Subject-Verb Agreement

The Basic Rule

• Singular subject → singular verb
• Plural subject → plural verb

Examples:

• The dog runs. (singular)
• The dogs run. (plural)

Tricky Cases

1. Words Between Subject and Verb

The subject controls the verb, not the words in between.

• The book on the shelves is old. (book is)
• The results of the test were surprising. (results were)
• One of the students is absent. (one is)
• The boxes in the truck are heavy. (boxes are)

2. Compound Subjects with “And”

Usually plural:

• Tom and Jerry are friends.
• The cat and the dog are playing.

Exception - when they form one unit:

• Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite. (one sandwich)
• The CEO and founder is speaking. (one person)

3. Either/Or, Neither/Nor

The verb agrees with the nearer subject:

• Either the teacher or the students are wrong.
• Either the students or the teacher is wrong.
• Neither the book nor the pens are here.
• Neither the pens nor the book is here.

4. Collective Nouns

Can be singular or plural depending on meaning:

As one unit (singular):

• The team is winning.
• The class is taking a test.
• The family is on vacation.

As individuals (plural):

• The team are arguing among themselves.
• The jury are divided in their opinions.

5. Indefinite Pronouns

Always singular:

• Everyone is here.
• Nobody knows the answer.
• Somebody has to help.
• Each is important.
• Either is fine.

Always plural:

• Both are correct.
• Few understand this.
• Many have tried.
• Several were absent.

Singular or plural (depends on noun):

• Some of the cake is gone. (cake = singular)
• Some of the cookies are gone. (cookies = plural)
• All of the water is clean.
• All of the cups are clean.

6. There Is / There Are

The verb agrees with what follows:

• There is a problem. (problem = singular)
• There are problems. (problems = plural)
• There is a cat and two dogs. (first item = singular) - informal
• There are two dogs and a cat. (first item = plural)

Common Mistakes

Quiz