AGREEMENT: Subject and Verb
The subject and the verb of a sentence should agree in number; a plural subject takes a plural verb and a singular subject takes a singular verb.
1. When two singular subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb is singular.
- Neither Jim nor Mary appreciates this music.
- Violinists or guitarists appreciate this music.
2. When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by or or nor, the verb must agree with the subject immediately following or or nor.
- The violinist and the guitarist appreciate this music.
- Either Mrs. Anderson or her assistants have copies of the new catalog.
- Neither the buyers nor the sales manager is in favor of the system.
3. Two or more subjects joined by and require a plural verb.
- Gary and his brother are going to the sales convention.
4. Singular indefinite pronouns (each, nobody, someone, somebody, everyone, anyone) require a singular verb.
- Everyone appreciates this music.
- Nobody is going to stop me.
5. Collective nouns that represent a group of people or things (committee, board, faculty, staff, group, family) require q singular verb.
- The faculty appreciates this music.
- The committee has agreed to submit its report on Friday.
AGREEMENT: Pronoun and Antecedent
Pronouns should agree with their antecedents in person, gender, and number. Subject Case: I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they. Object Case: me, you, him, her, it, us, you, them.
1. Watch for prepositions; pronouns that are objects of prepositions are in the Object Case.
- He will be with her.
- Just between you and me, I don’t like her.
2. When using than or as, where the verb is omitted but implied, the pronoun takes the case required if the verb were expressed.
- I liked it better than he. (than he liked it)
- I am as competent as she. (as she is)
3. Pronouns immediately following the linking verb to be are considered to be in the Subject Case.
- It is he who is going.
- (answering the telephone) This is she. This is he.