Subject-Verb Agreement – Indefinite Pronouns Singular subjects need singular verbs while plural subjects need plural verbs. ... Indefinite pronouns fall
Subject-‐Verb Agreement – Indefinite Pronouns 1
Subject-Verb Agreement – Indefinite Pronouns
Singular subjects need singular verbs while plural subjects need plural verbs.
When an indefinite pronoun is used as a subject, the verb must agree with it. Indefinite pronouns fall into the three following groups: Always Singular each either neither one
everyone everybody everything no one
nobody nothing anyone anybody
anything someone somebody something
Always Plural several
few
both
many
all
any
most, none
Singular or Plural some
Singular indefinite pronouns need singular verbs, and plural indefinite pronouns need plural verbs. Example 1: Each is to blame. Example 2: Several of the kids are playing in the sandbox. If the indefinite pronoun is one of the above that can be singular or plural, you need to take note of the noun or nouns it refers to; if the nouns referenced are singular, then the verb will be singular. If the nouns referenced are plural, then the verb will be plural. Example 1: Some of the cake is eaten. Example 2: Some of the people are voting for the more conservative candidate. Exercise Directions: Draw one line under the indefinite pronoun subject, and draw two lines under the correct form of the verb. Example: Many of the historic artifacts found (is, are) from the Stone Age. 1. None of my friends (has, have) been to Mexico.
Subject-‐Verb Agreement – Indefinite Pronouns 2
2. Not everyone (knows, know) that Johnny Cash is dead. 3. Nobody (has, have) won the lotto yet. 4. Neither of the girls (is, are) at home. 5. All of the shirts (is, are) on sale. 6. Most of the members (has, have) called in sick. 7. Everything in that grocery store (is, are) fresh. 8. Several of the apples (has, have) rotted. 9. Many of my cousins (is, are) coming to the family reunion. 10. Nothing (sleeps, sleep) as soundly as my dog. 11. Someone (was, were) calling my cell phone. 12. One of the professors (is, are) still in the classroom. 13. (Has, Have) anyone confessed to stealing the printer? 14. Both of my dogs (has, have) been adopted from animal rescue shelters. 15. Almost anybody (is, are) better at math than I am. Answer Key: 1. have 2. knows 3. has 4. is
5. 6. 7. 8.
are have is have
9. 10. 11. 12.
are sleeps was is
13. Has 14. have 15. is
