SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

1. Relative Pronoun Concord: When relative pronouns such as “who”, “whom”, “whose” come after a noun in a sentence, such a sentence usually has two verbs. The first verb is controlled by the noun before the relative pronoun, and the second is controlled by the subject (the first noun or pronoun) in the sentence:
   The boy whose parents live here is around. ✔️
   This sentence can be detached thus:
   The boy is around.
   His parents live here
   = The boy whose parents live here is around.

Now, put yourself to the test

1. The woman who _ beans also _ rice (sell sell, sell sells, sells sell, sells sells).
2. The number of candidates whose applications _ here _ unimaginable (gets is, gets are, get is, get are).
3. More than three of those whose salaries _ not been paid _ now depressed (has are, has is, have is, have are).
4. One of the boys whose plans _ rejected _ here to protest (was is, was are, were are, were is).
5. The ladies who _ here also _ movies (sings acts, sings act, sing acts, sing act).
   GAB