S-V Pattern 2:
A sentence can be inverted, placing
the subject at the end. This positioning may cause confusion about
which word is the subject. [Note subject and correct verb are in
colored text.]
Example: There
are / is four
concerts
this season.
Example: Under the desk
is /are the
lost
ball.
S-V
Pattern 3: Neither/nor
and either/or patterns require that the writer choose a verb to
match the number of the subject following the nor or the or.
[Note subject and correct verb are in colored text.]
Example:
Neither the teacher nor
the students are / is
present today.
Example: Neither the students
nor the teacher is
/ are present today.
S-V Pattern 4:
A series of singular subjects
requires a plural verb choice. [Note subject and correct verb are in
colored text.]
Example: Bananas,
oranges, and apples
are / is required in the
recipe.
Example: A cup and a
spoon
were set / was set on the
table.
S-V Pattern 5:
Fractions or percentages as subjects require
the noun in the prepositional phrase following them to determine the
verb number. [Note subject and correct verb are in colored text.]
Example:
Five
percent
of the students
pass
/ passes the first mastery test.
Example:
Five
percent
of the situation
is / are
Bob's fault.
S-V Pattern 6:
Phrases separating the subject and
verb may cause confusion about whether the subject is plural or
singular. They need to be disregarded when choosing the verb. [Note
subject and correct verb are in colored text.]
Example: The
teacher,
along with her students,
is going/
are going to the concert.
S-V
Pattern 7: Some
subjects, while in plural form, function as singular.
Example:
Measles
is a
contagious disease.
Example:
The New York
Times
is a popular newspaper
S-V Pattern 8:
When the verb is chosen for a
indefinite pronoun in a dependent relative clause, it must match the
pronoun's referent (that is, the word it refers to in the sentence).
Example: She is one of the
secretaries
who
want to
learn new technologies.
S-V Pattern 9:
Nouns express quantities of
amount--time, money, weight, length, etc.--require singular verbs when
thought of as a unit.
Example:
Twenty-four years
is
a long time to work at a single
job.
S-V Pattern 10:
Collective nouns--faculty, staff, band,
committee, Congress, flock, herd, team, jury, audience, etc.--can be
viewed as singular or plural depending on the meaning expressed.
Example: The
band
is
playing its music.
Example: The
band
are wearing their new
uniforms.