subject verb assignment

OASIS: Writing Center

Grammar: subject-verb agreement, subject–verb agreement rules.

Key : subject = yellow, bold ; verb = green, underline

Subjects and verbs must agree in number. In addition to the explanations on this page, also see the post on Subject—Verb Agreement .

Example: She writes every day. Exception: When using the singular "they," use plural verb forms. Example: The participant expressed satisfaction with their job. They are currently in a managerial role at the organization.

Example: They write every day.

Sometimes, however, it seems a bit more complicated than this.

Example: The doctoral student and the committee members write every day.

Example : The percentage of employees who called in sick and the number of employees who left their jobs within 2 years   are reflective of the level of job satisfaction.

Example: Interviews are one way to collect data and allow researchers to gain an in-depth understanding of participants.

Example: An assumption is  something that is generally accepted as true and  is an important consideration when conducting a doctoral study.

Example: The student , as well as the committee members, is excited.

Example: The student with all the master’s degrees is very motivated.

Example: Strategies that the teacher uses to encourage classroom participation include using small groups and clarifying expectations.

Example: The focus of the interviews was nine purposively selected participants.

Example: The chairperson or the CEO approves the proposal before proceeding.

Example: The student or the committee members write every day.

Example: The committee members or the student writes every day.

Example: Each of the participants  was willing to be recorded.

Example:  Neither   alternative hypothesis  was  accepted.

Example: I will offer a $5 gift card to  everybody who  participates  in the study.

Example: No one   was  available to meet with me at the preferred times.

Example: Education   is  the key to success.

Example: Diabetes affects many people around the world.

Example: The information obtained from the business owners was relevant to include in the study.

Example:   The research I found on the topic was limited.

Example: The earnings  for this quarter  exceed  expectations.

Example: The proceeds  from the sale  go  to support the homeless population in the city.

Example: Locally produced goods   have the advantage of shorter supply chains.

Example: There is  little  administrative support .

Example: There are many factors  affecting teacher retention.

Example: The group meets every week.

Example: The committee agrees on the quality of the writing.

However, the plural verb is used if the focus is on the individuals in the group. This is much less common.

Example: The committee participate in various volunteer activities in their private lives.

Subject–Verb Agreement Video Playlist

Note that these videos were created while APA 6 was the style guide edition in use. There may be some examples of writing that have not been updated to APA 7 guidelines.

• Grammar for Academic Writers: Advanced Subject–Verb Agreement (video transcript)
• Common Error: Subject–Verb Agreement (video transcript)

Related Resources

Knowledge Check: Subject–Verb Agreement

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Purdue OWL® Exercises Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Exercise : Subject and Verb Agreement Exercise

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Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.

1. Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.

2. Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.

3. The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.

4. Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.

5. George and Tamara (doesn't, don't) want to see that movie.

6. Benito (doesn't, don't) know the answer.

7. One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.

8. The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.

9. The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours to watch.

10. The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win.

11. Either answer (is, are) acceptable.

12. Every one of those books (is, are) fiction.

13. Nobody (know, knows) the trouble I've seen.

14. (Is, Are) the news on at five or six?

15. Mathematics (is, are) John's favorite subject, while Civics (is, are) Andrea's favorite subject.

16. Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie these days.

17. (Is, Are) the tweezers in this drawer?

18. Your pants (is, are) at the cleaner's.

19. There (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag. Now there (is, are) only one left!

20. The committee (debates, debate) these questions carefully.

21. The committee members (leads, lead) very different lives in private.

22. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, (greets, greet) the press cordially.

23. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, (is, are) in this case.

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• Knowledge Base
• Subject-Verb Agreement | Examples, Rules & Use

Subject-Verb Agreement | Examples, Rules & Use

Published on April 30, 2019 by Fiona Middleton . Revised on April 18, 2023.

Subject-verb agreement means that the subject of the sentence matches the verb describing its action. This helps your reader understand who or what is doing something and makes your writing easier to read.

First, identify the subject (the person or thing doing the action) and the verb (the action word) in a sentence. If the subject is singular, the verb describing its action should be singular. If the subject is plural , the verb should be plural.

While subject-verb agreement is easy in simple sentences like these, it can become tricky in more complex sentences. This article teaches you the most important rules and common mistakes.

Table of contents

Compound subjects, subjects separated from verbs, indefinite pronouns, subjects that come after the verb, numbers and amounts, collective and uncountable nouns, abbreviations and acronyms.

Sometimes two or more subjects are linked to one verb. These are called compound subjects. To decide whether to use a singular or plural verb, consider how the subjects are linked.

Subjects linked with “and”

When subjects are linked with and , use a plural verb.

A bicycle and a pedestrian were involved. The goose and the chickens eat early in the morning.

Exception : When the two nouns don’t refer to separate things but to a single entity, use a singular verb.

The new bed and breakfast opens this week. Macaroni and cheese is a delicious meal.

Subjects linked with “or”

When singular subjects are linked with or , either…or , nor , neither…nor , use a singular verb.

Just a card or a balloon is enough. Either the measurement or the calculation has created a problem.

If all the subjects are plural, use a plural verb.

Either the measurements or the calculations have created a problem.

If the compound subject contains both singular and plural nouns, the verb takes the form of the closest subject.

Neither the batteries nor the machine operates as intended.

Check for common mistakes

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Often the verb does not directly follow the subject, which can lead to agreement mistakes. Make sure to match the verb with the correct subject, especially in long sentences with phrases or clauses in between subject and verb.

“As well as” and other tricky phrases

The phrase as well as is not the same as the conjunction and . Subjects linked by and  always take a plural verb. In contrast, phrases like as well as , in addition to , or along with are not linked to the verb. If the subject is singular, the verb should stay singular.

These refer to non-specific persons, places, and things (e.g., someone , other , anyone , anything , somewhere , every , none ).

Most indefinite pronouns are treated as singular subjects. However, some are always treated as plural, as they refer to multiple items or amounts.

Certain indefinite pronouns may be treated as either singular or plural, depending on whether they refer to multiple items or to a proportion of a single item.

Sometimes the subject follows the verb, especially when the sentence begins with there or here . In this case,  there is not the subject – the true subject should be identified and matched with the correct verb form.

There are many gaps in the literature. Here is the answer .

Note : Identifying the true subject can be difficult when using these phrases in a long sentence, which can be confusing for your readers, so be careful when starting a sentence in this way.

When using  numbers, percentages or proportions , the correct form of verb agreement depends on exactly what you’re referring to. It’s helpful to look beyond the numbers and find the true subject.

If you’re referring to a specific number or amount of something, match the verb with the noun rather than the number.

Only 25% of the measurements are reliable. Three meters of wire surrounds the core. Over 300 civilians reside in the area.

This also applies when the number refers to an unnamed noun.

I invited 10 people to the party, but only nine are coming. 30% say they will vote in the next election.

If the subject of the sentence is a number referring to a unified quantity of something, use a singular verb.

One thousand dollars is too much. In fact, 63% is a better result than expected.

Proportions

Terms that describe a proportion of something are usually followed by “of” (such as most of ). First look at the noun you are describing to determine if it’s singular or plural, then match it to the verb.

The majority of the samples are contaminated. The majority of the sample is contaminated. One third of the participants were given the placebo .

It can be hard to work out whether to treat collective and uncountable nouns as singular or plural.

Collective nouns

A collective noun refers to a group of people or things as a singular whole (e.g., population , team , committee , staff ). The form of verb depends on the style of English you are using.  US English  tends to use a singular verb, while UK English tends to use a plural verb. This also applies to the names of companies and organizations.

However, in both styles of English, this rule is somewhat flexible depending on whether you want to emphasize the actions of the collective as a whole or the individual actions of its members.

*A singular verb makes more sense here, as the emphasis is on the company as a unified entity.

**A plural verb makes more sense here, as the emphasis is on the individual staff members.

Uncountable nouns

These nouns describe abstract concepts or masses that can’t be counted (e.g., research , power , water  and vegetation ). They take a singular verb.

This  equipment is unusable. The research goes  smoothly. Water flows through the streets.

Note :  Data is technically a plural noun, but it is widely treated as an uncountable noun, so it is acceptable to use either the singular or plural verb form.

This research aims  to gather additional data on bee behaviour, which is currently lacking. Data were collected over a period of three months.

Abbreviations and acronyms usually take a singular verb. If you’re unsure, check if the full version of the acronym or abbreviation is a singular, plural or collective noun, and refer to the rules above. It’s most important to use one form of agreement consistently.

The country’s GDP correlates with its birth rate. The RPM falls rapidly. In addition to oil, HNS are a common form of cargo.

In the examples above, RPM (“revolutions per minute”) refers to a stand-alone number, so it takes a singular verb.  HNS (“hazardous and noxious substances”), on the other hand, is used to describe multiple things, so it takes a plural verb.

Sources in this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

Middleton, F. (2023, April 18). Subject-Verb Agreement | Examples, Rules & Use. Scribbr. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/verbs/subject-verb-agreement/

Aarts, B. (2011).  Oxford modern English grammar . Oxford University Press.

Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015).  Fowler’s dictionary of modern English usage  (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Garner, B. A. (2016).  Garner’s modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

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Subject-Verb Agreement

I. real subjects.

The subject-verb agreement is tricky in a sentence or dependent clause that begins with the words "there, that, which, who," or "what" because they are not real subjects to determine agreement. You should look for the real subject in the sentence. For example, in the sentence "There are fifteen students in the room today," the real subject is "students," so the word "there" is treated as plural. However, in the sentence "There is a penny on the sidewalk," the real subject is "penny," so the word there is treated as singular.

Study these examples.

• There   is   three prerequisites   for this class. (incorrect)
• There   are   three prerequisites   for this class. (correct)

The word "there" is standing in for the real subject "prerequisites."

• Every teenager knows how to choose   clothes   that   flatters   her figure. (incorrect) 

• Every teenager knows how to choose   clothes   that   flatter   her figure. (correct) 


The word "that" is standing in for the real subject "clothes." 


II. Collective Nouns

Collective nouns express more than one person or thing, for example, "government," "equipment," "furniture," and "faculty," but each word refers to the group as a whole without taking a plural form. Collective nouns are treated as singular when verbs agree with them.

• The government   get   involved in people’s private business. (incorrect)
• The government   gets   involved in people’s private business. (correct)

"Government" is treated as singular when it agrees with "get."

III. Prepositional Phrases

The subject is not always the same as the noun next to the verb when the subject is followed by a prepositional phrase. For example, in the sentence “ One   of the many reasons   is   that it’s too expensive,” the subject is "one," not "reasons." The verb must agree with the real subject, which is the word that comes before the prepositional phrase.

• Everybody   on the buses   know   its route. (incorrect)
• Everybody   on the buses   knows   its route. (correct)

IV. Conjunctions

If nouns are connected with the conjunction "and," the subject is plural and the verb must agree with it.

• Mark and his sister   is studying   at Miami University. (incorrect)
• Mark and his sister   are studying   at Miami University. (correct)       

V. Either/Or and Neither/Nor

When the subject is formed with "either … or" "or neither … nor," make the verb agree with the closest noun to it.

• Either her brothers or her father   have   the money. (incorrect)
• Either her brothers or her father   has   the money. (incorrect)

Correct the following.

• Alexina found two online articles that is good for her assignment.
• Who are Sergey's and Mohammed's English teacher this semester?
• There is two sorority sisters in my class, Fatima and Thoa.
• Neither the cats nor the dog are responsible for the mess.
• Which are older, Enrique or Miguel?

Explanations and some examples are adapted with modifications from the following resources:

Bruce, S., & Rafoth, B. A. (2009).   ESL Writers: A guide for writing center tutors . Portsmouth, NH: Boynton/Cook.

Ferris, D. (2014).   Language power: Tutorials for writers . Boston: Bedford/St Martin's.

Raimes, A. (2008).   Grammar troublespots: A guide for student writers . Cambridge [etc.]: Cambridge University Press.

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Module 1: Grammar

Subject-verb agreement.

Agreement based on grammatical person (first, second, or third person) is found mostly between verb and subject. For example, you can say “I am” or “he is,” but not “I is” or “he am.” This is because English grammar requires that the verb and its subject agree in person. The pronouns I and he are first and third person respectively, as are the verb forms am and is . The verb form must be selected so that it has the same person as the subject.

Agreement based on grammatical number can occur between verb and subject, as in the case of grammatical person discussed above. In fact, the two categories are often conflated within verb conjugation patterns: there are specific verb forms for first person singular, second person plural and so on. Some examples:

• I really am (1st pers. singular) vs. We really are (1st pers. plural)
• The experiment succeeds (3rd pers. singular) vs. The experiments succeed  (3rd pers. plural)

More Examples

Compound subjects are joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, or, neither, nor). They are plural because there are more than one of them, and, typically, their verbs should be plural, too. Look at the following sentence for an example:

• A pencil, a protractor, and a calculator  a re  necessary for the assignment.

