10
Mrs. Bluezette's Grammar Guide
subject-verb agreement
If you have a singular subject, you need a singular verb.
If you have a plural subject, you need a plural verb.
v
The chief photog is waiting at the scene.
v
The photographers are in a meeting.
That's easy enough.
Now stick in some extra words between the subject and the verb, and
it gets more complicated.
v
The chief photog, who always carries extra batteries, is waiting
at the scene.
"Photog" is the subject.
It's singular and takes a singular verb, no matter what comes after it.
v
The photographers, who are in a meeting, are leaving for a
seminar tomorrow.
The subject, "photographers," is plural.
So it takes a plural verb.
v
A tall stack of grammar books is keeping Mrs. B's ancient
Emmy from toppling over.
"Stack" is the subject.
It's singular and takes the singular verb "is."
"Of grammar books" is a prepositional phrase and has no bearing on
the verb.
Mrs. B thinks there should be an Emmy for grammar.
