What is Advanced Subject-Verb Agreement? Definition and Examples

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🔍 Collective Nouns: Nouns like 'team,' 'family,' and 'committee' can be singular or plural depending on whether they act as a single unit or as individual members.
• 🤝 Compound Subjects: Subjects joined by 'and' usually take a plural verb, but if they refer to a single entity, a singular verb is used.
• ❓ Indefinite Pronouns: Pronouns like 'each,' 'every,' 'some,' 'none,' and 'all' can be singular or plural depending on the context.
• ⚖️ Intervening Phrases: Phrases between the subject and verb don't change the verb's agreement with the subject.
• ➕ Subjects with 'as well as,' 'along with,' 'together with': These phrases don't make the subject plural. The verb agrees with the main subject.
• 🔢 Numerical Expressions: Expressions such as 'two-thirds' or 'three-quarters' can be singular or plural depending on what they refer to.

Practice Quiz

1. Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement with a collective noun?
   1. The team are playing well tonight.
   2. The team is playing well tonight.
   3. The team have different opinions.
   4. The team argue frequently.
2. Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement for a compound subject.
   1. Peanut butter and jelly are my favorite sandwich.
   2. Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich.
   3. Peanut butter and jelly, along with chips, are what I want for lunch.
   4. Peanut butter and jelly, along with chips, is what I want for lunch.
3. Which sentence correctly uses an indefinite pronoun with subject-verb agreement?
   1. Each of the students have completed their assignments.
   2. Each of the students has completed their assignment.
   3. All of the cake are gone.
   4. None of the students is here.
4. Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement despite an intervening phrase.
   1. The president, along with his advisors, are arriving soon.
   2. The president, along with his advisors, is arriving soon.
   3. The books, including the novel, is interesting.
   4. The dogs, especially the golden retriever, are friendly.
5. Which sentence correctly uses subject-verb agreement with 'as well as'?
   1. The teacher, as well as the students, are excited.
   2. The teacher, as well as the students, is excited.
   3. The dog, along with its owner, are going for a walk.
   4. The cat, together with its kittens, are sleeping.
6. Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement for a numerical expression.
   1. Two-thirds of the pizza have been eaten.
   2. Two-thirds of the pizza has been eaten.
   3. Three-quarters of the students is present.
   4. One-half of the class are absent today.
7. Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
   1. Neither the students nor the teacher were ready.
   2. Neither the students nor the teacher was ready.
   3. Either the cat or the dogs is going to be fed.
   4. Either the cat or the dogs are going to be fed.