Using the principle that “in order to check agreement, find the verb and ask who or what is doing the action of that verb,” you would ask here, “What is necessary?” The answer is, “A pencil, a protractor, and a calculator,” which are three things, so the concept is plural and requires are , not is , for agreement. If we only needed a calculator, we would write, “A calculator is  necessary for the assignment.” A subject isn’t compound just because it is plural: “Calculators are necessary” is a plural subject that takes a plural verb, but it isn’t a compound subject because calculators are the only thing you need.

And, just to nuance this discussion a little more, some compound subjects actually take a singular verb because they form a singular concept. You might say, for example, “Spaghetti and meatballs is delicious” because “spaghetti and meatballs” functions as one concept (the meal). You can say, “Spaghetti and meatballs are delicious,” but that means that you are considering spaghetti and meatballs as two different entities, not as a meal. Meatballs and ice cream are delicious, but meatballs and ice cream is not.

Verbs do not agree with nouns that are in prepositional phrases. To make verbs agree with their subjects, follow this example:

• The performance of the three plays is the topic of my talk.

The subject of “my talk” is performance , not plays , so the verb should be singular. Using the principle that “in order to check agreement, find the verb and ask who or what is doing the action of that verb,” you would ask here, “What is the topic?” The answer is, “The performance.” “The three plays” are nouns in a prepositional phrase because they follow the preposition “of.”

In the English language, verbs usually follow subjects. But when this order is reversed, the writer must make the verb agree with the subject, not with a noun that happens to precede it. For example:

• Beside the house stand sheds filled with tools.

The subject is sheds ; it is plural, so the verb must be stand . Using the principle that “in order to check agreement,  find the verb and ask who or what is doing the action of that verb,” you would ask here, “What stands?” The answer is “Sheds stand,” not “The house stands.”

Here’s a grey area: do we use a singular or plural verb when agreeing with a noun that is singular in grammar but plural in meaning? For example, do we say, “The faculty meets” or “The faculty meet”? Other examples include team, committee , administration, press, class, staff, and audience . Generally, in American standardized English (but not in British standardized English), these collective nouns agree with singular verbs: “The faculty meets,” “The audience applauds,” “The legal team investigates,” “The administration obfuscates.” However, when members of the collective group are acting individually, the noun and its agreeing verb are often treated as plural: “The Geology faculty are going on various field trips with their students this week.”

All regular verbs (and nearly all irregular ones) in English agree in the third-person singular of the present indicative by adding a suffix of either -s or -es .

Look at the present tense of to love, for example:

The highly irregular verb to be is the only verb with more agreement than this in the present tense:

Choose the correct verb to make the sentences agree:

• Subject-verb agreement is another of those grammatical concepts that (sound / sounds) like something you could never get wrong.
• Worldwide, nearly one in four people (are / is) Muslim.
• Corruption and regionalism (have / has) left the public distrustful of the state.
• Alec and Kate (is / are) the best comedy duo in theater history.
• Subject-verb agreement  is a singular, third-person subject. Grammatical concepts is in a prepositional phrase.
• Nearly one is a singular, third-person subject. In four people is a prepositional phrase, but because people is a collective noun that is always plural, the pull here towards a plural verb is very strong. You might decide that it’s stylistically better to avoid this construction, even though it’s correct, in favor of something that doesn’t cause such a strain, like, “Nearly a quarter of the world’s population is Muslim.”
• Corruption and regionalism  is a plural, third-person subject.
• Alec and Kate  is a plural, third-person subject. But this sentence is a grey area: if the sentence halves were reversed, you could reasonably claim that the best comedy duo in theater history is Alec and Kate, where Alec and Kate function as a compound unit and their nature as a duo (a singular concept) matters.
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• Revision and Adaptation. Authored by : Gillian Paku. Provided by : SUNY Geneseo. License : CC BY: Attribution
• Rhetoric and Composition/Parts of Speech. Provided by : Wikibooks. Located at : https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Rhetoric_and_Composition/Parts_of_Speech#Verbs . License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
• Agreement (linguistics). Provided by : Wikipedia. Located at : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agreement_(linguistics) . License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
• Image of speech bubbles. Authored by : Gregor Cresnar. Provided by : The Noun Project. Located at : https://thenounproject.com/search/?q=agreed&i=441045 . License : CC BY: Attribution

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Table of Contents

Collaboration, information literacy, writing process, subject-verb agreement.

• © 2023 by Jenifer Paquette - Hillsborough Community College , Joseph M. Moxley - University of South Florida , Brogan Sullivan

What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?

Subject-verb agreement happens when the subject and verb of a clause agree in number. For the subject and verb to agree, a singular subject must take a singular verb, and a plural subject must take a plural verb.

A verb denotes action, existence, or occurrence. A subject denotes the person or thing that performs the action, the person or thing that exists, or the incident that occurs. For example:

• Samantha drove .
• Mistakes were made .

In English, subjects and verbs must also agree with one another. That is, the form of the verb has to match the number of things in the subject. A singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb. For example:

• She talks . (Singular)
• They talk . (Plural)

Notice that, unlike nouns, regular verbs in the present tense become plural by subtracting the letter s from the end. In the past tense, verbs usually don’t change at all:

• I watched. (Singular)
• They watched. (Plural)

Related Concepts: Subjects, Verbs, & Objects

Why Does Subject-Verb Agreement Matter?

A single relationship lies at the heart of every sentence in the English language. Like an indivisible nucleus at the center of an atom, the subject-verb pair unifies the sentence. It can be surrounded by any number of modifying words, taking on new shades of meaning, but no matter how many adjectives, adverbs, and independent clauses become attached, the basic unit remains. The subject-verb pair guarantees that the sentence means something. Without this core, a sentence fragments and loses its power to speak. Indeed, a sentence only becomes complete when it contains at least a subject and a verb.

How To Determine Agreement in Special Cases

No matter what kind of verb you’re using, the trick to making your subjects and verbs agree with one another is to first identify the quantity of the subject and then use the appropriate verb form. Usually, the writer makes these calculations without effort. However, certain words and phrases defy such common sense evaluations. The following sections explore the most frequent areas of confusion.

Indefinite Pronouns

The indefinite pronouns anyone , everyone , someone , no one , everybody , and nobody are always singular, and require singular verbs.

• No one comes to the party.
• Everyone tips the waiter.
• Someone saves the day.

It’s tempting to think that a word like everybody is plural (after all, it seems to refer to a group of people). But everybody is a shorthand way of saying “each person in the group,” and therefore remains a singular word.

Some indefinite pronouns, such as some or all , can be either singular or plural, depending on the quantity of the things they refer to. For example, particulate things, like marbles or slices of bread, are countable, and therefore take plural verbs:

• All of the marbles roll away.
• Some of the slices of bread were eaten.

Non-particulate things, such as loyalty or air, are not countable, and therefore take singular verbs:

• All of my loyalty vanishes .
• Some of the air is gone.

Collective and Plural Nouns

Many nouns masquerade as plural nouns, but like some indefinite pronouns, actually count as singular nouns. Words like audience , dozen , jury , group , and team imply a plurality of members, but when those members act as one, the noun is singular, and takes a singular verb.

• The audience claps at the end of the guitar player’s solo.
• A jury of his peers convicts the man for fraud.

However, if the members of the collective noun are not acting as a group, then the noun becomes plural and takes a plural verb.

• After the play, the audience grab their coats, exit the building and head for the parking garage. (The individual audience members do not grab the same coats or exit at the exact same time, nor do they take the same route to the parking garage.)
• The jury are divided on the subject of the plaintiff’s guilt. (Since the jury members do not agree unanimously, the noun jury becomes plural and takes a plural verb).

Note that a collective noun also becomes plural when more than one of the same kind of group described by the noun appears in the sentence.

• Dozens of petitioners attend . (In this case, the collective noun “dozen” has become plural; there is more than one dozen in the sentence, and so the verb becomes a plural verb).  
• The teams march onto the field. (More than one team exists in this sentence, so the verb becomes plural.)

When you are in doubt about whether a collective noun is plural or singular in your sentence, you can do one of two things:

• Add a modifying word, like “members” to the collective noun. (The members of the audience exit the building and head for the parking garage.)
• Use a different word entirely. (The concertgoers exit the building and head for the parking garage.)

Amounts and Fractions

Nouns that express amounts of concepts like time, money, and distance are singular.

• Twenty-four hours feels longer when you’re stuck on a plane.
• Seven hundred dollars is more than I can afford.
• Fifty miles seems like a long distance to walk, but it’s not if you’re in good shape.

Fractions are singular if they modify singular nouns and plural if they modify plural nouns.

• Half of the voters have cast their ballots. (“Voters” is plural, so “half” takes a plural verb.)
• Forty percent of the newspaper is devoted to advertisements. (“Newspaper” is singular, so “forty percent” takes a singular verb.)

Phrases of Inclusion

Certain phrases, such as along with , including , as well as , and together with do not operate on the subject in the same way that the word and does. The word and , used to connect two nouns or pronouns, compounds them into a plural subject. But the phrases listed above only interrupt the link between subject and verb, leaving the subject’s quantity unchanged:

• You and I are always together. ( You and I is a plural subject)
• The actor, together with his entourage, arrives at the award ceremony. ( The actor is the subject; his entourage is not included in the quantity of the subject)

Neither and Either

When these pronouns appear by themselves, they are singular, even though their use connects two things:

• Neither of these movies is very entertaining.
• Either restaurant is fine with me.

However, when they appear with the conjoining words nor (for neither ) and or (for either ), the quantity of the subject closest to the verb determines the quantity of the verb:

• Neither you nor your friends are welcome at my party.
• Either the democratic candidates or the republican candidate is going to be elected in November.

(Note that the last sentence sounds a little strange. While grammatically correct, the move from plural to singular in the subject feels awkward. When faced with a situation like this, simply switch the order of the terms so that the plural element of the subject appears closest to the verb, and use the plural form of the verb.)

Other Interruptions

In the same way, phrases that come between the subject and the verb (usually set off with commas, parentheses, or dashes) do not contribute to the quantity of the verb:

• The weather in April, although periodically broken by afternoon thunderstorms, was generally quite pleasant.
• My grades (taken as an overall barometer of my conduct at the university) show that I am an exemplary student.

Here and There as Expletive Constructions

Even though these words often appear at the beginning of a sentence (the traditional position for subjects), when they do so, they do not necessarily operate as a subject. In cases where here and there function in tandem with the verb to be (or one of its conjugates), they are part of the verb phrase rather than part of the subject:

• There were five books on the shelf.
• Here are my sweaters.

In these cases, the subject of the sentence follows the verb, but still determines the quantity of the verb.

Editing for Subject-Verb Agreement

A subject-verb agreement is a major faux pas , a stylistic infelicity. Your readers may question your education and professionalism when your texts are undermined by subject-verb agreement problems.

Before submitting your work to your audience, it’s always a good idea to double check for subject verb agreement . The first step when editing for subject-verb agreement is to find the subject and the verb in question in a sentence.

Once you’ve found the subject and verb, you have two revision options.

• Revise the subject and the verb so that both are singular: Error : The houses on the next block over is less expensive. Revised: Each house on the next block over is less expensive.
• Revise the subject and verb so that both are plural. Error : The houses on the next block over is less expensive. Revised: The houses on the next block over are less expensive.

Example: A virus in the school computers is the worst-case scenario during exam week. In this sentence, “virus” is the subject and “is” is the verb. It is tempting in this case to choose “computers” because it’s a noun and it’s much closer to the verb, but if you look closely at the verb, the subject becomes clearer: it is the virus that is a worst-case scenario, not the computers.

• There (is/are) a small, curly hair in my soup.
• Neither the stars nor the moon (is/are) visible tonight.
• 20 years (is/are) a long time to be in school.
• The board (vote/votes) to approve the minutes in each meeting.
• All of my footwear (smell/smells) unpleasant.

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Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement

Whether you use the singular or plural form of a verb depends on the subject of the sentence. Here are the rules of subject-verb agreement.

1. Ignore anything that separates subject from verb.

• The cat , along with the dogs, has / have eaten up all the cake.

2. Subjects joined by and are plural.

• The cat and the dogs has / have eaten up all the cake.

3. With subjects joined by or or nor , the verb should agree with the subject closest to it.

• Either the cat or the dogs has / have eaten up the cake.
• Neither the dogs nor the cat is / are responsible for the cake’s disappearance.

4. When here or there begins a sentence, the verb must agree with the real subject.

• Here is / are the cakes you ordered.
• There is / are three cakes on the table.

5. In questions, the verb must agree with the subject that appears after it.

• Where is / are the cakes I ordered?

6. Some indefinite pronouns are always singular. Others may be singular or plural, depending on meaning.

• Everyone is / are here.
• None of them is / are here.

7. Collective nouns may be singular or plural, depending on meaning and preference.

• The government has / have ordered a complete lockdown.

8. Some subjects may appear plural but be singular.

• The news is / are always depressing.

9. A singular subject with a plural complement is still singular.

• Maya’s favorite snack is / are fries without ketchup.

