Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement: 9 Essential Rules

Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental aspect of English grammar, ensuring that the verb in a sentence agrees in number (singular or plural) with its subject. Mastering this concept is crucial for clear and effective communication, both in writing and speaking.

A solid grasp of subject-verb agreement enhances the credibility of your communication and prevents misunderstandings. This article provides a comprehensive guide to subject-verb agreement, covering essential rules, common mistakes, and practice exercises.

This article is beneficial for English language learners, students, writers, and anyone seeking to improve their grammatical accuracy and clarity. By understanding and applying these rules, you can significantly enhance the precision and professionalism of your English.

Table of Contents

• Definition of Subject-Verb Agreement
• Structural Breakdown
• Types and Categories
• Examples of Subject-Verb Agreement
• 9 Essential Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
• Common Mistakes in Subject-Verb Agreement
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics in Subject-Verb Agreement
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Definition of Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement, also known as concord, is a grammatical principle that dictates that the verb in a sentence must match the number and person of its subject. In simpler terms, a singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb.

This agreement ensures clarity and grammatical correctness in sentences. The subject and verb must agree regardless of the sentence’s complexity or the presence of intervening phrases.

This foundational rule is essential for constructing grammatically sound and easily understandable sentences.

Subject-verb agreement is not only a matter of grammatical correctness but also plays a vital role in conveying the intended meaning accurately. Incorrect subject-verb agreement can lead to confusion and misinterpretation.

For example, consider the difference between “The dog barks” and “The dogs bark.” The former indicates a single dog, while the latter indicates multiple dogs. Understanding subject-verb agreement is crucial for both native speakers and learners of English.

Structural Breakdown

The basic structure of a sentence involving subject-verb agreement is straightforward: Subject + Verb (+ Object/Complement). The subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the action, and the verb is the action word. The verb must agree with the subject in number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third). This agreement is most apparent in the present tense.

For example, in the sentence “She sings,” “She” is the singular subject, and “sings” is the singular verb. Conversely, in the sentence “They sing,” “They” is the plural subject, and “sing” is the plural verb.

The object or complement is the part of the sentence that receives the action or provides additional information about the subject. These elements do not affect the subject-verb agreement but are crucial for a complete sentence structure.

Understanding this basic structure provides a solid foundation for mastering more complex rules of subject-verb agreement.

Types and Categories

Subject-verb agreement can be categorized based on several factors, including the type of subject (singular, plural, collective), the presence of compound subjects, and the use of indefinite pronouns. Each category presents unique challenges and requires specific rules to ensure correct agreement.

Understanding these categories is essential for mastering the nuances of subject-verb agreement.

Singular and Plural Subjects

The most basic distinction is between singular and plural subjects. A singular subject refers to one person, place, thing, or idea, while a plural subject refers to two or more.

Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs. This is the foundation of subject-verb agreement.

Compound Subjects

Compound subjects are two or more subjects joined by a conjunction such as “and,” “or,” or “nor.” The verb agreement depends on the conjunction used. When subjects are joined by “and,” the verb is usually plural.

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

Collective Nouns

Collective nouns refer to a group of people or things as a single unit (e.g., team, family, committee). Collective nouns can be either singular or plural, depending on whether the group is acting as a single unit or as individual members.

If the group is acting as a single unit, the verb is singular. If the members of the group are acting individually, the verb is plural.

Indefinite Pronouns

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

Examples of Subject-Verb Agreement

To illustrate the principles of subject-verb agreement, consider the following examples. These examples are categorized to show how the rules apply in different contexts, including singular subjects, plural subjects, compound subjects, collective nouns, and indefinite pronouns.

Each category is presented in a table format for clarity and ease of understanding.

Singular and Plural Subjects Examples

This table presents examples of subject-verb agreement with singular and plural subjects. It highlights the basic principle of matching the verb form to the subject’s number.

Subject	Verb	Example Sentence
The dog	barks	The dog barks loudly.
The dogs	bark	The dogs bark at the mailman.
She	sings	She sings beautifully.
They	sing	They sing in the choir.
He	runs	He runs every morning.
We	run	We run in the park.
It	rains	It rains frequently in April.
Clouds	gather	Dark clouds gather before a storm.
The car	needs	The car needs to be washed.
The cars	need	The cars need new tires.
My mother	cooks	My mother cooks delicious meals.
My parents	cook	My parents cook together on weekends.
The book	is	The book is very interesting.
The books	are	The books are on the table.
The teacher	explains	The teacher explains the lesson clearly.
The teachers	explain	The teachers explain the concepts well.
The student	studies	The student studies hard for the exam.
The students	study	The students study together in the library.
The flower	blooms	The flower blooms in the spring.
The flowers	bloom	The flowers bloom in the garden.
The bird	flies	The bird flies south for the winter.
The birds	fly	The birds fly in formation.
The house	stands	The house stands on the hill.
The houses	stand	The houses stand in a row.
The city	grows	The city grows rapidly.
The cities	grow	The cities grow in population.
My friend	plays	My friend plays the guitar.
My friends	play	My friends play soccer in the park.

