Post by Admin on Nov 30, 2015 22:33:25 GMT
Vishwa asked about subject-verb agreement.
Agreement refers to verbs matching the singular and plural subjects and the pronouns referring to them.
The basic idea is that a singular subject (book, idea, rainforest) takes a singular verb (is, merits, seems), while a plural subject (papers, issues, caterpillars) takes a plural verb (are, merit, seem).
The book is on the table.
The idea merits further consideration.
The rainforest seems quiet at dusk.
And
The papers are on the table.
The issues merit further consideration.
The caterpillars seem quiet at dusk.
If you know what the subject is, it is easy to choose the right verb. If you aren’t sure of the subject, it becomes harder.
For example:
The list of exam questions is on the desk.
In this sentence, the subject is the list, so the verb must be is. Ask ‘What’s on the desk?’ and the answer is the list. It doesn’t matter what the list is (laundry, shopping or exam questions) it is a single object.
Compare:
The exam questions are on the desk.
If we ask ‘What’s on the desk?’ the answer is now the exam questions and since there is more than one, it’s a plural subject, so we need a plural verb.
When you’re determining what the subject is (and what the verb should be) there are a number of rules. There are also some exceptions.
1. Phrases containing ‘of’ [Also see rule 8]
These can cause confusion. The subject is the noun before ‘of’, not the one after it.
A barrel of apples sells for $35.
Here, the subject is a barrel, so the verb is singular: sells.
If the subject were plural, the verb would need to plural, too.Compare.
Apples sell for $35 a barrel.
The subject is apples, which is plural, so the verb is plural as well: sell.
The SVA error would beA barrel of apples sell for $35.
2. Two single subjects linked with or, either/or, or neither/nor use a singular verb.
Mum or dad is arriving by car.
Either my sister or my aunt is bringing the papers.
Neither my brother nor my uncle is coming.
3. One singular and one plural subject with or, either/or or neither/nor uses a singular verb if the last subject before the verb is singular, and a plural one if it is is plural.
The student or the teacher has the key.
The teacher or the students have the key.
Either the gun or the bullets are missing.
Neither the bullets nor the gun is missing.
4. Two single subjects connected with and usually take a single verb. (See exception).
The cat and the dog are asleep.
The president and senators arrive later.
Exception:
If the two things joined by ‘and’ are seen as ONE entity then a singular verb is used.
Fish and chips is a very popular in the UK. Here, fish and chips is treated as ONE dish.
The bed and breakfast looks amazing. Here, bed and breakfast is treated as ONE building.
5. Subjects separated from the verb by a phrase such as not, along with, besides etc. take a singular verb if they are singular and a plural one when they are not.
The adverbs or adverb phrases are extra information and not part of the subject.
The teacher, as well as the students, is attending the ceremony.
The students, and the teacher besides, are attending the ceremony.
The students, not the teacher, are attending the ceremony.
6. Sentences starting with ‘empty’ subjects like there or here, actually have the real subjects after the verb, so if the real subject is plural, it should have a plural verb, and if it is singular, it takes a singular verb.
There are seven students here.
Here is the teacher.
7. Units of measurement use singular verbs, even when we are talking about more than one.
Ten kilometres seems like a long way to walk.
Twenty dollars is too much!
However, when we use a unit of measurement as shorthand and it should be plural, it should have a plural verb.
Twenty dollars were lying on the table.
This is shorthand for twenty dollar bills. Bills is plural, so the verb is plural.
8. Phrases indicating proportions, such as a lot, a few, the majority, some, all, a number + of etc usually reverse rule 1 and the verb agrees with the noun after ‘of’ (See exceptions.)
If the noun is singular, use a singular verb. If the noun is plural, use a plural verb.
The majority of the class has passed the exam.
The majority of classes have passed the exam.
A quarter of the population is under 25.
A quarter of the people are under 25.
Exception 1 – none of (Also see 10.)
When the word before ‘of’ is none, the verb is singular if the sense is 'no one':
None of the students is here yet.
However, it can also take a plural verb, because of the sense of 'not any':
None of the students are going to the lecture.
Exception 2 – Logical subject
If the logical subject is the noun before the verb, then the verb takes the same form as the subject.