What is subject-verb agreement?

The verb used in a sentence must agree with the subject . This means that the verb should match the subject in person and number. Use a singular verb with a singular subject and a plural verb with a plural subject. Which verb you use also depends on whether the subject is in the first, second, or third person.

• I like / likes tea.
• You like / likes coffee.
• She like / likes carrot juice.
• They like / likes tea and coffee but not carrot juice.

The verb like changes form depending on the subject of the sentence: I like , but she likes . In this way, the verb agrees with the subject.

Agreement between subject and verb is also called concord in grammar.

Verb separated from subject

Ignore anything that separates subject from verb: a phrase or a clause that appears between the subject and the verb of a sentence does not affect number. This means that the verb stays singular or plural, depending on whether the subject is singular or plural, regardless of what comes between the two.

• A rose without thorns is / are still a rose. The subject “a rose” is followed by the prepositional phrase “without thorns.” Although the noun “thorns” is plural, the verb stays singular because the subject is singular.
• The students who attended the lecture is / are eligible to appear for the exam. The subject (“the students”) is plural, so the verb stays plural.
• The employee who made the most sales in the two quarters is / are going to be rewarded.

Long sentences can be tricky. When the verb is far away from the subject in a sentence, it’s easy to get agreement wrong. Make sure to correctly identify the subject of the verb. Ignore all modifiers that separate the two.

• The astronaut , along with other crew members, is / are signing autographs today at the space center.

Subjects joined by and

A compound subject in which two or more subjects are joined by and is usually plural.

• Two dogs and a cat is / are on the couch.
• Lulu’s friends and she has / have bought tickets to the concert.
• The bus and the train is / are both good choices.

Sometimes, two nouns are joined by and but mean a single thing. Use a singular verb with such a subject.

• Eggs and bread is / are all we serve for breakfast. Since “eggs and bread” comprise one dish, prefer the singular verb.

Subjects joined by or or nor

When two subjects are joined by or or nor to share a single verb in a sentence, the verb used should agree with the subject closest to it.

• Either the cat or the dogs has / have to see the vet today.
• Either the dogs or the cat has / have to see the vet today.
• Neither the manager nor the analysts knows / know what to do.
• Neither the analysts nor the manager knows / know what to do.

Again, remember to ignore any modifiers that separate subject from verb.

• If the sequence or number of list elements is / are unimportant, use bullets; otherwise, use numbers.

Subject-verb agreement can sometimes make a sentence sound awkward. Try putting the plural subject closest to the verb.

• Awkward: Either her parents or her teacher needs to step up. If this sounds awkward, rephrase. Better: Either her teacher or her parents need to step up.

For more usage examples, see this article on whether compound subjects are singular or plural .

There as dummy subject

There is often used as a dummy subject , with the real subject appearing later in the sentence. The verb used must agree with the real subject, not with the word there .

• There is / are three giraffes in the garden. The verb should agree with the real subject of the sentence: “three giraffes,” not “there.”
• There is / are a cat on the mat.
• There is / are some people waiting to meet you.

In informal usage, the contraction there’s may be used with both singular and plural subjects. Avoid such usage in formal writing.

• Informal: There’s two ways to do this.
• Formal: There are two ways to do this.

Here in subject position

The word here is used to introduce someone or something in a sentence. The verb used depends on whether the subject that follows is singular or plural.

• Here is / are your medicine . Drink up!
• Here is / are my spectacles .
• Here is / are the fries you ordered.
• Here is / are some money for your trip.

Inverted word order in questions

In questions , word order is changed, and the verb must agree with the inverted subject that follows it.

• What is / are your mother’s name ?
• What is / are your parents’ names ?
• Where is / are the ice-cream ?
• Where is / are the ice-cream and the fries ? This question has a compound subject, which contains two subjects joined by and . Consider it to be plural, although in informal usage, the contraction “where’s” may be used in such a question.

Indefinite pronouns

Some indefinite pronouns are always singular: everyone , everybody , anyone , anybody , no one , nobody , someone , somebody .

• Everyone is / are coming to the party.
• Someone has / have left their bag on the train.
• Is / are anybody listening?
• There is / are no one here.

Other indefinite pronouns, like some and all may be singular or plural depending on what they refer to.

• All are welcome.
• All is not lost.
• Some of us were invited to the launch.
• Some of the food has gone bad.

None may be singular or plural, depending on whether you mean “not one” or “no part of,” or “ not any .”

• None of this is true. no part of this
• None of us is right. not one of us
• None of us are wrong. not any of us

Either and neither are considered singular in formal usage but are used informally as both singular and plural, depending on meaning.

• Formal: Does / do either of you have a car? Informal: Does/do either of you have a car?
• Formal: Neither of us has / have a car. Informal: Neither of us has/have a car.

Collective nouns

Collective nouns like team , staff , and committee may be treated as singular or plural, depending on meaning. If you want to refer to the group as a single unit, use a singular verb. To speak of the individuals in the group, use a plural noun.

• The staff needs a new cafeteria. referring to the group as a whole or The staff say they need a new cafeteria. referring to the individuals in the group.
• The team is on a winning streak this season. or The team are practicing their batting and pitching this week.
• The committee has reached a decision. or The committee are discussing the findings of the investigation.

Collective nouns like family and government are generally considered singular in American English and plural in British.

• American: The government is enacting a new law to allow pelicans to drive. British: The government are proposing a ban on gatherings of more than four people.

For more examples and discussion, see this article on whether collective nouns should be considered singular or plural .

Singular nouns with plural forms

Some nouns have plural forms but are singular. These include names of subjects, diseases, fields of study, branches of medicine, and games, among other words.

• Measles is / are a contagious disease that children can be vaccinated against.
• Mathematics was / were Tumkin’s favorite subject in school.
• Politics is / are a subject that has never interested him.
• Orthopedics is / are offered as a specialty to interns.
• Aerobics is / are a good form of exercise.
• The news is / are good.

Nouns that sound plural but are actually singular include economics , physics , aeronautics , genetics , obstetrics , anesthetics , mumps , shingles , herpes , rabies , rickets , diabetes , billiards , checkers , darts , and gymnastics .

Singular subject with plural complement

The subject, not its complement , determines whether the verb used is singular or plural. If the subject is singular but its complement is plural , still use a singular verb.

• Lulu’s favorite thing in the world is / are marshmallows. Although the complement (“marshmallows”) is plural, the subject (“Lulu’s favorite thing”) is singular. Use a singular verb like “is,” not “are.”
• Marshmallows is / are Lulu’s favorite thing in the world. Now that the subject is plural, we can use the plural verb “are.”
• The perfect gift for him is / are not a car but these three books.
• These three books and not a car is / are the perfect gift for him.

Share this article

To ensure subject-verb agreement, ignore everything that comes between subject (“Rita”) and verb (“is throwing”).

When two subjects are joined by or , the verb should agree with the subject closest to it.

In sentences starting with here or there , the subject with which the verb should agree usually appears after the verb.

None may be singular or plural, depending on meaning.

Some nouns (like “gymnastics”) may sound plural but are singular.

A singular subject (“the only thing”) with a plural complement (“stamps”) stays singular: use “is,” not “are.”

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules and Examples

Subject verb agreement – ever heard of the term? Well, here is a chance to learn what subject verb agreement means, what the term ‘concord’ refers to and the rules to help you understand how it works. Also check out the subject verb agreement examples given and try out the exercises on subject verb agreement to have a clear idea of what it is and how it has to be used to frame perfect sentences.

Table of Contents

What is subject-verb agreement – meaning and definition, rules of subject-verb agreement with examples.

• Examples of Subject-Verb Agreement

Check Your Understanding of Subject-Verb Agreement

Frequently asked questions on subject-verb agreement in english.

The term ‘subject-verb agreement’, just like the name suggests, refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb . This is mainly with reference to singular and plural nouns /pronouns that act as subjects. According to the Collins Dictionary, “concord refers to the way that a word has a form appropriate to the number or gender of the noun or pronoun it relates to. For example, in ‘She hates it’, there is concord between the singular form of the verb and the singular pronoun ‘she’.”

The general rule of subject-verb agreement according to Garner’s Modern English Usage is “to use a plural verb with a plural subject, a singular verb with a singular subject. This rule holds true for most cases. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Check out the next section to learn how verbs have to be conjugated in order to agree with the subject.

The concept of subject-verb concord matters the most when using the present tenses . The simple past and simple future tenses have the same verbs used irrespective of the subject in the sentence. Knowing and following the rules of subject-verb agreement will help you write error-free sentences. Go through the following rules and also go through the examples to understand how each rule is applied.

The first rule is what we have already discussed – the use of a singular verb with a singular subject and a plural verb with a plural subject. The subject can be a noun , a pronoun or even a noun phrase. If it is a pronoun, the subject-verb agreement is done with reference to the person of the pronoun .

For example:

• Rachel spends her free time listening to music. (Singular subject with singular verb)
• Blaine and Kurt play the piano. (Plural subject with plural verb)
• She likes to have a dessert after every meal. (Third person singular pronoun with singular subject)

When using the ‘be’ form of verbs, there is an exception. In this case, the verb is used according to the number and person of the subject. Check out the following table to see how it works with different pronouns.

Furthermore, when used with other nouns and noun phrases , the rule applies. The same works even with simple past, present continuous and past continuous tenses when the ‘be’ form of verbs are used as the principal verb/ helping verb . Check out the following examples to understand.

• Santana is a singer.
• The girls are waiting for you.
• We were happy with the review of our first movie.
• Michael Jackson’s songs are still enjoyed by millions.
• I was reading the latest book by Rudyard Kipling.

The use of ‘have’ and ‘has’ in the present perfect tense , the present perfect continuous tense and as a main verb is also dependent on the subject. All singular subjects use ‘has’ and all plural subjects use ‘have’.

• I have a younger brother.
• You have taken the wrong cut.
• Swetha has a pet dog.
• William Shakespeare has written around 37 plays.
• Finn has been waiting to talk to you about the test results.

Compound subjects combined using the conjunction ‘and’ take a plural verb.

• Krish and Radha are on their way to the airport.
• Caren, Sheela and Akash have completed their assessments.

When more than one noun is joined by the conjunction ‘or’, the subject is considered to be singular and a singular verb is used.

• Celery or spring onion works fine.
• Your mom or dad has to be here in an hour.

Sentences with pronouns such as anybody, anyone, no one, somebody, someone, everybody, everyone, nothing and nobody are treated as singular subjects and will therefore use a singular verb.

• Nobody has understood anything.
• Everyone was happy with the outcome.
• Nothing fits me well.
• No one finds the movie interesting.

For sentences using ‘either..or’ and ‘neither..nor’, the verb should agree with the noun or pronoun that comes just before it.

• Neither Ricky nor Gina is here yet.
• Either the teacher or the students have to take an initiative to keep the classroom clean.
• Neither the children nor their parents are aware of the consequences.

When sentences have subjects like police, news, scissors, mathematics, etc. (nouns that are plural by default), the verb used should be plural.

• The news of demonetisation shocks the entire nation.
• The police have been looking for the culprits.

When a negative sentence is written, the ‘do’ verb is used and it has to match the subject.

• The children do not like working out trigonometry problems.
• My father does not work at the bank anymore.

Interrogative sentences also take the help of the ‘do’ verb. As far as the subject-verb agreement of interrogative sentences is concerned, the first verb (‘be’ verb or ‘do’ verb) has to be aligned with the subject of the sentence.

• Do you read thriller novels?
• Doesn’t she know you already?
• Is Tina happy with the new house?
• Were you looking for me?
• Has Sharon submitted her final project yet?

When you have sentences that begin with ‘here’, ‘there’, ‘this’, ‘that’, ‘those’, ‘these’, etc., always remember that the subject follows the verb and therefore the verb has to be conjugated with reference to the subject.

• Here is your book.
• There lies your shirt.
• That was a great movie.
• There have been many changes in the timetable.

Abstract nouns and uncountable nouns are considered as singular subjects, so make sure you use a singular verb along with it.

• Honesty is the best policy.
• Love makes people do crazy things.
• Good friendship keeps your mind and body healthy.

When the subject refers to a period of time, distance or a sum of money, use a singular verb.

• 1267 kilometres is too long for us to travel in half a day.
• 10 years is not considered optimum to go on the water slide.
• Don’t you think 1000 rupees is a little too much for a portrait?

The next rule is based on the use of collective nouns as subjects. Remember that when you have a collective noun as the subject of the sentence, the verb can be singular or plural based on the sentence and the context.

• My family is settled in Australia.
• All groups of participants have arrived .

In sentences that have adjectives such as ‘all’, ‘a lot of’, ‘lots of’ or ‘some’ are used along with nouns to form a phrase that acts as the subject of the sentence, the verb is used according to the noun just before it.

• All of my dresses have become tight.
• A lot of food is left out.
• Some of the books are torn and damaged.

When a sentence begins with ‘each’ or ‘every’ as the subject, it is considered singular and so the verb has to be singular too.

