Download Basic Rule. The basic rule states that a singular subject takes a

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules
Basic
Rule.
The basic rule states that a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes
a plural verb.
NOTE: The trick is in knowing whether the subject is singular or plural. The next trick
is recognizing a singular or plural verb.
Hint: Verbs do not form their plurals by adding an s as nouns do. In order to determine which
verb is singular and which one is plural, think of which verb you would use with he or she and
which verb you would use with they.
Example:
Rule
1.
Two singular subjects connected by or or nor require a singular verb.
Example:
Rule
2.
talks, talk
Which one is the singular form? Which word would you use with he? We say, "He
talks." Therefore, talks is singular. We say, "They talk." Therefore, talk is plural.
My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today.
Two singular subjects connected by either/or or neither/nor require a singular verb as in Rule
1.
Examples:
Neither Juan nor Carmen is available.
Either Kiana or Casey is helping today with stage decorations.
Rule
3.
When I is one of the two subjects connected by either/or or neither/nor, put it second and
follow it with the singular verb am.
Example:
Rule
4.
When a singular subject is connected by or or nor to a plural subject, put the plural subject last
and use a plural verb.
Example:
Rule
5.
Neither Jenny nor the others are available.
As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are connected by
and.
Example:
Rule
7.
The serving bowl or the plates go on that shelf.
When a singular and plural subject are connected by either/or or neither/nor, put the plural
subject last and use a plural verb.
Example:
Rule
6.
Neither she nor I am going to the festival.
A car and a bike are my means of transportation.
Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by words such as along with, as well as,
besides, or not. Ignore these expressions when determining whether to use a singular or plural
verb.
Examples:
The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause
of her shaking.
Rule
8.
The pronouns each, everyone, every one, everybody, anyone, anybody, someone, and
somebody are singular and require singular verbs. Do not be misled by what follows of.
Examples:
Each of the girls sings well.
Every one of the cakes is gone.
NOTE: Everyone is one word when it means everybody. Every one is two words
when the meaning is each one.
Rule
9.
With words that indicate portions—percent, fraction, part, majority, some, all, none,
remainder, and so forth —look at the noun in your of phrase (object of the preposition) to
determine whether to use a singular or plural verb. If the object of the preposition is singular,
use a singular verb. If the object of the preposition is plural, use a plural verb.
Examples:
Fifty percent of the pie has disappeared.
Pie is the object of the preposition of.
Fifty percent of the pies have disappeared.
Pies is the object of the preposition.
One-third of the city is unemployed.
One-third of the people are unemployed.
NOTE: Hyphenate all spelled-out fractions.
All of the pie is gone.
All of the pies are gone.
Some of the pie is missing.
Some of the pies are missing.
None of the garbage was picked up.
None of the sentences were punctuated correctly.
Of all her books, none have sold as well as the first one.
NOTE: Apparently, the SAT testing service considers none as a singular word only. However, according to
Merriam Webster's Dictionary of English Usage, "Clearly none has been both singular and plural since Old
English and still is. The notion that it is singular only is a myth of unknown origin that appears to have
arisen in the 19th century. If in context it seems like a singular to you, use a singular verb; if it seems like
a plural, use a plural verb. Both are acceptable beyond serious criticism" (p. 664).
Rule
10.
The expression the number is followed by a singular verb while the expression a number is
followed by a plural verb.
Examples:
The number of people we need to hire is thirteen.
A number of people have written in about this subject.
Rule
11.
When either and neither are subjects, they always take singular verbs.
Examples:
Neither of them is available to speak right now.
Either of us is capable of doing the job.
Rule
12.
The words here and there have generally been labeled as adverbs even though they indicate
place. In sentences beginning with here or there, the subject follows the verb.
Examples:
There are four hurdles to jump.
There is a high hurdle to jump.
Rule
13.
Use a singular verb with sums of money or periods of time.
Examples:
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
Rule
14.
Sometimes the pronoun who, that, or which is the subject of a verb in the middle of the
sentence. The pronouns who, that, and which become singular or plural according to the noun
directly in front of them. So, if that noun is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a
plural verb.
Examples:
Salma is the scientist who writes/write the reports.
The word in front of who is scientist, which is singular. Therefore, use the singular
verb writes.
He is one of the men who does/do the work.
The word in front of who is men, which is plural. Therefore, use the plural verb
do.
Rule
15.
Collective nouns such as team and staff may be either singular or plural depending on their use
in the sentence.
Examples:
The staff is in a meeting.
Staff is acting as a unit here.
The staff are in disagreement about the findings.
The staff are acting as separate individuals in this example.
The sentence would read even better as:
The staff members are in disagreement about the findings.
Subject-Verb Agreement Context Exercises
Subject-verb separation: When the subject and verb of a sentence are separated by a group of
words that may include one or more nouns, be sure that the verb agrees in number with the
subject of the sentence, not with one of these nouns in the intervening group of words.

