Subject – Verb Agreement
Subject

EXAMPLE:
The subject of the sentence is who
or what the sentence is about.
The boy watches the movie.
Subject – The sentence is about the boy.
Verb

EXAMPLE:
Verbs are action words (throw) or
state of being words (is). The verb
must agree with its subject in
number.
The boy watches the movie.
Verb – watches is singular.
Subject – the sentence is about the boy. Boy is singular.
EXAMPLES:

The boy watches the movie.
singular subject

The boys watch the movie.
plural subject

plural verb
The rain falls at a steady rate.
singular subject

singular verb
singular verb
The drops of rain fall at a steady rate.
plural subject
plural verb
Subjects joined by and take a plural verb


Plants, flowers, and soil were
interesting to George Washington
Carver.
Rain and sleet were expected to fall
Saturday night.
A compound subject that names only
one person or thing takes a singular
verb.


A famous professor and scientist
at Tuskegee Institute was George
Washington Carver.
The inventor and patriot was one
of America’s most influential men.
Singular subjects joined by or or nor
take a singular verb.

Neither his mother nor his father
was alive to raise George.
When a singular subject and a plural
subject are joined by or or nor, the verb
agrees with the subject nearer the verb.

Neither his mother nor his brothers
were alive to raise George.
A collective noun takes a singular verb
when the noun refers to the group as a
unit.

The committee is in charge of the
reception.
A collective noun takes a plural verb when
the noun refers to the individual parts or
members of the group.

The committee have been unable
to decide where to hold the event.
Practice: Re-write each sentence
using the correct verb. Underline the
subject of each sentence.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The rapper KRS-One (is, are) one of my
favorite performers.
In fact, his picture (is, are) hanging on
my room.
As you can see, KRS’s face (reflects,
reflect) his positive attitude.
KRS (encourages, encourage) people to
think for themselves.
Many performers (believes, believe) in
using rap music to improve people’s
lives and to end violence.
Practice: Re-write each sentence
using the correct verb. Underline the
subject of each sentence.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The launch of the space shuttle (attracts,
attract) the interest of many people
throughout the world.
The thermos bottle in the picnic basket (is,
are) filled with apple juice.
My favorite collection of poems (is, are)
Where the Sidewalk Ends.
People in some states (observes, observe) the
fourth Friday in September as Native
American Day.
The starving children of the world (needs,
need) food and medicine.
Practice: Re-write each sentence
using the correct verb. Underline the
subject of each sentence.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
All of my friends (has, have) had the
chicken pox.
Everyone at the party (likes, like) the
hummus dip.
Both of Fred’s brothers (celebrates,
celebrate) their birthday in June.
Some of my baseball cards (is, are)
valuable.
Several of those colors (do, does) not
appeal to me.
Practice: Re-write each sentence
using the correct verb. Underline the
subject of each sentence.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The cucumbers in my garden (grows,
grow) very quickly.
Many of Mrs. Smith’s students (speaks,
speak) fluent Spanish.
Koalas in the wild and in captivity (eats,
eat) very quickly.
Nobody in the beginning painting classes
(has, have) displayed their work in the
annual art show.
The principal of each high school (awards,
award) certificates to honor students.