Finding Subject and Verb Examples:

I like cake and he likes ice cream.

He and I like cake.
What is the importance of determining the subject and
She lifts weights and jogs daily.
the verb in the sentence?
Being able to find the right subject and verb
will help you correct errors of agreement. Subject Verb Agreement
Example: The list of items is/are on the desk.
If you know that list is the subject, then you will choose Basic Rule. The basic rule states that a singular subject
is for the verb. takes a singular
Being able to identify the subject and verb verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb.
correctly will also help you with commas and Verbs do not form their plurals by adding an s as nouns
semicolons as you will see later. do. In order to determine which verb is singular and
Definition. A Verb is a word that shows action (runs, which one is plural, think of which verb you would use
hits, slides) or state of being (is, are, was, were, am, with he or she and which verb you would use with they.
and so on). Example:
Examples: talks, talk
He ran around the block. Which one is the singular form? Which word
You are my friend. would you use with he? We say, He talks.
Rule 1. If a verb follows to, it is called an infinitive Therefore, talks is singular. We say, They talk.
phrase and is not the Therefore, talk is plural.
main verb. You will find the main verb either before or Rule 1. Two singular subjects connected by or or nor
after the infinitive require a singular
phrase. verb.
Examples: Example:
I like to walk. My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today.
The efforts to get her elected succeeded. Rule 2. Two singular subjects connected by
Definition either/or or neither/nor require a
A Subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the singular verb as in Rule 1.
verb. Examples:
Example: Neither Juan nor Carmen is available.
The woman hurried. Either Kiana or Casey is helping today with stage
Woman is the subject. decorations.
Rule 2. A subject will come before a phrase beginning Rule 3. When I is one of the two subjects connected by
with of. either/or or
Example: neither/nor, put it second and follow it with the
A bouquet of yellow roses will lend color and fragrance singular verb am.
to the room. Example:
Rule 3. To find the subject and verb, always find the Neither she nor I am going to the festival.
verb first. Then ask Rule 4. When a singular subject is connected by or or
who or what performed the verb. nor to a plural subject,
Examples: put the plural subject last and use a plural verb.
The jet engine passed inspection. Example:
Who or what passed? The serving bowl or the plates go on that shelf.
From the ceiling hung the chandelier. The verb is hung. Rule 5. When a singular and plural subject are
Who or what hung? connected by either/or or
Rule 4. Any request or command such as Stop! or neither/nor, put the plural subject last and use a plural
Walk quickly. has verb.
the understood subject you because if we ask who is to Example:
stop or walk quickly, Neither Jenny nor the others are available.
the answer must be you. Rule 6. As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or
Example: more subjects
Please bring me some coffee. when they are connected by and.
Rule 5. Sentences often have more than one subject, Example:
more than one verb, A car and a bike are my means of transportation.
or pairs of subjects and verbs.
Rule 7. Sometimes the subject is separated from the Rule 11. The words here and there have generally been
verb by words such labeled as adverbs
as along with, as well as, besides, or not. Ignore these even though they indicate place. In sentences beginning
expressions when with here or there,
determining whether to use a singular or plural verb. the subject follows the verb.
Examples: Examples:
The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected There are four hurdles to jump.
shortly. There is a high hurdle to jump.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her Rule 12. Use a singular verb with sums of money or
shaking . periods of time.
Rule 8. The pronouns each, everyone, every one, Examples:
everybody, anyone, anybody, Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
someone, and somebody are singular and require Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
singular verbs. Do not be Rule 13. Sometimes the pronoun who, that, or which is
misled by what follows of . the subject of a verb
Examples: in the middle of the sentence. The pronouns who, that,
Each of the girls sings well. and which become
Every one of the cakes is gone. singular or plural according to the noun directly in
*Note front of them. So, if
Everyone is one word when it means everybody. Every that noun is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural,
one is two words when the meaning is each one. use a plural verb.
Rule 9. With words that indicate portionspercent, Examples:
fraction, part, Salma is the scientist who writes/write the reports.
majority, some, all, none, remainder, and so forthlook The word in front of who is scientist, which is singular.
at the noun in Therefore, use the singular verb writes.
your of phrase (object of the preposition) to determine He is one of the men who does/do the work.
whether to use The word in front of who is men, which is plural.
a singular or plural verb. If the object of the preposition Therefore, use the plural verb do.
is singular, Rule 14. Collective nouns such as team and staff may
use a singular verb. If the object of the preposition is be either singular or
plural, use a plural depending on their use in the sentence.
plural verb. Examples:
Examples: The staff is in a meeting.
Fifty percent of the pie has disappeared. Staff is acting as a unit here.
Pie is the object of the preposition of. The staff are in disagreement about the findings.
Fifty percent of the pies have disappeared. The staff are acting as separate individuals in this
Pies is the object of the preposition. example.
One-third of the city is unemployed. The sentence would read even better as:
One-third of the people are unemployed. The staff members are in disagreement about
*Note the findings.
Hyphenate all spelled-out fractions.
All of the pie is gone. Reference:
All of the pies are gone. Straus, J., Kaufman, L., & Stern, T. (2014). The blue
Some of the pie is missing. book of grammar and punctuation: An easy-to-use guide
with clear rules, real-world examples, and reproducible
Some of the pies are missing.
quizzes. John Wiley & Sons.
None of the garbage was picked up.
None of the sentences were punctuated
correctly.
Of all her books, none have sold as well as the
first one.
Rule 10. When either and neither are subjects, they
always take singular
verbs.
Examples:
Neither of them is available to speak right now.
Either of us is capable of doing the job.