Questions tagged [verb-agreement]
The verb-agreement tag has no usage guidance.
57
questions
1
vote
2answers
44 views
What does “they” in the phrase, “the best they can” point to?
This sentence is grabbed from a website:
A teacher's primary goal is to teach students the best they can about the things that are in our textbooks and more important, how to show respect for one ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
What days (IS or ARE) Johnny attending school?
What is the proper verb conjugation in the following sentence:
My son is attending school on MWF this week. What days ____ Johnny
attending?
Is it "are" or "is"?
Does the verb apply to the ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
What is the subject here?
I am confused about this sentence: do I use do or does?
Will it depend on what the subject is? Which is the correct one?
What do your best friend's parents do?
What does your best friend'...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
Singular–plural choices in subject+verb agreement, notional agreement, and pronouns with ambiguous antecedents
The original version of a particular sentence:
EWB is a group of engineers that, unlike many engineering corporations, assist people around the world by applying its knowledge to solve problems in ...
1
vote
1answer
476 views
Can I write, “The two best things about the party was the food and the music?”
The two best things about the party was the food and the music.
Is the statement right or not?
If it is not right then what is the right statement?
I am not clear about if we are using plural noun "...
1
vote
3answers
40 views
Does this sentence follow the rule subject verb agreement? [closed]
"Let the rain come down."
This sentence is part of the song.
0
votes
1answer
20 views
Does this sentence follow a correct subject verb agreement rule? [closed]
The increased earth temperature cause increase in the global warming.
0
votes
0answers
31 views
'All he wrote is novels ' or 'All he wrote are novels'?
'All he wrote is novels ' or 'All he wrote are novels'?
I understand there is subject-verb agreement in English, but I always feel it should be 'All he wrote are novels'. Then does it become object-...
1
vote
2answers
31 views
Grammar with since as a conjunction
Which one is correct between the two given sentences and why?
1) It is five years since I saw a movie.
2) It has been five years since I saw a movie.
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Why is it grammatical to say 'It's the holidays'?
I have come across the following sentence in Oxford Grammar for Schools 4 by Martin Moore:
It's the holidays. I don't have to get up very early.
Why isn't the subject of the sentence in agreement ...
0
votes
1answer
36 views
Grammar Agreements? [closed]
Someone I — usually — speak to wrote me, something like this:
It has, and may never, exist
exist, existed?
What form would one use to get though grammatically proper, in English?
1
vote
2answers
80 views
What is the “s” at the end of some words and where does it go when talking about multiples?
I just recently wrote a sentence to a client, then had to correct the sentence and wondered about one of the words.
I wrote the sentence:
Any Sunday in September works
Then I realized I could ...
4
votes
1answer
532 views
“Heavy rains has” “Today's news are”
I just found these questions in a test on the internet:
'Heavy rains has caused flooding in several parts of the south west.'
Is this sentence right or wrong? Also:
2) 'Today's news are all ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
Which noun should I make the verb agree with in this sentence?
One set of events in Lord of the Flies that shows how William Golding is a pessimist is/are the murders of Piggy and Simon and the attempted murder of Ralph.
Don't know whether to use "is" or "are." ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
“it can lead to” and “it leads to”
I'm trying to figure out why it is okay that "it" stays the same but "lead/leads" changes with just the addition of "can." Can someone explain this to me? It does not follow the rules of subject-verb ...
0
votes
1answer
49 views
Subject verb agreement in a sentence with and
We know that if two or more singular nouns are joined with 'and' they take a plurality verb but if they convey the same idea they take a singular one.
Can you help me out with the following sentence:...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
Takes or take, subject verb agreement
1. Veronica takes a lot of time.
2. Let Veronica take her time.
Could you guys help me with the grammar rule involved while deciding why we'll use the verb 'take' and not 'takes' in the second ...
1
vote
1answer
23 views
Use subject in every sentence
In this phrase, is necessary the use of "I" twice?
I can do it by myself and I believe that will be no problem
Could be:
I can do it by myself and believe that will be no problem
It looks like ...
0
votes
3answers
54 views
Why is the correct answer “divides”?
The question comes from an English Exam test, TOEFL
The Dewey Decimal System, currently used in libraries throughout the world,_______ all written works into ten classes according to subject
...
0
votes
1answer
52 views
I have two questions. Q1. Conditional Q2. verb agreement
I would like to know which one of the below two sentences are right:
If I am in Russia, I will get in touch with you
or
If I will be in Russia, I will get in touch with you.
The three best ...
4
votes
2answers
75 views
Does 'yield' still agree with 'the subject' in 'measures can be undertaken that yield/s positive outcomes?
Good day, does 'yield' still agree with the 'subject' in the following sentence? The place of the modal verb 'can' is confusing.
Some people contend that measures can be undertaken that yields ...
0
votes
0answers
13 views
SV agreement: does the second verb in the clause after “and”, sharing the same subject as the verb in the first clause, use the same sing./plr. form?
The sentence is:
"The machine's remote-control unit puts you in charge of starting and stopping your workout and ____ the speed and direction of the oncoming tennis balls."
The question is from ...
0
votes
3answers
900 views
“Such are his usual responses…” or “Such is his usual responses…”?
I was confused by Grammarly which keeps saying that I have to use is instead of are in the example below.
Such are his usual responses to every question he is being asked.
Can someone clarify ...
0
votes
2answers
145 views
Should the verb in this sentence be singular or plural “The temperature of the hot and cold reservoirs limit the maximum possible efficiency.”?
The question title says it all. I'm working on the sentence
The temperature of the hot and cold reservoirs limit the maximum possible efficiency.
And I think the verb should be "limit" because the ...