• Each student has been asked to provide a consent letter.
• Every teacher, parent and student is expected to work together.

When you are using a sentence to express a wish or a sentence expressing a request, verbs are used a little differently from other sentences.

• I wish I were a bird.
• If you were here, I would not be sad.
• We request that everyone make their choices now.

Furthermore, go through the article on tenses to learn how verbs are conjugated according to the tense of the sentence.

Go through the following sentences, analyse if the underlined verb agrees with its subject and make changes if necessary.

1. One of the plates are broken.

2. The seven children from Chennai has been selected for the final round of the quiz.

3. Neither the children nor the teacher has reached yet.

4. Sheena and her sister is here to see you.

5. A lot of food choices was given.

6. My parents lives in New Zealand.

7. Don’t you think 4 days are a little too long?

8. Do anyone know where the lift is?

9. The little girl do not like mangoes for some reason.

10. You has brought all that I had asked for.

Here are the answers for the exercise. Go through them to find out how many of them you got right.

1. One of the plates is broken.

2. The seven children from Chennai have been selected for the final round of the quiz.

3. Neither the teacher nor the children have reached yet.

4. Sheena and her sister are here to see you.

5. A lot of food choices were given.

6. My parents live in New Zealand.

7. Don’t you think 4 days is a little too long?

8. Does anyone know where the lift is?

9. The little girl does not like mangoes for some reason.

10. You have brought all that I had asked for.

What do you mean by subject-verb agreement?

The term ‘subject-verb agreement’, just like the name suggests, refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb. This is mainly with reference to singular and plural nouns/pronouns that act as subjects.

What is the definition of subject-verb concord?

According to the Collins Dictionary, “concord refers to the way that a word has a form appropriate to the number or gender of the noun or pronoun it relates to. For example, in ‘She hates it’, there is concord between the singular form of the verb and the singular pronoun ‘she’.”

Give 5 examples of subject-verb agreement.

Here are 5 examples of subject-verb agreement for your reference.

• She likes to have a dessert after every meal.

• Share Share

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Course: Grammar   >   Unit 9

Subject-verb agreement.

• Pronoun-antecedent agreement

A gallon of milk _____ four dollars.

• (Choice A)   cost A cost
• (Choice B)   costs B costs

Subject Verb Agreement Exercises

Subject Verb Agreement Exercises are practice activities designed to strengthen students’ grammar base. These Subject Verb Agreement Exercises are practice tasks that aim to help students understand and test their knowledge of how subjects and verbs should match or agree in sentences.

What is a Subject Verb Agreement?

Subject Verb Agreement refers to the grammatical rule that dictates the necessity for a subject and verb to be in agreement concerning their number and person.

Practice Subject Verb Agreement Exercises

These exercises typically involve providing sentences with missing or incorrect verbs, and the task is to identify the correct verb form that matches the subject in number ( singular or plural ).

Practicing these exercises can improve one’s ability to construct grammatically correct sentences by ensuring that subjects and verbs agree appropriately.

Basics Subject Verb Agreement Exercises

Understanding the concepts in Basics Subject Verb Agreement Exercises is crucial, but beginners often start with Simple Subject Verb Agreement Exercises to build their confidence in English grammar.

Hints: When the subjects are in the singular form, the verbs will also be in the singular.

Exercise 1:

Choose the correct word from the brackets according to Subject Verb Agreement Rules.

(a) People __________(is/are) fun loving.

( b) Hira __________(was/were) present that day.

(c) My father __________ ( read/reads) book every day.

(d) She __________ (sing/sings) well.

(e) I __________ (play/plays) in the field.

People also ask

Subject Verb Agreement Exercise 2:

Choose the correct word from the brackets according to Subject Verb Agreement Rules. Hints are given.

Hints: When the subject consists of two or more nouns or pronouns joined by ‘ and ‘, the verb and pronoun will be in the  plural number

(a) Hira and Manik __________ (push/pushes) the log. 

(b) The players __________ (assemble/assembles) in the dressing room.

(c) I and my friend  __________ (plan/plans) to visit the zoo.

(d) These stones __________ (have/has) rough surfaces.

(e) Elephants __________ (are/is) big in size.

Subject Verb Agreement Exercise 3:

Identify whether the following sentences have correct subject-verb agreement (SVA) or if there is an error, correct it.

(a) She like pizza.

(b) The children is playing in the park.

(c) The cat and the dog is chasing each other.

(d) Every student in the class have completed the assignment.

(e) The news are always interesting.

Exercise 4:

Hints: Indefinite Pronouns – everybody, somebody, nobody, anybody, anyone, and none take singular verbs.

(a) Everybody (enjoy) __________ a good laugh.

(b) Someone (call) __________ for you on the phone.

(c) None of the cake (remain) __________ after the party.

(d) Nobody (know) __________ the answer to that question.

(e) Somebody (want) __________ to join the hiking club.

Exercise 5:

Hints 1: When two subjects of a sentence are joined by ‘Either … or’, ‘Neither … nor’, and ‘or’ ‘not only …. but also’, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

Hints 2: When ‘Each’, ‘Every’ or ‘No’ is placed before the subject (noun) joined by ‘and’, the pronoun and the verb should be Singular.

(a) Neither the cat nor the dogs (like) __________ water.

(b) Not only the flowers but also the vase (require) __________ careful handling.

(c) Each of the solutions (seem) __________ viable for different reasons.

(d) Not only the birds but also the squirrel (be) __________ in the tree.

(e) Either the dog or the cats (be) __________ in the garden.

Exercise 6:

(a) The news (be) __________ often sensationalized by the media.

(b) Both the mother and her children (enjoy) __________ the family vacation.

(c) The library (offer) __________ a wide range of books and magazines.

(d) The collection of rare coins (be) __________ displayed in the museum.

(e) Many of the staff members at the company (be) __________ going on vacation.

Exercise 7:

Identify and correct the subject-verb agreement errors in the following sentences:

(a) The group of friends (was) __________ excited about the upcoming trip.

(b) Each of the cars (need) __________ a thorough inspection.

(c) Many of the apples (is) __________ ripe and ready to be picked.

(d) Both the car and the bicycle (need) __________ maintenance.

(e) The pile of books (be) __________ on the table.

Exercise 8:

(a) How (do) __________ the new regulations affect your business?

(b) What (be) __________ your thoughts on the recent developments?

(c) When (was) __________ the last time you visited that museum?

(d) Why (be) _______ the kids playing in the park?

(e) Where (be) _______ the new neighbors from?

Exercise 9:

(a) A group of skilled artisans (create) __________ intricate designs on the pottery.

(b) The fleet of ships (sail) __________ gracefully into the harbor.

(c) The committee members (hold) __________ diverse opinions on the matter.

(d) Not only the birds but also the squirrel (be) __________in the tree.

(e) The team of experts (be) __________ working tirelessly on the project.

Advanced Subject Verb Agreement Exercises

Advanced subject-verb agreement exercises are an excellent resource for students in advanced class 10 or those looking to challenge themselves at an advanced level.

You can find ESL subject verb agreement worksheets and for detailed explanations and answers, consider exploring Advanced Subject Verb Agreement Exercises Answers.

Subject Verb Agreement Advanced Exercises with Hints

Hints 1: Phrases like – ‘a number of’, ‘a group of’, ‘a lot of ‘, ‘the majority of ‘, ‘ a great deal of ‘, ‘most of’, ‘a variety of’, ‘None of the’, ‘Plenty of’, ‘a series of’ can take singular verb for amount/quantity and plural verb for number.

Hints 2: Some nouns are plural in form but singular in meaning . We use singular verbs with such nouns. e.g. Mathematics, Statistics, Measles, Physics, Bilards, News, etc.

(a) The collection of rare coins (be) __________ up for auction.

(b) Fifty percent of the population (support) __________ the new policy.

(c) A series of unfortunate events (lead) __________ to unexpected outcomes.

(d) Most of my family members prefer to (stay) __________ indoors on weekends.

(e) The majority of the students in the class (pass) __________ the exam.

Exercise 2:

Hints: A Collective noun takes a singular verb if taken as a whole and a plural verb when taken separately.

(a) The council (meet) __________ every Tuesday to discuss community matters.

(b) The jury (deliver) __________ its final verdict after hours of deliberation.

(c) The family (gather) __________ for a reunion once a year.

(d) The orchestra, led by a renowned conductor, (be) ________ performing tonight.

(e) The herd of elephants (be) ________ roaming through the African savanna.

Exercise 3:

(a) Neither of the candidates (seem) __________ suitable for the position.

(b) Either of the options (lead) __________ to positive outcomes.

(c) All of the information (be) __________ thoroughly researched.

(d) Both of the candidates (be) ________ qualified for the position.

(e) One of the boys (have) ________ forgotten his backpack.

(f) Some of the cake (be) ________ missing after the party.

(a) The committee (discuss) __________ the upcoming event.

(b) The orchestra (perform) __________ breathtaking symphonies.

(c) The team of explorers (discover) __________ ancient artifacts.

(d) A flock of seagulls (be) ________ overhead.

(e) My family (be) ________ going on vacation next week.

(f) The choir (be) ________ rehearsing for the upcoming concert.

(a) Bread and butter (go) __________ well together as a meal.

(b) The sun, along with the stars, (illuminate) __________ the night sky.

(c) The laughter and chatter of children (fill) __________ the playground.

(d) The book and the magazine ________ on the shelf.

(e) Politics and economics ________ his areas of expertise.

(a) Fifty dollars (be) __________ a fair price for this antique.

(b) The news (be) __________ both shocking and unexpected.

(c) The majority of the work (be) __________ already completed.

(d) The group of friends (be) ________ planning a surprise party.

(e) Plenty of books (be) ________ donated to the library.

(a) While the sun (shine) __________, the children played in the park.

(b) Despite their differences, harmony (exist) __________ among the team members.

(c) As the temperature drops, the leaves (turn) __________ vibrant shades of red and gold.

(d) The company, along with its subsidiaries, (have) ________ a global presence.

(e) The concert, which was scheduled for tonight (have) ________ canceled.

(a) The fact that technology (evolve) __________ rapidly is undeniable.

(b) Her belief that perseverance (lead) __________ to success is inspiring.

(c) The idea that nature (heal) __________ the soul is widely accepted.

(d) The idea that we can finish early (be) __________ appealing.

(e) Whoever wins the competition (receive) __________ a cash prize.

(a) A majority of the students (prefer) __________ interactive learning methods.

(b) The entire team (be) __________ dedicated to achieving the project’s goals.

(c) Several of the options (seem) __________ viable for implementation.

(d) Plenty of interesting documentaries (be) __________ available on that streaming platform.

(e) A series of meetings (have) __________ been scheduled for this week.

Difficult Subject Verb Agreement Exercises

Navigating through difficult subject verb agreement exercises can be a rewarding challenge for students aiming to sharpen their language skills.

(a) If the weather (permit) __________, we’ll have a picnic tomorrow.

(b) Should you require assistance, our customer service team (be) __________ available.

(c) In case of an emergency, the alarm (activate) __________ automatically.

(d) Unless they (study) ________ harder, they won’t pass the exam.

(e) If the weather (be) ________ nice tomorrow, we will have a picnic.

(a) The success of the company (depend) __________ on its ability to innovate.

(b) The variety of colors (create) __________ a visually stunning display.

(c) The implications of the research (extend) __________ beyond the current scope.

(d) The flowers that bloom in spring (be) ________ beautiful.

(e) The computer, as well as the printer, (be) ________ not functioning properly.

(a) Each participant (receive) __________ a certificate of completion.

(b) The government’s response (be) __________ swift and resolute.

(c) The contents of the report (remain) __________ confidential.

(d) Neither the book nor the magazine ________ (contain) the necessary information.

(e) The CEO, along with the senior executives, ________ (attend) the conference.

(a) If the sun (shine) __________, we’ll go for a hike in the afternoon.

(b) Should the opportunity arise, I (pursue) __________ further studies.

(c) In case of a power outage, the generator (activate) __________ automatically.

(d) If it ________ (rain) tomorrow, we ________ (stay) indoors.

(e) Unless they ________ (finish) the project on time, they ________ (face) consequences.

(a) Despite their differences, mutual respect (exist) __________ among the team members.

(b) While the orchestra (tune) __________ their instruments, the audience settled in.

(c) As the years pass, our understanding of the universe (expand) __________ significantly.

(d) The report, along with its supporting documents, ________ (have) been submitted by the deadline.

(e) The project, which has been in development for months, ________ (require) additional funding.

(a) The implications of climate change (affect) __________ every corner of the globe.

(b) The analysis of historical data (reveal) __________ fascinating patterns.

(c) The role of education (extend) __________ far beyond the classroom.

(d) In today’s world, access to quality education (be) __________ considered a fundamental right.

(e) The Internet, along with social media, (have) __________transformed how we connect with one another.

(a) The majority of scholars (agree) __________ with the theory’s fundamental premise.

