Subject-Verb Agreement: Mastering Grammatical Harmony

Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental aspect of English grammar, ensuring that verbs correctly match their subjects in number (singular or plural). Mastering this concept is crucial for clear and effective communication, both in writing and speech.

This article provides a comprehensive guide to subject-verb agreement, covering its definition, rules, common mistakes, and advanced topics. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will help you strengthen your understanding and application of this essential grammatical rule.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Definition of Subject-Verb Agreement
• Structural Breakdown
• Types and Categories
  • Singular Subjects
  • Plural Subjects
  • Compound Subjects
  • Collective Nouns
  • Indefinite Pronouns
  • Nouns Representing Fixed Quantities
• Examples of Subject-Verb Agreement
• Usage Rules
  • General Rules
  • Exceptions
  • Special Cases
• Common Mistakes
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics
  • Inverted Sentences
  • Relative Clauses
  • Intervening Phrases
• FAQ
• Conclusion

Definition of Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement refers to the grammatical rule that the verb in a sentence must agree in number (singular or plural) 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.

This agreement ensures that the sentence is grammatically correct and easy to understand.

The primary function of subject-verb agreement is to maintain grammatical consistency and clarity in writing and speech. It helps readers and listeners understand the relationship between the subject and the action or state being described by the verb.

Contextually, subject-verb agreement is applicable in all forms of writing and speaking, from formal academic papers to casual conversations.

Structural Breakdown

Understanding the structure of a sentence is crucial for mastering subject-verb agreement. The basic structure typically involves a subject (who or what is performing the action) and a verb (the action itself).

The subject can be a noun, a pronoun, or a noun phrase. The verb must agree in number with this subject.

To ensure agreement, identify the subject and determine whether it is singular or plural. Then, choose the appropriate verb form that matches the subject’s number.

For example, in the sentence “The cat sleeps,” “cat” is the singular subject, and “sleeps” is the singular verb form. In contrast, in the sentence “The cats sleep,” “cats” is the plural subject, and “sleep” is the plural verb form.

The verb form changes based on whether the subject is singular or plural.

Types and Categories

Singular Subjects

A singular subject refers to one person, place, thing, or idea. Singular subjects require singular verbs. For example, “He writes,” “She sings,” and “It runs.”

Plural Subjects

A plural subject refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. Plural subjects require plural verbs. For example, “They write,” “We sing,” and “Dogs run.”

Compound Subjects

A compound subject consists of two or more subjects joined by a conjunction such as “and,” “or,” or “nor.” If the subjects are joined by “and,” the verb is usually plural. However, if the subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. For example, “John and Mary are going” (plural), but “Either John or Mary is going” (singular).

Collective Nouns

Collective nouns refer to a group of individuals but are typically treated as singular units. Examples include “team,” “family,” “committee,” and “group.” The verb can be singular or plural depending on whether the group is acting as a single unit or as individual members. For example, “The team is playing well” (singular unit), but “The team are arguing about the strategy” (individual members).

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns do not refer to a specific person, place, or thing. Some indefinite pronouns are always singular (e.g., “each,” “every,” “everyone,” “someone,” “nobody”), while others are always plural (e.g., “both,” “few,” “several,” “many”). Some can be either singular or plural depending on the context (e.g., “some,” “any,” “none,” “all,” “most”). For example, “Everyone is here” (singular), “Both are ready” (plural), and “Some of the pie is gone” (singular) vs. “Some of the cookies are gone” (plural).

Nouns Representing Fixed Quantities

Nouns representing fixed quantities can sometimes be tricky. For example, when referring to a sum of money or a period of time as a single unit, a singular verb is used. For example, “Ten dollars is too much to pay” (singular), and “Five years is a long time.”

Examples of Subject-Verb Agreement

The following tables provide extensive examples of subject-verb agreement across various categories. Each table illustrates the correct usage with both singular and plural subjects, compound subjects, collective nouns, and indefinite pronouns.

Table 1: Singular and Plural Subjects

This table demonstrates the basic subject-verb agreement with simple singular and plural subjects. Pay close attention to how the verb form changes based on the subject’s number.

