Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement: A Comprehensive Guide

Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental aspect of English grammar, ensuring clarity and correctness in writing and speech. It dictates that a verb must agree in number with its subject.

This means that if the subject is singular, the verb must be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. Mastering this concept is crucial for effective communication, as errors in subject-verb agreement can lead to confusion and misinterpretation.

This article provides a comprehensive guide to subject-verb agreement, covering its definition, rules, common mistakes, and advanced topics. Whether you’re a student, a writer, or an English language learner, this guide will help you strengthen your understanding and application of subject-verb agreement.

Table of Contents

• Definition of Subject-Verb Agreement
• Structural Breakdown
• Types and Categories of Subjects
  • Singular Subjects
  • Plural Subjects
  • Compound Subjects
  • Collective Nouns
  • Indefinite Pronouns
• Examples of Subject-Verb Agreement
• 9 Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
  • Rule 1: Basic Agreement
  • Rule 2: Compound Subjects with ‘and’
  • Rule 3: Compound Subjects with ‘or’/’nor’
  • Rule 4: Collective Nouns
  • Rule 5: Indefinite Pronouns
  • Rule 6: Phrases Between Subject and Verb
  • Rule 7: Subjects Following the Verb
  • Rule 8: Nouns Ending in -s
  • Rule 9: Titles of Works
• Common Mistakes in Subject-Verb Agreement
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics
  • Subjunctive Mood
  • Inverted Sentences
  • Relative Clauses
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Definition of Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement, also known as concord, is the correspondence in number between the subject and verb of a sentence. In simpler terms, it means that a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

This agreement ensures grammatical correctness and enhances the clarity of written and spoken English. The principle applies primarily to the present tense, as the past tense typically uses the same verb form for both singular and plural subjects (with the exception of ‘was’ and ‘were’).

The function of subject-verb agreement is to maintain grammatical consistency within a sentence. It helps readers or listeners understand the relationship between the subject and the action being performed.

Without proper subject-verb agreement, sentences can sound awkward and may lead to confusion. The contexts in which subject-verb agreement is important are varied, ranging from formal writing and academic papers to everyday conversations and professional communications.

It is a foundational element of English grammar that underpins effective communication.

Structural Breakdown

The basic structure of a sentence with subject-verb agreement involves identifying the subject and then choosing the correct verb form to match. The subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the action.

The verb is the word that describes the action. In the present tense, the verb usually changes form depending on whether the subject is singular or plural.

For example:

• Singular: The cat sits on the mat.
• Plural: The cats sit on the mat.

In the first sentence, “cat” is the singular subject, so the verb “sits” is used. In the second sentence, “cats” is the plural subject, so the verb “sit” is used.

The key is to correctly identify the subject and then select the appropriate verb form to ensure agreement.

Understanding the grammatical number of the subject is critical. This involves determining whether the subject is singular (referring to one person, place, thing, or idea) or plural (referring to more than one).

Once the number is identified, the corresponding verb form can be selected. This might seem straightforward, but complexities arise with compound subjects, collective nouns, and indefinite pronouns, which will be discussed later in this article.

Types and Categories of Subjects

Subjects in English grammar can be categorized into several types, each requiring a different approach to subject-verb agreement. Understanding these categories is essential for mastering this grammatical concept.

Singular Subjects

A singular subject refers to one person, place, thing, or idea. Singular subjects typically take singular verbs.

Examples include:

• He walks to school.
• She reads a book.
• It rains often in April.
• The car is red.
• My brother plays the guitar.

Plural Subjects

A plural subject refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. Plural subjects typically take plural verbs.

Examples include:

• They walk to school.
• We read books.
• The cars are red.
• My brothers play the guitar.
• Cats sleep during the day.

Compound Subjects

A compound subject consists of two or more subjects joined by a conjunction such as “and,” “or,” or “nor.” The verb form depends on the conjunction used and the nature of the subjects. When subjects are joined by “and,” they usually take a plural verb.

When joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

• John and Mary are going to the party.
• Neither John nor Mary is going to the party.
• Either the students or the teacher is responsible.

Collective Nouns

Collective nouns refer to a group of people or things as a single unit. These nouns can take either a singular or plural verb, depending on whether the group is acting as a single unit or as individual members. Common collective nouns include team, family, committee, group, and class.

• The team is playing well. (acting as a unit)
• The family are deciding on their vacation plans. (acting as individuals)

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns refer to nonspecific persons or things. Some indefinite pronouns are always singular (e.g., each, every, everyone, someone, nobody), while others are always plural (e.g., both, few, many, several). Some can be either singular or plural, depending on the context (e.g., some, any, none, all, most).

• Everyone is ready to go. (singular)
• Both are invited. (plural)
• Some of the cake is gone. (singular)
• Some of the cookies are gone. (plural)

Examples of Subject-Verb Agreement

To further illustrate the concept of subject-verb agreement, here are various examples categorized by subject type. These examples will help solidify your understanding of how to apply the rules in different contexts.

The following table provides examples of subject-verb agreement with singular subjects. Notice how the verb form changes to agree with the singular subject.

Subject	Verb	Sentence
He	is	He is a talented musician.
She	has	She has a beautiful voice.
It	seems	It seems like a good idea.
The dog	barks	The dog barks loudly.
My sister	works	My sister works at a hospital.
The book	is	The book is on the table.
This car	runs	This car runs smoothly.
That building	stands	That building stands tall.
Every student	needs	Every student needs a pencil.
Each child	receives	Each child receives a gift.
Someone	is	Someone is knocking at the door.
Nobody	knows	Nobody knows the answer.
Everyone	agrees	Everyone agrees with the plan.
Anybody	is welcome	Anybody is welcome to join us.
The company	is	The company is doing well.
The government	decides	The government decides on the policy.
The university	offers	The university offers many courses.
My father	likes	My father likes to read.
The weather	is	The weather is beautiful today.
The idea	sounds	The idea sounds interesting.
Each of us	is	Each of us is responsible.
Either of them	is	Either of them is capable.
Neither of them	wants	Neither of them wants to go.

This table features examples of subject-verb agreement with plural subjects. Note the verb form used here.

Subject	Verb	Sentence
They	are	They are talented musicians.
We	have	We have a beautiful garden.
The dogs	bark	The dogs bark loudly.
My sisters	work	My sisters work at a hospital.
The books	are	The books are on the table.
These cars	run	These cars run smoothly.
Those buildings	stand	Those buildings stand tall.
Students	need	Students need pencils.
Children	receive	Children receive gifts.
Some people	are	Some people are waiting outside.
Both	know	Both know the answer.
All of us	agree	All of us agree with the plan.
Friends	are welcome	Friends are welcome to join us.
The companies	are	The companies are doing well.
The governments	decide	The governments decide on the policies.
The universities	offer	The universities offer many courses.
My parents	like	My parents like to travel.
The clouds	are	The clouds are dark today.
The ideas	sound	The ideas sound interesting.
Several of us	are	Several of us are responsible.
A few of them	are	A few of them are capable.
Many of them	want	Many of them want to go.
The employees	are	The employees are on strike.

The following table illustrates subject-verb agreement with compound subjects. The verb form changes based on whether the subjects are joined by “and,” “or,” or “nor.”