The school board, as well as the local citizens, _____ (was, were) pleased with the plans for the new high
school.
The intelligence of many sea animals ______ (is, are) indeed amazing.
Singular subjects joined by and: When two or more singular subjects are joined by the
coordinating conjunction and, a plural verb should be used. An exception to this occurs when the
parts of a compound subject refer to one thing or person or when each or every preceded the
compound subject.

Freedom and justice _______ (was, were) two cornerstones of the democracy from the beginning.
Every man, woman, and child _______ (was, were) taken from the village.
Singular subjects joined by or and nor: When singular subjects are joined by or or by
either…or or neither…nor, a singular verb should be used. However, if one of the subjects is
singular and the other is plural, the plural one should be placed in the second position (closer to
the verb) and the verb made plural.

Either a certified check on deposit or a valid major credit card _______ (is, are) required for one to bid on the
merchandise.
Neither the instructor nor the students _______ (want, wants) to do another watercolor.
Indefinite pronouns (I): Indefinite pronouns that end with -body, -one, or -thing (e.g.,
somebody, someone, something) always take a singular verb. In like manner, the indefinite
pronouns another, each, either, neither, and one (used alone) take a singular verb. However, the
indefinite pronouns both, few, many, others, and several always take a plural verb.

Alas, another of these detergents _______ (has, have) proved to be harmful to the delicate skin of the
husband.
Several in the audience _______ (was, were) beside themselves with anger at what the speaker had said.
Indefinite pronouns (II): The indefinite pronouns all, any, more, most, and some and other
words that indicate a quantity, part, percentage, or fraction of something (e.g., half, two-thirds,
three-quarters) may take either a singular verb or a plural verb, depending upon the number of
the word they precede and refer to, which is the object of the prepositional phrase that follows
the pronoun.
Some of Herman's time _______ (was, were) taken up settling disputes among the workers.
Forty percent of the trees _______ (was, were) scheduled for harvest.
Indefinite pronouns (III): The indefinite pronoun none poses peculiar problems. It always takes
a singular verb when the object of the prepositional phrase following it is singular. It also takes a
singular verb when used to mean "not one," even if the object of the following prepositional
phrase is plural. However, none may take a plural verb when it is used to mean "not any" and the
object of the following prepositional phrase is plural. Thus, when you use none in such
constructions you must be sure of your meaning.

None of the players _______ (was, were) able to pass the physical fitness test.
The dean was displeased to learn that none of the foreign students _______ (is, are) majoring in education or
sociology.
Collective nouns: Sometimes called group nouns, collective nouns are singular in form but
denote a group of some sort. Examples include committee, class, crew, family, staff, troop, jury,
team, squad, and union. A collective noun takes a singular verb when the group is regarded as a
unit functioning as one. However, a collective noun takes a plural verb when individual members
of the group are regarded as functioning separately.

The family ______ (has, have) been arriving two or three at a time since last weekend.
For the third time this year, the committee ______ (is, are) going to consider increasing the dues.
Inverted sentences: Sometimes sentences are structured in such a way (inverted) that the verb
precedes the subject. Such sentences may begin with a modifying phrase or such words as here,
there, how, what, and where. When you write such sentences, take care to match the verb with
the subject that follows.

Here ______ (comes, come) the coaches and the players for both teams.
Beside the old gymnasium ______ (stands, stand) an elm, several maples, and a huge Indian.
Relative pronouns: When the relative pronouns who, which, or that are used as subjects of
dependent adjective clauses, the verb of the adjective clause must agree in number with the
antecedent of the pronoun. If the antecedent is singular, the verb of the adjective clause must be
singular; if the antecedent is plural, the verb of the adjective clause must be plural.

Each fraternity has its own elected officers, who ______ (conducts, conduct) the business of the organization.
This reference book concludes with pages that _____ (contains, contain) lists of American colleges and
universities.
Subjects with predicate nouns: When the subject and a predicate noun in the sentence differ in
number, the verb--always a linking verb--should agree with the subject, not with the predicate
noun.

To Clinton's way of thinking, fancy dinners _____ (is, are) not a luxury.
My favorite brunch _______ (is, are) sausage, eggs, chips, and a green salad.
Verbal nouns and noun clauses: Verbal nouns--i.e., gerunds and gerund phrases, infinitives
and infinitive phrases--and noun clauses used as subjects always take a singular verb.

Swimming across the English Channel _____ (is, are) still a major accomplishment.
Whether we were great leaders or ordinary citizens really ______ (makes, make) little difference later on.
Titles of works, names of businesses, and words and words: The title of a literary work, even
if plural in form, always takes a singular verb. Similarly, the name of a business enterprise and
words referred to as words take a singular verb.

Frames Unlimited _____ (does, do) most of the work for the gallery.
Concerti _____ (is, are) the plural form of concerto.
Plural forms with singular meanings: Some nouns are plural in form but singular in meaning,
and thus take a singular verb. Examples include aerobics, economics, headquarters, hives,
mathematics, means, measles, mumps, news, physics, stamina, summons, and whereabouts.