Compound Subjects Examples

This table illustrates subject-verb agreement with compound subjects joined by “and,” “or,” and “nor.” It demonstrates how the verb form changes based on the conjunction used.

Subject	Verb	Example 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.
Coffee and toast	is	Coffee and toast is my usual breakfast. (treated as a single unit)
Either the cat or the dog	is	Either the cat or the dog is going to the vet.
Either the cats or the dog	is	Either the cats or the dog is going to the vet.
Either the cat or the dogs	are	Either the cat or the dogs are going to the vet.
Neither John nor Mary	is	Neither John nor Mary is coming to the meeting.
Neither the students nor the teacher	is	Neither the students nor the teacher is present.
Neither the teacher nor the students	are	Neither the teacher nor the students are present.
My brother and I	are	My brother and I are planning a trip.
The book and the pen	are	The book and the pen are on the desk.
The singer and the dancer	perform	The singer and the dancer perform together.
The car and the truck	need	The car and the truck need repairs.
The house and the garden	look	The house and the garden look beautiful.
The sun and the moon	shine	The sun and the moon shine in the sky.
The rain and the wind	are	The rain and the wind are causing a storm.
The bread and butter	is	The bread and butter is a simple meal. (treated as a single unit)
Either the teacher or I	am	Either the teacher or I am going to lead the session.
Either he or she	is	Either he or she is responsible for the error.
Neither the players nor the coach	agrees	Neither the players nor the coach agrees with the decision.
Neither the coach nor the players	agree	Neither the coach nor the players agree with the decision.
The director and producer	is	The director and producer is arriving soon. (same person)
The director and the producer	are	The director and the producer are arriving soon. (different people)
Love and affection	is	Love and affection is what every child needs.
Patience and understanding	are	Patience and understanding are important qualities.
The hammer and the nails	are	The hammer and the nails are in the toolbox.
The fork and the knife	are	The fork and the knife are on the table.

Collective Nouns Examples

This table provides examples of subject-verb agreement with collective nouns. It illustrates how the verb form depends on whether the collective noun is acting as a single unit or as individual members.

Subject	Verb	Example Sentence
The team	is	The team is playing well. (as a unit)
The team	are	The team are arguing about the strategy. (as individuals)
The family	is	The family is going on vacation. (as a unit)
The family	are	The family are deciding what to do. (as individuals)
The committee	meets	The committee meets every Tuesday. (as a unit)
The committee	disagree	The committee disagree on the budget. (as individuals)
The audience	was	The audience was captivated by the performance. (as a unit)
The audience	were	The audience were clapping and cheering. (as individuals)
The jury	has	The jury has reached a verdict. (as a unit)
The jury	are	The jury are divided in their opinions. (as individuals)
The class	is	The class is studying diligently. (as a unit)
The class	are	The class are working on different projects. (as individuals)
The government	is	The government is implementing new policies. (as a unit)
The government	have	The government have different opinions on the matter. (as individuals)
The band	plays	The band plays at the concert. (as a unit)
The band	are	The band are tuning their instruments. (as individuals)
The crowd	is	The crowd is cheering for the team. (as a unit)
The crowd	are	The crowd are dispersing after the game. (as individuals)
The staff	is	The staff is dedicated to their work. (as a unit)
The staff	are	The staff are taking their breaks. (as individuals)
The flock	flies	The flock flies south for the winter. (as a unit)
The flock	scatter	The flock scatter when disturbed. (as individuals)
The herd	grazes	The herd grazes in the meadow. (as a unit)
The herd	move	The herd move to find better pasture. (as individuals)

Indefinite Pronouns Examples

This table illustrates subject-verb agreement with indefinite pronouns. It shows how the verb form depends on whether the indefinite pronoun is singular or plural, and how context can influence the agreement.

Subject	Verb	Example Sentence
Everyone	is	Everyone is invited to the party.
Someone	has	Someone has left their umbrella.
Nobody	knows	Nobody knows the answer.
Each	has	Each has a role to play.
Every	is	Every student is responsible for their work.
All	are	All of the students are present.
All	is	All of the milk is gone.
Some	are	Some of the books are missing.
Some	is	Some of the water is polluted.
None	are	None of the cookies are left.
None	is	None of the information is correct.
Any	is	Any of the pie is fine with me.
Any	are	Are any of the tickets still available?
More	is	More of the work is needed.
More	are	More of the workers are needed.
Most	is	Most of the money is spent.
Most	are	Most of the people are happy.
Everything	is	Everything is ready for the event.
Something	is	Something is wrong with the engine.
Anything	is	Anything is possible if you believe.
Nothing	is	Nothing is impossible.
One	is	One of the students is absent.
Several	are	Several are coming to the party.
Few	know	Few know the secret.
Many	are	Many are interested in the topic.
Both	are	Both are excellent choices.

