Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement: A Comprehensive Guide

Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental aspect of English grammar that ensures clarity and coherence in writing and speech. It dictates that a verb must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject.

While the concept seems straightforward, its application can become complex due to various exceptions, compound subjects, and intervening phrases. Understanding and mastering subject-verb agreement is crucial for effective communication, as errors in this area can lead to misinterpretations and weaken the credibility of your writing.

This comprehensive guide is designed for English language learners of all levels, from beginners seeking a solid foundation to advanced speakers aiming to refine their grammar skills. By exploring the rules, exceptions, and common mistakes, you will gain the confidence to use correct subject-verb agreement in any context.

Table of Contents

1. Definition of Subject-Verb Agreement
2. Structural Breakdown
3. Types of Subject-Verb Agreement
4. Examples of Subject-Verb Agreement
5. Usage Rules
6. Common Mistakes
7. Practice Exercises
8. Advanced Topics
9. FAQ
10. Conclusion

Definition of Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement, at its core, means that the verb in a sentence must match the number of its subject. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular.

If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. This agreement ensures that the sentence is grammatically correct and easy to understand.

It’s a foundational element of English syntax, influencing how sentences are constructed and interpreted.

In simpler terms, think of it as a matching game: the subject and verb must correspond in quantity. A singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb.

For example, “The dog barks” (singular) versus “The dogs bark” (plural). This principle applies across various sentence structures and tenses.

The concept extends beyond simple present tense. It also affects auxiliary verbs (helping verbs) like is, are, was, were, has, have, and do, does, did. Correct subject-verb agreement is essential for clear, effective communication, preventing confusion and ensuring that your intended meaning is accurately conveyed.

Structural Breakdown

Understanding the structure of subject-verb agreement involves identifying the subject and verb in a sentence and then ensuring they agree in number. This process can be broken down into several key steps.

Identifying the Subject

The subject of a sentence is the noun or pronoun that performs the action or is being described. It typically appears before the verb, but not always. To find the subject, ask yourself “Who or what is performing the action?” or “Who or what is being described?”

For example, in the sentence “The cat sleeps on the mat,” the subject is “The cat.” In the sentence “They are playing soccer,” the subject is “They.”

Identifying the Verb

The verb is the action word or state of being in a sentence. It describes what the subject is doing or being. Identifying the verb is crucial for determining the correct form to use.

In the sentence “The bird sings beautifully,” the verb is “sings.” In the sentence “We are happy,” the verb is “are.”

Determining Number (Singular or Plural)

Once you’ve identified the subject and verb, determine whether each is singular or plural. Singular subjects refer to one person, place, thing, or idea.

Plural subjects refer to more than one.

For example, “dog” is singular, while “dogs” is plural. “He” is singular, while “they” is plural.

Applying the Agreement Rule

The fundamental rule is: Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.

In the present tense, singular verbs often end in “-s” (e.g., he sings, she walks, it eats), while plural verbs do not (e.g., they sing, we walk, you eat). However, the verb “to be” (is, are, was, were) follows a slightly different pattern.

Types of Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement can manifest in various forms, depending on the type of subject and verb used. Here are some common types:

Simple Subject-Verb Agreement

This is the most basic form, where a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

Examples: “The student studies” (singular) vs. “The students study” (plural).

Compound Subjects

A compound subject consists of two or more subjects joined by a conjunction such as “and,” “or,” or “nor.”

• Subjects joined by “and” usually take a plural verb. Example: “John and Mary are going to the party.”
• Subjects joined by “or” or “nor” take a verb that agrees with the subject closest to the verb. Example: “Neither the students nor the teacher is happy with the test results.”

Collective Nouns

Collective nouns refer to a group of individuals but are treated as a single unit. Examples include team, family, committee, and group.

• If the group is acting as a single unit, use a singular verb. Example: “The team is playing well.”
• If the members of the group are acting individually, use a plural verb. Example: “The family are arguing about the vacation plans.” (less common, more often “The family is arguing…”)

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns refer to nonspecific persons or things. Some are always singular (each, everyone, someone, nobody), some are always plural (both, few, several), and some can be singular or plural depending on the context (some, any, none, all, most).

• Singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs. Example: “Everyone is invited to the ceremony.”
• Plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs. Example: “Both are excellent choices.”
• For those that can be either, look at the noun they refer to. Example: “Some of the pie is gone” (singular) vs. “Some of the cookies are gone” (plural).

