepositional phrases, underline the subject, and put parentheses around the correct
form of the verb.
Two of the men (walk, walks) by the fence every day.
2.
The customers or a salesman (was, were) the first one to spot the fire.
3.
Paul and Phyllis (run, runs) the office.
4.
One of my men (want, wants) to be first.
5.
Each of us (have, has) to do his best.
6.
Everyone (desire, desires) to be popular.
7.
Several of them (know, knows) the answer.
8.
Paul or Phyllis always (win, wins) the contest.
9.
The investigator (donʼt, doesnʼt) have a suspect.
10.
There (is, are) several ways to do this.
11.
Here (is, are) your ticket.
12.
In the winter, our favorite pastimes (is, are) skiing and skating.
13.
Working and studying (take, takes) up most of his time.
14.
Policemen and firemen (donʼt, doesnʼt) generally go on strike.
15.
One of the sailors (was, were) arrested.
16.
Neither Jane nor her sisters (finish, finishes) the song.
17.
Here (is, are) my sneakers.
18.
“Time and love (heal, heals) all wounds,” he said.
l9.
Many of them (run, runs) in that race.
20.
One of the players (stay, stays) behind to lock up.
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Lesson Eight
1.
Subject / Predicate Agreement
Practice 4
Cross out the prepositional phrases, underline the subject, and put parentheses around the correct
form of the verb.
The mother or her daughter (walk, walks) the dog.
2.
Phil and Bob (has, have) the answer.
3.
Everybody (is, are) late today.
4.
Michael (donʼt, doesnʼt) know when he will be home.
5.
There (is, are) good reasons for the rule.
6.
The soldier (donʼt, doesnʼt) know whose rifle it was.
7.
The bacon and eggs (is, are) for breakfast.
8.
Breakfast (is, are) eggs and bacon.
9.
One of the sisters (buy, buys) the groceries.
10.
The dogs and the cat (was, were) locked in the garage.
11.
Each of the students (has, have) his own pencil.
12.
None of us (know, knows) the way.
13.
Neither the sailors nor the captain (see, sees) very well in the dark.
14.
Here (is, are) the bottle and the boxes you requested.
15.
Bobʼs idea of a good vacation (is, are) swimming and fishing.
16.
The policeman (donʼt, doesnʼt) have any tickets left.
17.
Two of us (was, were) selected for the race.
18.
Everybody in the class (was, were) involved.
19.
Both of the lamps in the box (was, were) broken.
20.
John and his brothers (grow, grows) the best trees.
87
Lesson Eight
1.
Lesson Eight: Agreement of Subject and Predicate
Subject / Predicate Agreement
Practice 1
Mike and Phil (are) our best hitters.
2.
The girls with the red hair (are) my sisters.
3.
Here (are) your shoes.
4.
The stores in the mall (donʼt) have my size.
5.
The boy in the red shirt and shorts (is) from our school.
6.
John or his sisters (donʼt) know how to behave.
7.
There (are) no houses or cars for sale at this time.
8.
A manager or one of the players (is) the one to flip a coin.
9.
There (is) a reason or cause for just about everything.
10.
Each of the dogs (has) a cage.
11.
Several of the team usually (miss) the bus.
12.
Michaelʼs teacher (is) young and pretty.
13.
My brothers and Jack (drive) to work every day.
14.
Both of the doors on the car (were) broken.
15.
Any of the students (is) eligible to sign up.
16.
Someone in the stands always (throws) something on the field.
17.
Everybody in the stands (was) shouting.
18.
Bob or the policemen (were) on the scene first.
19.
The policemen or their sergeant (was) stopping people from entering.
20.
Any of the girls (reads) the part well.
138
Answer Key
1.
Subject / Predicate Agreement
Practice 2
Few of the boys (read) well.
2.
Any of the students (is) capable enough.
3.
Ray or his partners (know) how to lay pipe.
4.
The pictures on the desk (are) mine.
5.
Here (are) my tennis racquet and balls.
6.
There (are) flowers or vegetables for sale.
7.
A coach and two of his swimmers (are) late.
8.
The bullets on the table (were) mine.
9.
No one in the mountains (wants) to say where he is.
10.
There (doesnʼt) seem to be an answer.
11.
One of the ways to learn (is) to practice constantly.
12.
Philʼs job (is) dull and dangerous.
13.
None of us (knows) the answer.
14.
In the winter, skates and skis (are) available.
15.
Nobody in the crowd (knows) how to do it.
16.
Everyone in the city (reads) the morning newspaper.
17.
That sailboat (doesnʼt) sit in the water right.
18.
Of all the attorneys, his two lawyers (donʼt) seem to know what they are doing.
l9.
Many of us (disagree) with the governor.
20.
Few people in the building (know) where the emergency exits are.
Mastery Test I
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A
A
A
B
A
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
6. A
7. B
8. A
9. A
10. A
139
B
A
A
B
A
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
A
B
A
B
B
Answer Key
1.
Subjects and Predicates
Practice 3
Two of the men (walk) by the fence every day.
2.
The customers or a salesman (was) the first one to spot the fire.
3.
Paul and Phyllis (run) the office.
4.
One of my men (wants) to be first.
5.
Each of us (has) to do his best.
6.
Everyone (desires) to be popular.
7.
Several of them (know) the answer.
8.
Paul or Phyllis always (wins) the contest.
9.
The investigator (doesnʼt) have a suspect.
10.
There (are) several ways to do this.
11.
Here (is) your ticket.
12.
In the winter, our favorite pastimes (are) skiing and skating.
13.
Working and studying (take) up most of his time.
14.
Policemen and firemen (donʼt) generally go on strike.
15.
One of the sailors (was) arrested.
16.
Neither Jane nor her sisters (finish) the song.
17.
Here (are) my sneakers.
18.
“Time and love (heal) all wounds,” he said.
l9.
Many of them (run) in that race.
20.
One of the players (stays) behind to lock up.
140
Answer Key
1.
Subject / Predicate Agreement
Practice 4
The mother or her daughter (walks) the dog.
2.
Phil and Bob (have) the answer.
3.
Everybody (is) late today.
4.
Michael (doesnʼt) know when he will be home.
5.
There (are) good reasons for the rule.
6.
The soldier (doesnʼt) know whose rifle it was.
7.
The bacon and eggs (are) for breakfast.
8.
Breakfast (is) eggs and bacon.
9.
One of the sisters (buys) the groceries.
10.
The dogs and the cat (were) locked in the garage.
11.
Each of the students (has) his own pencil.
12.
None of us (knows) the way.
13.
Neither the sailors nor the captain (sees) very well in the dark.
14.
Here (are) the bottle and the boxes you requested.
15.
Bobʼs idea of a good vacation (is) swimming and fishing.
16.
The policeman (doesnʼt) have any tickets left.
17.
Two of us (were) selected for the race.
18.
Everybody in the class (was) involved.
19.
Both of the lamps in the box (were) broken.
20.
John and his brothers (grow) the best trees.
Answer Key
1.
Mastery Test II
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
B
B
A
B
B
6. B
7. B
8. B
9. A
10. B
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
141
A
A
A
B
B
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
A
B
B
B
B