📘 SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT:
COMPLETE REVIEWER
🔍 What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental rule in English grammar. It means that the verb must
agree in number with its subject. If the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular. If the
subject is plural, the verb should be plural. Understanding and applying subject-verb agreement
correctly is crucial for writing and speaking with grammatical accuracy.
🧠 The Basic Rule
The most basic principle is that a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject
takes a plural verb. For example, in the sentence “She walks to school,” the subject “she” is
singular, and the verb “walks” is also singular. In contrast, in the sentence “They walk to school,”
the subject “they” is plural, and the verb “walk” is also plural.
✅ Rules and Guidelines
1.
Subjects Joined by “And”
When two subjects are joined by “and,” they are typically considered plural and require a plural
verb. For example, “Tom and Jerry are friends.” Here, the subject is compound (Tom + Jerry), so
the verb “are” is plural.
However, there are exceptions. If the compound subject refers to a single idea, person, or unit,
then it takes a singular verb. For instance, “Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite dish.” Even
though there are two food items, the sentence is referring to a single meal. Another example is,
“The founder and CEO is addressing the staff.” This refers to one person who holds both roles,
so a singular verb is used.
2.
Subjects Joined by “Or” and “Nor”
When subjects are joined by “or,” “nor,” “either…or,” or “neither…nor,” the verb should agree
with the subject that is closer to it (also called the “nearest subject rule”). For example: “Neither
the teacher nor the students were in the classroom.” In this sentence, the verb “were” agrees
with “students,” the subject closest to the verb. Another example: “Either the cats or the dog has
to be taken to the vet.” The singular subject “dog” is closer to the verb, so “has” is singular.
3.
Indefinite Pronouns
Some subjects are indefinite pronouns, like “everyone,” “someone,” “anybody,” “each,” “either,”
“nobody,” and “everything.” These are always singular, even though they may imply multiple
people or things. For instance: “Everyone is ready for the trip.” Even though “everyone” may
refer to a group, it takes a singular verb. Similarly, “Each of the answers was correct” and “Either
of the options is acceptable.”
On the other hand, indefinite pronouns like “few,” “many,” “several,” and “both” are always plural
and require plural verbs. For example: “Few were chosen for the team” and “Many have tried
and failed.”
There are also some indefinite pronouns that can be either singular or plural depending on the
context, such as “some,” “all,” “any,” “none,” and “most.” For instance, “Some of the water has
spilled” uses a singular verb because water is uncountable. But in “Some of the books are
missing,” the verb is plural because books are countable.
4.
Collective Nouns
Collective nouns refer to a group of people or things considered as a single entity. These include
words like “team,” “class,” “family,” “audience,” and “committee.” In American English, collective
nouns are typically treated as singular when the group is acting as a unit. For example: “The
team wins every game.” However, when the group is acting as individuals, the verb can be
plural: “The team are arguing among themselves.”
It’s important to decide whether the noun is functioning as a single unit or as multiple individuals.
“The family is going on vacation” suggests the group is unified. But “The family are packing their
bags” implies individual actions.
5.
Phrases Between Subject and Verb
Be careful when a phrase or clause comes between the subject and the verb. The verb must
still agree with the main subject, not with the noun in the intervening phrase. For example: “The
box of chocolates was on the table.” Even though “chocolates” is plural, the subject is “box,”
which is singular. Another example: “The results of the experiment are surprising.” Here, the
subject is “results,” which is plural, so the verb “are” is used.
6.
There Is / There Are
When sentences begin with “there is” or “there are,” the subject comes after the verb, so it’s
important to look at what follows to determine whether the verb should be singular or plural. For
example: “There is a problem with your order” (singular subject: a problem). On the other hand:
“There are several issues to address” (plural subject: several issues).
7.
Subjects That Look Plural but Are Singular in Meaning
Certain words end in -s and may look plural but are singular in usage. These include subjects
like “mathematics,” “news,” “physics,” “economics,” and “measles.” For example: “Mathematics
is my favorite subject” and “The news is depressing.” These are treated as singular even though
they appear plural.
Similarly, names of countries, organizations, books, and films that end in -s are considered
singular: “The United States is a large country” and “The Chronicles of Narnia is a well-known
book series.”
8.
Amounts and Measurements
When referring to amounts of time, money, distance, or weight, these quantities are treated as
singular if they are considered as a single unit. For example: “Five dollars is enough” and “Ten
kilometers is a long distance to walk.” Even though the nouns “dollars” and “kilometers” are
plural, the subject as a whole is treated as a singular measurement.
9.
Gerund and Infinitive Phrases
When a sentence begins with a gerund (a verb ending in -ing used as a noun), the verb that
follows is singular. For instance: “Running is a good exercise” and “Reading helps improve
vocabulary.” Similarly, infinitive phrases like “To read books” or “To swim early in the morning”
also take singular verbs: “To read daily is beneficial.”
10.
“One of the…” Constructions
When the subject is “one of the…” followed by a plural noun, the verb that follows should be
singular because the real subject is “one.” For example: “One of the students is missing” and
“One of the cakes tastes funny.” The temptation is to agree the verb with the plural noun, but
that would be incorrect.
🛑 Common Errors to Avoid
A very common mistake is agreeing the verb with the noun closest to it rather than with the
actual subject. For instance, in the sentence “The bouquet of roses smell nice,” the incorrect
verb “smell” agrees with “roses,” but the true subject is “bouquet,” which is singular. The correct
sentence is “The bouquet of roses smells nice.”
Another frequent error is treating collective nouns as automatically plural or singular without
considering the context. Similarly, be cautious with indefinite pronouns—do not be misled by
what they appear to reference.
✍️ Practice It Yourself
Let’s try a few sample exercises. Pick the correct verb:
1. The group of dancers (performs / perform) beautifully.
2. Each of the books (was / were) carefully placed.
3. There (is / are) many reasons to be happy.
4. Either the dogs or the cat (has / have) eaten the food.
5. Five dollars (is / are) on the table.
Answers:
1. performs
2. was
3. are
4. has
5. is
🎓 Final Tips
● Always identify the true subject of the sentence before deciding on the verb.
● Watch out for prepositional phrases or interrupting clauses that do not affect the verb.
● Keep in mind that not all plural-looking nouns are actually plural.
● Learn the behavior of indefinite pronouns and collective nouns, as they often cause
confusion.
By mastering subject-verb agreement, you enhance the clarity and professionalism of your
writing. It shows command of grammar and attention to detail—both essential in academic,
business, and everyday communication.
