Learn on PengiElements of Language, 5th CourseChapter 5: Agreement: Subject and Verb, Pronoun and Antecedent

Lesson 1: Subject-Verb Agreement: Basic Rules, Intervening Phrases, and Indefinite Pronouns

In this Grade 8 grammar lesson from Elements of Language, 5th Course, students learn the foundational rules of subject-verb agreement, including how singular and plural subjects take matching verb forms. The lesson covers compound subjects joined by and, or, and nor, as well as how intervening phrases and clauses between a subject and verb do not change agreement. Students also practice identifying correct verb agreement with indefinite pronouns through guided exercises.

Section 1

Singular and Plural Subjects

Definition

A verb should agree in number with its subject.

Explanation

A subject and its verb must match! A singular subject (one thing) gets a singular verb, while a plural subject (more than one) gets a plural verb. Remember, this rule also applies to verb phrases. The first helping verb in the phrase is the one that has to agree with the subject.

Examples

  • My cat purrs when I scratch its ears. [The singular subject, cat, needs the singular verb, purrs.]
  • Those new houses look very expensive. [The plural subject, houses, needs the plural verb, look.]
  • Does your friend want to come with us? [The singular helping verb, Does, agrees with the singular subject, friend.]

Section 2

Compound Subjects Joined by 'And'

Definition

Subjects joined by and usually take a plural verb.

Explanation

When you connect two or more subjects with the word 'and,' you create a plural subject. Think of it like a team: even if the individual members are singular, together they form a plural group that needs a plural verb. It's like one plus one equals a plural subject!

Examples

  • The dog and the cat play together in the yard. [The subjects dog and cat are joined by and, so they take the plural verb play.]
  • Were the fork and spoon on the table? [The subjects fork and spoon are joined by and and require the plural verb Were.]
  • My dad and his brother have been fixing the car all day. [The subjects dad and brother form a plural unit, requiring the plural helping verb have.]

Section 3

Compound Subjects Joined by 'Or' or 'Nor'

Definition

For compound subjects joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the subject nearer to it.

Explanation

When subjects are linked by 'or' or 'nor,' ignore the first subject and focus only on the one closest to the verb. The verb must agree in number with that nearby subject. This is often called the proximity rule, because the verb's form depends on which subject is closer.

Examples

  • The teacher or the students answer the question.
  • Neither the students nor the teacher answers the question.
  • Is the dogs or the cat making that noise?

Section 4

Intervening Phrases

Definition

The number of a subject usually is not determined by a word in a phrase or a clause following the subject.

Explanation

Don't get tricked by extra words! Sometimes a phrase or clause sits between the subject and the verb, but these interrupting words don't change the subject's number. To find the correct verb, mentally cross out the phrase and make sure the verb agrees with the true subject.

Examples

  • The list of student names is posted on the door. [The subject is list, which is singular. The phrase of student names does not affect the verb.]
  • The girl, who has two older brothers, walks to school every day. [The subject is girl (singular), not brothers (plural).]
  • The price of those sneakers seems too high. [The subject is the singular noun price, not the plural noun sneakers.]

Section 5

Indefinite Pronouns: Singular and Plural

Definition

Some indefinite pronouns are singular, some are plural, and some can be singular or plural, depending on how they are used.

Explanation

Indefinite pronouns can be confusing. Pronouns like everybody, anyone, and each might feel plural, but they are always singular and need a singular verb. Others, like several, few, and both, are always plural. Memorizing these categories is the key to mastering them!

Examples

  • Each of the players wants to win the championship. [Each is a singular indefinite pronoun and takes the singular verb wants.]
  • Several of the cookies were eaten before dinner. [Several is a plural indefinite pronoun and takes the plural verb were.]
  • Have both of the dogs been fed yet? [Both is plural.]

Section 6

Indefinite Pronouns: Variable Number

Definition

The indefinite pronouns all, any, more, most, none, and some may be singular or plural, depending on their meaning in a sentence.

Explanation

For pronouns like all, most, or some, you have to be a detective! Look at the noun in the prepositional phrase that follows the pronoun. If that noun is singular (like cake), the pronoun is singular. If the noun is plural (like songs), the pronoun is plural.

Examples

  • Most of the pizza was already gone. [Most refers to the singular noun pizza and takes the singular verb was.]
  • Most of the songs on this album are fantastic. [Most refers to the plural noun songs and takes the plural verb are.]
  • Has any of the mail been delivered? [Any refers to the singular noun mail.]