4
votes
2answers
430 views
“That's my rubber and ruler” Why isn't it “they are” as there are two objects?
A: That's my pencil case and my pen and pencil.
B. Oh! That's my rubber and ruler.
Why is it not “they are” as there are two objects?
I found the example in Junior New Concept English for ...
3
votes
5answers
46k views
Either / Neither singular or plural
I'm new to English. I wonder whether neither / either will go with plural or singular verbs?
0
votes
1answer
719 views
Most vs most of the
Most people are afraid of swine flu these days.
Is this correct or should we write "most of the people" in place of "most people"?
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Implied subject with a conjunction
I'm in the process of proofing an article that's about to be published, but I have a doubt I can't seem to solve or figure out, any advice would be appreciated.
The sentence currently is as follows:
...
2
votes
3answers
11k views
The minutes of the Stockholders Meeting “was” or “were”?
What is the correct verb
The minutes of the Stockholders Meeting was presented and discussed
or
The minutes of the Stockholders Meeting were presented and discussed
Should it be was or were?
1
vote
1answer
92 views
plural or singular verb agreement in this sentence
In another question I asked a question about this sentence
For example these compounds are appropriate replacement for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) due to their low vapor pressure.
As a side ...
1
vote
1answer
2k views
Congratulations to those whose hard work have paid off
Should it be have/has paid off in the above sentence? What is the reasoning for this?
2
votes
1answer
159 views
“Walking makes him feel good.” - Why don't we use “makes him feels good”?
I'm confused on why the following is correct.
Walking makes him feel good.
Since "him" is the third person (he/she/it). Shouldn't it be:
Walking makes him feels good.
This sounds wrong, but ...
2
votes
2answers
9k views
Should I use “happen” or “happens”?
Should I use happen or happens in the following sentence:
Everything in life, even events that seem insignificant when they occur, happens/happen for a reason.
I am confused because everything ...
5
votes
1answer
232 views
If you have two verbs governed by he/she/it, does the second verb also need to be singular of only the first one?
When you use he, she, or it in a sentence, you need to modify the verb for the third person singular, but what happens if we use two or more verbs in the same sentence? Example:
The thief steals and ...
2
votes
1answer
60 views
verb agreement with “and not” in subject
Which of the following two sentences is correct?
The teacher, and not the students, is speaking.
The teacher, and not the students, are speaking.
1
vote
2answers
491 views
Use of the plural form when listing two objects in succession in technical writing
I have a rather technical sentence:
The mean mesiodistal positioning error for the posteriors was
0.09±0.09 mm and 0.05±0.01 mm for the control and experimental groups, respectively.
I feel as ...
0
votes
1answer
168 views
Subject-verb agreement question
Which sentence is correct,
These accusations of plagiarism has to stop
These accusations of plagiarism have to stop
The reason that I ask is because I believe the first sentence is correct,...
4
votes
2answers
420 views
subject-verb agreement when 'amount' is used
Even a small amount of gases have / has a large effect.
This sentence is an exerpt from a reading passage, which is talking about CO2 in global warming. It says CO2 accounts for only 0.038% in the ...
0
votes
1answer
87 views
Why only past tense?
FYI. There is referring to a picture of teens smoking.
"Her friends asked her to smoke and she seemed to be unsure."
Why can I not use present simple?
Should I use past perfect "had asked"?
"Her ...
1
vote
3answers
15k views
What is the difference between “depend” and “depends”?
Could someone explain the difference between depend and depends?
When do I need to add the "s" at the end?
2
votes
1answer
23 views
Make versus makes
Which of these is correct?
Adding 's' or 'es' to nouns makes them plural words.
Adding 's' or 'es' to nouns make them plural words.
2
votes
4answers
2k views
How many stops is it/are there to the park?
I just read a question in Oxford Word Skills about bus routes:
'How many stops is it to the park?'
Although I feel "how many stops are they..." sounds awkward, "how many stops are there..." sounds ...
2
votes
2answers
29k views
A pair of scissors are or is
A pair of scissors is or are? which one? My teacher at lyceum said that it is are but I want to make sure.
0
votes
2answers
1k views
percentage of the population usage
I was wondering which is correct. 20% percent of the population is a man or 20% of the population is men. I understand that a singular verb is to be used but...
12
votes
3answers
1k views
Why is this not a pronoun error? “To those of us who had heard the principal [..] the news of the staff cuts was not surprising.”
From the SAT:
To those of us who had heard the principal of the high school talk about the budget, the news of the staff cuts was not surprising.
Why is it had and not have? Because isn't those ...
3
votes
3answers
360 views
When to use “their”, “his or her”, “them”, etc. when referring to people in a group
I'm very confused about how to correctly refer to individuals in a group. For example, which one is correct?
Today's youth has begun to ignore what is happening around it
Today's youth have begun ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
“Half of the” vs “half of”
Over half of the domestic flights were delayed because of bad weather condition.
Over half of domestic flights were delayed because of bad weather condition.
First, Is there any difference b/w the ...
12
votes
6answers
20k views
“A variety” singular or plural
A variety of pleasant items in the shop attract [plural] everybody.
A variety of animals are kept at the zoo.
A wide variety of dishes is essential for a successful restaurant.
A variety/range ...
8
votes
4answers
4k views
Is it correct to ask “who needs a dragons”?
According to the title of this question...
Who needs a dragons
Is it "a dragons" or just "dragons"?
And "need" or "needs"?
3
votes
2answers
638 views
The natural sciences WERE or WAS the subject (of …)
What is the correct verb choice (were or was) in this sentence:
a) The natural sciences WERE the subject of our discussion.
b) The natural sciences WAS the subject of our discussion.
Also, what ...
