INTRODUCTION
One of the most common errors in sentence construction is the failure of the subject (noun or pronoun) to agree with the predicate verb. In order to have good grammatical relations between the parts of a sentence, the subject must agree with the verb in number and person. This means that if the subject of the sentence is singular, the verb must take a form that agrees with it and if the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural. With regard to pronouns, if the subject is a pronoun in the first person, the verb must also be in the first person and if the subject is in the second or third person the verb too must be in the second or third person. Also, the pronoun which refers to a noun must agree in number and person with its antecedent (the noun to which it refers).
3.1 Subject and Verb Agreement
The discussion in this section is based on Udofot and Ekpenyong, (2006, pp.119- 120).
Examine the following sentences
1. She does not like beans. (subject and verb and in the third person).
2. She don’t like beans. (No agreement)
3. You were invited to the party. (subject and verb are in the second person)
4. You was invited to the party (No agreement).
In Sentence No.1 above, both the subject she and the verb does are in the third person singular whereas in No.2, the subject is in the third person singular but the verb do (do not) is in the second person. In No. 3 both the subject and the verb are in the second person (singular or plural) but in No. 4 the subject ‘You’ is in the second person but the verb, was, is in the third person and there is therefore no agreement.
The rule about subject-verb agreement as explained above appears very simple but there are some problems involved. These problems are responsible for the errors that are often made. Sometimes, the writer or speaker fails to know whether the subject should be regarded as singular or plural. At other times, the writer or speaker is not sure what form of the verb is for singular or plural. The real subject of the sentence is not obvious in some sentences and if the writer fails to identify the real subject there is often a problem. In the remaining part of this section, we will consider some of the problems that are responsible for errors of subject-verb agreement.
3.1.1 Compound Subjects
Some sentences have more than one subject. When two or more subjects are connected by and, the subject is plural and requires a plural verb but if the compound subject is joined by or, nor, either … or, neither … nor, the subject is singular and requires a singular verb. Examine the following:
5. Amaete and Mfon are preparing for G.C.E. examinations.
6. The president and the secretary attend all diocesan meetings.
Note that the two parts of the compound subject are connected by and in the above examples and the compound subjects take plural verbs. There
are however some exceptions to this rule. If the two subjects connected by and form a unit, the subject is regarded as singular and takes a singular verb as in the following example:
7. Bread and tea is a popular breakfast (one unit – verb is singular). Also, when the two subjects connected by and refer to the same person or thing, the subject is singular:
8. Her companion and friend is her cousin (one person).
9. The secretary and typist was present at the meeting (one person).
Note, however, that if the compound subjects in Nos 8 and 9 above referred to two individuals, the verbs would be plural and the sentences would read thus:
8a. Her companions and friends are her cousins.
9a. The secretary and the typist were present at the meeting
When two subjects are connected by or the subject is singular. This means either the first or the second subject not both. The same rule applies in the case of nor being used to join two subjects. Either … or and neither … nor follow the same rule.
10. Idongesit or Uko starts the generator (one of them = Singular)
11. Neither the lecturer nor the typist was responsible for the leakage (neither the one nor the other; singular)
When one of the subjects joined by or, nor, neither … nor, either … or is singular and the other one is plural, the verb agrees with the subject that is nearer to it. If, however, both subjects are plural, the verb is plural. Examine the following sentences.
12. Neither the teacher nor the students were here when I arrived (verb = plural).
13. Neither the students nor the teacher was here when I arrived (verb = singular).
14. Neither the teachers nor the students were here when I arrived (verb = plural).
In No 12, the plural subject is nearer to the verb and the verb is therefore plural. In No. 13 the singular subject is nearer to the verb and the verb is singular. In No. 14, both subjects are plural. When one of the subjects is singular and the other is plural it is advisable to put the plural subject nearer to the verb as this makes the verb plural and sounds better. Occasionally, there are sentences where the compound subjects differ in person. According to the rule the verb should agree with the subject nearer to it although such sentences look and sound awkward.
Examine the following sentences:
15. Either I or they are responsible for what happened (I = 1st person; they = 3rd person).
16. Either they or I am responsible for what happened.
It is sometimes better to restructure such sentences as No 17 below to make them sound better.
17. Either they are responsible for what happened or I am.
3.1.2 Collective Nouns
A collective noun is a noun that names a group or a collection of people or objects usually seen as a unit. The following are examples of collective nouns: people: audience, crowd, jury; animals: flock, herd, troop, pride;
objects: band, package, luggage.
A collective noun which is singular in meaning requires a singular verb and the one that is plural in meaning requires a plural verb.