Book overview

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Chapter 5: Agreement: Subject and Verb, Pronoun and Antecedent

  1. Lesson 1Current

    Lesson 1: Subject-Verb Agreement: Basic Rules, Intervening Phrases, and Indefinite Pronouns

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  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Subject-Verb Agreement: Collective Nouns, Expressions of Amount, and Subjects Following Verbs

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  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement A: Singular, Plural, and Compound Antecedents

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement B: Indefinite Pronouns, Relative Pronouns

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Lesson overview

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Section 1

Singular and Plural Subjects

Definition

A verb should agree in number with its subject.

Explanation

A subject and its verb must match! A singular subject (one thing) gets a singular verb, while a plural subject (more than one) gets a plural verb. Remember, this rule also applies to verb phrases. The first helping verb in the phrase is the one that has to agree with the subject.

Examples

  • My cat purrs when I scratch its ears. [The singular subject, cat, needs the singular verb, purrs.]
  • Those new houses look very expensive. [The plural subject, houses, needs the plural verb, look.]
  • Does your friend want to come with us? [The singular helping verb, Does, agrees with the singular subject, friend.]

Section 2

Compound Subjects Joined by 'And'

Definition

Subjects joined by and usually take a plural verb.

Explanation

When you connect two or more subjects with the word 'and,' you create a plural subject. Think of it like a team: even if the individual members are singular, together they form a plural group that needs a plural verb. It's like one plus one equals a plural subject!

Examples

  • The dog and the cat play together in the yard. [The subjects dog and cat are joined by and, so they take the plural verb play.]
  • Were the fork and spoon on the table? [The subjects fork and spoon are joined by and and require the plural verb Were.]
  • My dad and his brother have been fixing the car all day. [The subjects dad and brother form a plural unit, requiring the plural helping verb have.]

Section 3

Compound Subjects Joined by 'Or' or 'Nor'

Definition

For compound subjects joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the subject nearer to it.

Explanation

When subjects are linked by 'or' or 'nor,' ignore the first subject and focus only on the one closest to the verb. The verb must agree in number with that nearby subject. This is often called the proximity rule, because the verb's form depends on which subject is closer.

Examples

  • The teacher or the students answer the question.
  • Neither the students nor the teacher answers the question.
  • Is the dogs or the cat making that noise?

Section 4

Intervening Phrases

Definition

The number of a subject usually is not determined by a word in a phrase or a clause following the subject.

Explanation

Don't get tricked by extra words! Sometimes a phrase or clause sits between the subject and the verb, but these interrupting words don't change the subject's number. To find the correct verb, mentally cross out the phrase and make sure the verb agrees with the true subject.

Examples

  • The list of student names is posted on the door. [The subject is list, which is singular. The phrase of student names does not affect the verb.]
  • The girl, who has two older brothers, walks to school every day. [The subject is girl (singular), not brothers (plural).]
  • The price of those sneakers seems too high. [The subject is the singular noun price, not the plural noun sneakers.]

Section 5

Indefinite Pronouns: Singular and Plural

Definition

Some indefinite pronouns are singular, some are plural, and some can be singular or plural, depending on how they are used.

Explanation

Indefinite pronouns can be confusing. Pronouns like everybody, anyone, and each might feel plural, but they are always singular and need a singular verb. Others, like several, few, and both, are always plural. Memorizing these categories is the key to mastering them!

Examples

  • Each of the players wants to win the championship. [Each is a singular indefinite pronoun and takes the singular verb wants.]
  • Several of the cookies were eaten before dinner. [Several is a plural indefinite pronoun and takes the plural verb were.]
  • Have both of the dogs been fed yet? [Both is plural.]

Section 6

Indefinite Pronouns: Variable Number

Definition

The indefinite pronouns all, any, more, most, none, and some may be singular or plural, depending on their meaning in a sentence.

Explanation

For pronouns like all, most, or some, you have to be a detective! Look at the noun in the prepositional phrase that follows the pronoun. If that noun is singular (like cake), the pronoun is singular. If the noun is plural (like songs), the pronoun is plural.

Examples

  • Most of the pizza was already gone. [Most refers to the singular noun pizza and takes the singular verb was.]
  • Most of the songs on this album are fantastic. [Most refers to the plural noun songs and takes the plural verb are.]
  • Has any of the mail been delivered? [Any refers to the singular noun mail.]

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 5: Agreement: Subject and Verb, Pronoun and Antecedent

  1. Lesson 1Current

    Lesson 1: Subject-Verb Agreement: Basic Rules, Intervening Phrases, and Indefinite Pronouns

    LearnPractice
  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Subject-Verb Agreement: Collective Nouns, Expressions of Amount, and Subjects Following Verbs

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  3. Lesson 3

    Lesson 3: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement A: Singular, Plural, and Compound Antecedents

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  4. Lesson 4

    Lesson 4: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement B: Indefinite Pronouns, Relative Pronouns

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