Economics _____ (has, have) never been exactly my cup of tea.
The whereabouts of the thieves ______ (is, are) not known at this time.
Noun phrases: Subjects composed of noun phrases that indicate such things as a measured
distance, a period of time, a specific quantity, or a sum of money, when considered as a single
unit, take singular verbs.

Fifty miles _____ (is, are) a long way to walk, much less run.
Precisely thirty years _____ (was, were) his tenure of office.
SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT CATEGORIES
Subjects and verbs must agree in number, which means that a singular subject requires a singular verb whereas
a plural subject requires a plural verb. Study the following examples which illustrate this principle:
I am here. (singular)
I do yoga. (singular)
I have pets. (singular)
I play piano. (singular)
You are here. (sing/pl)
You do yoga. (sing/pl)
You have pets. (sing/pl)
You play piano. (sing/pl)
I was first. (singular)
You were first. (sing/pl)
He is here. (singular)
She does yoga. (singular)
Joe has pets. (singular)
One plays
piano.(singular)
It was first. (singular)
We are here. (plural)
We do yoga. (plural)
We have pets. (plural)
We play piano. (plural)
We were first. (plural)
** Note: The third person singular form (he, she, Joe, one, it above) in the present tense is the only verb form that requires
an "s" ending (The past tense "was" is an exception to this rule.)
The following rules/suggestions should help you determine correct subject-verb agreement.
1. Connecting subjects with "and" usually makes them plural; therefore, to check for proper agreement you can
substitute the pronouns "they" or "we" for plural subjects. (Exceptions include pairs of words that are
considered to be one thing. Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich.) For example:
Mary and Jack are friends.
The car and the truck run well.
(They are friends)
(They run well.)
He and I are friends.
(We are friends.)
2. Connecting subjects with "or" or "nor" can require either a singular verb or plural verb; use the subject closer
to the verb to decide which form is correct. For example:
Neither she nor I am going
Neither Jack nor Mary is going
Either Jane, Maria, Anne, Cassandra, or Ann has the tickets.
Joe or his brothers are on call.
His dog or my cats have to go!
3. Prepositional phrases never contain the subject of the sentence. In most cases, you should ignore the
prepositional phrase when trying to determine the correct verb form to use. For example:
One of the flowers is dying.
The coach, along with the players, is celebrating.
Neither of those boys has graduated.
Either of those dresses looks fine.
Both of the books were on sale.
Every one of the glasses is broken.
4. Singular indefinite pronouns require singular verbs. Examples of singular indefinite pronouns include the
following: one, anyone, everyone, someone, nobody, anybody, everybody, somebody, nothing, anything,
everything, something, each, either, neither.
Everyone is happy.
Each of the sacks was full.
Nobody was leaving.
That one costs too much.
5. A few indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural, depending upon their use in the sentence. Often
information in a prepositional phrase can help you decide whether the pronoun is singular or plural. These "twoway" pronouns are as follows: all, some, any, none, most, more, enough.
All of the pie was eaten.
Most of the roof is finished.
None of the snow has melted.
All of the pears were eaten.
Most of the trees are dying.
None of the boys have passed.
6. The words "here" and "there" are not used as subjects. When they start a sentence, you must look elsewhere
for the subject. Also, you must be careful to find the correct subject when dealing with questions because the
subject will often not be the first word of the question. Study the following (subjects are underlined):
There go my two best friends.
Where has she gone?
Here is your math book.
Why are you doing this?
What are their names?
There seem to be problems.
7. Some nouns that end in "s" are singular in meaning and require a singular verb. Other nouns that end in "s"
are singular in meaning but require a plural verb. Consider these examples:
Mathematics is easy.
Measles is a contagious disease.
Physics is complicated.
The scissors are sharp.
My pants need to be washed.
Those shorts are torn.
8. Collective nouns such as "class" or "team" may be singular or plural depending upon how they are used:
emphasis on the group takes a singular verb; emphasis on members acting individually requires a plural verb.
The class was dismissed.
The class are presenting their reports this week.
(The whole group as one.)
(The class members individually will give the reports.)
9. In an adjective clause, the verb agrees with the antecedent of the relative pronoun (who, which, that), which
is usually the nearest noun. When "only one" is emphasized among a larger number, always use "one" as the
singular antecedent. Consider the following examples (the antecedents are underlined):
I like a dog that is friendly.
I like dogs that are friendly.
Only one of the girls who is coming is single.
One of the dogs that are sick is mine.
That is the only one of the dogs that is still sick.
10. Weights, measures, time, and money can be either singular or plural. If they are thought of as whole
quantities, they are singular; if they are countable, separate units, then they are considered plural.
Fifty feet of hose is enough. (singular)
Ten one-dollar bills are on the table. (plural)