Dave Murad
Grammar
Noun-Verb Agreement
Verbs and their attendant nouns should agree—i.e., the verb should align in “number” with the noun (usually, but not always, the subject) it corresponds to. If the noun is in first-person plural (we; they and I), the verb should also be in first-person plural (are, were, etc).
She goes to the market everyday. vs They go to the market everyday.
If the main verb is in a tense requiring helping verbs, it is the helping verb that corresponds to the noun or subject (not the main verb).
The truck was getting an oil change. vs The trucks were getting an oil change.
I have not seen that movie yet. vs My friend has not seen that movie yet.
Noun-verb agreement applies just the same to questions, including in questions with helping verbs, where the helping verb (not the main verb) corresponds with the subject.
Has the next season been announced? vs Have the next episodes been announced?
Expletives and Subjects following Verbs: Even if subjects follow verbs, they must align.
There were few options on the menu. vs There was only one option on the menu.
Here are your keys. vs Here is your key.
At the memorial site rests a plaque explaining what happened. vs At the memorial site rest two plaques explaining what happened.
Among the guests was a reporter covering the event. vs Among the guests were a reporter and two camera crews covering the event.
There are further exceptions or complicating circumstances to these rather straightforward guidelines.
Verbs Separated from Nouns
If the verb is not adjacent to its corresponding noun, identifying that verb-noun alignment can be more difficult. Notice how in the following sets, verbs align with a simple subject that is split off from the verb.
One of my friends likes that show. vs My friends like that show.
Her acting in the first episodes was outstanding. vs The first episodes were outstanding.
The show, which has ten seasons, is over. vs The ten seasons of the show are over. vs The tenth season of the show is over.
Complex Subjects
Complex subjects can also complicate subject identification. The simple subject is highlighted:
Reading the five books was helpful to better understand the show. vs The five books were helpful to better understand the show.
The scene where they eat strawberries appears in the book. vs Eating strawberries appears in the book. vs Strawberries appear in the book.
Compound Subjects, Or / Nor
Compound subjects typically correspond with plural verbs (note, too, that subject complements must align with the subject):
She and I disagree on everything. vs She disagrees with me about everything.
Do she and I disagree on everything? vs Does she disagree with me about everything?
My aunt and uncle are fans of the series. vs My aunt is a fan of the series.
Are my aunt and uncle fans of the series? Is my aunt a fan of the series?
Or / Nor: If the compound subjects connect with “or” or “nor,” the verb aligns with the nearest subject.
You or I am next in line. vs She or you are next in line.
Neither my jacket nor my shoes repel water. vs Neither my shoes nor my jacket repels water.
Compound Subjects, Plural Nouns as a Singular Entity
In some cases, the noun or subject, though compound or plural, arrives as a single entity or concept, which then aligns with a singular verb. In the last two sets, the implied concept is provided in brackets.
Today’s news covers the recent election. vs Today’s news headlines cover the recent election.
Ten dollars is a good deal for that shirt. [ie The price of ten dollars is a good deal for that shirt.] vs Ten dollars are pinned to the wall. [ie Ten one-dollar bills are pinned to the wall.] vs Ten dollars is pinned to the wall. [ie A ten-dollar bill is pinned to the wall.]
My grandmother’s chicken and waffles are amazing. vs My grandmother’s chicken and waffles is amazing. [ie My grandmother’s dish/recipe of chicken and waffles is amazing.]
Relative Pronouns and Objects
Noun-Verb Agreement Exercises
Revise the following for appropriate noun-verb agreement. If the sentence has no errors in noun-verb agreement, simply write, “Correct.”
The team’s first match are against their neighboring rivals.
1
The team’s first match [singular subject] is [singular verb] against their neighboring rivals.
Last season, the final score of both games against their rivals was a tie.
2
Correct: Last season, the final score [singular subject] of both games against their rivals was [singular verb] a tie.
Surprisingly, the game they scored the most points were when their captain and star player was injured.
3
Surprisingly, the game [singular noun] they scored the most points was [singular verb] when their captain and star player [compound subject] were [plural verb] injured.
There has been, if I recall, only one game that either the captain or star player have missed all year.
4
There has been, if I recall, only one game that either the captain or star player [singular noun after or/nor] has [singular helping verb] missed all year.
The captain is not necessarily one of the best players but the one who take responsibility for morale and leadership.
5
The captain is not necessarily one of the best players but the one who [relative pronoun following a singular pronoun] takes [singular verb] responsibility for morale and leadership.
Every verb needs a corresponding noun (implied or stated), which means in some cases verbs must align with either an object or a noun referenced by a relative pronoun (such as who, that, or which). Below, if there are multiple verbs in the sentence, only the verb interacting with an object or relative pronoun is highlighted.
I am asking for a recipe that has no sugar. vs She is asking for recipes that have little sugar.
The teenager who sells candy for charity stopped by. vs The teenagers who sell candy for charity stopped by.
The batter had two hits, which were to left field. vs The batter had one out, which was a pop-up to right field.
The batter found herself with one ball and two strikes, which is behind in the count. vs The batter found herself with two strikes, which is one away from an out. vs The batter finds herself with the bases loaded, which means she could hit a grand slam.
In the last set, each sentence has objects conceptualized as one entity even if they appear compound or plural.
“One / Ones,” “Only one / Only ones,” and Relative Pronouns: Identifying the appropriate verb number can be difficult in sentences where “one” is followed by a relative pronoun.
The lucky one who gets a ticket will be going to the show. vs The lucky ones who get a ticket will be going to the show.
Your managers are the only ones who make that call. vs Your manager is the only one who makes that call.
A lemon is one of those fruits that mix well in cocktails. vs A lemon is one that mixes well in cocktails. vs A lemon is the only one that mixes well in cocktails. vs Lemons are the only ones that mix well in cocktails.
As a rule, “one of the/those/these” is always followed by a plural, making the verb following the relative pronoun plural. For “the only,” check whether the following noun is singular or plural to align the verb.