Intervening Phrases

Intervening phrases are groups of words that come between the subject and the verb. These phrases can sometimes obscure the true subject and lead to errors in agreement.

Example: “The box of chocolates is on the table.” The subject is “box,” not “chocolates.” The verb should agree with “box” (singular).

Examples of Subject-Verb Agreement

Simple Subject-Verb Agreement Examples

The following table provides several examples of simple subject-verb agreement, illustrating the basic principle of matching singular subjects with singular verbs and plural subjects with plural verbs.

Subject	Verb	Sentence
He	runs	He runs every morning.
She	sings	She sings in the choir.
It	rains	It rains frequently here.
They	run	They run in the park.
We	sing	We sing together every week.
You	eat	You eat healthy food.
The dog	barks	The dog barks at strangers.
The dogs	bark	The dogs bark loudly.
The book	is	The book is interesting.
The books	are	The books are on the shelf.
A bird	flies	A bird flies in the sky.
Birds	fly	Birds fly south for the winter.
My mother	cooks	My mother cooks delicious meals.
My parents	cook	My parents cook together on Sundays.
The car	needs	The car needs to be washed.
The cars	need	The cars need to be repaired.
The student	studies	The student studies hard for exams.
The students	study	The students study in the library.
The flower	blooms	The flower blooms in the spring.
The flowers	bloom	The flowers bloom in the garden.
He	is	He is a doctor.
They	are	They are students.
She	has	She has a new car.
They	have	They have a big house.
The company	makes	The company makes high-quality products.
The companies	make	The companies make a lot of profit.

Compound Subject Examples

This table showcases subject-verb agreement with compound subjects, demonstrating how the conjunction used (“and,” “or,” “nor”) affects the verb form.

Subject	Verb	Sentence
John and Mary	are	John and Mary are going to the party.
The dog and the cat	play	The dog and the cat play together.
Coffee and tea	are	Coffee and tea are my favorite drinks.
Neither John nor Mary	is	Neither John nor Mary is attending the meeting.
Either the cat or the dog	is	Either the cat or the dog is making noise.
My brother and I	are	My brother and I are planning a trip.
The president and the CEO	are	The president and the CEO are holding a press conference.
Pizza and pasta	are	Pizza and pasta are Italian dishes.
Neither the students nor the teacher	is	Neither the students nor the teacher is happy with the test results.
Either the manager or the employees	are	Either the manager or the employees are responsible for the error.
Salt and pepper	are	Salt and pepper are essential for cooking.
The book and the pen	are	The book and the pen are on the desk.
Neither he nor she	is	Neither he nor she is available.
Either you or I	am	Either you or I am going to have to do it.
My sister and her friend	are	My sister and her friend are visiting next week.
The car and the motorcycle	are	The car and the motorcycle are parked outside.
Neither the rain nor the snow	is	Neither the rain nor the snow is stopping anytime soon.
Either the red shirt or the blue one	is	Either the red shirt or the blue one is fine to wear.
The singer and the dancer	are	The singer and the dancer are performing tonight.
Neither the cake nor the cookies	were	Neither the cake nor the cookies were eaten.
The actress and the director	are	The actress and the director are collaborating on the new film.
Bread and butter	is	Bread and butter is a simple meal.
My uncle and aunt	have	My uncle and aunt have arrived.

Collective Noun Examples

This table provides examples of subject-verb agreement with collective nouns, illustrating how the verb form changes depending on whether the group is acting as a single unit or as individual members.

Subject	Verb	Sentence
The team	is	The team is playing well.
The family	is	The family is having dinner together.
The committee	has	The committee has made a decision.
The group	is	The group is meeting tomorrow.
The class	is	The class is taking a test.
The audience	was	The audience was very attentive.
The jury	has	The jury has reached a verdict.
The staff	is	The staff is working hard.
The crowd	is	The crowd is cheering loudly.
The government	is	The government is implementing new policies.
The band	is	The band is playing at the concert.
The board	is	The board is discussing the company’s future.
The school	is	The school is organizing a fair.
The company	is	The company is launching a new product.
The flock	is	The flock of birds is flying south.
The herd	is	The herd of cattle is grazing in the field.
The swarm	is	The swarm of bees is building a hive.
The crew	is	The crew is preparing for the voyage.
The population	is	The population is growing rapidly.
The public	is	The public is invited to attend the event.
The orchestra	is	The orchestra is tuning their instruments.
The cast	is	The cast is rehearsing for the play.
The union	is	The union is negotiating with the management.
The congress	is	The congress is debating the new bill.

