Question 1 (1 point) The teacher plans to mark the books this evening.

Subject: (blank 1)

Verb: (blank 2)

There are three persons:

First person- the speaker

Second person-the person spoken to

Third person- the person spoken about

There are two numbers:

Singular- denoting one person or thing

Plural- denoting more than one person or thing

Nouns ending in s are usually plural.

Verbs ending in s are singular.

Singular subjects should be paired with singular verbs and plural subjects should be

paired with plural verbs.

she walks

the book is

they want

Bill, John, and Jane go

1. Compound Subjects

Compound subjects joined by and normally require a plural verb:

Hard work and persistence are required in all rewarding accomplishments.

Where are the pens and paper?

Subjects which include at least two nouns or pronouns connected by and should be paired

with plural verbs.

the manager and the employees are

the cats and the dog run

the man and the woman are

2. Subjects Joined by Or or Nor

When two or more subject are joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the subject

part closest to the verb. This also applies to either/or and neither/nor.

the professor or her students write

the students or their professor writes

the boy or the girl walks

Explanation:

3. Intervening Expressions

Modifying phrases or clauses that come between the subject and the verb do not change

the number of the verb. The number of the verb is determined entirely by the number of

the subject:

The assignment, which they submitted to their professor, was incomplete.

[Assignment is the subject of the verb was].

The new computer classroom, with its many work stations and its sophisticated

technology, fills [not fill] a long-felt need. [Computer classroom is the subject of

the verb fills; the phrase with its many work stations… has nothing to do with the

verb.]

4. Verb Preceding the Subject

It is possible for a verb to come before a subject in a sentence. The rules of agreement

between the subject and the verb remain the same despite the change in order.

There is in many cities a desire to reduce traffic and pollution. [Desire is the

subject of the verb is.]

There are a stapler, two pens, four books, and a writing tablet on the desk.

[Stapler, pens, books and writing tablet are the subjects of the verb are.]

Where are Joan and her daughters going? [Joan and her daughters are subjects of

the verb are going.]

5. Indefinite Pronouns

The indefinite pronouns or adjectives either, neither, and each, as well as compounds

such as everybody, anybody, everyone, and anyone are always singular. None may be

singular or plural. The plural usage is more common.

Each of the cars has its insurance proof in the glove compartment.

Everyone at the meeting was upset over the policies announced.

Every employee, supervisor, and executive reveals the operation of a model

company.