Here is a short list of 10 proposals for the subject-verb agreement. Another trap for writers is to move from a strict grammatical agreement to a “fictitious agreement,” which means that the verb is consistent with the term or idea the subject is trying to convey, whether singular or plural: the subject-verb agreement seems simple, doesn`t it? A singular subject takes on a singular verb: a subject consisting of nouns connected by a plural subject and taking on a plural subject, unless the intended meaning of that subject is singular. If a subject consists of nouns associated with or associated with, the verb corresponds to the last noun. One thing that confuses writers is a long and complicated subject. The writer gets lost and forgets which noun is actually the head of the subject sentence and instead lets the verb correspond to the following noun: the expression “more than one” takes a singular verb. With a bachelor`s and master`s degree in English, Erin has been working as a writer for 15 years, working on a variety of media, especially online. Their niche is business/marketing and online. In addition, she has experience teaching publishing for non-publishers and coaching authors. Still, The Copyeditor`s Handbook lists no less than 25 cases that aren`t as clear, and Garner`s Modern American Usage devotes nearly five columns to the topic. Even the relatively small Grammar Smart devotes five pages to the topic (including the quiz). A 12-course set is all you need for dinner.

Oil, along with gas, is a popular heating choice. Peanut butter combined with bread and jelly is a delicious snack. (Here, peanut butter, bread and jelly are a unit, a sandwich, so no comma is needed and we keep the singular verb.) You or I run every day. Potatoes, pasta or rice go well with grilled chicken. (last name: rice) Connectives, sentences as combined, coupled with, accompanied, added, with, with, with and as well, do not change the number of the subject. These sentences are usually filed with commas. No book is reproducible without permission. None of the peas are left on Sean`s plate. (“peas” is the speaker and is in the plural) For money, if the amount is specific, use a singular verb; If the amount is vague, use a plural verb. She and I run every day.

Peanut butter and jelly are my favorite sandwiches. (intended meaning of the singular) In the space of a year, $5 million was spent on building a new plant, and millions more was spent on training future factory workers. (“$5 million” is a certain amount. Therefore, the verb is singular.) Every year, funds are made available to support medical research. (“Fund” is a vague term rather than a certain amount. Therefore, the verb is plural.). There is more than one box in the hallway. More than one car participated in the race. A quarter of the books have disappeared. (“books” is a plural noun) A quarter of the sand is white. (“sand” is a singular noun) False: Twenty-five periods are a lot to digest. That`s right: twenty-five rules are listed on the note.

False: The arrival of new autumn modes has inspired all the beginners in the school. That`s right: the arrival of the new autumn fashion inspired all the beginners in the school. (should agree with arrival) And then there`s the fact that English simply refuses to follow its own rules. If English can contradict itself, it will. The football team trains day and night for the Super Bowl.The Boston School Board disagrees on what to cut from the school`s budget. Every boy is enthusiastic about the meeting; Everyone is well prepared. Boys climb walls like caged animals. Collective nouns (team, couple, collaborator, etc.) take a singular verb. “None” takes a singular verb if what it refers to is singular, and a plural verb if its speaker is plural….