Kimmy Schemy

(..continuation of Subject and Verb Agreement)

• Subject with phrases follow the basic rule. So, if the subject is singular, the verb form to use is with s regardless of the phrase.

Ex. The girl with painted fingernails giggles a lot.

The men in the car look scary.

• Subject followed by intervening phrases like along with, as well as, in addition to, including, together with follow the basic rule.

Ex. My mother, together with my daughters, watches soap opera every night.

The children, along with the teacher, pay due respect to the principal.

• If the subject is two different nouns connected with ‘and’ the verb form to use is without s.

Ex. Ana and Liza help their mother in the kitchen.

Burgers and fries are my favorite snacks.

• If the subject is two nouns with only one determiner, it means the two nouns refer to the same subject and is singular, therefore must take the verb with s.

Ex. My cousin and neighbor comes to our house every afternoon afternoon.

(There is only one My for both cousin and neighbor, meaning the two words refer to the same person)

My colleague and mentor is a great man.

• If each noun has its own determiner, it means they are different people, therefore plural and must take the verb without s.

Ex. My cousin and my friend were classmates in high school.

(There is a determiner for cousin and another determiner for friend, meaning the nouns are two different people.)

The editor and the publisher meet at the office every Friday.

(more Subject and Verb Agreement next week)

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