Lesson 2: Subject-Verb Agreement: Collective Nouns, Expressions of Amount, and Subjects Following Verbs

Definition

A collective noun may be either singular or plural, depending on its meaning in a sentence.

Explanation

Think of a collective noun as a word for a group, like team or family. The verb choice depends on whether the group is acting as a single unit or as individual members. If everyone is doing the same thing together, the noun is singular. If the members are doing different things, it's plural.

Examples

• The jury agrees on a verdict. [The jury is acting as a single unit, so the verb is singular.]
• The jury take their seats in the jury box. [The individual members are seating themselves, so the verb is plural.]
• The flock of birds fly in different directions to find food. [The individual birds are acting separately, so flock is plural.]

Definition

An expression of an amount (a measurement, a percentage, or a fraction, for example) may be singular or plural, depending on how it is used.

Explanation

An amount is usually treated as a single unit (singular verb) when it describes a total quantity, like a specific price or a measurement. It is treated as separate items (plural verb) when you're thinking of the individual parts. For fractions and percentages, the verb must agree with the noun in the phrase that follows it.

Examples

• Fifty dollars is too much for a concert t-shirt. [The amount fifty dollars refers to a single price.]
• Fifty dollars are lying on the dresser. [The amount fifty dollars refers to individual dollar bills.]
• Two-thirds of the book is fiction. [The fraction refers to the singular noun book, so the verb is singular.]
• Two-thirds of the books are fiction. [The fraction refers to the plural noun books, so the verb is plural.]

Definition

When the subject follows the verb, find the subject and make sure that the verb agrees with it.

Explanation

In questions and sentences starting with here or there, the subject often comes after the verb. Don't be fooled by the word at the beginning; you must find the real subject to choose the correct verb. Be careful with contractions like here's, there's, and where's, which contain the singular verb is and should only be used with singular subjects.

Examples

• Were the students on the bus? [The plural subject students requires the plural verb were.]
• There is only one cookie left in the jar. [The singular subject cookie requires the singular verb is.]
• Here's the permission slip for the field trip. [The singular subject slip agrees with the singular verb is contained in Here's.]

Definition

The contractions don't and doesn't should agree with their subjects.

Explanation

It's a common mistake, but the rule is simple! Use don't (do not) with all plural subjects and with the pronouns I and you. Use doesn't (does not) with all singular subjects, except for I and you. If you get stuck, say the full words in your head to see which sounds correct.

Examples

• She doesn't like spicy food. [The singular subject She agrees with doesn't.]
• They don't want to go to the movies tonight. [The plural subject They agrees with don't.]
• I don't have my homework with me. [The pronoun I always takes don't.]