The number of students in the class is 15. Here, the logical subject is ‘the number’, which is 15.
The majority of voters stands at 87%. Here the logical subject is ‘the majority’, which is 87%.
9. Uncountable nouns take singular verbs.
Water is comprised of hydrogen and oxygen molecules.
Information is easily available on the Internet.
10. Some subjects can take singular OR plural verbs, depending on the meanings.
• Collective nouns.
If the sense of the subject is ONE entity, use a singular verb:
The jury is out.
The committee has made its decision.
The team is doing well this season.
If the sense of the subject is MULTIPLE entities, use a plural verb.
The jury are arguing about the evidence. In this case, we mean the members (plural) of the jury.
The committee have been arguing about the issue for hours. In this case, we mean the sitters on the committee.
The team are furious about the referee’s decision. In this case, we mean the individual players.
• Data
In the case of the word ‘data’ it can take a plural verb (old fashioned, strictly correct) when we mean lots of different pieces of information.
The data are then verified and passed onto the credit company.
It can also take a singular verb (modern, accepted) when we mean one collection of information.
The data is then verified and passed on to the credit company.
• None
See No. 8.
11. The subjunctive
In the subjunctive singular subjects take plural verbs. The subjunctive expresses hypothetical situations, or wishes.
I wish I were on a desert island.
She ordered he lay down his weapon.
Pronoun referents
In cases like these you need to be especially careful about any pronoun use where the subject becomes the referent of the pronoun.
In this case you need the subject and the pronoun to agree.
For example:
The government is introducing new legislation to reduce road traffic accidents.They intend to impose prison sentences for second time speeding offenders. x
Here, the government is regarded as ONE entity – a legislative body – so in the second sentence, we need to say ‘It intends’, because the pronoun ‘they’ cannot refer to a singular entity.
The government is introducing new legislation to reduce road traffic accidents. It intends to impose prison sentences for second time speeding offenders.
Compare:
The government are still arguing about MP's expenses.It has promised to rule on the matter next week.x
Here, the government is regarded as a set of individuals, so the verb is plural. However, the second sentence is now incorrect, because we cannot use ‘it’ to refer to individuals seen as plural.
The government are still arguing about MP's expenses. They have promised to rule on the matter next week.
Agreement refers to verbs matching the singular and plural subjects and the pronouns referring to them.
The basic idea is that a singular subject (book, idea, rainforest) takes a singular verb (is, merits, seems), while a plural subject (papers, issues, caterpillars) takes a plural verb (are, merit, seem).
The book is on the table.
The idea merits further consideration.
The rainforest seems quiet at dusk.
And
The papers are on the table.
The issues merit further consideration.
The caterpillars seem quiet at dusk.
If you know what the subject is, it is easy to choose the right verb. If you aren’t sure of the subject, it becomes harder.
For example:
The list of exam questions is on the desk.
In this sentence, the subject is the list, so the verb must be is. Ask ‘What’s on the desk?’ and the answer is the list. It doesn’t matter what the list is (laundry, shopping or exam questions) it is a single object.
Compare:
The exam questions are on the desk.
If we ask ‘What’s on the desk?’ the answer is now the exam questions and since there is more than one, it’s a plural subject, so we need a plural verb.
When you’re determining what the subject is (and what the verb should be) there are a number of rules. There are also some exceptions.
1. Phrases containing ‘of’ [Also see rule 8]
These can cause confusion. The subject is the noun before ‘of’, not the one after it.
A barrel of apples sells for $35.
Here, the subject is a barrel, so the verb is singular: sells.
If the subject were plural, the verb would need to plural, too.Compare.
Apples sell for $35 a barrel.
The subject is apples, which is plural, so the verb is plural as well: sell.
The SVA error would be
2. Two single subjects linked with or, either/or, or neither/nor use a singular verb.
Mum or dad is arriving by car.
Either my sister or my aunt is bringing the papers.
Neither my brother nor my uncle is coming.
3. One singular and one plural subject with or, either/or or neither/nor uses a singular verb if the last subject before the verb is singular, and a plural one if it is is plural.
The student or the teacher has the key.
The teacher or the students have the key.
Either the gun or the bullets are missing.
Neither the bullets nor the gun is missing.