Subject	Verb	Sentence
John and Mary	are	John and Mary are going to the party.
The cat and the dog	play	The cat and the dog play together.
My brother and I	are	My brother and I are planning a trip.
Neither John nor Mary	is	Neither John nor Mary is coming to the party.
Either the students or the teacher	is	Either the students or the teacher is responsible.
Neither the teacher nor the students	are	Neither the teacher nor the students are ready.
Coffee or tea	is	Coffee or tea is a good choice.
The book or the pen	is	The book or the pen is on the desk.
My sister or my brother	is	My sister or my brother is going to pick me up.
My parents and my uncle	are	My parents and my uncle are visiting us.
The car and the motorcycle	need	The car and the motorcycle need to be washed.
The chair and the table	are	The chair and the table are in the living room.
Neither the rain nor the snow	is	Neither the rain nor the snow is stopping.
Either the manager or the employees	are	Either the manager or the employees are going to attend.
Neither the employees nor the manager	is	Neither the employees nor the manager is available.
The house and the garden	look	The house and the garden look beautiful.
The bread and the butter	are	The bread and the butter are on the table.
The singer and the dancer	are	The singer and the dancer are performing tonight.
The actor and the director	are	The actor and the director are collaborating on the project.
The student and the teacher	are	The student and the teacher are discussing the assignment.
The phone and the charger	are	The phone and the charger are necessary for travel.

This table demonstrates subject-verb agreement with collective nouns. Notice how the verb form can be singular or plural, depending on the context.

Subject	Verb	Sentence
The team	is	The team is playing well. (acting as a unit)
The team	are	The team are arguing about the strategy. (acting as individuals)
The family	is	The family is planning a vacation. (acting as a unit)
The family	are	The family are deciding on their vacation plans. (acting as individuals)
The committee	has	The committee has made a decision. (acting as a unit)
The committee	are	The committee are divided on the issue. (acting as individuals)
The group	is	The group is ready to start. (acting as a unit)
The group	are	The group are discussing their individual roles. (acting as individuals)
The class	is	The class is taking a test. (acting as a unit)
The class	are	The class are working on different projects. (acting as individuals)
The audience	is	The audience is applauding the performance. (acting as a unit)
The audience	are	The audience are expressing their opinions. (acting as individuals)
The jury	has	The jury has reached a verdict. (acting as a unit)
The jury	are	The jury are unable to agree on a verdict. (acting as individuals)
The staff	is	The staff is dedicated to their work. (acting as a unit)
The staff	are	The staff are taking their breaks. (acting as individuals)
The government	is	The government is implementing new policies. (acting as a unit)
The government	are	The government are debating the new policies. (acting as individuals)
The orchestra	is	The orchestra is playing beautifully. (acting as a unit)
The orchestra	are	The orchestra are tuning their instruments. (acting as individuals)
The crowd	is	The crowd is cheering loudly. (acting as a unit)
The crowd	are	The crowd are dispersing after the event. (acting as individuals)

This table provides examples of subject-verb agreement with indefinite pronouns. Note how some indefinite pronouns always take singular verbs, while others always take plural verbs.

Subject	Verb	Sentence
Everyone	is	Everyone is ready to go.
Someone	is	Someone is knocking at the door.
Nobody	knows	Nobody knows the answer.
Anybody	is	Anybody is welcome to join us.
Each	has	Each has a different opinion.
Every	is	Every student is required to attend.
Everything	is	Everything is going according to plan.
Both	are	Both are invited to the party.
Few	know	Few know the truth.
Many	are	Many are interested in the offer.
Several	have	Several have already registered.
Some	is	Some of the cake is missing.
Some	are	Some of the students are absent.
Any	is	Any of the pie is fine with me.
Any	are	Any of the books are acceptable.
None	is	None of the water is left.
None	are	None of the apples are ripe.
All	is	All of the money is gone.
All	are	All of the tickets are sold.
Most	is	Most of the work is done.
Most	are	Most of the participants are ready.
One	is	One is always welcome.
Other	is	The other is missing.
Others	are	Others are waiting outside.

9 Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement

Understanding the rules of subject-verb agreement is crucial for accurate writing. Here are nine key rules to keep in mind:

Rule 1: Basic Agreement

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

For example:

• Singular: The dog barks.
• Plural: The dogs bark.

