Subject–Verb Agreement Rules

Key: subject = yellow, bold; verb = green, underline

 
Subjects and verbs must agree in number. In addition to the explanations on this page, also
see the post on Subject—Verb Agreement.

1. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular too.

Example: She writes every day.
Exception: When using the singular "they," use plural verb forms.
Example: The participant expressed satisfaction with their job. They are currently in
a managerial role at the organization.

2. If the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural.

Example: They write every day.
Sometimes, however, it seems a bit more complicated than this.

3. When the subject of the sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns
connected by and, use a plural verb.

Example: The doctoral student and the committee members write every day.

Example: The percentage of employees who called in sick and the number of
employees who left their jobs within 2 years are reflective of the level of job
satisfaction.

4. When there is one subject and more than one verb, the verbs throughout the
sentence must agree with the subject.

Example: Interviews are one way to collect data and allow researchers to gain an

in-depth understanding of participants.
Example: An assumption is something that is generally accepted as true and is an
important consideration when conducting a doctoral study.

5. When a phrase comes between the subject and the verb, remember that the verb
still agrees with the subject, not the noun or pronoun in the phrase following the
subject of the sentence.

Example: The student, as well as the committee members, is excited.

Example: The student with all the master’s degrees is very motivated.
Example: Strategies that the teacher uses to encourage classroom
participation include using small groups and clarifying expectations.
 Example: The focus of the interviews was nine purposively selected participants.

6. When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by "or" or "nor," use a
singular verb.

Example: The chairperson or the CEO approves the proposal before proceeding.

7. When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun
joined by "or" or "nor," the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is
closest to the verb. This is also called the rule of proximity.

Example: The student or the committee members write every day.

Example: The committee members or the student writes every day.

8. The words and phrases "each," "each one," "either," "neither," "everyone,"
"everybody," "anyone," "anybody," "nobody," "somebody," "someone," and "no one"
are singular and require a singular verb.

Example: Each of the participants was willing to be recorded.

Example: Neither alternative hypothesis was accepted.
Example: I will offer a $5 gift card to everybody who participates in the study.
Example: No one was available to meet with me at the preferred times.

9. Noncount nouns take a singular verb.

Example: Education is the key to success.

Example: Diabetes affects many people around the world.
Example: The information obtained from the business owners was relevant to
include in the study.
Example: The research I found on the topic was limited.

10. Some countable nouns in English such as earnings, goods, odds, surroundings,

proceeds, contents, and valuables only have a plural form and take a plural verb.

Example: The earnings for this quarter exceed expectations.

Example: The proceeds from the sale go to support the homeless population in the
city.
Example: Locally produced goods have the advantage of shorter supply chains.

11. In sentences beginning with "there is" or "there are," the subject follows the verb.
Since "there" is not the subject, the verb agrees with what follows the verb.

Example: There is little administrative support.
 Example: There are many factors affecting teacher retention.

12. Collective nouns are words that imply more than one person but are considered
singular and take a singular verb. Some examples are "group," "team," "committee,"
"family," and "class."

Example: The group meets every week.
Example: The committee agrees on the quality of the writing.
 
However, the plural verb is used if the focus is on the individuals in the group. This is
much less common.
Example: The committee participate in various volunteer activities in their private
lives.

NOTE 2

The subject and verb are the most important elements of a sentence. The

relation between the subject and verb depends on two
issues: person and number. The verb of a sentence must be in agreement
with the subject in regard to person and number.
The number of the subject can be singular and plural. The verb must be
singular if the subject is singular and the verb must be plural if the
subject is plural.
So, identifying the number of the subject is required to take a verb.
The person of the subject can be first, second, and third. The verb
changes according to the number and person of the subject.
 

Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement:

Rule 1:
Singular subjects need singular verbs, while plural subjects require plural
verbs. ‘Be’ verbs change the most according to the number and person of
the subject.  Other verbs do not change much on the basis of the subjects
except the verbs of the simple present tense. If the subjects are a third
person singular number, the verbs are used with s/es when they are in
simple present tense. The verbs with s/es in the sentence are called
singular verbs.
‘Be’ verbs according to number and person of the subject.
Person /Number Singular Plural

First am are

Second are are

Third is are

 Example: 
Person /Nmber Singular Plural

First I am an excellent tennis player. We are excellent tennis players.

Second You are a nice person. You all are nice people.

Third Alex plays well under pressure. They are good at chasing.
He is a good player. They play well under pressure.