(b) The concept of cultural relativism (give) __________ rise to diverse interpretations.

(c) A significant number of experiments (yield) __________ inconclusive results.

(d) Literature, as well as other forms of art, (play) __________ a role in stimulating critical thinking.

(e) The impact of literature on society (have) __________ been studied extensively by scholars and academics.

(a) The collection of rare artifacts (be) __________ an invaluable resource.

(b) The cluster of stars in that constellation (form) __________ a breathtaking pattern.

(c) The array of choices available (overwhelm) __________ the decision-making process.

(d) The consequences of climate change (be) __________ far-reaching and require immediate action.

(e) Classic literature and modern novels both (play) __________ a significant role in shaping societal values.

(a) Each participant (receive) __________ a copy of the conference agenda.

(b) The terms and conditions of the contract (be) __________ subject to negotiation.

(c) The accuracy of the financial report (reflect) __________ meticulous attention to detail.

(d) Teachers, along with their students, (play) __________ a crucial role in the learning process.

Subject Verb Agreement Exercises for College Students with Answers

Exercises on Subject Verb Agreement for college students with answers can be invaluable tools for reinforcing grammar knowledge and improving writing skills.

Exercises 1:

1. Each of the students (has/have) completed their assignments.

2. The book on the shelf (belongs/belong) to Sarah.

3. Neither the cat nor the dog (was/were) at home when I arrived.

4. The news about the accident (was/were) shocking to everyone.

5. The group of friends (was/were) excited to go on a road trip.

Subject Verb Agreement Exercises 2:

1. My collection of rare coins (is/are) worth a lot of money.

2. One of my favorite hobbies (is/are) reading science fiction novels.

3. The pile of books on the table (needs/need) to be sorted.

4. The jury (has/have) reached a verdict in the case.

5. The team (is/are) practicing hard for the championship.

Exercises 3:

1. The company, along with its subsidiaries, (is/are) expanding into new markets.

2. Neither the teacher nor the students (was/were) aware of the surprise quiz.

3. The variety of options available (makes/make) it difficult to choose.

4. The collection of rare stamps (is/are) on display at the museum.

5. The number of participants in the study (has/have) increased significantly.

Exercises 4:

1. The list of requirements for the job (seems/seem) overwhelming.

2. Either the red or the blue car (is/are) available for rent.

3. His collection of vintage records (is/are) worth a fortune.

4. The sound of the waves crashing on the shore (is/are) so soothing.

5. A pair of shoes (was/were) left in the hallway.

Exercises 5:

1. The majority of the students (was/were) satisfied with their grades.

2. The book, as well as the magazine, (belongs/belong) to me.

3. The police officer, along with the firefighters, (is/are) on the scene.

4. The stack of pancakes on the plate (looks/look) delicious.

5. Ten dollars (is/are) all I have left in my wallet.

Exercises 6:

1. The team of experts (has/have) been working on this project for months.

2. The idea of traveling to distant lands (excites/excite) her.

3. A variety of animals (live/lives) in the rainforest.

4. Each of the students (has/have) their own unique talents.

5. The collection of rare coins (was/were) stolen from the museum.

Exercises 7:

1. The news of her promotion (was/were) unexpected.

2. The number of applicants (has/have) increased significantly.

3. The committee members (disagree/disagrees) on the proposal.

4. The box of chocolates (has/have) been eaten.

5. My favorite pair of jeans (is/are) in the laundry.

Subject Verb Agreement Exercises for Competitive Exams

Subject-verb agreement exercises for competitive exams require careful attention to detail and are essential for achieving a high score. Here are 25 challenging subject-verb agreement exercises set for different competitive exams:

Subject Verb Agreement Exercise 1:

1. Neither the teacher nor the students __________ pleased with the exam results. a) is b) are c) was d) were

2. The book, along with several others, __________ on the shelf. a) is b) are c) has d) have

3. The committee’s decision __________ final. a) is b) are c) has been d) have been

4. Each of the team members __________ to submit their report by tomorrow. a) is required b) are required c) requires d) require

5. The quality of the products __________ improved significantly over the years. a) has b) have c) is d) are

1. Neither John nor his siblings __________ interested in politics. a) is b) are c) was d) were

2. The pile of documents on the desk __________ overwhelming. a) is b) are c) was d) were

3. One of the keys to success __________ effective communication. a) is b) are c) was d) were

4. The group of protestors __________ demanding changes in the law. a) is b) are c) was d) were

5. The teacher, as well as the students, __________ excited about the field trip. a) is b) are c) was d) were

1. Both the dog and the cat __________ missing since yesterday. a) is b) are c) was d) were

2. The news of the accident __________ shocking to everyone. a) is b) are c) was d) were

3. The majority of the population __________ in favor of stricter environmental laws. a) is b) are c) was d) were

4. The collection of rare artifacts __________ displayed in the museum. a) is b) are c) was d) were

5. Each of the candidates __________ to give their best performance. a) is expected b) are expected c) expects d) expect

1. The jury __________ reached a unanimous decision. a) has b) have c) is d) are

2. The series of novels __________ been adapted into a popular TV show. a) has b) have c) is d) are

3. The box of chocolates __________ tempting, but I won’t indulge. a) is b) are c) was d) were

4. The supply of fresh vegetables __________ running low. a) is b) are c) was d) were

5. The committee members __________ not yet arrived for the meeting. a) has b) have c) is d) are

1. The staff in this office __________ exceptionally dedicated to their work. a) is b) are c) was d) were

2. Not only the students but also the professor __________ attending the seminar. a) is b) are c) was d) were

3. The list of supplies needed for the project __________ quite extensive. a) is b) are c) was d) were

4. The cost of living in this city __________ high. a) is b) are c) was d) were

5. The number of cases of flu __________ rising steadily. a) is b) are c) was d) were

Exercises for Subject Verb Concord

Concord exercises of subject verb agreement are designed to test a student’s knowledge of subject-verb agreement, which is also known as concord. Here are some concord (subject-verb agreement) exercises :

1. The group of students (is/are) going on a field trip.

2. Neither the cats nor the dog (is/are) fond of water.

3. A variety of delicious dishes (was/were) served at the party.

4. Ten dollars (is/are) not enough to buy that book.

5. The news about the election results (was/were) surprising.

6. The collection of antique cars (is/are) on display at the museum.

7. Each of the students (has/have) completed their assignments.

8. The team, along with their coach, (is/are) traveling to the championship.

9. The number of visitors to the museum (has/have) increased this year.

10. The stack of books on the table (needs/need) to be sorted.

By engaging in these advanced subject-verb agreement exercises, you’re demonstrating a commendable dedication to mastering grammar intricacies. The exercises presented here encompass a range of challenging scenarios, ensuring that your grasp of subject-verb agreement remains comprehensive and adaptable.

Subject Verb Agreement Exercises for Practice

Prac tice Exercises of Subject verb agreement is crucial for improving your grammar proficiency. This worksheet will provide you with a variety of exercises to reinforce your understanding of this fundamental grammatical concept.

Instructions for subject-verb agreement Exercises

Read each sentence carefully and identify whether the subject and verb agree.  Choose the correct verb form based on the subject. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

Choose the correct verb form:

(a) The cat (is/are) sleeping.

(b) The dogs (barks/bark) in the yard.

(c) Either the student or the teacher (is/are) responsible.

(d) Each of the books (has/have) its own charm.

(e) All of the cookies (was/were) eaten.

Complete the sentences with the correct verb form:

(a) The team of players (plays/play) exceptionally well.

(b) None of the information (was/were) accurate.

(c) Every student in the class (has/have) completed the assignment.

(d) The company, along with its subsidiaries, (is/are) expanding its operations.

(e) Neither the book nor the magazine (interest/interests) me.

Decide whether the verb should be singular or plural:

(a) A basket of apples (was/were) on the kitchen counter.

(b) The group of friends (enjoy/enjoys) hiking together.

(c) One of the cakes (need/needs) more frosting.

(d) The collection of stamps (is/are) quite valuable.

(e) Each of the cars (require/requires) regular maintenance.

Choose the appropriate verb form:

(a) All the chairs in the room (was/were) arranged neatly.

(b) The committee members (has/have) differing opinions.

(c) Many of the movies (was/were) filmed on location.

(d) The majority of the audience (was/were) impressed by the performance.

(e) Some of the information (seem/seems) unreliable.

Fill in the blanks with the correct verb:

(a) Neither the coffee nor the tea _______________ my preferred beverages.

(b) Each of the students _______________ a unique perspective.

(c) The flock of birds _______________ gracefully across the sky.

(d) All the tickets for the concert _______________ sold out.

(e) The collection of rare coins _______________ on display at the museum.

Identify the correct verb form for each sentence:

(a) The movie that you recommended (was/were) captivating.

(b) Each of the students (have/has) completed the assignment.

(c) The committee members (discuss/discusses) the agenda.

(d) Neither the cat nor the dog (likes/like) the new food.

(e) The collection of stamps (is/are) stored in a secure album.

(a) Every employee in the department _______________ their role seriously.

(b) The box of chocolates _______________ tempting.

(c) Both the manager and the assistant _______________ busy.

(d) Not only the students but also the teacher _______________ excited about the field trip.

(e) A variety of options _______________ available for breakfast.

Choose the suitable verb form:

(a) All the evidence in the case (point/points) to a different conclusion.

(b) The group of musicians (practices/practice) diligently.

(c) None of the solutions provided (seems/seem) effective.

(d) One of the paintings on the wall (needs/need) restoration.

(e) The team, along with their coach, (is/are) celebrating their victory.

Complete the sentences with the appropriate verb form:

(a) Each of the books in the library (provide/provides) valuable insights

(b) Many of the participants (has/have) already arrived.

(c) The collection of antique coins (is/are) considered priceless.

(d) The family of birds (build/builds) nests in the tree.

(e) Neither the pen nor the pencil (is/are) on the desk.

Exercise 10

(a) A group of friends (enjoy/enjoys) hiking together.

(b) The series of events (unfold/unfolds) in a surprising manner.

(c) Every student in the class (participate/participates) actively.

(d) The list of names (is/are) being reviewed.

(e) Both the cat and the dog (seem/seems) content.

Exercise 11

Choose the correct verb form for each sentence:

(a) The team of players (is/are) working hard to win the championship.

(b) Not only the flowers but also the trees (adds/add) beauty to the park.

(c) Every student in the class (has/have) submitted their assignments.

(d) The collection of coins (belong/belongs) to a passionate collector.

(e) None of the options (seems/seem) suitable for the situation.

Exercise 12

Complete the sentences with the appropriate verb:

(a) Each of the cars in the garage _______________ a unique history.

(b) The committee members _______________ unanimous in their decision.

(c) A variety of books _______________ available in the library.

(d) Neither the company nor its subsidiaries _______________ profitable this year.

(e) The flock of birds _______________ south for the winter.

Exercise 13

(a) All the information provided (is/are) accurate.

(b) The series of events (unfold/unfolds) in a chronological order.

(c) Many of the employees (has/have) attended the seminar.

(d) The family of dolphins (swim/swims) gracefully in the ocean.

(e) The collection of vintage posters (is/are) on display.

Exercise 14

Fill in the blanks with the correct verb form:

(a) Neither the cake nor the ice cream _______________ appealing to me.

(b) Both the manager and the assistant _______________ working diligently.

(c) Not only the students but also the teacher _______________ excited about the upcoming trip.

(d) The collection of rare stamps _______________ highly valuable.

(e) Every member of the team _______________ dedicated to their role.

Exercise 15

Choose the appropriate verb form for each sentence:

(a) The series of novels (capture/captures) the reader’s imagination.

(b) None of the solutions provided (solve/solves) the issue completely.

(c) Every one of the members (contribute/contributes) to the success of the project.

(d) The group of friends (enjoy/enjoys) spending time together.

(e) The selection of colors (create/creates) a vibrant atmosphere.

Exercise 16

Select the correct verb form for each sentence:

(a) The collection of rare coins (is/are) worth a fortune.

(b) Not only the students but also the teacher (is/are) excited for the field trip.

(c) Every one of the employees (has/have) contributed to the project

(d) The committee members (disagree/disagrees) on the proposed changes.

(e) A series of novels (transport/transports) readers to different worlds.

Exercise 17

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate verb form:

(a) Each of the paintings in the gallery _______________ a story to tell.

(b) The team of researchers _______________ conducting groundbreaking experiments.

(c) The variety of flowers in the garden _______________ a colorful display.

(d) Neither the cat nor the dog _______________ allowed on the furniture.

(e) The family of dolphins _______________ in harmony with their surroundings.

Exercise 18

(a) A group of tourists (explore/explores) the ancient ruins.

(b) All the information in the report (is/are) accurate.

(c) Many of the students (participate/participates) in extracurricular activities.

(d) The collection of antique maps (belong/belongs) to a dedicated enthusiast.

(e) The flock of birds (migrate/migrates) to warmer regions.

Exercise 19

(a) None of the options provided _______________ suitable for the occasion.

