📚 What is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-verb agreement means that the subject and verb in a sentence must match in number. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.
✓ The dog barks. (singular subject, singular verb)
✓ The dogs bark. (plural subject, plural verb)
❌ The dog bark. (doesn't match!)
🎯 Basic Rules
Singular Subjects (One)
Use singular verbs (add -s or -es in present tense)
The cat sleeps on the couch.
She walks to school.
The teacher explains the lesson.
It rains every day.
Plural Subjects (More Than One)
Use plural verbs (no -s or -es in present tense)
The cats sleep on the couch.
They walk to school.
The teachers explain the lesson.
We study hard.
💡 Remember:
In present tense, singular verbs usually END in -s, but plural subjects END in -s. Don't add -s to both!
✓ The dog runs. (singular)
✓ The dogs run. (plural)
⚠️ Tricky Situations
1. Subjects Joined by "And"
Two or more subjects joined by "and" are usually PLURAL
✓ Tom and Sarah are friends.
✓ The cat and the dog play together.
❌ Tom and Sarah is friends.
2. Subjects Joined by "Or" or "Nor"
The verb agrees with the subject CLOSEST to it
✓ Neither the teacher nor the students are ready.
✓ Neither the students nor the teacher is ready.
✓ Either Sarah or Tom is coming.
3. Phrases Between Subject and Verb
Ignore words between the subject and verb - match the MAIN subject
✓ The box of chocolates is on the table.
(box is singular, not chocolates)
✓ The students in the classroom are studying.
(students is plural, not classroom)
❌ The box of chocolates are on the table.
4. Indefinite Pronouns
Always Singular: everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, anyone, anybody, no one, nobody, each, either, neither, one
✓ Everyone is here.
✓ Each student has a book.
✓ Nobody knows the answer.
Always Plural: both, few, many, several
✓ Both students are smart.
✓ Many people like pizza.
Depends on Context: all, some, most, none
✓ All of the cake is gone. (cake is singular)
✓ All of the cookies are gone. (cookies is plural)
5. Collective Nouns
Groups acting as ONE unit - use SINGULAR verb
✓ The team is winning.
✓ The class starts at 9 AM.
✓ The family lives nearby.
Groups acting as INDIVIDUALS - use PLURAL verb
✓ The team are arguing among themselves.
6. "There is" vs. "There are"
Look at the noun that comes AFTER the verb
✓ There is a book on the table. (singular)
✓ There are books on the table. (plural)
✓ There is one problem.
✓ There are many problems.
7. Special Cases
News, mathematics, physics - SINGULAR despite ending in -s
✓ The news is on at 6 PM.
✓ Mathematics is my favorite subject.
Scissors, pants, glasses - PLURAL (come in pairs)
✓ These scissors are sharp.
✓ My pants are too long.
✏️ Practice Exercise
Choose the correct verb. Click to reveal!
1. The students (is/are) studying for the test.
The students are studying for the test.
Plural subject needs plural verb
2. Everyone (is/are) invited to the party.
Everyone is invited to the party.
"Everyone" is always singular
3. The box of cookies (is/are) empty.
The box of cookies is empty.
Subject is "box" (singular), not "cookies"
4. There (is/are) many reasons to be happy.
There are many reasons to be happy.
"Reasons" is plural
5. Either Sarah or her brothers (is/are) coming.
Either Sarah or her brothers are coming.
Verb agrees with closest subject "brothers" (plural)
6. The team (is/are) celebrating their victory.
The team is celebrating their victory.
Collective noun acting as one unit
7. Mathematics (is/are) difficult for some students.
Mathematics is difficult for some students.
Despite the -s, "mathematics" is singular
8. My pants (is/are) too short.
My pants are too short.
"Pants" is always plural
🎯 Key Takeaways
- Singular subjects need singular verbs (The dog barks)
- Plural subjects need plural verbs (The dogs bark)
- Subjects joined by "and" are usually plural
- With "or"/"nor", verb agrees with closest subject
- Ignore phrases between subject and verb
- Indefinite pronouns like everyone, someone, each are SINGULAR
- Collective nouns (team, class, family) are usually singular
- Match "there is/are" with the noun that follows