[Image credit: Stuart Miles]

Subject/verb agreement end of story (at least in this girl’s blog).

  • Rule: If a sentence begins with there is or there are, the subject comes after the verb; the verb agrees with what follows.
  • Examples: There are many fans waiting for autographs.  There is a lone shell expecting to be plucked up.
  • Rule: Nouns that imply more than one person, but are considered singular such as committee, class, family, group and team, are called collective nouns and require a singular verb.
  • Examples: The group of shellers combs the beach each morning before sunrise.  The family of dolphins swims and plays together.
  • Rule: Such expressions as with, together with, including, in addition to, as well as or accompanied by don’t change the number of the subject.  Singular subjects beget singular verbs.
  • Example: His shell, together with hers, is polished and ready for display.

For additional grammar help, check out The Purdue Online Writing Lab.

Do you have an easier way of getting the job done, or additional tips to say it right?