Indefinite Pronoun Examples

This table demonstrates subject-verb agreement with indefinite pronouns, showcasing how singular and plural indefinite pronouns require different verb forms.

Subject	Verb	Sentence
Everyone	is	Everyone is invited to the party.
Someone	has	Someone has taken my pen.
Nobody	knows	Nobody knows the answer.
Each	is	Each of the students is responsible for their own project.
Everything	is	Everything is going according to plan.
Both	are	Both are excellent choices.
Few	know	Few know the truth.
Several	are	Several are attending the conference.
Some	is	Some of the pie is gone.
Some	are	Some of the cookies are gone.
Any	is	Is any of the milk left?
Any	are	Are any of the tickets still available?
None	is	None of the water is contaminated.
None	are	None of the apples are rotten.
All	is	All of the money is mine.
All	are	All of the students are present.
Most	is	Most of the work is done.
Most	are	Most of the employees are satisfied.
Another	is	Another is needed.
Much	is	Much is needed to complete the project.
Little	is	Little is known about the topic.
One	is	One of the books is missing.
Other	are	Others are waiting outside.

Intervening Phrase Examples

This table illustrates subject-verb agreement with intervening phrases, highlighting the importance of identifying the true subject despite the presence of phrases separating it from the verb.

Subject	Intervening Phrase	Verb	Sentence
The box	of chocolates	is	The box of chocolates is on the table.
The list	of items	is	The list of items is quite long.
The quality	of the products	is	The quality of the products is improving.
The price	of the tickets	is	The price of the tickets is too high.
The cause	of the problem	is	The cause of the problem is unknown.
The books	on the shelf	are	The books on the shelf are very old.
The flowers	in the vase	are	The flowers in the vase are beautiful.
The pictures	on the wall	are	The pictures on the wall are quite impressive.
The students	in the class	are	The students in the class are very bright.
The employees	of the company	are	The employees of the company are very dedicated.
The color	of the walls	is	The color of the walls is too bright.
The sound	of the music	is	The sound of the music is very soothing.
The smell	of the coffee	is	The smell of the coffee is wonderful.
The taste	of the cake	is	The taste of the cake is delicious.
The view	from the window	is	The view from the window is breathtaking.
The houses	in the neighborhood	are	The houses in the neighborhood are expensive.
The cars	on the street	are	The cars on the street are causing traffic.
The trees	in the forest	are	The trees in the forest are very tall.
The birds	in the sky	are	The birds in the sky are flying south.
The stars	in the night	are	The stars in the night are shining brightly.

Usage Rules

Several rules govern the proper use of subject-verb agreement. These rules ensure that sentences are grammatically correct and clear.

Rule 1: Basic Agreement

A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. This is the fundamental rule of subject-verb agreement.

Example: “The cat sleeps” (singular) vs. “The cats sleep” (plural).

Rule 2: Compound Subjects Joined by “And”

When two or more subjects are joined by “and,” they usually take a plural verb. This is because “and” creates a plural subject.

Example: “John and Mary are going to the party.”

Exception: If the compound subject refers to a single idea or entity, use a singular verb. Example: “Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich.”

Rule 3: Compound Subjects Joined by “Or” or “Nor”

When two or more subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to the verb.

Example: “Neither the students nor the teacher is happy with the test results.” In this case, “teacher” is closer to the verb, and it is singular, so the verb is singular.

Rule 4: Collective Nouns

Collective nouns can be singular or plural, depending on whether the group is acting as a single unit or as individual members.

If the group is acting as a single unit, use a singular verb. Example: “The team is playing well.”

If the members of the group are acting individually, use a plural verb. Example: “The family are arguing about the vacation plans.” (more common to say “The family is arguing…”)

Rule 5: Indefinite Pronouns

Some indefinite pronouns are always singular (each, everyone, someone, nobody), some are always plural (both, few, several), and some can be singular or plural depending on the context (some, any, none, all, most).

Singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs. Example: “Everyone is invited to the ceremony.”

Plural indefinite pronouns take plural verbs. Example: “Both are excellent choices.”

For those that can be either, look at the noun they refer to. Example: “Some of the pie is gone” (singular) vs.

“Some of the cookies are gone” (plural).

Rule 6: Intervening Phrases

Intervening phrases do not affect subject-verb agreement. The verb must agree with the true subject, not the words in the intervening phrase.

Example: “The box of chocolates is on the table.” The subject is “box,” not “chocolates.” The verb should agree with “box” (singular).