Subject	Verb	Sentence
The cat	sleeps	The cat sleeps on the couch.
The dog	barks	The dog barks loudly.
She	reads	She reads a book every night.
He	writes	He writes poetry in his free time.
It	rains	It rains frequently in Seattle.
The cats	sleep	The cats sleep on the bed.
The dogs	bark	The dogs bark at strangers.
They	read	They read newspapers daily.
We	write	We write letters to our friends.
Students	study	Students study hard for exams.
The bird	sings	The bird sings beautifully.
The car	runs	The car runs smoothly.
My brother	plays	My brother plays the guitar.
My sister	dances	My sister dances gracefully.
The flower	blooms	The flower blooms in the spring.
The birds	sing	The birds sing in the morning.
The cars	run	The cars run on gasoline.
My brothers	play	My brothers play soccer.
My sisters	dance	My sisters dance ballet.
The flowers	bloom	The flowers bloom in summer.
The idea	makes	The idea makes sense.
The ideas	make	The ideas make sense.
The house	stands	The house stands on the hill.
The houses	stand	The houses stand in a row.
This book	costs	This book costs ten dollars.
These books	cost	These books cost a lot of money.

Table 2: Compound Subjects

This table focuses on compound subjects joined by “and,” “or,” and “nor.” Notice how the verb agreement changes depending on the conjunction used.

Subject(s)	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.
He and I	are	He and I are friends.
Books and pens	are	Books and pens are on the table.
Coffee and tea	are	Coffee and tea are my favorite drinks.
Either John or Mary	is	Either John or Mary is coming to the meeting.
Neither the dog nor the cat	is	Neither the dog nor the cat is allowed inside.
Either he or I	am	Either he or I am going to pick up the kids.
Either the books or the pen	is	Either the books or the pen is missing.
Either the coffee or the tea	is	Either the coffee or the tea is ready.
John and his brother	are	John and his brother are visiting.
The car and the bike	need	The car and the bike need repairs.
She and her friend	like	She and her friend like to hike.
Neither John nor his brother	is	Neither John nor his brother is available.
Neither the car nor the bike	is	Neither the car nor the bike is working.
Neither she nor her friend	is	Neither she nor her friend is coming.
Either the students or the teacher	is	Either the students or the teacher is responsible.
Either the teacher or the students	are	Either the teacher or the students are responsible.
The chef and the waiter	work	The chef and the waiter work well together.
The manager and the employee	agree	The manager and the employee agree on the plan.
Ice cream and cake	are	Ice cream and cake are a great combination.
Pasta or rice	is	Pasta or rice is a good side dish.
Neither rain nor snow	is	Neither rain nor snow is expected today.
Jack and Jill	went	Jack and Jill went up the hill.
The sun and the moon	are	The sun and the moon are celestial bodies.

Table 3: Collective Nouns

This table provides examples of how 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.

Collective Noun	Verb	Sentence	Explanation
The team	is	The team is playing well.	Acting as a single unit.
The team	are	The team are arguing about the strategy.	Acting as individual members.
The family	is	The family is happy to be together.	Acting as a single unit.
The family	are	The family are deciding on their vacation plans.	Acting as individual members.
The committee	has	The committee has made its decision.	Acting as a single unit.
The committee	have	The committee have different opinions.	Acting as individual members.
The group	is	The group is ready to start.	Acting as a single unit.
The group	are	The group are expressing their concerns.	Acting as individual members.
The jury	is	The jury is delivering its verdict.	Acting as a single unit.
The jury	are	The jury are divided on the issue.	Acting as individual members.
The class	is	The class is taking a test.	Acting as a single unit.
The class	are	The class are working on different projects.	Acting as individual members.
The audience	is	The audience is enjoying the show.	Acting as a single unit.
The audience	are	The audience are clapping and cheering.	Acting as individual members.
The crowd	is	The crowd is getting restless.	Acting as a single unit.
The crowd	are	The crowd are pushing and shoving.	Acting as individual members.
The government	is	The government is implementing new policies.	Acting as a single unit.
The government	are	The government are debating the new policies.	Acting as individual members.
The staff	is	The staff is dedicated to their work.	Acting as a single unit.
The staff	are	The staff are taking turns on the night shift.	Acting as individual members.

Table 4: Indefinite Pronouns

This table illustrates subject-verb agreement with indefinite pronouns, highlighting the distinction between always singular, always plural, and context-dependent pronouns.

