A Singular Subject Must Have a Singular Verb

Now that you can recognize singular and plural nouns, pronouns, and verbs, you will be able

to make all sentence parts agree in number. Remember the rule introduced in the beginning

of this chapter: A subject must agree with its verb in number.

All the other rules follow from this one. The easiest rules are these two:

·           A singular subject must have a singular verb.

·          A plural subject must have a plural verb.

Let’s examine the first rule.

5. A singular subject must have a singular verb.

She                       hesitates at all intersections, making the other drivers angry.

sing. subject      sing. verb

The singular subject she agrees with the singular verb hesitates.

Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.

sing. subject      sing. verb

The singular subject procrastination agrees with the singular verb is.

I am                      ready for dinner now.

sing. subject      sing. verb

The singular subject I requires the singular verb am.

6.Two or more singular subjects joined by or or nor must have a singular verb.

This makes perfect sense: You are making a choice between two singular subjects. The or

shows that you are only choosing one.

Either the             dog         or the cat                has to go.

sing. subject.        or sing. Subject    sing. verb

Only one pet will go—the dog or the cat. Therefore, you will only have one pet left. Two

singular subjects—dog and cat—joined by or take the singular verb has.

Neither Elvis Costello nor Elvis Presley is in the room.

sing. subject             nor sing. subject sing. verb

Each subject is being treated individually. Therefore, two singular subjects—Elvis

Costello and Elvis Presley—joined by nor take the singular verb is.

7.Subjects that are singular in meaning but plural in form require a singular verb.

These subjects include words such as measles, civics, social studies, mumps, molasses,

news, economics, and mathematics.

The news             is on very night at 11:00 P.M.

sing. subject      sing. verb

The singular subject news takes the singular verb is.

8.Plural subjects that function as a single unit take a singular verb.

Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite dish.

sing. subject                      sing. verb

The singular subject spaghetti and meatballs requires the singular verb is.

Bacon and eggs makes a great late night snack.

sing. subject      sing. verb

The singular subject bacon and eggs agrees with the singular verb makes.

9. Titles are always singular.

It doesn’t matter how long the title is, what it names, or whether or not it sounds plural—

a title always takes a singular verb.

For Whom the Bell Tolls is a story about the Spanish Civil War.

sing. subject                      sing. verb

The singular title For Whom the Bell Tolls requires the singular verb is.

Stranger in a Strange Land was written by Robert Heinlein.

sing. subject                      sing. verb

The singular title Stranger in a Strange Land requires the singular verb was.

Most measurements are singular—even though they look plural. For example: “Half a dollar

is more than enough” (not “are more than enough”).

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