Subject-Verb Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns

Front

What is subject-verb agreement?

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Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that the subject of a sentence must agree in number (singular or plural) with its verb.

Front

What are indefinite pronouns?

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Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that do not refer to a specific person, thing, or amount. Examples include 'everyone', 'somebody', 'none', and 'several'.

Front

How does the indefinite pronoun 'nobody' affect verb agreement?

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The indefinite pronoun 'nobody' is singular, so it requires a singular verb. For example, 'Nobody knows the answer.'

Front

What is the verb form used with the indefinite pronoun 'both'?

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The indefinite pronoun 'both' is plural, so it requires a plural verb. For example, 'Both of my friends feature in the movie.'

Front

How does the indefinite pronoun 'several' affect verb agreement?

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The indefinite pronoun 'several' is plural, so it requires a plural verb. For example, 'Several of the films include special effects.'

Front

What is the verb form used with the indefinite pronoun 'none'?

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The indefinite pronoun 'none' can be singular or plural depending on the context. If it refers to a singular noun, use a singular verb; if it refers to a plural noun, use a plural verb.

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Example of 'none' with a singular verb:

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None of the cake seems fresh.

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Example of 'none' with a plural verb:

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None of the players seem tired.

Front

What is the rule for using 'each' with verbs?

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The pronoun 'each' is singular and requires a singular verb. For example, 'Each of the students has a book.'

Front

What is the rule for using 'all' with verbs?

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The pronoun 'all' can be singular or plural depending on what it refers to. If it refers to a singular noun, use a singular verb; if it refers to a plural noun, use a plural verb.