18. The jury has given the verdict.
19. That family is very united.
20. The audience is very attentive.
Occasionally, the sentence may indicate that the members of a collective noun are acting as individuals, not as a unit. In such cases the collective noun requires a plural verb. Examine the following examples:
21. The jury have returned to their houses.
22. The family have made their contributions.
23. The audience were clapping for him.
It is sometimes clearer to introduce expressions like ‘the members of’, ‘the people in’, to indicate that the members were behaving as individuals, for clarity. For example No.23 can be rewritten as follows for clarity:
23a. The people in the audience were clapping for him.
3.1.3 Intervening Phrases
When the subject of a sentence is followed by prepositional phrases or expressions like as well as, together with, accompanied by, including, etc the subject of the sentence is not affected by the addition of such phrases. This is because the subject of a sentence can never be found in a prepositional phrase or any of such expressions listed above. Examine the following:
24. The lecturer as well as his students has not paid the conference fee.
25. Important papers together with his will were found in his brief case.
In No. 24, the subject (lecturer) is singular and takes a singular verb irrespective of the intervening phrase as well as his students. Similarly in No. 25 the subject is plural and takes a plural verb irrespective of the intervening phrase together with his will. Note that in both cases the subject is not located in the prepositional phrase nor is it affected by the number of the noun in the intervening phrase.
3.1.4 Contractions
Contractions are contracted forms of verbs, that is verbal forms that have been shortened by the omission of one or more letters indicated by the use of the apostrophe. Many mistakes in agreement occur with the use of contracted forms such as don’t, aren’t and isn’t. Note that contracted form for am not is not am’t. Another common error is the use of don’t (do not) for doesn’t (does not). Don’t should not be used with subjects in the third person singular. Thus the expressions, she don’t, he don’t and it don’t are wrong. Note the following usages:
24. It don’t matter (incorrect).
24a. It doesn’t matter (correct).
25. He don’t belong to our club (incorrect).
25a. He doesn’t belong to our club (correct).
26. They doesn’tplay well (incorrect).
26a. They don’tplay well (correct).
27. We aint going to the market (unacceptable).
27a. We aren’t going to the market (acceptable).
3.1.5 Indefinite Pronouns
The following indefinite pronouns are singular and require singular verb forms: anyone, everyone, no one, one, someone, anybody, somebody, nobody, everybody, each, either and neither.
28. Either of them is qualified.
29. Neither of them is qualified.( pronouns)
30. Only one of the candidates is qualified.
31. Everybody is invited to the function.
32. Anyone has the right to make a suggestion.
33. Somebody was responsible for closing that door.
34. Each of these bags has been checked.
When many, each, and every are used to begin a sentence, and function as adjectives, the subject is singular.
35. Many a woman wishes she had a child.
36. Each student was asked to show his fee receipt.
37. Everyman, woman and child is expected at the football field.
The indefinite pronouns several, few, both and many are always plural because they mean more than one.
38 Several were called to the high table.
39. A few have received their number.
40. Both were eager to win.
41. Many in the group are against the motion.
The indefinite pronouns some, none, any and all can be singular or plural depending on the meaning of the sentence. When any of these words refer to mass or quantity they are regarded as singular and take singular verbs. When they refer to number they are regarded as plural and take plural verbs. Examine the following examples:
42. Some are going by bus (number = more than one = plural).
42a. Some of the rice is left in the bag (quantity = singular)
43. All of the petrol has been sold (mass or quantity = singular).
43a. All of the members bring gifts to the church at harvest.
(number - plural).
3.1.6 Special Cases of Agreement
Some nouns are plural in form but singular in meaning. Such nouns, when they are the subject of sentences, take singular verbs as in the following examples:
44. Mathematics is an interesting subject (singular verb).
45. Measles is a childhood disease (verb singular).
46. The news was terrible (singular verb).
Certain words are plural in form and meaning and take plural verbs. These include, scissors, pants, trousers, pliers, tongs. When the word pair is used with them they are singular.
47. The trousers are very costly. (plural).
47a A pair of trousers is hanging in his wardrobe.(singular).
48. The scissors are not sharp. (plural).
A plural noun which refers to quantity, weight or distance is singular and requires a singular verb.
49. Twenty kilometres is a long distance to walk (Distance = singular).
50. Fifty kilograms of meat is quite heavy to carry (Mass = singular).
The words half and part can be singular or plural depending on the meaning of the sentence. As a guide, when these words refer to number, they are plural but when they refer to mass or section, they are singular as in the following examples.
51. Half of the girls are in the hostel (Number = plural).
51a. Half of the meat pie is left (Mass = singular).
52. Part of the house was destroyed (Section = singular).
52a. Part of occupants were saved (Number = plural).
When the word number is preceded by the article a it requires a plural verb but when it is preceded by the it takes a singular verb.
53. A number of women were cooking for the occasion (plural).
53a. The number of women present was small (singular).
The name of a firm is often regarded as singular even if the name is plural in form. If however, the name suggests a plural idea it is regarded as plural and takes a plural verb.