Rule 2: Compound Subjects with ‘and’

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

• John and Mary are going to the party.
• The cat and the dog play together.

However, if the compound subject refers to a single entity or idea, then a singular verb is used. For example:

• Macaroni and cheese is my favorite dish. (referring to a single dish)

Rule 3: Compound Subjects with ‘or’/’nor’

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

• Neither John nor Mary is coming to the party.
• Either the students or the teacher is responsible.

If one subject is singular and the other is plural, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. For example:

• Neither the teacher nor the students are ready.
• Either the students or the teacher is ready.

Rule 4: Collective Nouns

Collective nouns can take either a singular or plural verb, 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.

If the group members are acting individually, use a plural verb. For example:

• The team is playing well. (acting as a unit)
• The team are arguing about the strategy. (acting as individuals)

Rule 5: Indefinite Pronouns

Some indefinite pronouns are always singular (e.g., each, every, everyone, someone, nobody), while others are always plural (e.g., both, few, many, several). Some can be either singular or plural, depending on the context (e.g., some, any, none, all, most). For example:

• Everyone is ready to go. (singular)
• Both are invited. (plural)
• Some of the cake is gone. (singular)
• Some of the cookies are gone. (plural)

Rule 6: Phrases Between Subject and Verb

Phrases or clauses that come between the subject and verb do not affect subject-verb agreement. The verb must agree with the actual subject, not with any nouns or pronouns in the intervening phrase.

For example:

• The dog, along with its puppies, is running in the park. (The subject is “dog,” which is singular)
• The students, including John and Mary, are going on a field trip. (The subject is “students,” which is plural)

Rule 7: Subjects Following the Verb

In sentences that begin with “there is” or “there are,” the subject follows the verb. The verb must agree with the subject that follows it.

For example:

• There is a book on the table. (The subject is “book,” which is singular)
• There are books on the table. (The subject is “books,” which is plural)

Rule 8: Nouns Ending in -s

Some nouns that end in “-s” appear plural but are actually singular. These nouns usually refer to a field of study or a disease.

They take a singular verb. For example:

• Mathematics is my favorite subject.
• Measles is a contagious disease.

Rule 9: Titles of Works

The titles of books, movies, and other works are treated as singular, even if they contain plural nouns. They take a singular verb.

For example:

• “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” is a classic novel.
• “Friends” is a popular TV show.

Common Mistakes in Subject-Verb Agreement

Even experienced writers sometimes make mistakes in subject-verb agreement. Here are some common errors and how to correct them:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
The dog, along with its puppies, are running in the park.	The dog, along with its puppies, is running in the park.	The verb should agree with the main subject, “dog,” which is singular.
There is books on the table.	There are books on the table.	The verb should agree with the subject, “books,” which is plural.
Everyone are going to the party.	Everyone is going to the party.	“Everyone” is a singular indefinite pronoun and takes a singular verb.
The team are playing well.	The team is playing well.	When the team is acting as a single unit, it takes a singular verb.
Neither John nor Mary are coming.	Neither John nor Mary is coming.	When subjects are joined by “nor,” the verb agrees with the closest subject, “Mary,” which is singular.
Mathematics are difficult for me.	Mathematics is difficult for me.	Nouns ending in “-s” that refer to a field of study take a singular verb.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer are a great book.	The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a great book.	Titles of works take a singular verb, even if they contain plural nouns.
Some of the students is absent.	Some of the students are absent.	“Some” can be plural depending on the context. Here, “students” is plural, so the verb should be plural.
Each of the students have a book.	Each of the students has a book.	“Each” is a singular indefinite pronoun and takes a singular verb.
My family are very supportive.	My family is very supportive.	If the family is acting as a single unit, it takes a singular verb.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of subject-verb agreement with these practice exercises. Choose the correct verb form in each sentence.