4. Two single subjects connected with and usually take a single verb. (See exception).
The cat and the dog are asleep.
The president and senators arrive later.
Exception:
If the two things joined by ‘and’ are seen as ONE entity then a singular verb is used.
Fish and chips is a very popular in the UK. Here, fish and chips is treated as ONE dish.
The bed and breakfast looks amazing. Here, bed and breakfast is treated as ONE building.
5. Subjects separated from the verb by a phrase such as not, along with, besides etc. take a singular verb if they are singular and a plural one when they are not.
The adverbs or adverb phrases are extra information and not part of the subject.
The teacher, as well as the students, is attending the ceremony.
The students, and the teacher besides, are attending the ceremony.
The students, not the teacher, are attending the ceremony.
6. Sentences starting with ‘empty’ subjects like there or here, actually have the real subjects after the verb, so if the real subject is plural, it should have a plural verb, and if it is singular, it takes a singular verb.
There are seven students here.
Here is the teacher.
7. Units of measurement use singular verbs, even when we are talking about more than one.
Ten kilometres seems like a long way to walk.
Twenty dollars is too much!
However, when we use a unit of measurement as shorthand and it should be plural, it should have a plural verb.
Twenty dollars were lying on the table.
This is shorthand for twenty dollar bills. Bills is plural, so the verb is plural.
8. Phrases indicating proportions, such as a lot, a few, the majority, some, all, a number + of etc usually reverse rule 1 and the verb agrees with the noun after ‘of’ (See exceptions.)
If the noun is singular, use a singular verb. If the noun is plural, use a plural verb.
The majority of the class has passed the exam.
The majority of classes have passed the exam.
A quarter of the population is under 25.
A quarter of the people are under 25.
Exception 1 – none of (Also see 10.)
When the word before ‘of’ is none, the verb is singular if the sense is 'no one':
None of the students is here yet.
However, it can also take a plural verb, because of the sense of 'not any':
None of the students are going to the lecture.
Exception 2 – Logical subject
If the logical subject is the noun before the verb, then the verb takes the same form as the subject.
The number of students in the class is 15. Here, the logical subject is ‘the number’, which is 15.
The majority of voters stands at 87%. Here the logical subject is ‘the majority’, which is 87%.
9. Uncountable nouns take singular verbs.
Water is comprised of hydrogen and oxygen molecules.
Information is easily available on the Internet.
10. Some subjects can take singular OR plural verbs, depending on the meanings.
• Collective nouns.
If the sense of the subject is ONE entity, use a singular verb:
The jury is out.
The committee has made its decision.
The team is doing well this season.
If the sense of the subject is MULTIPLE entities, use a plural verb.
The jury are arguing about the evidence. In this case, we mean the members (plural) of the jury.
The committee have been arguing about the issue for hours. In this case, we mean the sitters on the committee.
The team are furious about the referee’s decision. In this case, we mean the individual players.
• Data
In the case of the word ‘data’ it can take a plural verb (old fashioned, strictly correct) when we mean lots of different pieces of information.
The data are then verified and passed onto the credit company.
It can also take a singular verb (modern, accepted) when we mean one collection of information.
The data is then verified and passed on to the credit company.
• None
See No. 8.
11. The subjunctive
In the subjunctive singular subjects take plural verbs. The subjunctive expresses hypothetical situations, or wishes.
I wish I were on a desert island.
She ordered he lay down his weapon.
Pronoun referents
In cases like these you need to be especially careful about any pronoun use where the subject becomes the referent of the pronoun.
In this case you need the subject and the pronoun to agree.
For example:
The government is introducing new legislation to reduce road traffic accidents.
Here, the government is regarded as ONE entity – a legislative body – so in the second sentence, we need to say ‘It intends’, because the pronoun ‘they’ cannot refer to a singular entity.
The government is introducing new legislation to reduce road traffic accidents. It intends to impose prison sentences for second time speeding offenders.
Compare:
The government are still arguing about MP's expenses.
Here, the government is regarded as a set of individuals, so the verb is plural. However, the second sentence is now incorrect, because we cannot use ‘it’ to refer to individuals seen as plural.
The government are still arguing about MP's expenses. They have promised to rule on the matter next week.