54. Ugo Parker Motors Company has made substantial sales this year.
54. Marks and Spencers has retrenched a lot of workers.
55. Evans Brothers have declared dividends.
Sometimes a sentence begins with there, here. It should be noted that neither of these words is the subject of the sentence. Here is an adverb and there is an adverb which is often used as an expletive. To get the real subject the sentence should be transposed so that the true subject begins the sentence as in the following:
56. There are six children in the room.
56a. Six children are (there) in the room.
57. Here comes the Vice Chancellor together with his principal staff.
57a. The Vice Chancellor comes here together with his principal staff (singular) sentence 56 becomes a possibility in a special sense: poetic or exclamatory writing.
The real problem occurs when a sentence which begins with an introductory there or here has a compound subject which requires a plural verb. The speaker or writer may fail to realise that the subject is a compound one. It is easy to determine whether the subject is single or compound after the sentence has been transposed. The following examples have compound subjects.
58. There goes the boy and his mother (incorrect).
58a. The boy and his mother go there (compound subject – plural).
58b. There go the boy and his mother.
59. Here comes Idongesit and Uko (incorrect).
59a. Idongesit and Uko come here (compound subject = plural verb).
59b. Here come Idongesit and Uko.
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE
Select the correct answer from the alternatives given in each sentence.
1. One can no longer take for granted what enjoyed in the university.
(a) you (b) he (c) they (d) one.
2. Atim and Dan met on the ship and greeted .
(a) one another (b) themselves (c) each other (d) theirselves.
3. I am not surprised that he failed the election; everybody that he is unreliable.
(a) know (b) knows (c) will know (d) do know.
4. Knowledge of Mathematics as well as Physics in the Aptitude Test.
(a) is tested (b) have been tested (c) are tested (d) were tested.
5. Evidence before the court that you are guilty Mr. Jones. (a) proves, (b) prove (c) proved, (d) proofed.
6. Alice, together with her sisters happy with the End-of-Year Result.
(a) was (b) were (c) was being (d) weren’t.
7. do you think will carry your cross?
(a) whom (b) who (c) which (d) that
8. Either our housemistress or you to act as referee but none arrived.
(a) is/have (b) is/has (c) are/have (d) are/has.
9. His knowledge of materials, sources of supply and prices unparalleled.
(a) was (b) were (c) being (d) is being
10. Thirty years too long to be away from home (a) are (b) is (c) being (d) has been.
4.0 CONCLUSION
Subject-verb agreement is a common structural problem found in the writings of learners of English as a second language. Since the subject determines the agreement it is important to learn to identify the type of subject in terms of type and number.
5.0 SUMMARY
In this unit you have learnt the following
i.In order to have good grammatical relations between the parts of a sentence, the subject must agree with the verb in number and person.
ii.When two or more subjects are connected by and, the subject is plural and requires a plural verb.
iii. If the compound subject is joined by or, nor, either … or, neither … nor, the subject is singular and requires a singular verb.
iv. Subjects separated by intervening phrases, collective nouns as well as nouns which end with ‘s’ but are singular take singular verbs.
v.Nouns that are plural in form and meaning take plural subjects.
ANSWERS TO SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE
The correct answers are highlighted.
1. One can no longer take for granted what enjoyed in the university.
(a) you (b) he (c) they (d) one.
2. Atim and Dan met on the ship and greeted .
(a) one another (b) themselves (c) each other (d) theirselves.
3. I am not surprised that he failed the election; everybody that he is unreliable.
(a) know (b) knows (c) will know (d) do know.
4. Knowledge of Mathematics as well as Physics in the Aptitude Test.
(a) is tested (b) have been tested (c) are tested (d) were tested.
5. Evidence before the court that you are guilty Mr. Jones. (a) proves, (b) prove (c) proved, (d) proofed.
6. Alice, together with her sisters happy with the End-of- Year Result.
(a) was (b) were (c) was being (d) weren’t.
7. do you think will carry your cross?
(a) whom (b) who (c) which (d) that
8. Either our housemistress or you to act as referee but none arrived.
(a) is/have (b) is/has (c) are/have (d) are/has.
9. His knowledge of materials, sources of supply and prices - unparalleled.
(a) was (b) were (c) being (d) is being
10. Thirty years too long to be away from home (a) are (b) is (c) being (d) has been.
6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT
Discuss and illustrate five special cases of subject-verb agreement.
7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READINGS
Eka, D. (1996). Elements of Grammar and Mechanics of English. Uyo: Samuf Educational.
Eka, D. (ed) (1993). Fundamentals of Communication in English.
Calabar: BON Universal Ltd.
Udofot, I. and Ekpenyong, B. (2004). A Comprehensive English Course for Schools and Colleges. Lagos: Quantum Co. Ltd.
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