(b) Both the manager and the employees _______________ committed to success.

(c) Every one of the books in the library _______________ a valuable resource.

(d) The selection of colors for the painting _______________ carefully chosen.

(e) The family of elephants in the reserve _______________ in their natural habitat.

Exercise 20

Choose the suitable verb form for each sentence:

(a) Each of the team members (play/plays) a crucial role.

(b) The list of ingredients for the recipe (seem/seems) exhaustive.

(c) Every student in the class (excel/excels) academically.

(d) The series of events (lead/leads) to an unexpected twist.

(e) The variety of flavors in the menu (delight/delights) customers.

Exercise 21

Choose the accurate verb form for each sentence:

(a) The collection of vintage cars (spark/sparks) excitement among enthusiasts.

(b) Every member of the team (plays/play) a vital role in our success.

(c) The committee (meets/meet) regularly to discuss important matters.

(d) A variety of options (is/are) available for the upcoming vacation.

Exercise 22

(a) Each of the paintings in the gallery _______________ a unique perspective.

(b) The group of volunteers _______________ dedicated to their cause.

(c) The family of elephants _______________ harmoniously in their natural habitat.

(d) Neither the book nor the magazine _______________ interesting to me.

(e) The collection of rare stamps _______________ displayed in a special exhibition.

Exercise 23

(a) A series of lectures on art history (is/are) scheduled for next week.

(b) All the information in the report (appear/appears) accurate.

(c) Many of the applicants (meet/meets) the criteria for the scholarship.

(d) The collection of antique coins (belong/belongs) to a passionate collector.

(e) The flock of birds (fly/flies) in perfect formation.

Exercise 24

(b) Both the manager and the employees _______________ dedicated to their work.

(c) Every student in the class _______________ their own strengths.

(e) The family of dolphins in the bay _______________ a joy to observe.

Exercise 25

(a) Each of the team members (contribute/contributes) to the project’s success.

(c) Every student in the class (participate/participates) actively in discussions.

(d) The series of novels (transport/transports) readers to distant lands.

(e) The variety of landscapes in the region (create/creates) a stunning backdrop.

Exercise 26

(a) The collection of vintage books (contains/contain) valuable information.

(b) Neither the cat nor the dog (like/likes) the new food.

(c) Every member of the team (plays/play) an important role.

(d) The committee (meets/meet) every Monday to discuss matters.

(e) A variety of options (is/are) available for the event.

Exercise 27

Complete the sentences with the suitable verb form:

(a) Each of the paintings in the museum _______________ a story to tell.

(b) The group of volunteers _______________ dedicated to making a difference.

(c) The family of birds _______________ in perfect harmony.

(d) Neither the book nor the magazine _______________ of interest to me.

(e) The collection of rare coins _______________ displayed with care.

Exercise 28

(a) A series of lectures on history (is/are) scheduled for next month.

(b) All the information in the report (seem/seems) accurate.

(c) Many of the students (excel/excels) in academics.

(d) The collection of antique artifacts (belong/belongs) to a private collector.

(e) The flock of birds (fly/flies) in a V formation.

Exercise 29

(b) Both the manager and the employees _______________ dedicated to their roles.

(e) The family of dolphins in the bay _______________ a joy to watch.

Exercise 30

(a) Each of the team members (contributes/contribute) uniquely to the project.

(b) The list of ingredients for the recipe (seem/seems) extensive.

(d) The series of novels (transport/transports) readers to far-off places.

(e) The variety of landscapes in the area (create/creates) a breathtaking scene.

Exercise 31

(a) The collection of antique coins (hold/holds) immense value.

(b) Neither the movie nor the book (captivate/captivates) my interest.

(d) The committee (convene/convenes) every Wednesday to discuss important matters.

(e) A variety of options (is/are) available for the upcoming event.

Exercise 32

(a) Each of the sculptures in the gallery _______________ a unique story.

(b) The group of volunteers _______________ dedicated to making a positive impact.

(c) The family of swans _______________ gliding gracefully on the lake.

(e) The collection of rare stamps _______________ carefully preserved.

Exercise 33

(a) A series of workshops on creativity (stimulate/stimulates) innovation.

(b) All the information in the report (appear/appears) to be accurate.

(c) Many of the students (excel/excels) in their academic pursuits.

(d) The collection of historical artifacts (belong/belongs) to a local museum.

(e) The flock of birds (fly/flies) in a graceful V formation.

Exercise 34

(b) Both the manager and the employees _______________ committed to their roles.

(c) Every student in the class _______________ their own unique strengths.

(d) The selection of colors for the painting _______________ carefully considered.

(e) The family of dolphins in the bay _______________ a source of wonder.

Exercise 35

(a) Each of the team members (contributes/contribute) their expertise to the project.

(b) The list of ingredients for the recipe (seem/seems) quite extensive.

(c) Every student in the class (participate/participates) actively in classroom activities.

(e) The variety of landscapes in the region (create/creates) a breathtaking panorama.

FAQs on Subject Verb Agreement Exercises

Q: what is a subject-verb agreement exercise.

Ans: A subject-verb agreement exercise is a language learning activity that helps individuals practice matching the grammatical number (singular or plural) of a subject with the corresponding form of the verb in a sentence.

Q: What is an example of a subject-verb agreement with answers?

Ans: An example of a subject-verb agreement with answers is: “The cat sleeps on the windowsill.” Here, the singular subject “cat” matches with the singular verb “sleeps.”

Q: What are the 10 rules of subject-verb agreement?

Ans: Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental aspect of English grammar. Here are ten rules to ensure that the subject and verb in a sentence agree:

1. Singular subjects take singular verbs:

2. Plural subjects take plural verbs:

3. Compound subjects with “and” are plural:

4. Compound subjects with “or” or “nor” follow the closer subject:

5. Collective nouns can be singular or plural:

6. Indefinite pronouns may be singular or plural:

7. Subjects with “each” or “every” are singular:

8. Subjects with “either…or” and “neither…nor” require singular or plural verbs:

9. Phrases beginning with “one of” or “a number of” are plural:

10. Inverted sentences with prepositional phrases:

Mastering these rules helps ensure grammatical correctness in your writing and speaking.

Q: How do you solve subject-verb agreement questions?

Ans: To solve subject-verb agreement questions, identify the subject and verb in the sentence, and ensure they agree in number (singular or plural) based on the rules of subject-verb agreement. If they don’t agree, make the necessary adjustments to match the subject and verb correctly.

Q: How do you teach subject-verb agreement?

Ans: Teaching subject-verb agreement effectively involves several steps and strategies:

1. Introduce the Concept:

2. Provide Clear Examples:

3. Engage in Practice Exercises:

4. Use Visual Aids:

5. Make it Fun:

Consistent practice, clear explanations, and a variety of teaching methods can help students grasp the concept of subject-verb agreement and apply it effectively in their writing and communication.

Congratulations on completing these additional subject-verb agreement exercises! Your dedication to mastering this grammar rule is commendable and will undoubtedly enhance your communication skills.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, subject-verb agreement on sat writing: strategies and practice.

SAT Writing

Subject-Verb Agreement may be the most tested grammatical rule on the SAT . Therefore, just by mastering this rule and its applications, you will be well on your way toward achieving a ridiculously good score on the SAT Writing.

While the rule itself is relatively simple, the questions related to it can be challenging and a bit tricky. In this article, we’ll teach you how to become a master of all things subject-verb agreement on the SAT.

In this post, I’ll do the following:

• Give you a clear understanding of subject-verb agreement.
• Explain why and how subject-verb agreement questions on the SAT can be tricky.
• Offer general strategies that can help you correctly answer subject-verb agreement questions.
• Provide you with practice questions so you can test what you’ve learned.

Review: What's a Subject?

Simply, a subject is the noun which corresponds with a verb in a sentence . In a sentence where there is an action, the subject is the noun which is doing the action. Here is an example:

Justin saved the world.

Justin is the subject because he did the saving.

In a sentence where there is a description, typically using a form of the verb “to be”, the subject is the noun which is being described. Consider this beautifully written sentence:

Justin is amazingly humble.

Justin is the subject because he is the person who is amazingly humble.

Now that we have a basic understanding of a subject, let's define this ubiquitous SAT grammar rule.

What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?

Subject-verb agreement is a rule stating that all subjects must agree with their verbs in number . Singular subjects take singular verbs . Plural subjects take plural verbs .

Most of the subject-verb agreement questions on the SAT deal with verb forms in the third-person singular form (he/she/it/one) and third-person plural forms (they).

In the present and present perfect verb tenses, third person singular verb forms end in an “s” .   Third person plural verb forms do not .

Let's check out an example sentence to give you a better understanding of this rule:

The celebrity chef cook lobster and foie gras.

This sentence probably already "sounds" wrong to your ear, but let's break down exactly why. The subject of this sentence is "chef". Obviously, because we are only talking about one chef, the subject is singular . Therefore, the verb should be in the singular form. However, "cook" is the third-person plural form of the verb so this sentence is incorrect. Here is how the sentence should read:

The celebrity chef cooks lobster and foie gras.

Here's another basic example:

The gymnasts performs incredible feats of strength.

In the above sentence, the subject is "gymnasts" because they are doing the performing.   "Gymnasts" is plural so the verb should be in the plural form .  However, "performs" is in the singular form. This is the corrected sentence:

The gymnasts perform incredible feats of strength.

This rule is relatively basic and easy to comprehend, right? Some of you may be thinking that all subject-verb agreement errors on the SAT will be as simple to detect as they were in the example sentences above. However, in traditional SAT fashion, sentences on the SAT are intentionally deceptive and questions related to subject-verb agreement can be rather challenging.

Subject-Verb Agreement questions can deceive you

Why Are These Questions Tricky?

Generally, questions related to subject-verb agreement on the SAT can be difficult because the subject is usually not placed directly in front of the verb.

This problem appears in two ways: Interrupting Phrases, and inverted sentences where the subject follows the verb.

Common Trap #1: Interrupting Phrases

Interrupting phrases are phrases that separate the subject from the verb . Such phrases make locating the subject and determining whether the verb should be singular or plural more difficult. There are specific types of interrupting phrases and we'll take a closer look at a few of them. You don't know need to know all of the specific grammar terms, but it's important to recognize how they influence subject-verb agreement questions .

Non-Essential Clauses

Non-essential clauses are phrases describe a noun, often the subject of a subject-verb agreement question on the SAT. Non-essential clauses are surrounded by commas. These clauses can be removed without creating grammatical errors or changes in the meaning of a sentence . Take, for example, this sentence:

My doctor, who is very unfriendly , spoke to me for less than a minute.

The phrase in bold is a non-essential clause. It is separated by commas and removing the clause does not create an error or change the meaning of the sentence. The phrase is only used to provide descriptive information about the subject. See:

My doctor , who is very unfriendly, spoke to me for less than a minute.

A non-essential clause often starts with a relative pronoun (which, who, whose, or where), but it doesn't in a phrase known as an appositive . An appositive functions like a non-essential clause, but it doesn't have a verb. Here is an example:

My doctor, a very unfriendly man , spoke to me for less than a minute.

Again, the phrase provides information about the doctor, but it can be removed and will not create any errors or change the meaning of the sentence.

So, how will knowing about these phrases help you correctly answer SAT questions related to subject-verb agreement? I'll explain.

Non-Essential Clauses and Appositives on the SAT

On the SAT, these phrases will be placed between subjects and verbs to trick you into thinking a subject is singular or plural . Look at this example of an incorrectly written sentence in which I've underlined the subject and bolded the verb:

My math teacher , who is extremely demanding and yells at all the students, give too much homework.

The subject is singular and the verb is in the plural form. However, there is a non-essential clause separating the subject from the verb so it is more difficult to locate the error in subject-verb agreement.

Also, on the SAT, there will often be a plural noun in the non-essential clause placed right next to the verb in such a sentence.   Many test takers will incorrectly assume that "students" is the subject,  especially if you read the question quickly in one go.  Here is the corrected version of the above sentence:

My math teacher , who is extremely demanding and yells at all the students, gives too much homework.

So, how do you avoid falling into this common trap that the SAT will set for you?

For these types of questions, always cross out appositives and non-essential clauses . Doing so will make it easier to notice any issues with subject-verb agreement. The resulting sentence should be grammatically correct. Let's do this with the incorrectly written version of our previous example:

Crossing out the non-essential clause leaves us with "My math teacher give too much homework." The subject-verb agreement error in that sentence is easy to spot.

Here is another type of interrupting phrase, probably the most common on the SAT: the prepositonal phrase.

Prepositional Phrases

Quick Review: prepositional phrase begins with a preposition. Prepositions provide additional details about nouns and often answer the questions "Where?", "When?", or provide descriptive information. Here is a chart showing examples of commonly used prepositions:

On the SAT, prepositional phrases are often inserted between subjects and verbs to make errors in subject-verb agreement less noticeable.  Take a look at this incorrectly written sentence with the prepositional phrase underlined:

Changes for the new and improved SAT is going to be implemented soon.