Indefinite Pronoun	Verb	Sentence	Category
Everyone	is	Everyone is invited to the party.	Always Singular
Someone	has	Someone has left their umbrella.	Always Singular
Nobody	knows	Nobody knows the answer.	Always Singular
Each	has	Each has a different opinion.	Always Singular
Everything	is	Everything is ready for the event.	Always Singular
Both	are	Both are excellent choices.	Always Plural
Few	were	Few were selected for the team.	Always Plural
Several	have	Several have expressed interest.	Always Plural
Many	are	Many are attending the conference.	Always Plural
Some (of the pie)	is	Some of the pie is missing.	Context-Dependent (Singular)
Some (of the cookies)	are	Some of the cookies are gone.	Context-Dependent (Plural)
Any (of the water)	is	Any of the water is safe to drink.	Context-Dependent (Singular)
Any (of the apples)	are	Any of the apples are acceptable.	Context-Dependent (Plural)
None (of the money)	is	None of the money is left.	Context-Dependent (Singular)
None (of the students)	are	None of the students are present.	Context-Dependent (Plural)
All (of the cake)	is	All of the cake is delicious.	Context-Dependent (Singular)
All (of the books)	are	All of the books are interesting.	Context-Dependent (Plural)
Most (of the milk)	is	Most of the milk is gone.	Context-Dependent (Singular)
Most (of the grapes)	are	Most of the grapes are ripe.	Context-Dependent (Plural)
Each of the students	has	Each of the students has a book.	Always Singular
Everything in the box	is	Everything in the box is organized.	Always Singular
Few of the applicants	were	Few of the applicants were qualified.	Always Plural
Several of the guests	have	Several of the guests have arrived.	Always Plural
Many of the problems	are	Many of the problems are complex.	Always Plural

Table 5: Nouns Representing Fixed Quantities

This table provides examples of nouns representing fixed quantities and how they take a singular verb when considered as a single unit.

Quantity	Verb	Sentence
Ten dollars	is	Ten dollars is too much to pay.
Five years	is	Five years is a long time.
Twenty miles	is	Twenty miles is a long distance to walk.
Two weeks	is	Two weeks is not enough vacation time.
Fifty pounds	is	Fifty pounds is a lot to lift.
One hundred dollars	is	One hundred dollars is a good price.
Three months	is	Three months is a short internship.
Sixty seconds	is	Sixty seconds is a minute.
Four hours	is	Four hours is enough time for the exam.
Seventy degrees	is	Seventy degrees is a comfortable temperature.
A million dollars	is	A million dollars is a lot of money.
Five kilograms	is	Five kilograms is the weight limit.
Ten liters	is	Ten liters is a large amount of water.
Fifteen minutes	is	Fifteen minutes is all I need.
Thirty days	is	Thirty days hath September.
Two thousand miles	is	Two thousand miles is a long trip.
Eighty years	is	Eighty years is a long life.
One hundred percent	is	One hundred percent is the maximum score.
A couple of weeks	is	A couple of weeks is needed to finish the project.
A thousand pages	is	A thousand pages is a long novel.

Usage Rules

General Rules

The primary rule of subject-verb agreement is that singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs. For most verbs, the singular form ends in “-s” in the present tense, while the plural form does not. For example, “He runs” (singular) vs. “They run” (plural).

When a sentence begins with “there” or “here,” the subject follows the verb. The verb must agree with the subject that comes after it. For example, “There is a cat” (singular) vs. “There are cats” (plural).

Exceptions

There are some exceptions to the general rules. For example, the verb “to be” has irregular forms. “I am,” “He/She/It is,” “We/You/They are.”

Another exception involves titles of works (books, movies, etc.). Even if the title is plural, it is treated as a singular unit. For example, “The Lord of the Rings is a popular book.”

Special Cases

In sentences with relative clauses, the verb in the relative clause must agree with the noun or pronoun it refers to. For example, “He is one of the students who study hard” (plural because it refers to “students”), but “He is the only one of the students who studies hard” (singular because it refers to “one”).

When using expressions of quantity, the verb agrees with the noun that follows “of.” For example, “Half of the pie is gone” (singular) vs. “Half of the cookies are gone” (plural).

Common Mistakes

One common mistake is failing to recognize the true subject of the sentence when there are intervening phrases. For example, “The quality of the apples is poor” (not “are,” because the subject is “quality,” not “apples”).

Another common mistake is incorrect agreement with compound subjects. Remember that subjects joined by “and” usually take a plural verb, while subjects joined by “or” or “nor” take a verb that agrees with the subject closest to it.

