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SUBORDINATE CLAUSES AND SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT

The verb in the sentence with a subordinate clause must agree with the subject of the whole sentence, not with a noun in the subordinate clause. Subordinate clauses can begin with the words that, which, who, and whom.

Not:The children who live in that house is a terror!
But:The children who live in that house are a terror!

Not:San Francisco, which has many lovely neighborhoods, are exciting to visit.
But:San Francisco, which has many lovely neighborhoods, is exciting to visit.

PRACTICE EXERCISES



INDEFINITE PRONOUNS AND SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT

Third person singular verbs follow indefinite pronouns.

Anythinglooks[not look] good with black slacks.

Everybodypays [not pay] taxes.

The sistersdon't havepets,but neitherdislikes [not dislike] animals.

At thegame'send,nobodywas [not were] in the stands.

Someoneleaves [not leave] the window open every night.

Somethingisn't

[not aren't] right here.

OTHER INDEFINITE PRONOUNS

anyeachno one 
anybodyeveryonenothingsomebody
anyoneeverybodyone  

PRACTICE EXERCISES