The subject of the sentence is "changes" and the prepositional phrase provides descriptive information about the changes. Because the subject is plural, the verb should be in the plural form .

Once again, notice how the SAT can trick you by putting a singular noun, SAT, right before the verb, "is." If you go by ear, you're likely to fall prey to this trap.

Here is the corrected version of the sentence:

Changes for the new and improved SAT are going to be implemented soon.

The approach you should take with sentences that contain a prepositional phrase is very similar to the one you should use with non-essential clauses and appositives.

My ghost writer. He knows his SAT grammar.

Cross out the prepositional phrase and the resulting sentence should be grammatically correct . Also, doing so will make it easier for you to identify the subject and ensure that the subject and verb agree. The subject will never be contained within a prepositional phrase. Let's use the cross out method with the above incorrectly written sentence:

The subject-verb agreement error is much more obvious. Hooray!

Interrupting phrases are not the only tactic the SAT uses to complicate subject-verb agreement questions.

Common Trap #2: Sometimes the Subject Will Follow the Verb

Occasionally, the normal word order of a sentence will be changed so that a prepositional phrase appears at the beginning of a sentence and the subject will follow the verb.  In these sentences, it can be difficult to identify the subject and determine whether there is an error in subject-verb agreement. Take, for example, the following sentence with the prepositional phrase underlined and the verb in bold:

On my forehead resides five unsightly pimples.

We know that a subject cannot be contained within a prepositional phrase and the subject must correspond with the verb. What is doing the residing? The pimples. And "on my forehead" provides information about where the pimples are located.  Because the subject is plural, the verb needs to be in the plural form:

On my forehead   reside five unsightly pimples.

The correctly written sentence may sound more awkward to you because the noun "forehead" is singular and it is placed right next to the plural form of a verb. That is why you should focus on the rules and not rely on what sounds right .

In rare cases, the verb comes before the subject but is not preceded by a preposition.  What? How is that possible? Check out this sentence with the subject underlined and the verb in bold:

Eating Hot Cheetos is fun, but less fun is its consequences .

In the sentence, what is less fun? The consequences. Therefore, "consequences" is the subject which corresponds with the verb. There is an error in subject-verb agreement. The sentence should read like this:

Eating Hot Cheetos is fun, but less fun are its consequences .

The order of the words has been changed, but this sentence is saying that "The consequences are less fun." So, how should you tackle sentences in which the subject follows the verb?

In these sentences in which the subject follows the verb, simply rearrange the sentence so that it follows the normal structure of subject then verb . This will enable you to more easily spot errors in subject-verb agreement. If you did that in the incorrectly written example above, you would be left with "its consequences is less fun". The subject is right in front of the verb and the error is obvious.

Application: Real SAT Example

So, we’ve established that subject-verb agreement questions can be tricky because the subject is often not placed directly in front of the verb.  Let’s see how this plays out with an actual SAT question. First, let's look at a sentence with an interrupting phrase.

The subject of this sentence is “research”. The phrase “by several scientists” is a prepositional phrase providing descriptive information about the research.  Therefore, the subject is singular and the verb should be in the   singular form . If you get rid of the prepositional phrase, the sentence reads "research suggest". B is the answer ; the word should be “suggests”.

There are additional situations which complicate the most basic questions that test subject-verb agreement. Now we'll take a look at some of these specific situations.

Common Trap #3: Compound Subjects

If the subject is two singular nouns connected by “and”, then the verb should be in the plural form.  Here is an elementary sentence illustrating this rule:

Justin and the SAT are friends.

The subject is both Justin and the SAT so the verb needs to be in the plural form.  

Here is a more difficult SAT-style example in which a prepositional phrase is also placed at the beginning of the sentence:

Under my bed exists a pen and a Taco Bell receipt from 1994 .

So, where is the subject? "Under my bed" is a prepositional phrase - that's not the subject.  What exists? Both a pen and a Taco Bell receipt. We can rearrange the sentence order so that the sentence reads that "A pen and a Taco Bell receipt exists". Because there is a compound subject, the verb should be in the plural form.  This is the corrected version of the sentence:

Under my bed exist a pen and a Taco Bell receipt from 1994.

Application: Real SAT Example

Here is an example of an actual SAT subject-verb agreement question that uses a compound subject.

The subject is both the time and the place.  Therefore, the verb should be in the plural form .  Also, there is an additional error in the sentence in that “to approving” should be “to the approval”.  The correct answer is C.

Collective Nouns

Another unique situation that affects subject-verb agreement involves the use of collective nouns.  Collective nouns are singular nouns that refer to groups of people. On the SAT, these nouns, if used in the singular form, should be used with singular verbs.  Examples of collective nouns include team , band , company , and committee. 

Keep in mind that subject-verb agreement questions with collective nouns are rare, but I have seen this type of question on actual SATs. This is what the sentence would look like:

After losing by thirty points, the basketball team have decided to fire its coach.

Even though there are multiple people on a team, the subject is referring to one team .  Therefore, the subject is singular and the verb should be in the singular form.  This is corrected version of the sentence:

After losing by thirty points, the basketball team has decided to fire its coach.

Other Singular Subjects That Can Be Tricky

Aside from collective nouns, there are other specific types of subjects that may intuitively appear to be plural but are singular and require a singular verb.

Each=Singular

The word “each” implies that you’re referring to each thing individually so you should use a singular verb when “each” is the subject.  This is an example of an incorrectly written sentence using "each" as the subject:

Each of the members of the team are athletic.

Keep in mind that "of the members" and "of the team" are prepositional phrases. After removing the prepostional phrases, the sentence reads "Each are athletic." Each is our subject so the verb should be singular . This is the correct version:

Each of the members of the team is athletic.

Every=Singular

Similarly, the word “every” implies that you’re referring to each thing individually.  Think of the word “every” as implicitly stating “every one”. Here is an example of this rule in effect:

Every person in each of my classes are intelligent.  

Although all of the students are intelligent, this sentence is stating that every single student is intelligent. Also, the use of the singular noun "person" further indicates that the subject is singular and requires a singular verb. Remember that "in each of my classes" is a prepositional phrase. This is how the sentence should look:

Every person in each of my classes is intelligent.

Gerunds When Used as Subjects=Singular

A gerund is a verb which is used as a noun and ends in “ing”. When a gerund is being used as a subject, then the subject is singular.  Look at this example:

Remembering the names of all of the Kardashian sisters are easy.

 To determine the subject, think about what is easy. Also, we know that "of all of the Kardashian sisters" is a prepositional phrase which we can cross out and will not contain the subject. Therefore, we're left with "Remembering the names are easy". Even though "names" is plural, "the names" is not the subject and simply provides additional information about what we're remembering.  The subject is "Remembering", a gerund which requires a singular verb.  So, here is the corrected version:

Remembering the names of all of the Kardashian sisters is easy.

Who is this?

It's time to take a look at an actual SAT subject-verb agreement question that includes one of these uniquely singular subjects.

The subject is the gerund “storing”, which is singular.  Therefore, the verb should be “increases” and the answer is B .  Also, because “delays” is singular and shares the same subject, you should know that any verb which corresponds with the same subject should be in the singular form as well.

Now that we've looked at various types of subject-verb agreement questions, let's go over strategies you can use on your SAT to help determine if you're encountering a subject-verb agreement question and ensure that you answer the question correctly.

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General Strategies for SAT Subject-Verb Agreement

Look for errors in subject-verb agreement when a verb is underlined.

In any of the subsections (sentence improvement, identify the error, paragraph improvement), if a verb is underlined, make sure that there are no errors in subject-verb agreement.

Always Identify the Subject

Both subjects of sentences and subjects of clauses must agree with their verbs.  For each verb, find the noun which corresponds with that specific verb.   Then, determine whether that subject is singular or plural and make sure that the subject and verb agree. 

The Subject is Never Part of a Prepositional Phrase

Be aware that the subject will not be part of a prepositional phrase.  Most subject-verb agreement questions on the SAT separate a subject from a verb with a prepositional phrase.

Cross Out Interrupting Phrases

The SAT tries to deceive you by placing long phrases in between the subject and the verb. Often, the number of the noun closest to the verb will not match the number of the subject. By crossing out the interrupting phrase, you will have an easier time identifying the subject and determining whether there is an error in subject-verb agreement.

Be Able to Recognize the Common Tricks

Knowing the common tricks the SAT uses on questions that test your knowledge of subject-verb agreement can be helpful.  The better you know these tricks, the more quickly you’ll be able to identify them and correctly answer subject-verb agreement questions.

Additional Practice

Hopefully, by this point you thoroughly understand subject-verb agreement and how to correctly answer any subject-verb agreement question that may appear on the SAT. I've created some practice problems to test you on what you've learned. Remember to use the general strategies I referenced above.

1.  Every summer in Los Angeles (A) the sound of children yelling  (B) at the beach on a weekday indicate  (C) that it is summer vaction (D). No error (E)

2. The selfie, which is  (A) a photograph taken  (B) by many narcissistic people, is  (C) extremely popular on various social networking websites (D). No error (E)

3. An effective and helpful  (A) tutor demonstrates  (B) exceptional knowledge, is responsive to the needs  (C) of her students, and listen  (D) to them carefully. No error (E)

4. Extremely careful analysis  (A) of handwriting samples show  (B) that creative people are more likely to write  (C) rounded letters (D). No Error (E)

5. Playing sports  (A) such as basketball, football, or baseball allow  (B) children to learn teamwork  (C) and develop (D) coordination. No error (E)

Answers: 1. C, 2. E, 3. D, 4. B, 5. B

What's Next?

If you want to know everything that is tested on the SAT Writing section, read our article about what's actually on SAT Writing . After you have mastered the basic questions, study the hardest SAT Writing questions.

Finally, if you're aiming for an 800 on SAT Writing, find out how to get a perfect score from a perfect scorer.

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Justin has extensive experience teaching SAT prep and guiding high school students through the college admissions and selection process. He is firmly committed to improving equity in education and helping students to reach their educational goals. Justin received an athletic scholarship for gymnastics at Stanford University and graduated with a BA in American Studies.

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• Knowledge Base
• Subject-Verb Agreement | Examples, Rules & Use

Subject-Verb Agreement | Examples, Rules & Use

Published on 22 August 2022 by Fiona Middleton . Revised on 18 April 2023.

Subject-verb agreement means that the subject of the sentence matches the verb describing its action. This helps your reader understand who or what is doing something and makes your writing easier to read.

First, identify the subject (the person or thing doing the action) and the verb (the action word) in a sentence. If the subject is singular, the verb describing its action should be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb should be plural.

While subject-verb agreement is easy in simple sentences like these, it can become tricky in more complex sentences. This article teaches you the most important rules and common mistakes.

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Table of contents

Compound subjects, subjects separated from verbs, indefinite pronouns, subjects that come after the verb, numbers and amounts, collective and uncountable nouns, abbreviations and acronyms.

Sometimes two or more subjects are linked to one verb. These are called compound subjects. To decide whether to use a singular or plural verb, consider how the subjects are linked.

Subjects linked with ‘and’

When subjects are linked with and , use a plural verb.

Exception : When the two nouns don’t refer to separate things but to a single entity, use a singular verb.

Subjects linked with ‘or’

When singular subjects are linked with or , either…or , nor , neither…nor , use a singular verb.

If all the subjects are plural, use a plural verb.

If the compound subject contains both singular and plural nouns , the verb takes the form of the closest subject.

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Often the verb does not directly follow the subject, which can lead to agreement mistakes. Make sure to match the verb with the correct subject, especially in long sentences with phrases or clauses in between subject and verb.

‘As well as’ and other tricky phrases

The phrase as well as is not the same as the conjunction and . Subjects linked by and  always take a plural verb. In contrast, phrases like as well as , in addition to , or along with are not linked to the verb. If the subject is singular, the verb should stay singular.

These refer to non-specific persons, places, and things (e.g., someone , other , anyone , anything , somewhere , every , none ).

Most indefinite pronouns are treated as singular subjects. However, some are always treated as plural, as they refer to multiple items or amounts.

Certain indefinite pronouns may be treated as either singular or plural, depending on whether they refer to multiple items or to a proportion of a single item.

Sometimes the subject follows the verb, especially when the sentence begins with there or here . In this case,  there is not the subject – the true subject should be identified and matched with the correct verb form.

Note : Identifying the true subject can be difficult when using these phrases in a long sentence, which can be confusing for your readers, so be careful when starting a sentence in this way.

When using  numbers, percentages or proportions , the correct form of verb agreement depends on exactly what you’re referring to. It’s helpful to look beyond the numbers and find the true subject.

If you’re referring to a specific number or amount of something, match the verb with the noun rather than the number.

This also applies when the number refers to an unnamed noun.

If the subject of the sentence is a number referring to a unified quantity of something, use a singular verb.

Proportions

Terms that describe a proportion of something are usually followed by ‘of’ (such as most of ). First look at the noun you are describing to determine if it’s singular or plural, then match it to the verb.

