Agreement in Long Head Nouns

Identify the real head noun (HN) verb has to agree with it.

1. The impact of reading to children at an early age is dramatic.

2. The library, together with bookstores, provides reading materials.

3. The child, not her parents, was an avid reader.

4. A child who likes to read books does better in school.

 1. S with prep phrase, HN is to the left of the first prep.

2. S with compound prepositions, HN is to the left of the first prep.

3. N with not + Noun phrase

HN is before not.

4. HN is to the left of the relative clause.

Sentences with Correlative  Conjunction

Agreement depends on the noun/pronoun that precedes it.

(proximity rule)

1. Both my brother and my parents are reading that new biography of Lyndon Johnson.

2. Either the library or bookstores have current magazines.

3. Obviously, neither she nor they are interested in that topic 

1. Use a plural verb for ‘both..and’

2. Use the verb after or/nor in ‘either..or; neither..nor’

Noncount Nouns, Collective nouns, and Nouns derived from Adjectives

Agreement varies

1. My English vocabulary has increased.

2.1 The class is going on a field trip.

2.2 The soccer team have differing opinions about strategies for the next game.

3. The young want to grow up fast and the old wish to be young.

1. Noncount Nouns take a singular verb.

2. Collective Nouns:

when considered as a whole take a singular verb, and when considered as individual members, take a plural verb.

3. Nouns that come from adjectives take a plural verb.

Distance, time, and money

and Arithmatical Operation

Singular verbs

1. Six hundred miles is too far to drive in one day.

2. Two weeks goes fast when you’re on vacation.

3. Fifty dollars is a good price for that painting. 

4. Three plus seven equals ten.

For fractions, percentages and quantifiers

Agreement depends on the noun that comes after these words.

1. Fifty percent of the book is about poetry.

2. One-sixth of our students live in Mexico.