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The subject of any sentence you write will determine whether you use a singular or plural verb. If you wish to describe how a boy dresses, your subject is boy and you might write The boy dresses sloppily. If your subject is boys, your sentence might read The boys dress sloppily. In either case the verb must agree in number with the subject.
Many agreement problems arise because words oftem come between a subject and a verb, thus obscuring their relation.
The rhythm of the dancers stirs the audience's emotions.
In this sentence the singular noun rhythm is the subject, and the singular verb stirs agrees with it. The plural noun dancers is the object of the preposition of, not the subject of the sentence. Some writers, however, might mistakenly believe dancers to be the subject and commit an agreement error by writing The thythm of the dancers stir the audientc's emotions.
NOTE: Expressions such as together with, as well as, in addition to, and along with functionas prepositions, not coordinating conjunctions. They do not, therefore, form compound subjects.
The candidate as well as her relatives was pleased with the results.
The neighbors together with the inspector were concerned about the hazard.
The chairman and the president battle over the budget together.
Tom, Bill, and Beth are correct.
NOTE: When the parts of a compound subject function as a single idea or refer to a single person or thing, they take a singular verb.
Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich.
The star and host of the show is backstage.
When a compound subject is preceded by each or every, the verb is usually singular.
Under the border guard's keen eye, every pedestrian, cyclist, and motorist suffers a close scrutiny.
When a compound subject is followed by each, the verb may be singular or plural, depending on whether the writer considers the subjects separately or together.
Speaking and writing each requires a mastery of words. [The writer is referring to speaking and writing separately.]
A painted seascape or landscape is not my idea of art.
Neither strawberry shortcake nor pecan pie attracts their attention.
Either the dogs or the rebbits have become exhausted.
O'Keeffe or the Smiths from Hampton are coming.
The Smiths or O'Keeffe from Hampton is coming.
Since following this convention often leads to writing that sounds awkward, try to avoid the problem by rewording such sentences.
AWKWARD
Neither they nor I am happy with the results.REVISED
They are not happy with the results, and neither am I.
Most indefinite pronouns - such as anybody, anyone, anything, each, neither, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, none, no one, one, some, somebody, someone, and something - are singular and refer to a single unspecified person or thing; consequently, they take singular verbs.
Everyone on the team was excited about the game.
Neither of the twins was helpful.
A few indefinite pronouns, such as all, any, none, and some, may be singular or plural. whether you use a singular or plural verb depends on the noun or pronoun the indefinite pronoun refers to.
The chairperson announced that all of the members were present. [All refers to members, so the verb is plural.]
The committee found that all of the report was helpful. [All refers to report, so the verb is singular.]
Collective nouns, such as army, audience, class, committee, faculty, group, herd, public, and team, are singular in form, but they name groups of individuals. When referring to a group as a single unit, a collective noun takes a singluar verb.
Given time, the public always sees through political deception.
Some cynics claim that the American family is no longer functioning.
When referring to a group;s members as individuals, a collective noun takes a plural verb. (See agreement of collective nouns and pronouns.)
The faculty have been parking their cars on our lawn.
The Rogers family have been parking their cars on our lawn.
Nouns such as athletics, acivics, economics, mathematics, measles, mumps, news, physics, politics, species, and statistics are singluar and take singular verbs.
Mumps is no longer a threat to Americans.
The news about the economy is bleak.
Words such as trousers and scissors are regarded as plural and take plural verbs, except when used after pair.
Scissors are in the drawer.
A pair of scissorsfunctions as a tantalizing symbol in Kafka's "Arabs and Jackals."
Where is the truth?
Out of the pages of that best-selling novel appear eerie characters, mysterious situations, and philosophical riddles.
Don't mistake the expletives there and here for subjects. They merely signal that the subject follows the verb.
There are several answers to the problem. [The actual subject is answers.]
Here is a bit of advice. [The actual subject is bit.]
When a compound subject follows the verb in a sentence beginnning with there or here, a singular verb is sometimes used, especially if the first item of the compound subject is singular. Such sentences are best rewritten.
There is [are] a can of fruit and six jars of peanut butter in the cupboard.
A can of fruit and six jars of peanut butter are in the cupboard. [Rewritten.]
The best hope for the future is our children.
Our children are the best hope for the future.
The antecedent is the word to which the pronoun refers. [See antecedent.]
Our elected officials obviously listen to people who give them campaign contributions. [Who refers to people, so the verb is plural.]
NOTE: Agreement errors involving relative pronouns often occur in sentences that include a phrase beginning with one of the. You must look carefully at the sense of such sentences to determine whether the verb should be singular or plural.
He is one of the members who are quarrelsome. [The antecedent of who is members because the sentence says that some members are quarrelsome. Therefore, the verb is plural.]
She is the only one of the members who has paid the dues. [This snetence says that only one member paid the dues. The antecedent of who si one, and the verb is singular.]
She is only one of the members who have paid the dues. [This sentence says that more than one member paid the dues, so the antecedent of who is members, and the verb is plural.]
Every cave, gorge, and grove was searched for the missing campers.
Two hundred and twenty yards is a long way to sprint.
Twenty dollars is a small price to pay.
Three-fourths of the day is gone.
When the amount is considered as separate units, use a plural verb.
The last six miles were grueling in different ways.
Carl Jung's Memories, DFreams, and Reflections is a fine work of autobiography.
Chitlins is a variation of chitterlings, which refers to the part of the small intestines of pigs used for food.