Editing for Subject-Verb Agreement

When you write using the literary present tense, you need to make sure that subjects and verbs agree in number (singular or plural). Note these other tips for ensuring subject-verb agreement.

A singular subject needs a singular verb, and a plural subject needs a plural verb.

Two or more subjects joined by and are always plural.

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

Collective nouns treated as one thing are singular; those treated as a group of individuals are plural.

When words come between the subject and verb, make sure to match the true subject.

Editing to Correct Pronoun Usage

A pronoun is a word that stands in the place of a noun or another pronoun (its antecedent). The most familiar pronouns are I, me, my; we, us, our, ours; you, your, yours; he, she, it, they, their, theirs. A pronoun needs to agree with its antecedent. That means both need to have the same person (first, second, or third), the same number (singular or plural), and the same gender (masculine, feminine, neuter, or indeterminate).

Sometimes a singular pronoun replaces a word such as anybody, anyone, everybody, everyone, nobody, no one, somebody, or someone. Notice how these words are third person, singular, and indeterminate, but English has no such personal pronoun to replace it.

You can fix the problem by using alternate pronouns (her or his) or rewriting the sentence to avoid the problem.

Most pronouns change form to create possessives. A personal pronoun with an apostrophe s is a contraction, not a possessive. Make sure to use the correct form.

Editing for Subject-Verb Agreement

Subjects and verbs must agree. Follow these rules to ensure subject-verb agreement:

1. A singular subject needs a singular verb, and a plural subject needs a plural verb. Usually, plural nouns end in s, and plural verbs do not: terms have and term has. Watch for one s between the noun and verb.

   Merriam-Webster offers them as synonyms for each other, but each has a slightly different focus. (singular subjects and verbs)

   Now that both terms have shucked many of their negative connotations, they are used by people about all kinds of non-academic, non-techie subjects. (plural subjects and verbs)

2. A compound subject joined by and is always plural.

   In the days of traveling circuses, the lion tamer, trapeze artist, and tightrope walker were royalty. (plural subject and verb)

3. When a compound subject is joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the subject closest to it.

   Neither the water boy nor the geek was considered a skilled carney. (singular final subject and verb)

4. Some indefinite pronouns are always singular (each, either, neither, one, everybody, another, anybody, everyone, nobody, everything, somebody, someone) and others are always plural (both, few, many, several).

   Everyone wants a geek to fix a computer. Few choose a jock.

5. Some indefinite pronouns (all, any, most, none, some) change depending on the object of the preposition that follows them.

   All of the sideshow acts are top notch. All of the bigtop is fireproof.

6. Don't be fooled when other nouns come between the subject and verb. Make sure the true subject and verb agree.

   A nerd, whether devoted to books or computers or sports, is a serious expert in the subject.