COM 2600, COM 3210
Grammar Review: Subject-verb and Pronoun-antecedent Agreement
A. Subject-verb Agreement
A verb must agree with its subject in number. A singular subject (one person or thing) takes a singular verb. A plural subject takes a plural verb. To avoid mistakes in agreement, be aware of the following writing situations:
1.Words between the subject and verb do not change subject-verb agreement.
The crinkly lines around Joan’s eyes give her a friendly look.
Among the constitutional rights we cherish isfreedom of speech.
Stimulating investment opportunities has won new friends on Wall Street for the treasury secretary.
The foreign aid appropriation, as well as two anti-nuclear bills, was sent to conference committee.
2.A verb agrees with its subject even when the verb comes before the subject. Words that precede the subject in addition to the verb include here, there, who, which, what, where.
There are wild dogs in our neighborhood.
In the distance was a billow of black smoke.
Here are the subjects the president will discuss.
3.Compound subjects joined by and generally take a plural verb.
Clark and Loisare a contented couple.
A patchwork quilt and a sleeping bagcover my bed in the winter.
3a When subjects are joined by either...or, neither...nor, or not only...but also, the verb agrees with the subject closer to the verb.
Neither the government negotiator nor the union leaderswant a strike.
Either the records or the stereohas to go.
4.Indefinite pronouns always take singular verbs.
one, anyone, someone, nobody, anybody, everybody, somebody, nothing, anything, everything, something, each, either, neither, every
Neither of those hairstyles suits the shape your face.
Everyoneenters the college kite-flying contest in the spring.
4a When each , either, every, or neither is used as an adjective, the noun it modifies always takes a singular verb.
Every cask of wine was spoiled.
Neither option seems very attractive.
4b Both , few, many, several , and a number always take a plural verb.
5.Subjects that stand for definable amounts of money, measurement, time, organization, food, and medical problems always take singular verbs.
Five thousand dollarsis the minimum bid for the foreclosed property.
The United Auto Workersis standing firm on its contract demands.
B. Pronoun-antecedent Agreement
Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns. They are shortcuts that keep you from unnecessarily repeating words in writing. A pronoun must agree in number with the word or words it replaces -- its antecedent. To avoid the most common mistakes people make with pronouns, refer to the following rules
1.Two or more nouns or pronouns joined by and are usually plural.
Orville and Wilbur Wright are best known for their invention of the airplane.
1a. Nouns joined by and are singular only if they refer to one person or thing.
The chief cook and bottle washer demanded his pay.
2.When two nouns are joined by or or nor, the pronoun agrees with the second noun.
Neither Pierre LaCroix nor his boldest followers wanted to expose themselves to danger.
3.A noun or pronoun followed by a prepositional phrase is treated as if it stood by itself.
In 1980 Canada, together with the United States and several other countries, kept its athletes from participating in the Moscow Olympics.
The leader of the strikers said that he would get them a new package of benefits.
4.Collective nouns can be either singular or plural, depending on the context.
The team chooses its captain in the spring.
5.Some indefinite pronouns are singular, some are plural, and some can be either singular or plural.
Singular: -one, -body, -thing, -ever pronouns, each, none, another
Everyone in the cast had to furnish his or her own costume.*
Plural: both, few, others, several
Sometimes singular, sometimes plural (depending on the number of the word or phrase to which it refers): all, any, many, most, some
Some of the students earn their tuition by working part-time.
Some of the salad dressing left its mark on my shirt.
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