Agreement & verb and pronoun forms · Topic 4 of 17

Subject-Verb Agreement

Tap any line to see why it matters

Grammar · subject-verb agreement

A verb matches its subject: skip phrases in between, make and plural, match the nearer subject after or/nor, and treat each and everyone as singular.

01 · In-between wordsSkip the in-between phrase; match the subject

02 · or / noror / nor → agree with the closer subject

03 · Indefinite pronounseach, everyone, nobody → singular verb

Singular subject + singular verb; plural + plural: The nurse checks · The nurses check must know

Skip the phrase between subject and verb: The box of gloves is empty must know

and between subjects → plural verb: The aide and the nurse are here must know

or/nor: match the nearer subject: Neither the aides nor the nurse is free must know

each, either, neither, every-/any-/no-/some- words are singular: Everyone has a badge must know

both, few, many, several are plural: Several of the monitors need batteries

some/all/most/none: match the noun after of: Some of the soup is · Some of the cups are

Collective noun acting as one unit → singular verb: The committee meets at noon

There/here and questions: the subject follows the verb: There are two beds open

news, physics, measles take a singular verb: The news is good

One amount = singular verb: Twenty minutes is enough · Five dollars is the fee

One-unit pair with and → singular: Peanut butter and jelly is my lunch

✗ The results of the test was clear → ✓ The results of the test were clear

✗ Each of the students have a locker → ✓ Each of the students has a locker

Commonly confused

	and	or / nor
Verb	plural	agrees with the nearer subject
Example	The aide and the nurse are here.	Neither the aides nor the nurse is here.
Watch for	one-unit pairs: Peanut butter and jelly is lunch	flip the order and the verb changes

There's = there is, never before a plural — ✗ There's three messages for you

along with/as well as don't add to the subject: Dr. Ruiz, along with two aides, is in

Show 3 more facts

Members acting separately → plural, best with "members": The jury members disagree

I and you take the plain form, no -s: I run · you run · she runs

one of those people who + plural verb: one of those nurses who stay late

Pearl

Cross out everything between the subject and the verb, then match the two.

Practice this topic, then test the whole section.

HESI and HESI A2 are registered trademarks of Elsevier. NurseSavvy is not affiliated with or endorsed by Elsevier.