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c4a1d.htf
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1996-11-05
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C4A1d
Verb with Simple Subject (noun or
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pronoun) of Sentence, Phrase, or
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Clause
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13
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C4A1d.1
A subject and verb agree if they are both
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singular or both plural, that is, the subject and verb
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must agree in number.
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Nouns are singular when they refer to one person,
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place, or thing and plural when they refer to more than
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one (cat-singular, cats-plural).
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Most verbs ending in s are singular, while verbs not
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ending in s are plural. The exception to this general
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rule is verbs used with
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I
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and singular
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you
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(which takes
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the same verb form as plural
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you
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). Although
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I
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and
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you
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0
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are singular, their verbs do not take an
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s
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: I go, you go,
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he goes, it goes, they go, we go.
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The number of the subject is not affected by any
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phrases that fall between the subject and the verb.
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(See
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Agreement: Verb with Indefinite Pronoun
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38
258
C4A1h.htf
for the
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only exception.)
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The difficulties of going on a long trip were apparent.
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Subject
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: the difficulties (plural)
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Verb
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: were (plural)
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The verb should agree with the subject, even when
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the subject and predicate are inverted.
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Performing for the first time on this stage are the Lowell
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sisters. (subject = Lowell sisters, plural verb = are)
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Performing for the first time on this stage is Winifred
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Lowell. (subject = Winifred Lowell, singular verb = is)
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A collective noun (army, committee, council and other
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words referring to groups) may take either a singular
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or plural verb depending on how the noun is used. If a
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collective noun is used to refer to a group as a whole,
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it will take a singular verb. If it refers to the members of
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a group, a plural verb is used.
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Singular sense
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: The audience was restless.
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Plural sense
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: The committee have been arguing among
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themselves.
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Verb with Compound Subject
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Compound subjects are formed by joining words or
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groups of words with
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and
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,
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or
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, or
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nor
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.
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C4A1d.2
And: Subjects joined with
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and
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take a plural
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verb. This rule is true whether the words making up
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the compound subject are singular or plural.
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Single subject: Our cat spends a lot of time in the back
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yard.
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Compound subject:
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Our cat and dog spend a lot of time in the back yard.
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Our cats and dogs spend a lot of time in the back yard.
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Our cat and dogs spend a lot of time in the back yard.
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Our cats and dog spend a lot of time in the back yard.
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Note that sometimes
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and
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is used as part of a phrase
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that functions as a unit to name a single item. In these
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cases, the subject is not a compound subject.
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Macaroni and cheese is my favorite dish.
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Stop and Go was the name of the market.
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C4A1d.3
Or: Singular subjects joined with
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or
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or
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nor
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take
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a singular verb.
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A chair or a stool fits under the counter.
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Either our cat or our dog sits on the couch.
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Neither Melissa nor Jody plays the clarinet.
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When plural subjects are joined with
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or
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or
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nor
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, they
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take a plural verb.
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Jackets or sweaters are needed in the evenings.
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Either his parents or my parents take us to the pool.
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Neither our cats nor our dogs like to have baths.
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When a plural subject and a singular subject are
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joined with
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or
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or
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nor
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, make the verb agree with the
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closer of the two subjects.
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A sports coat or evening clothes are required for the
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dinner party.
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Evening clothes or a sports coat is required for the
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dinner party.
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Either my parents or my aunt drives us to school.
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Either my aunt or my parents drive us to school.
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Neither the secretaries nor the supervisor was happy
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about the arrangement.
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Neither the supervisor nor the secretaries were happy
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about the arrangement.
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