9 Essential Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement

The following rules provide a comprehensive guide to ensuring correct subject-verb agreement in various contexts. These rules cover both basic and more complex situations, including exceptions and special cases.

Mastering these rules is essential for writing grammatically correct and clear sentences.

1. Rule 1: Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs. This is the most fundamental rule of subject-verb agreement. For example: The cat sleeps. (singular) vs. The cats sleep. (plural).
2. Rule 2: When two or more subjects are joined by “and,” use a plural verb. For example: John and Mary are going to the party. However, if the subjects refer to the same person or thing, use a singular verb: The director and producer is arriving soon.
3. Rule 3: When two or more singular subjects are connected by “or” or “nor,” use a singular verb. For example: Either the cat or the dog is going to the vet.
4. Rule 4: When a singular and a plural subject are connected by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. For example: Neither the students nor the teacher is present. vs. Neither the teacher nor the students are present.
5. Rule 5: Collective nouns take a singular verb when the group is acting as a single unit and a plural verb when the members of the group are acting individually. For example: The team is playing well. (as a unit) vs. The team are arguing about the strategy. (as individuals).
6. Rule 6: Indefinite pronouns such as “everyone,” “someone,” “nobody,” “each,” and “every” are always singular and take singular verbs. For example: Everyone is invited to the party.
7. Rule 7: Indefinite pronouns such as “all,” “some,” “none,” “any,” “more,” and “most” can be singular or plural, depending on the noun they refer to. If the noun is countable, use a plural verb; if the noun is uncountable, use a singular verb. For example: All of the students are present. (countable) vs. All of the milk is gone. (uncountable).
8. Rule 8: Phrases that come between the subject and verb do not affect subject-verb agreement. For example: The book, including all the chapters, is interesting. The subject is “book,” not “chapters.”
9. Rule 9: In sentences that begin with “there is” or “there are,” the subject follows the verb. The verb agrees with the subject that follows it. For example: There is a book on the table. vs. There are books on the table.

Common Mistakes in Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is a common source of errors, even for native English speakers. These mistakes often arise from overlooking the subject, misidentifying collective nouns, or misinterpreting compound subjects.

Recognizing these common errors is the first step in avoiding them.

One frequent mistake is failing to account for phrases that come between the subject and verb. For example, the sentence “The box of chocolates are delicious” is incorrect because the subject is “box,” which is singular, so the verb should be “is.” Another common error involves collective nouns.

Many people mistakenly treat collective nouns as always plural, leading to errors like “The team are playing well” when the team is acting as a unit. Compound subjects can also be confusing, especially when “or” or “nor” is used.

It’s essential to remember that the verb agrees with the subject closest to it in these cases.

Here’s a table illustrating some common mistakes and their corrections:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
The box of chocolates are delicious.	The box of chocolates is delicious.	The subject is “box,” which is singular.
The team are playing well.	The team is playing well.	“Team” is acting as a single unit.
Neither the students nor the teacher are present.	Neither the students nor the teacher is present.	The verb agrees with “teacher,” which is singular.
Everyone are invited to the party.	Everyone is invited to the party.	“Everyone” is always singular.
There is many books on the table.	There are many books on the table.	The subject is “books,” which is plural.
The data is incorrect.	The data are incorrect.	“Data” is the plural of “datum”.
Economics are a difficult subject.	Economics is a difficult subject.	“Economics” is singular when referring to the field of study.
The news are surprising.	The news is surprising.	“News” is singular.
Each of the students have a book.	Each of the students has a book.	“Each” is singular.
My friend, along with his parents, are coming.	My friend, along with his parents, is coming.	The subject is “friend,” which is singular.
The price of these shoes are too high.	The price of these shoes is too high.	The subject is “price,” which is singular.
A number of students is absent.	A number of students are absent.	“A number of” is plural.
The number of students are increasing.	The number of students is increasing.	“The number of” is singular.
One of the boys have the answer.	One of the boys has the answer.	“One” is singular.
The United States are a powerful country.	The United States is a powerful country.	“The United States” is treated as a singular entity.

Practice Exercises

To reinforce your understanding of subject-verb agreement, complete the following exercises. Each exercise focuses on different aspects of the rules discussed.

These exercises will help you identify and correct errors, solidifying your grasp of this essential grammar concept.

