Subjects and Verbs: Part II
In the
last issue of Weekly Grammar Tips, we discussed the guidelines
for identifying subjects and verbs. If you missed last week's issue, you
can view it here. This week
we'll be discussing subject and verb agreement.
The
following rules come from
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation website, courtesy
of Jane Straus.¹
You can view additional tips, read Jane's blog, or purchase her book at the following
website:
http://www.grammarbook.com. Jane's site also includes tons of free
quizzes so you can test your knowledge. If you can't get enough grammar
quizzes, you're in luck. Jane also offers a subscription area
containing over 100 interactive quizzes!
NOTE: In the article below, subjects are shown in bold
and verbs are underlined. (The original article
uses a different convention.)
Subject and Verb Agreement
by Jane Straus
|
Basic Rule. |
The basic rule states that a
singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a
plural verb.
NOTE: The trick is in knowing whether the subject is singular or plural.
The next trick is recognizing a singular or plural verb.
Hint: Verbs do not form their plurals by adding an s as
nouns do. In order to determine which verb is singular and which one is
plural, think of which verb you would use with he or she and which verb
you would use with they.
|
| |
Example: |
talks,
talk
Which one is the singular form? Which word would you use with
he? We say, "He talks." Therefore, talks is singular.
We say, "They talk." Therefore, talk is plural.
|
|
Rule 1.
|
Two singular
subjects connected by or or nor require a singular
verb.
|
|
|
Example: |
My aunt or
my uncle is arriving by train today.
|
|
Rule 2. |
Two singular
subjects connected by either/or or neither/nor
require a singular verb as in Rule 1.
|
| |
Examples: |
Neither Juan
nor Carmen is available.
Either Kiana or Casey is helping today with
stage decorations.
|
|
Rule 3. |
When I is one
of the two subjects connected by either/or or
neither/nor, put it second and follow it with the singular
verb am.
|
| |
Example: |
Neither she
nor I am going to the festival.
|
|
Rule 4. |
When a singular
subject is connected by or or nor to a plural
subject, put the plural subject last and use a plural verb.
|
| |
Example:
|
The serving
bowl or the plates go on that shelf.
|
|
Rule 5. |
When a singular and
plural subject are connected by either/or or
neither/nor, put the plural subject last and use a plural
verb.
|
| |
Example: |
Neither Jenny nor the others are available.
|
|
Rule 6. |
As a general rule,
use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are
connected by and.
|
| |
Example: |
A car and
a bike are my means of transportation.
|
|
Rule 7. |
Sometimes the
subject is separated from the verb by words such as along
with, as well as, besides, or not.
Ignore these expressions when determining whether to use a
singular or plural verb.
|
| |
Example: |
The politician,
along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause
of her shaking.
|
Guess what? We're only
halfway done!
Tune in next time for Part III in this series. (Hint: There will be
a quiz at the end!)
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Source:
1. Straus, Jane. "Subject and Verb
Agreement."
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation.
http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgree.asp.
Published with permission. |
