Subject Verb Agreement: Rules, Examples and Tips

Subject-Verb Agreement: Meaning and Definition

The subject verb agreement, also known as "subject-verb concord," refers to aligning the subject and verb of a sentence in terms of tense, aspect, and mood, which is translated into number, person, and gender. English does not employ grammatical gender, except for pronouns. Only the verb can be changed whether it is first, second, or third person. That means most English language subject-verb agreement is about quantity. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular; if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.

Hence, this was the meaning and definition of the subject-verb agreement.

Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement with Examples

The concept of subject-verb concord matters the most when using the present tenses. The simple past and future tenses have the same verbs used irrespective of the issue in the sentence. Knowing and following the rules of this will help you write error-free sentences. Go through the following rules, along with examples, to understand how each rule is applied.

Rule 1

The first rule is what we have already discussed above- the use of a singular verb with a singular subject and a plural verb with a plural subject. The subject can be a noun, a pronoun, or even a noun phrase. If it is a pronoun, the subject-verb agreement is done concerning the person of the pronoun.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• Rachel spends her free time to learn English. (Singular subject with singular verb)
• Blaine and Kurt Play the guitar. (Plural subject with a plural verb)
• She likes to have dessert after every meal. (Third person singular pronoun with singular subject)

Rule 2

When using the ‘be’ form of verbs, there is an exception. In this case, the verb is used according to the number and person of the subject. Check out the following table to see how it works with different pronouns. 

Moreover, when used with other nouns and noun phrases, the rule applies. The same works even with simple past, present continuous, and past continuous tenses. When the ‘be’ form of verbs is used as the principal verb.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• Santana is a singer.
• The girls are waiting for you.
• We were happy with the review of our first movie.
• I was reading the latest book by Rudyard Kipling.

Rule 3

The use of ‘has’ and ‘have’ in the present perfect and present perfect continuous tense and as a main verb is also dependent on the subject. All singular subjects use ‘has’ and all plural subjects use ‘have’.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• I have a younger brother.
• You have taken the wrong cut.
• Shweta has a pet dog.
• Finn has been waiting to talk to you about the test results.

Rule 4

Sometimes two or more subjects are linked to one verb. These are called compound subjects. Thus, to decide whether to use a singular or plural verb, consider how the subjects are connected.

Check out the following examples to understand:

Subjects linked with “and”

• A bicycle and a pedestrian were involved.

Anomaly: When two nouns do not refer to separate things but to a single entity, use a singular verb.

• The new bed and breakfast opens this week.

Subjects linked with “or”

• Just a card or a balloon is enough.

Anomaly: If all the subjects are plural, use a plural verb.

• Either the measurement or the calculations have created a problem.

Anomaly: If the compound subject contains both singular and plural nouns, the verb takes the form of the closest subject.

• Neither the batteries nor the machine operate as intended.

Rule 5

When more than one noun is joined by the conjunction ‘or’, the subject is considered to be singular, and a singular verb is used.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• Celery or spring onion works fine.
• Your mom or dad has to be here as soon as possible.

Rule 6

Sentences with pronouns such as anybody, anyone, no one, someone, somebody, everyone, everybody, nobody, and nothing are treated as singular subjects and will use a singular verb.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• Nobody has understood anything.
• Nothing fits me well.
• No one finds the movie interesting.
• Everyone was happy with the job outcomes.

Rule 7

For a sentence using “either...or” and “neither...nor”, the verb should agree with the noun or pronoun that comes just before it.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• Neither Poonam nor Varsha is here yet.
• Either the teacher or the student has to take the initiative to keep the classroom clean regularly.

Rule 8

When sentences have subjects like news, police, mathematics, and more nouns are plural by default. Thus, the verb should be plural.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• The news of the demonstration shocks the entire nation.
• The police have been looking for the thief.

Rule 9

When a negative sentence is written, the “do” verb is used and it has to match the subject.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• The children do not like working out trigonometry problems.
• My father does not work at the Wipro anymore.

Rule 10

Interrogative sentences also take the help of the “do” verb. As far as the subjectverb agreement of Interrogative sentences is concerned. Moreover, the first verb “be” or “do” has to be aligned with the subject of the sentence.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• Do you read thriller novels?
• Doesn’t he know you already?
• Is Priya happy with the new house?
• Were you looking for a new house?

Rule 11

When you have sentences that begin with ‘there’, ‘that’, ‘this’, ‘those’, and more. Moreover, always remember that the subject follows the verb and therefore the verb has to be conjugated with reference to the subject.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• Here is your towel.
• There lies your T-shirt.
• That was a great song.
• There have been many changes in the schedule.

Rule 12

Abstract nouns and uncountable nouns are considered singular subjects, so make sure you use a singular verb along with it.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• Honesty is the best policy.
• Love makes people do crazy things.

Rule 13

When the subject refers to a period of time, distance, or a sum of money, use a singular verb.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• 1567 Kilometers is too long for us to travel in half a day.
• 12 years is not considered optimum to go on the water slide.
• Don’t you think 1500 rupees is a little too much for a partial?

Rule 14

The next rule is based on the use of collective nouns as subjects. Remember that when you have a collective noun as the subject of the sentence, the verb can be singular or plural based on the sentence and the context.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• My family is settled in the USA.
• All groups of participants have arrived.

Rule 15

In sentences adjectives such as ‘all’, 'a lot of’, or ‘some’ are used along with nouns to form a phrase that acts as the subject of the sentence. Hence, the verb is used according to the noun just before it.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• All of my dresses have become loose.
• A lot of food is left out.
• Some of the books are torn and damaged.

