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VERB AGREEMENT

Multiple subjects
◁ Compound subjects
If a sentence contains more than one The subjects Tyler
noun, and these nouns are joined by and Matt are acting
and, they almost always take a plural together, and are joined
verb. These are known as compound by and, so they take
subjects. Phrases such as along with the plural form.
and as well as separate the subjects,
however. In these cases, the verb should
agree with the first subject, regardless
of whether the second subject is
singular or plural. By contrast, if
a singular subject is joined to a plural ◁ Separate subjects
subject and separated by or or nor, the The subjects size and
verb agrees with the nearest subject. strength are acting
separately, so the verb
is singular to match the
first subject, size.
• When the phrase the number of
precedes the subject of a sentence,
the subject is considered to be
singular: “The number of weights
used is variable.” By contrast, the
phrase a number of makes a
subject plural: “A number of ◁ Mixed subjects
different weights are used.” The plural subject
• Expressions of quantity, such as arms is closer to the
time, money, weight, or fractions, verb than the singular
are treated in the same way as subject neck, so the
collective nouns. For example, verb is plural. With
“Half of Tyler’s allowance is spent mixed subjects, always
on exercise equipment.” put the plural subject
closest to the verb.

Indefinite pronouns ▽ Agreeing with prepositional phrases
Five indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural, depending on
Most indefinite pronouns can be easily identified the context. These are all, any, most, none, and some. Only when
as singular or plural. Both, several, few, and many, for these pronouns occur do prepositional phrases determine whether
example, are always plural. Some, however, are singular a verb should be singular or plural.
words that refer to plural things. These include each,
everyone, and everything.

Number Indefinite pronoun indefinite This prepositional phrase is singular
pronoun because the noun contest is singular,
everybody, everyone, everything, so the verb also has to be singular.
somebody, someone, something, indefinite
singular anybody, anyone, anything, nobody, pronoun
no one, nothing, neither, another,
each, either, one, other, much

plural both, several, few, many, others This prepositional phrase is The verb is plural
plural, because the noun to match the
competitors is plural. prepositional phrase.
singular or plural all, any, most, none, some