Rule 7: “There is” and “There are”

When using “there is” or “there are,” the subject follows the verb. The verb must agree with the subject that follows it.

Example: “There is a book on the table” (singular) vs. “There are books on the table” (plural).

Rule 8: Subjects That Follow the Verb

In some sentences, the subject follows the verb. In these cases, the verb must still agree with the subject.

Example: “Standing outside were two men.” The subject is “two men,” which is plural, so the verb is “were.”

Common Mistakes

Subject-verb agreement errors are common, even among native English speakers. Here are some frequent mistakes and how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: Ignoring Intervening Phrases

Incorrect: “The list of items are on the table.”

Correct: “The list of items is on the table.”

The subject is “list,” not “items.” The verb must agree with “list,” which is singular.

Mistake 2: Incorrectly Using Compound Subjects

Incorrect: “John and Mary is going to the party.”

Correct: “John and Mary are going to the party.”

When two or more subjects are joined by “and,” they usually take a plural verb.

Mistake 3: Misunderstanding Collective Nouns

Incorrect: “The team are playing well.” (when referring to the team as a unit)

Correct: “The team is playing well.”

If the group is acting as a single unit, use a singular verb.

Mistake 4: Incorrectly Using Indefinite Pronouns

Incorrect: “Everyone are invited to the ceremony.”

Correct: “Everyone is invited to the ceremony.”

“Everyone” is a singular indefinite pronoun and takes a singular verb.

Mistake 5: Confusing “There is/are”

Incorrect: “There is books on the table.”

Correct: “There are books on the table.”

The verb must agree with the subject that follows it. In this case, the subject is “books,” which is plural.

Mistake 6: Forgetting to Account for Subjects Following the Verb

Incorrect: “Standing outside was two men.”

Correct: “Standing outside were two men.”

The subject, “two men,” is plural and requires the plural verb “were.”

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Basic Subject-Verb Agreement

Choose the correct verb form in the following sentences.

Question	Answer Choices	Correct Answer
The dog (barks/bark) loudly.	a) barks b) bark	a) barks
The students (studies/study) in the library.	a) studies b) study	b) study
She (has/have) a new car.	a) has b) have	a) has
They (is/are) going to the beach.	a) is b) are	b) are
It (rains/rain) frequently here.	a) rains b) rain	a) rains
We (sings/sing) in the choir.	a) sings b) sing	b) sing
You (eats/eat) healthy food.	a) eats b) eat	b) eat
The book (is/are) interesting.	a) is b) are	a) is
Birds (flies/fly) south for the winter.	a) flies b) fly	b) fly
My mother (cooks/cook) delicious meals.	a) cooks b) cook	a) cooks

Exercise 2: Compound Subjects

Choose the correct verb form in the following sentences with compound subjects.

Question	Answer Choices	Correct Answer
John and Mary (is/are) friends.	a) is b) are	b) are
Neither the cat nor the dog (is/are) allowed on the furniture.	a) is b) are	a) is
Either the students or the teacher (is/are) responsible.	a) is b) are	a) is
My brother and I (am/are) planning a trip.	a) am b) are	b) are
Pizza and pasta (is/are) Italian dishes.	a) is b) are	b) are
The president and the CEO (is/are) holding a press conference.	a) is b) are	b) are
Neither he nor she (is/are) available.	a) is b) are	a) is
Either you or I (am/is) going to have to do it.	a) am b) is	a) am
The singer and the dancer (is/are) performing tonight.	a) is b) are	b) are
Bread and butter (is/are) a simple meal.	a) is b) are	a) is

Exercise 3: Collective Nouns

Choose the correct verb form in the following sentences with collective nouns.

Question	Answer Choices	Correct Answer
The team (is/are) playing well.	a) is b) are	a) is
The family (is/are) having dinner together.	a) is b) are	a) is
The committee (has/have) made a decision.	a) has b) have	a) has
The group (is/are) meeting tomorrow.	a) is b) are	a) is
The class (is/are) taking a test.	a) is b) are	a) is
The audience (was/were) very attentive.	a) was b) were	a) was
The jury (has/have) reached a verdict.	a) has b) have	a) has
The staff (is/are) working hard.	a) is b) are	a) is
The crowd (is/are) cheering loudly.	a) is b) are	a) is
The government	(is/are) implementing new policies.	a) is b) are	a) is

Exercise 4: Indefinite Pronouns

Choose the correct verb form in the following sentences with indefinite pronouns.