Exercise 1: Identifying Correct Verb Forms

Choose the correct verb form in each of the following sentences:

Question	Answer Choices	Correct Answer
The dog (barks/bark) loudly.	a) barks b) bark	a) barks
The dogs (barks/bark) at the mailman.	a) barks b) bark	b) bark
She (sings/sing) beautifully.	a) sings b) sing	a) sings
They (sings/sing) in the choir.	a) sings b) sing	b) sing
It (rains/rain) frequently in April.	a) rains b) rain	a) rains
The car (needs/need) to be washed.	a) needs b) need	a) needs
My mother (cooks/cook) delicious meals.	a) cooks b) cook	a) cooks
The book (is/are) very interesting.	a) is b) are	a) is
The teachers (explains/explain) the concepts well.	a) explains b) explain	b) explain
The student (studies/study) hard for the exam.	a) studies b) study	a) studies

Exercise 2: Compound Subjects

Choose the correct verb form in each of the following sentences with compound subjects:

Question	Answer Choices	Correct Answer
John and Mary (is/are) going to the party.	a) is b) are	b) are
Either the cat or the dog (is/are) going to the vet.	a) is b) are	a) is
Neither John nor Mary (is/are) coming to the meeting.	a) is b) are	a) is
My brother and I (is/are) planning a trip.	a) is b) are	b) are
The book and the pen (is/are) on the desk.	a) is b) are	b) are
The singer and the dancer (performs/perform) together.	a) performs b) perform	b) perform
Either the teacher or I (am/is) going to lead the session.	a) am b) is	a) am
Neither the players nor the coach (agrees/agree) with the decision.	a) agrees b) agree	a) agrees
Love and affection (is/are) what every child needs.	a) is b) are	a) is
The hammer and the nails (is/are) in the toolbox.	a) is b) are	b) are

Exercise 3: Collective Nouns

Choose the correct verb form in each of the following sentences with collective nouns:

Question	Answer Choices	Correct Answer
The team (is/are) playing well.	a) is b) are	a) is
The team (is/are) arguing about the strategy.	a) is b) are	b) are
The family (is/are) going on vacation.	a) is b) are	a) is
The committee (meets/meet) every Tuesday.	a) meets b) meet	a) meets
The jury (has/have) reached a verdict.	a) has b) have	a) has
The class (is/are) studying diligently.	a) is b) are	a) is
The government (is/are) implementing new policies.	a) is b) are	a) is
The band (plays/play) at the concert.	a) plays b) play	a) plays
The crowd (is/are) cheering for the team.	a) is b) are	a) is
The staff (is/are) dedicated to their work.	a) is b) are	a) is

Exercise 4: Indefinite Pronouns

Choose the correct verb form in each of the following sentences with indefinite pronouns:

Question	Answer Choices	Correct Answer
Everyone (is/are) invited to the party.	a) is b) are	a) is
Someone (has/have) left their umbrella.	a) has b) have	a) has
Nobody (knows/know) the answer.	a) knows b) know	a) knows
Each (has/have) a role to play.	a) has b) have	a) has
All (is/are) welcome.	a) is b) are	b) are
Some (is/are) missing.	a) is b) are	b) are
None (is/are) available.	a) is b) are	a) is
Everything (is/are) ready for the event.	a) is b) are	a) is
Something (is/are) wrong with the engine.	a) is b) are	a) is
One (is/are) absent.	a) is b) are	a) is

Advanced Topics in Subject-Verb Agreement

For advanced learners, there are several complex aspects of subject-verb agreement that require deeper understanding. These topics include inverted sentences, titles of works

, and clauses acting as subjects.

Mastering these advanced topics will further refine your grammatical accuracy and enhance your ability to handle intricate sentence structures.

Inverted Sentences

Inverted sentences occur when the subject follows the verb, often in questions or sentences beginning with phrases like “here is” or “there are.” In these cases, it’s crucial to identify the actual subject and ensure the verb agrees with it, not the preceding words.

Titles of Works

Titles of books, movies, and other works are generally treated as singular, even if they contain plural words. This is because the title refers to a single entity.

Clauses as Subjects

When a clause acts as the subject of a sentence, it is generally treated as singular. This is because the entire clause functions as a single unit.

“Each” and “Every” with Compound Subjects

When “each” or “every” precedes a compound subject joined by “and,” the verb is usually singular. This is because “each” and “every” emphasize the individual nature of the subjects.

Expressions of Quantity

Expressions of quantity, such as “one-half of,” “two-thirds of,” or “a percentage of,” can be singular or plural depending on the noun they refer to. If the noun is countable, the verb is plural; if the noun is uncountable, the verb is singular.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Mastering subject-verb agreement is crucial for effective and clear communication in English. By understanding and applying the rules outlined in this article, you can significantly improve the accuracy and professionalism of your writing and speaking.

Remember to identify the subject correctly, account for compound subjects and collective nouns, and be aware of indefinite pronouns. With practice and attention to detail, you can confidently avoid common mistakes and ensure your sentences are grammatically sound.

Consistent application of these principles will enhance your overall command of the English language.