A singular subject must have a singular verb. A plural subject must have a plural verb. This rule for agreement in number of subject and its verb is easy to learn. So that’s all there is to it, right? Unfortunately, the answer is “no.” As it is in many other cases of using the English language, things are not that simple. There are many situations in the language that don’t exactly follow these rules. Following are examples of some of these situations.
Nouns, pronouns, or prepositional phrases may come between the subject and verb.
Examples: One of the many reasons people want to attend Texas A&M University is that the campus is friendly.
An Aggie with ninety-five hours is eligible to order an Aggie ring.
Examples: One of the many reasons people want to attend Texas A&M University is that the campus is friendly.
An Aggie with ninety-five hours is eligible to order an Aggie ring.
Compound subjects joined by and are usually plural.*
Examples:
Rock and Rockell were going to Midnight Yell.
Rudder Tower and G. Rollie White are landmarks on the Texas A&M University Campus.
Rock and Rockell were going to Midnight Yell.
Rudder Tower and G. Rollie White are landmarks on the Texas A&M University Campus.
*Exception to the rule: Compound subjects take singular verbs when the subject denotes one person or a single unit.
Example: Bacon and blueberry pancakes is Rock’s idea of a perfect breakfast.
When compound subjects are connected by either, or, neither, or nor, they are singular unless the parts of the compound subject are themselves plural.
Examples:
Coach Fran or Coach Gillispie answers the phone on Saturday.
Either the Baylor Bears or the OK State Cowboys are second in the Big 12.
If either, or, neither, or nor connects a compound subject in which one part is singular and the other is plural, the verb takes its number from the part of the compound subject closest to it.
Examples:
The Yell Leaders or Reveille was posing for pictures in the MSC.
Either the pole vaulter or the sprinters were involved in the Olympic trials.
When compound subjects are modified by each or every, they are always singular.
Examples:
Each Aggie who died during the previous year is honored at Muster in the spring.
Every student stands throughout all the football games to represent the 12th Man.
Relative pronouns (who, which, that) used as a subject take singular or plural verb forms according to their antecedents.
The Yell Leaders or Reveille was posing for pictures in the MSC.
Either the pole vaulter or the sprinters were involved in the Olympic trials.
When compound subjects are modified by each or every, they are always singular.
Examples:
Each Aggie who died during the previous year is honored at Muster in the spring.
Every student stands throughout all the football games to represent the 12th Man.
Relative pronouns (who, which, that) used as a subject take singular or plural verb forms according to their antecedents.
Examples:
The Aggie tennis players, who often win tournaments, love to bring home trophies.
The Battalion is the only one of the campus papers that prints a daily horoscope.
The Aggie tennis players, who often win tournaments, love to bring home trophies.
The Battalion is the only one of the campus papers that prints a daily horoscope.
When used as subjects, words like each, either, neither, one, everybody ,or anyone take singular verb forms.
Examples:
Neither likes the burnt orange and white.
Everybody in the office has tickets to the Aggie baseball game.
Collective nouns can take either singular or plural verb forms depending on the context. When they refer to a group as a singular unit, they take a singular verb form.
Neither likes the burnt orange and white.
Everybody in the office has tickets to the Aggie baseball game.
Collective nouns can take either singular or plural verb forms depending on the context. When they refer to a group as a singular unit, they take a singular verb form.
Example:
The Aggie basketball team has made its decision.
However, when they refer to the individual members of the collective, they take the plural form:
Example:
The Aggie faithful have many faces.
The Aggie basketball team has made its decision.
However, when they refer to the individual members of the collective, they take the plural form:
Example:
The Aggie faithful have many faces.
Nouns plural in form but singular in meaning take singular verbs.
Example:
Dunking Aggie rings is a popular ritual at the Chicken.
Dunking Aggie rings is a popular ritual at the Chicken.
The title of a singular work, even when in plural form, takes a singular verb form
Example:
“Taps” is played at every Aggie Muster.
“Taps” is played at every Aggie Muster.
Sometimes the subject of a verb follows the verb instead of preceding it.
Example:
There were no non-regs at Texas A&M in 1951.
There is a story behind every tradition at TAMU.
There were no non-regs at Texas A&M in 1951.
There is a story behind every tradition at TAMU.
This handout has been adapted with permission from the Center for Effective Communication, Berea College, Berea, Kentucky.
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