Rule 2:
When the prepositional phrases separate the subjects from the verbs,
they have no effect on the verbs.
Example:
A study (singular subject) on African countries shows (singular verb)  that 80% of the
people (plural subject) of this continent live (plural verb) below the poverty line.
The perspective of different people varies from time to time.
The fear of terrorists and militants has made them flee the city.
Rule 3:
Nouns connected by the conjunction and in the subject work as the plural
subject and take a plural verb.
Example:
o Alex and Murphy are coming here.
o Robin and his friends want  to go on a tour.
o Apples and mangoes are  my favorite fruits.

Rule 4:
If the conjunction ‘and’  is replaced by together with/ along with/
accompanied by/ as well as, the verb will have no effect for the later
part of these expressions. The words prior to these expressions are the
subjects.
Example:
o Tom, along with his brothers is going to the city. (‘His brothers’ is
not the subject of this sentence.)
o Alex, as well as his parents, is coming to the party.
o The boys, accompanied by their teacher Mr. Robbins are
planning a tour.
Note: If these expressions are replaced by ‘and’, the subjects will be
regarded as plurals, and so the verbs have to be plural.
Example: Tom and his brothers are going to the city.

Rule 5:
Some nouns are always singular and indefinite. When these nouns become
the subjects, they always take singular verbs.

Any + singular No + singular Some + sin. Every + sin. Each + sin.

noun noun noun noun noun

Anybody Nobody Somebody Everybody Each studen

Anyone No one Someone Everyone
Anything Nothing Something Everything Either*
Neither*
*Note:  Either and neither are singular if they are not used
with or and nor.
Example:
o Everybody wants to live happily.
o Something is bothering him.
o No human being lives in that house.
o Neither of you is responsible enough to handle it.
o Each student has to submit a separate assignment.

Rule 6:
Some nouns are always plural. These nouns have two parts.
Scissors, shorts, eyeglasses, pants, thongs, jeans, trousers,
etc.
Example:
o My pants are in the drawer.
o Your eyeglasses are dirty.
o These scissors are useless.
Note: If these words are preceded by the phrase a pair of, they will be
regarded as singular subjects.
Example:
o A pair of pants is needed.
o This pair of trousers is ugly.

Rule 7:
None is a singular subject when it is used alone. When it is used with a
prepositional phrase starting with of, the subject can be both plural and
singular.
None + of the + singular noun + singular
verb

 
None + of the + plural noun + plural verb
Example:
o None of the money has been used .
o None of the teacher wants failure for students.
o None of the students want to fail.
o None of the bottles are clean enough to keep water.
Note: No + plural noun takes plural verbs.
Example: no men are hungry now.  

Rule 8:
Either . . .  or, neither . . . nor, or, and nor take two nouns before and
after them. The nouns placed after these conjunctions are regarded as
the subjects of the sentence. The nouns placed prior to the
words or and nor have no effect on the verbs.
Example:
o Neither Alex nor his brothers are going  to the party.
o Either John and Alex or I am doing it.
o I or Robert opens  the door when someone comes.
o Neither the boys nor we are responsible for it.

Rule 9:
The sentences beginning with here/there are different in structure. In
this case, the subject comes after the verb.
Here/There + verb + subject . . . . . .
Example:
o Here comes(verb) the lion(subject).
o There is a pond near the house.
o There are some candies  on the table.
o Here is the document  for your car.

Rule 10:
Collective nouns are usually regarded as singular subjects.
Examples:
o The committee has decided to postpone the game.
o The family was ecstatic by the news.
o The crowd enjoys the excitement in the game.
o Twenty dollars is not a lot of money. (Here, the noun is plural, but
the subject is regarded as a collective noun.)
Note:  The following phrases are also regarded as collective nouns and
thus singular subjects.
Flock of birds/sheep, herd of cattle, pack of dogs/wolves, school of
fish, pride of lions
Example:
o A flock of sheep always moves together.
o A pack of wolves is approaching towards the herd of cattle.
o A school of fish always hides from the big fishes.

Rule 11:
A number of + noun is a plural subject, and it takes a plural verb. The
number of + noun is a singular subject, and it takes a singular verb.
Example:
o A number of dancers  are coming to the party. (Indefinite number
of dancers – plural)
o The number of dancers  coming to the party is 12. (Definite
number of dancers – singular)
o A number of people  prefer cricket to football.
o The number of days in this month is 28.

Rule 12:
If a gerund or an infinitive comes as a subject, the verb will always be
singular.
Example:
o Swimming is a good exercise.
o Walking is a good habit.
o Eating healthy food makes you healthy.
o To err is human.

Rule 13:
 If the + an adjective appears as the subject of a sentence, it will be
plural.
Example:
o The pious are loved by God.
o The industrious are always not successful.
o The best do not lack integrity.