It can be hard to work out whether to treat collective and uncountable nouns as singular or plural.

Collective nouns

A collective noun refers to a group of people or things as a singular whole (e.g., population , team , committee , staff ). The form of verb depends on the style of English you are using.  US English  tends to use a singular verb, while UK English tends to use a plural verb. This also applies to the names of companies and organizations.

However, in both styles of English, this rule is somewhat flexible depending on whether you want to emphasise the actions of the collective as a whole or the individual actions of its members.

*A singular verb makes more sense here, as the emphasis is on the company as a unified entity.

**A plural verb makes more sense here, as the emphasis is on the individual staff members.

Uncountable nouns

These nouns describe abstract concepts or masses that can’t be counted (e.g., research , power , water  and vegetation ). They take a singular verb.

Note :  Data is technically a plural noun, but it is widely treated as an uncountable noun, so it is acceptable to use either the singular or plural verb form.

Abbreviations and acronyms usually take a singular verb. If you’re unsure, check if the full version of the acronym or abbreviation is a singular, plural or collective noun, and refer to the rules above. It’s most important to use one form of agreement consistently.

In the examples above, RPM (‘revolutions per minute’) refers to a stand-alone number, so it takes a singular verb. HNS (‘hazardous and noxious substances’), on the other hand, is used to describe multiple things, so it takes a plural verb.

Sources for this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

Middleton, F. (2023, April 18). Subject-Verb Agreement | Examples, Rules & Use. Scribbr. Retrieved 18 March 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/verb/subject-verb-agreement-explained/

Aarts, B. (2011).  Oxford modern English grammar . Oxford University Press.

Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015).  Fowler’s dictionary of modern English usage  (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Garner, B. A. (2016).  Garner’s modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

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Free Printable Subject-Verb Agreement Worksheets for 5th Grade

Subject-Verb Agreement: Discover a collection of free printable worksheets for Grade 5 Reading & Writing teachers, focusing on enhancing students' understanding and mastery of subject-verb agreement rules.

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Subject-Verb Agreement worksheets for Grade 5 are essential tools for teachers to help their students develop a strong foundation in grammar and mechanics. These worksheets focus on reading and writing skills, ensuring that students understand the importance of proper subject-verb agreement in sentences. By incorporating various parts of speech, such as nouns, pronouns, and verbs, these worksheets provide a comprehensive approach to teaching grammar. Teachers can use these worksheets to create engaging and interactive lesson plans, allowing students to practice their skills and gain confidence in their abilities. With a focus on verbs and their correct usage, these worksheets are an invaluable resource for educators looking to improve their students' overall language proficiency. Subject-Verb Agreement worksheets for Grade 5 are the perfect addition to any teacher's toolkit.

Quizizz offers a wide range of resources for teachers, including worksheets that complement their existing curriculum. These resources, such as Subject-Verb Agreement worksheets for Grade 5, are designed to help students improve their reading and writing skills while also reinforcing their understanding of grammar and mechanics. Teachers can easily integrate Quizizz into their lesson plans, providing students with an interactive and engaging platform to practice their skills. In addition to worksheets, Quizizz offers various other offerings, such as quizzes and games, that focus on different aspects of language learning, including parts of speech and verbs. By incorporating Quizizz into their teaching strategies, educators can create a dynamic and effective learning environment that caters to the diverse needs of their students.

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Subject-Verb Agreement: 12 Rules & Examples

• Updated on  
• Feb 6, 2024

Subjects-verb agreement forms a significant part of any statement that you make. So, if you aim to perfect grammar , you need to memorize the rules that apply when you put together a subject and a verb. These rules are collectively popular as subject-verb agreement.

We agree that these agreement rules can be a bit tricky and complicated but once you learn them, you will use verbs in their correct form with ease. So, go through them, and you are ready to ace any test on the subject-verb agreement like a grammar nazi .

This Blog Includes:

Analysis with examples, 1. a singular subject goes with a singular verb, 2. a plural subject goes with a plural verb, 3. subjects joined by ‘and’ go with a plural verb, 4. a conjunction connects singular and plural subjects, 5. a sentence contains both a singular and a plural pronoun, 6. using “do not” and “does not” in sentences, 7. verb always agree with subject in sentences with additional phrases, 8. words like ‘each’, ‘every’ and ‘no’ are followed by singular verb, 9. mass nouns like civics and dollars are followed by singular verb, 10. plurale tantum uses plural verb, 11. collective nouns take on singular verb, 12. if the subject is singular, the verb will also be singular, subject-verb agreement exception rules, compound subjects, singular indefinite pronouns, plural indefinite pronouns, noun phrase as subject, collective nouns, inverted subjects, titles of single entities, subject-verb agreement exercise for practise.

Also Read: Learn English Grammar from Scratch

What is a Subject-Verb Agreement?

Subject-verb agreement, also known as “ subject-verb concord ,” is the matching of a sentence’s subject and verb in tense, aspect, and mood (abbreviated as TAM ), which translates to number, person, and gender.

Except for pronouns , English does not utilise grammatical gender, and only the verb changes depending on whether it is in the first, second, or third person. That means, the majority of English subject-verb agreement is based on quantity:

• If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular;
• Whereas, if the subject is numerous, the verb must be plural.

When the subject follows the verb (especially in sentences beginning with the expletives “there is” or “there are” ), special care determines the subject and makes certain that the verb agrees with it.

For example , if you use a single subject ‘ He ‘ then the single verb ‘ is ‘ would appear:

‘He is talking too much. The two subjects and verbs must align to ensure agreement.’

Even this can be perplexing because the first-person singular (“I climb the fence”) has the identical verb pattern as the first-person plural (“We climb the fence”) .

Subject-verb agreement in English, besides the verb “ be “, adapts verbs to the third-person singular (“It climbs the fence”).

12 Subject-Verb Agreement Rules with Examples

Let’s begin with the 12 most common and important rules of Subject-Verb Agreement:

Note:- Subject = underlined | Verb = Italicized

In this statement, Sohra is singular and therefore will take on a singular verb i.e., plays. 

The second rule of Subject-Verb Agreement is as follows: A plural subject goes with a plural verb.

In this statement, ‘They’ is a plural pronoun and therefore will take on a plural verb i.e., play. 

Learn all about Active and Passive Voice: Rules & Exercises

The next rule of Subject-Verb Agreement says that if you connect in a sentence two or more nouns or pronouns using “and” then the verb will be plural. 

In this statement, there are two nouns Rahul and Anekha connected by “and” and therefore the verb used is plural i.e., “are”. 

In this statement, there are two nouns and therefore the verb used is plural i.e., sing. 

The next rule of Subject-Verb Agreement focuses on the use of or/nor. If in a sentence two or more nouns or pronouns are connected using “or/nor” then the verb used will be singular.  

In this statement, the two nouns class teacher and principal are connected using “or” and therefore the verb used is singular i.e. sanctions. 

Quiz Your Inner Grammar Nazi With this Grammar Test

In this rule of Subject-Verb Agreement, when a sentence contains both a singular and a plural pronoun, the verb used will be according to the pronoun closer to the verb. 

In this statement, the plural noun “friends” is closest to the verb and therefore will be plural i.e., meet. 

A singular pronoun uses “does not” and a plural one uses “do not”. But there is an exception to this rule. This rule of Subject-Verb Agreement explains that “Do not” is used with the singular pronouns “I” and “You” instead of “do not” as it ideally should be. 

In this statement, she is singular and therefore, the verb will not be used. 

In this statement, ‘They’ is plural and therefore, the verb ‘do not’ will be used. 

In this statement, I am a singular pronoun but ‘do not’ will be used along with it instead of does not. And that’s why it’s an exception. 

Also Learn about Subject vs Predicate: Types, Examples, Practice Questions

In case a sentence has an additional phrase, the verb should always agree with the subject of the statement and not be influenced by the pronouns or nouns of the additional phrase. 

In this statement, “this book” is the subject and it’s singular. Therefore, the verb used will also be singular i.e., “is” and not “are”. 

The next rule of Subject-Verb Agreement is about the use of each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody, someone, and no one as words which are singular in nature and therefore will always follow a singular verb. 

In this statement, “each one” is used and therefore, the singular verb “is” will be used. 

In this statement, “neither” is used and therefore, the singular verb “is” will be used. 

Here are the English Grammar Tenses rules with Examples

Mass nouns like civics, mathematics , dollars, measles, and news which cannot be counted use singular verbs under the rules of Subject-Verb Agreement.

In this statement, the mass noun “mathematics” is used along with a singular verb i.e., is. 

In English, there is a set of nouns called Plurale Tantum which doesn’t have a singular form like trousers, scissors, pants, etc. Such nouns always use a plural verb. 

In this statement, black trousers refer to a single object but use the plural verb i.e., are. 

Here are the Best English Grammar Books: To Master Your Proficiency

In this rule of Subject-Verb Agreement, collective nouns like class, committee, family, group, etc. take on singular verbs. 

In this statement, history class is a collective noun and therefore the singular noun “starts” will be used along with it. 

The number of subjects is not influenced by expressions like accompanied by, in addition to or including. If the subject is singular, the verb will also be singular and it will remain so irrespective of such expressions. 

In this statement, the subject “Neha” is singular and therefore the verb used is also singular i.e., “is”. The phrase accompanied by has no impact on the verb. 

Also Read: All about Regular and Irregular Verbs

• “ Neither” and “either” require singular verbs even though they seem to be referring to two separate things.
• When a sentence compounds a positive and a negative subject and only one is plural, the verb should agree with the positive subject.
• “Anyone,” “everyone,” “someone,” “no one,” and “nobody” always require singular verbs.
• Words that indicate portions of a whole, such as “Percent,” “fraction,” “some,” “none,” and “remainder,” require a singular verb only if the object of the preposition is singular.
• “Who,” “that,” and “which” can be singular or plural, according to the noun directly in front of them.
• The phrase introduced by “as well as” or “along with” modifies the earlier word but doesn’t compound the subjects.
• Modifiers between the subject and verb do not affect whether the verb is singular or plural.

Quick Read: 5+ Golden Rules for Prepositions in English Grammar

15+ Examples of Subject-Verb Agreement

We move on to make a comprehensive list of examples of subject-verb agreement.

• Sugar and flour are needed for the recipe.
• Neither my mom nor my sisters know how to swim.
• The creator and producer are arriving soon
• Something feels wrong here.
• Everybody enjoys a good cup of tea.
• Each does a good job at work.
• Several have reached the hotel.
• The bag of cookies was eaten.
• Both have had bad phases in life.
• The causes of this accident are poor driving and indiscipline.
• The bed and table I got at the showroom look nice in here.
• The members of the football team are pleased with the performance.
• The crowd is cheering.
• The jury has made an unfair decision.
• The majority has the authority most of the time.
• How are the friends taking the bad news?
• There are stones in my bag.
• Game of Thrones is a very long book to read.

So, these are the major rules of subject-verb agreement. We hope you understand every rule. Now it’s time to test your knowledge. Solve these questions and let’s see how many of them you get right on the first go. 

• John and his brother (is/are) playing football. 
• Aryan (do not/does not) like to play basketball. 
• Either of you (have/has) stolen the book. 
• Your pants (is/are) in the top shelf. 
• My family (belongs/belong) to the Mahou tribe. 
• Mr, Swamy as well as his family (is/are) quite humble. 
• Mary (sing/sings) very well. 
• The novel, including all the essays (take/takes) about two hours to read. 
• They (eat/eats) lunch together everyday. 
• The players as well as the coach (want/wants) to win. 
• My parents ( lives/live ) in Australia.
• Do anyone ( knows/know ) where the grocery store is?
• The little boy ( do not/does not ) like apples for some reason.
• Kavita and her sister ( is/are ) here to see you.
• You (has/have) brought all that I had asked for.

Ans: The subject is a thing which we are talking about like- 1. Tina is reading a book. 2. Sofia is eating an Apple. 3. Ram is dancing. 4. Riya is playing 5. Tarun is doing his HW on pc 6. Tushar is writing a letter to his Granny

Ans: Complete subject, simple subject, and compound subject.

Ans: The Collins Dictionary defines “concord” as the manner a term has a form appropriate for the number or gender of the noun or pronoun it refers to. The singular verb form and the singular pronoun “she,” for instance, are in agreement in the sentence “She hates it.”

With this blog, we hope that you understand what Subject-Verb Agreement rules are and how they are applied. This was all about nouns and pronouns. You can also follow Leverage Edu for more exciting and informative blogs.

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10 comments

Are you providing virtual/online lessons.

Hi Sam We at Leverage Edu provide online preparatory classes for GMAT, IELTS, GRE and SAT through Leverage Live which is an online learning platform. Give us a call on 1800572000 and enrol yourself for a demo-session.

This exercises n explanations in subject -verb agreement helped many people understand it clearer in simple ways

Thank you for your comment!

The quiz is helpful. the rules are nicely explained

Thanks for reading.

Questkon 1 is surely are. John and his brother are…

Explained nicely

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