Here are some examples of common mistakes and their corrections:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
The dog, along with his puppies, are playing.	The dog, along with his puppies, is playing.	The subject is “dog,” which is singular.
Each of the students have a book.	Each of the students has a book.	“Each” is always singular.
There is many reasons to be happy.	There are many reasons to be happy.	The subject is “reasons,” which is plural.
Neither John nor his friends is going.	Neither John nor his friends are going.	The subject closest to the verb is “friends,” which is plural.
The data is incorrect.	The data are incorrect.	“Data” is the plural form of “datum.” (Although “data” is increasingly accepted as singular in informal usage.)

Practice Exercises

Complete the following sentences with the correct form of the verb in parentheses. Choose the form of the verb that agrees with the subject.

Exercise 1: Basic Subject-Verb Agreement

Question	Answer
1. The cat (sleep, sleeps) on the couch.	sleeps
2. The dogs (bark, barks) at strangers.	bark
3. She (read, reads) a book every night.	reads
4. They (write, writes) letters to their friends.	write
5. It (rain, rains) frequently in Seattle.	rains
6. The students (study, studies) hard for exams.	study
7. My brother (play, plays) the guitar.	plays
8. My sisters (dance, dances) ballet.	dance
9. The flowers (bloom, blooms) in summer.	bloom
10. This book (cost, costs) ten dollars.	costs

Exercise 2: Compound Subjects

Question	Answer
1. John and Mary (is, are) going to the party.	are
2. Either John or Mary (is, are) coming to the meeting.	is
3. Neither the dog nor the cat (is, are) allowed inside.	is
4. Coffee and tea (is, are) my favorite drinks.	are
5. Either the books or the pen (is, are) missing.	is
6. The chef and the waiter (work, works) well together.	work
7. The manager and the employee (agree, agrees) on the plan.	agree
8. Pasta or rice (is, are) a good side dish.	is
9. Neither rain nor snow (is, are) expected today.	is
10. The sun and the moon (is, are) celestial bodies.	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) happy to be together.	is
4. The family (is, are) deciding on their vacation plans.	are
5. The committee (has, have) made its decision.	has
6. The committee (has, have) different opinions.	have
7. The group (is, are) ready to start.	is
8. The group (is, are) expressing their concerns.	are
9. The jury (is, are) delivering its verdict.	is
10. The jury (is, are) divided on the issue.	are

Exercise 4: Indefinite Pronouns

Question	Answer
1. Everyone (is, are) invited to the party.	is
2. Someone (has, have) left their umbrella.	has
3. Nobody (know, knows) the answer.	knows
4. Each (has, have) a different opinion.	has
5. Everything (is, are) ready for the event.	is
6. Both (is, are) excellent choices.	are
7. Few (was, were) selected for the team.	were
8. Several (has, have) expressed interest.	have
9. Many (is, are) attending the conference.	are
10. Some of the pie (is, are) missing.	is

Advanced Topics

Inverted Sentences

In inverted sentences, the subject comes after the verb. This can occur in questions or when certain adverbs are used at the beginning of the sentence.

It’s important to correctly identify the subject to ensure proper verb agreement.

For example, “Where are the keys?” (subject is “keys,” which is plural) and “Seldom does he arrive late” (subject is “he,” which is singular).

Relative Clauses

In sentences with relative clauses (clauses introduced by “who,” “which,” or “that”), the verb in the relative clause must agree with the noun or pronoun it refers to. This can be tricky when the noun or pronoun is far

from the verb.

For example, “She is one of the students who study hard” (the verb “study” agrees with “students,” which is plural) and “He is the only one of the students who studies hard” (the verb “studies” agrees with “one,” which is singular).

Intervening Phrases

Intervening phrases are groups of words that come between the subject and the verb. These phrases can sometimes make it difficult to identify the true subject of the sentence.

It is crucial to ignore these phrases and focus on the actual subject to ensure correct verb agreement.

For example, “The box of chocolates is on the table” (the subject is “box,” not “chocolates,” so the verb is singular) and “The books, along with the notebook, are useful” (the subject is “books,” not “notebook,” so the verb is plural).

FAQ

Conclusion

Mastering subject-verb agreement is a fundamental step in achieving grammatical excellence. By understanding the rules, exceptions, and special cases outlined in this guide, you can significantly improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing and speech.

Remember to practice regularly and pay close attention to the structure of your sentences. With dedication and effort, you can confidently apply subject-verb agreement in all your communication endeavors.