Exercise 1: Basic Agreement

Question	Answer
1. The cat (sleeps/sleep) on the mat.	sleeps
2. The dogs (barks/bark) loudly.	bark
3. He (plays/play) the guitar.	plays
4. They (reads/read) books.	read
5. It (rains/rain) often in April.	rains
6. My sister (works/work) at a hospital.	works
7. The book (is/are) on the table.	is
8. These cars (runs/run) smoothly.	run

Exercise 2: Compound Subjects

Question	Answer
1. John and Mary (is/are) going to the party.	are
2. Neither John nor Mary (is/are) coming.	is
3. Either the students or the teacher (is/are) responsible.	is
4. The cat and the dog (plays/play) together.	play
5. Neither the teacher nor the students (is/are) ready.	are

Exercise 3: Collective Nouns

Question	Answer
1. The team (is/are) playing well.	is
2. The team (is/are) arguing about the strategy.	are
3. The family (is/are) planning a vacation.	is
4. The family (is/are) deciding on their vacation plans.	are
5. The committee (has/have) made a decision.	has

Exercise 4: Indefinite Pronouns

Question	Answer
1. Everyone (is/are) ready to go.	is
2. Both (is/are) invited.	are
3. Some of the cake (is/are) gone.	is
4. Some of the cookies (is/are) gone.	are
5. Each (has/have) a different opinion.	has

Exercise 5: Phrases Between Subject and Verb

Question	Answer
1. The dog, along with its puppies, (is/are) running in the park.	is
2. The students, including John and Mary, (is/are) going on a field trip.	are
3. The book, which is on the table, (is/are) mine.	is
4. The cars, parked outside, (is/are) new.	are
5. The teacher, with all her students, (is/are) going to the museum.	is

Advanced Topics

Beyond the basic rules, there are advanced aspects of subject-verb agreement that can further refine your understanding and usage.

Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood is used to express wishes, suggestions, or hypothetical situations. In the subjunctive mood, the verb form often differs from the indicative mood, and subject-verb agreement rules may be altered.

The most common example is the use of “were” instead of “was” for singular subjects when expressing a wish or hypothetical situation. For example:

• I wish I were taller. (instead of “I wish I was taller”)
• If he were here, he would know what to do. (instead of “If he was here”)

In certain constructions, such as demands or recommendations, the base form of the verb is used, regardless of the subject’s number. For example:

• The doctor recommended that he exercise more. (instead of “exercises”)
• It is essential that everyone be on time. (instead of “is”)

Inverted Sentences

Inverted sentences occur when the verb comes before the subject. This often happens in questions or when using certain adverbs at the beginning of a sentence.

In these cases, it’s important to identify the subject correctly to ensure proper subject-verb agreement. For example:

• Where are the keys? (The subject is “keys,” which is plural, so the verb is “are”)
• There is a cat on the roof. (The subject is “cat,” which is singular, so the verb is “is”)
• Only then did I understand the problem. (The subject is “I,” which takes the verb “did” in this construction)

Relative Clauses

Relative clauses are clauses that begin with relative pronouns such as “who,” “which,” or “that.” The verb in a relative clause must agree with the noun or pronoun that the relative pronoun refers to (the antecedent). This can sometimes be tricky, especially when the antecedent is an indefinite pronoun or a collective noun.

For example:

• He is one of the students who are always on time. (The relative pronoun “who” refers to “students,” which is plural, so the verb is “are”)
• This is the only book that is worth reading. (The relative pronoun “that” refers to “book,” which is singular, so the verb is “is”)

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Mastering subject-verb agreement is essential for effective communication in English. By understanding the basic principles, recognizing different types of subjects, and applying the key rules, you can ensure that your writing is clear, accurate, and professional.

While there are complexities and exceptions, consistent practice and attention to detail will help you avoid common mistakes and confidently navigate even the most challenging sentences. Keep this guide as a reference, and continue to hone your skills through reading, writing, and editing.

With dedication, you’ll master subject-verb agreement and elevate the quality of your communication.