Question	Answer Choices	Correct Answer
Everyone (is/are) invited to the party.	a) is b) are	a) is
Someone (has/have) taken my pen.	a) has b) have	a) has
Nobody (knows/know) the answer.	a) knows b) know	a) knows
Each (is/are) responsible for their own project.	a) is b) are	a) is
Both (is/are) excellent choices.	a) is b) are	b) are
Few (knows/know) the truth.	a) knows b) know	b) know
Several (is/are) attending the conference.	a) is b) are	b) are
Some of the pie (is/are) gone.	a) is b) are	a) is
Some of the cookies (is/are) gone.	a) is b) are	b) are
All of the students (is/are) present.	a) is b) are	b) are

Exercise 5: Intervening Phrases

Choose the correct verb form in the following sentences with intervening phrases.

Question	Answer Choices	Correct Answer
The box of chocolates (is/are) on the table.	a) is b) are	a) is
The list of items (is/are) quite long.	a) is b) are	a) is
The quality of the products (is/are) improving.	a) is b) are	a) is
The price of the tickets (is/are) too high.	a) is b) are	a) is
The books on the shelf (is/are) very old.	a) is b) are	b) are
The flowers in the vase (is/are) beautiful.	a) is b) are	b) are
The students in the class (is/are) very bright.	a) is b) are	b) are
The color of the walls (is/are) too bright.	a) is b) are	a) is
The houses in the neighborhood (is/are) expensive.	a) is b) are	b) are
The trees in the forest (is/are) very tall.	a) is b) are	b) are

Advanced Topics

Beyond the basic rules, certain advanced topics can further refine your understanding of subject-verb agreement.

Titles of Works

The titles of books, movies, and other works are treated as singular, even if they contain plural words.

Example: “The Lord of the Rings is a popular book series.”

Gerunds

A gerund (a verb form ending in “-ing” that functions as a noun) used as a subject takes a singular verb.

Example: “Swimming is good exercise.”

Sentences Beginning with “Here” or “There”

In sentences that begin with “here” or “there,” the subject follows the verb. Ensure the verb agrees with the subject that follows.

Example: “Here are the keys” vs. “There is a problem.”

Relative Clauses

In relative clauses (clauses introduced by relative pronouns like “who,” “which,” or “that”), the verb must agree with the noun or pronoun that the relative pronoun refers to.

Example: “He is one of the students who study hard.” (The verb “study” agrees with “students.”)

Words Expressing Quantity

Words like “percent,” “fraction,” “majority,” and “number” can be singular or plural depending on what they refer to.

Example: “Twenty percent of the students are absent.” (plural) vs. “Twenty percent of the budget is spent.” (singular)

FAQ

Q: What is subject-verb agreement?

A: Subject-verb agreement is the rule that the verb in a sentence must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject.

Q: How do I identify the subject in a sentence?

A: Ask yourself “Who or what is performing the action?” or “Who or what is being described?” The answer is the subject.

Q: What if there is an intervening phrase between the subject and the verb?

A: The verb must agree with the true subject, not the words in the intervening phrase. Ignore the intervening phrase when determining subject-verb agreement.

Q: What happens when two subjects are joined by “and”?

A: They usually take a plural verb, as “and” creates a plural subject. However, if the compound subject refers to a single idea or entity, use a singular verb.

Q: What happens when two subjects are joined by “or” or “nor”?

A: The verb agrees with the subject closest to the verb.

Q: How do collective nouns affect subject-verb agreement?

A: If the group is acting as a single unit, use a singular verb. If the members of the group are acting individually, use a plural verb.

Q: Which indefinite pronouns are always singular?

A: Each, everyone, someone, nobody, everything, somebody, anybody, no one, one, another, much, little.

Q: Which indefinite pronouns are always plural?

A: Both, few, several, many, others.

Q: How do I handle “there is” and “there are”?

A: The subject follows the verb. The verb must agree with the subject that follows it.

Q: Are titles of works singular or plural?

A: Titles of books, movies, and other works are treated as singular, even if they contain plural words.

Conclusion

Mastering subject-verb agreement is essential for clear and effective communication in English. By understanding the basic principles, recognizing different types of subjects, and avoiding common mistakes, you can ensure that your writing and speech are grammatically correct and easily understood.

Consistent practice and attention to detail will help you internalize these rules and apply them confidently in any situation. Remember to identify the true subject of the sentence, disregard intervening phrases, and pay close attention to compound subjects, collective nouns, and indefinite pronouns.

With dedication and practice, you can master subject-verb agreement and elevate the clarity and credibility of your communication.