Rule 16

When a sentence begins with ‘each’ or ‘every’ as the subject, it is considered singular. So, the verb has to be singular too.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• Each candidate has been asked to provide a consent letter.
• Every teacher, parent, and student is expected to work together.

Rule 17

When you are using a sentence to express a request, verbs are used a little differently from other sentences.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• I wish I were a bird.
• If you were here, I would not be sad.
• If you were here, I would not be sad.
• We request that everyone make their choices now.

Rule 18

When mathematical facts are used, such as subtraction, multiplication, addition, division, and so forth. These are used, the verb will be any of singular and plural. Thus, that is a singular or plural verb can be used when mathematical facts are used.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• Ten plus ten is (or are) twenty.
• Ten multiplied by two is (or is) twenty.
• Both singular and plural are correct.

Rule 19

When every precedes a plural, the next verb is plural. Every + plural number concord is the rule in subject verb agreement. However, when ‘every’ appears without any plural number, the verb is singular.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• Every ten liters of oil bought comes with a bonus of an extra liter.
• Every boy likes girls.
• Every man likes basketball.

Rule 20

When most is used, the verb will either be singular or plural. Thus, it depends on whether the referent is a countable or uncountable noun.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• Most of the boys are tall.
• Most of the time, Rahul has always been there for her.

Rule 21

When all appears, it means either everything or everyone. Thus, when all means everything, the verb to be used should be singular but when all the people, the verb to be used should be plural. In addition, when all but is used, the following verb should be plural.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• All are already seated in the hall.
• All is well with me.
• All but Simran are on the bus. This means, only Rahul is absent.

Rule 22

When either or neither joins two singular nouns together, the following verb should be singular. However, when either or neither joins two subjects the other should be chosen by considering the neared of the two subjects. These subject verb agreement rules also apply, when ‘but or but even’ joins two subjects.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• Either Rahul or Simran knows me.
• Neither Isha nor her friend was here.
• Either Raya or his friends know me.
• Not only Roma but even teachers laugh in college.

Rule 23

Each and every one of concord appears, the next noun should be plural but the next verb should be singular. So, you should use a singular noun + a singular verb will be chosen.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• Each boy has a car.
• Each of the students stands a good chance to win a scholarship.

Rule 24

When a collective name, denoting category is used, so the verb to be used must be plural. A category such as the poor, the rich, the wealthy, the weak, the young spirit, the handicapped, and more. The verb to be used should be plural.

Check out the following examples to understand:

• The poor need help from the government.
• The young are disobedient.
• The weak are left to their fates.

These were the 24 subject verb agreement rules with examples. Since these rules are important to know before you use them in your sentences.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Subject-Verb Agreement

Now that you have understood the basic rules of subject verb agreement, you must be able to correct your mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes and no teacher will expect you to perfect every time. But, you will be expected to recognize when the mistake has been made and correct it before final submission. We have listed some common errors that may still provide you with difficulties:

1. Nouns Ending in ‘S’

Some subjects may look plural at first glance, but are singular that’s why you have to add a singular verb. This is because English grammar uses ‘s’ to pluralize and so nouns are required a singular verb.

2. Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects

Indefinite pronouns can be tricky because their status as singular or plural subjects may change depending on what they refer to.

3. Two Subjects Connected with ‘And’

If you remember the rule that a verb should be plural when connecting two or more subjects with the conjunction‘and’.

4. Connecting Two Singular Subjects

Unlike with ‘and’, when connecting two singular subjects with the following four words, you should use a singular verb.

5. Connecting a Plural and Singular Subject

When the words ‘either’, ‘or’, and ‘neither’, ‘nor’ from the previous example are used subjects of the mixed number. Hence, the verb will agree with whichever subject it is closest to.

6. Embedded Prepositional Phrases

When subjects contain embedded prepositional phrases within their format, some readers and speakers can get a little confused.

If you manage to recognize and fix these common mistakes, then your subject-verb concord should be correct most of the time.

Conclusion

Summing up, subject verb agreement is important for clear writing. The blog has explained how to ensure your verbs match the number of their corresponding subjects, avoiding awkward phrasing and confusion. In addition, it also covers 24 rules with examples and common mistakes you make to guide you. Moreover, we hope that this blog has been helpful as you write your manuscript. But if you still have any questions, feel free to contact us.

FAQ’s

1. What Is the Rule For Subject-Verb Agreement with Collective Nouns?

A present tense verb, as well as a simple past form of the verb, must agree in number with its subjects. Thus, the verb must be singular if its subject is singular and plural if its subject is plural.

2. How Does Subject-Verb Agreement Work with Percentages or Fractions?

Fractions and percentages are singular when modifying a non-count noun. They are plural when modifying a plural noun. Also, they may be singular and plural when modifying a collective noun.

For example: One half of the toxic waste has escaped.

3. How Do Uncountable Nouns Affect Subject-Verb Agreement?

Uncountable nouns are always treated as singular when it comes to agreement of verb with subject. Hence, it does not have a plural and always uses a singular verb. However, ‘news’ is a noun that is uncountable and it ends in an ‘s’.

4. How Do I Deal with Tricky Subjects Like ‘Each,’ ‘Every,’ or ‘Neither’?

The words and phrases “each”, “each one”, “either”, “everyone” and other words are singular and require a singular verb.

For example: Each of the participants was willing to be recorded.

5. What Is the Role of Context in Subject-Verb Agreement?

When you have a collective noun as the subject of the sentence, the verb can be singular or plural based on the sentence and the context.

For example: My family is settled in Canada.