“Are” and “Is” in Verb Agreement
Copyright 2013
The Dragon Grammar Book -
Grammar for Kids, Dragon,
and the Whole Kingdom
Published by Diane Mae Robinson Ink
Dec. 10, 2017
"Are" and "Is" in
Verb Agreement
Chapter 2
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Are you sure this is right? Are and is can get confusing when we’re not sure if the thing we’re talking
about is a single thing or more than one thing.
When
using a singular noun or subject, the verb needs to be singular. When using a
plural noun or subject, the verb needs to be plural.
Look at the noun or subject of the
sentence as a whole to decide if it’s singular or plural. Single noun – is. Plural
noun – are.
In the
following example sentences, the noun or subject of the sentence is underlined.
The witch’s pot of onions is simmering over the fire. (Pot is a single thing that happens to be
full of onions; “pot of onions” is a single subject and requires the single
verb is.)
Petra’s favorite type
of book is adventures. (The
single noun phrase “type of book” requires the single verb is.)
Fantasies are my favorite type of book. (The
plural noun Fantasies requires the
plural verb are.)
The Lord of the
Kingdoms is getting frustrated
with all his subjects who are asking silly questions about the mess. (“Lord of
the Kingdoms” is one person and requires the single verb is.)
Review: when a subject is
made up of two elements joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb is singular if both
elements are singular. If one of the elements is plural, the verb becomes
plural.
Either the dragons or the donkey are responsible for the smelly mess.
(The subject “dragons or the donkey” uses the plural verb are after the single noun donkey
because the plural dragons is one
part of the two elements.
Neither the king nor the prince is responsible for the smelly mess.
As noted
earlier, there is a rule that many
writers follow called the proximity rule. The proximity rules states that the
noun nearest the verb governs it. In my studies of grammar, I believe the
proximity rule to be less common, but both rules are correct. It is more
important to be consistent with using either rule.
The subject in a sentence will come before
a phrase beginning with of.
A coat of many colors is a nice thing to wear. (Coat comes before of and is a single subject requiring the single verb is.)
Usually, a plural verb is used with two or
more subjects when they are connected by and.
A
dragon and a crocodile are
my only pets.
But not if
the and is part of a single subject
phrase.
Playing
Dungeons and Dragons is fun.
If the subject is separated from the verb by such phrases as
“as well as” or “along with,” these
words and phrases are not part of the subject. Use a singular verb when the
subject is singular and a plural verb when the subject is plural.
Singing, as well as dancing,
is the terrifying part of the knight exam.
The magicians, along with
the councilman, are writing new
rules.
When sentences begin with here or there, the subject follows the verb.
There is one waltz the knights have to perform.
Here are your dancing shoes.
Subject-verb agreement comes down to
figuring out if the subject is plural or singular.
The rules of
the kingdom are listed in the
royal rule book. (Plural subject requires are.)
Economics is a silly subject. (Tricky, but here Economics is a single subject even
though it looks like a plural word. It requires is.)
The economics of the kingdom
are silly. (Plural subject requires are.)
The same rules apply to does and do (does being singular and do being plural).
What do the dragon and I have in
common? (Plural subject “dragon and I” requires do.)
Queen Mabel is the only one of the royals who does
follow the rules. (Single subject requires does.)
Use does for the pronouns, he, she, and it. Use do for the other
subject pronouns I, you, we, and
they.
I do my singing in the
morning. He does his singing at
night.
The rules
for are, is, do, and does are the same as for all verbs to
be in agreement with their subject. Remember that the verb is not always
pertaining to the noun it is beside but pertaining to the subject of the
sentence.
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