Phil Druker/Department of English/ University of Idaho

Phil Druker, U of I, Dept. of English

Subject – verb agreement

Class lecture 

You need to make your subjects and verbs work together in sentences.

Correct answers here are highlighted .

1.  Only one of the emergency lights is / are      working.

2.  The purpose of the arms  is   /are to hold the canister in place.    

3a. Every one of the layers relies / rely on this. 
3b.All the layers rely/ relies on this.

4.  The group of students   is  /  are      protesting.

5.  The use of insecticides, fertilizers, and herbicides, although they offer questionable benefits, often results / result in unfortunate side effects.  
Note: "The use ...results ..."                                 

6.  Some aspects of this research  deals / deal with homeostatic control mechanisms.                                                       

7.  My experience and enthusiasm  makes /make me a perfect candidate.

8. There has/ have  been a lot of problems encountered. 

9.     Is /Are  there any questions?

The exception to the rule: percent
In sentences with the word "percent," the verb agrees with the noun in front of it.

10a.  Fifteen percent of the waste is  /  are   toxic.  
(The word "waste" is singular so use the singular verb form, "is.")

10b. Seventy percent of the students  has/  have been involved in violence.  
(The word "students" is plural so use the plural verb form, "have.")

Some weird ones:

11. These data are given in Figure 5.  ("data" = plural, datum = singular)

12. The criteria require that we....  ("criteria" = plural, criterion =singular)