9165 subject verb agreement

Business Writing:
Subject Verb-Agreement “sore thumb of Grammar”
Remember the Principal Rule:
A singular subject = singular verb
A plural subject = plural verb

1)

Note of your indefinite pronouns
(everyone, each, everybody, someone)
*will always take a singular verb
Everyone who contributed to the project is proud to be part of the success.
Each of the outlet managers is responsible for their outlet’s budget plan.

2)

Watch out for “some” & “all”
* both will be determined whether it refers to COUNTABLE or NOT
Some of the students have voted already.
Some of the grains were ruined by the flood.
All managers are requested to submit their reports by Friday.

3) Fractional expressions
*will be determined what is being measured, whether it is COUNTABLE or NOT
One-half of the students have voted already.
Two-fifths of the grain is ruined.

4)

Phrases such as (together, with, along with & as well as)
*will take on singular verbs

Some hay in the barn as well as, some equipment was ruined.
The major spending budget, together with other expenses is awaiting approval.

5) Either & Neither
*will take singular verbs
Neither the M-team nor Purple Team has got the award.

6) The use of “There is” & “There are” at the beginning of the sentence
*note of the subject after the verb, determine if it’s plural or singular
There are several explanations to the incident that happened last night.
There is an explanation to the incident that happened last night.