SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
I.
The verb in every sentence or clause must agree with its subject in person and number.
Find the subject or subjects and then the verb. More than one subject is plural so its verb
must reflect more than one subject. A singular subject means just that--one subject. After
locating the subject and verb, determine whether the subject is singular or plural.
Example: She is going to the store in five minutes. (She is singular, so the verb, is, will
also be singular.)
They are going to the store in five minutes. (They is a plural subject, so the
verb, are, must be plural.)
Sometimes the verb comes before the subject; don't let that fool you. Find the subject
first, then find the verb.
Example: There (is, are) in many countries much unrest today. Unrest is the subject. It
is singular, so the verb must also be singular. The correct verb is is.
Phrases often separate the subject and verb. Again, don't let that fool you. Locate the
subject and verb first.
Example: The evidence which he submitted to the judges (was, were) not convincing.
("Which he submitted," is a phrase separating the subject from the verb. The
subject is evidence; it is singular. The verb must then be singular. The correct
verb is was.
II.
Other common errors in subject-verb agreement occur when such words as each,
everyone, none, anybody, either, each, anyone, one, no one, everybody, someone,
somebody, and neither are used. Here is the rule:
None can be both singular or plural, so check the context in which it is used. The rest are
singular subjects and therefore require a singular verb.
Example: Each of the members (is, are) present. The subject is "each" which is
singular, so the verb must also be singular. The correct verb is is.
Neither flavor (is, are) very appetizing. The subject is "Neither" which is
singular, so the verb must also be singular. The correct verb is is.
Several, few, both, and many are plural words. The same rule applies. If the subject is
plural, the verb must be plural.
Example: Several students (is, are) here early. The subject is "several" which is plural,
so the verb must then be plural. The correct verb is are.
III.
Compound subjects (more than one subject) are joined by "and." Since there are two
subjects, they must be plural.
Example: Steak and chicken (is, are) on the menu today. The subject of the sentence is
"Steak and chicken." The verb must reflect both subjects. The correct verb is
are.
Constructions that interrupt the subject and the verb have no effect on the agreement of the
subject and the verb.
The actor, as well as the spectators, was frightened.
Exceptions include instances where the subject is an appositive (nouns naming the same
noun.
Example: My friend, Kirk, (is, are) at work right now. The subject is Kirk, but Kirk and
my friend are the same person. The subject is then singular, so the verb must
be singular. The correct verb is is.
IV.
Singular subjects joined by or or nor, take a singular verb. If one subject, however, is
singular and one plural, the verb agrees in number and person with the nearer one.
Example: Neither the coach nor the player was at fault. The subject is both the coach
and the player; both are singular. The verb is then singular.
Neither the cat nor the kittens have been fed. The subject of this sentence is
both cat and kittens. Since kittens is closer to the verb, the verb must be
plural.
V.
Some words may be singular or plural depending on the number of things the writer refers
to. Some, none, any and all are such words.
Example: Some of the money is missing.
Some of the papers were lost.
VI.
The number is not changed by a prepositional phrase following the subject.
Example: The music of the strings is beautiful.
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VII. Some nouns are singular in form but plural in meaning. They are called collective nouns
and include such words as team, class, crowd, and crew. These nouns may take either a
singular or a plural verb: if you are thinking of the group as a unit, you must use a singular
verb; if you are thinking of the individual members of the group, you must use a plural
verb
Example: The crew is striking for higher pay. (the crew is acting as a unit.)
The crew are writing reports of the wreck. (The members of the crew are
acting as individuals.)
Example: The class was not very large. (class as a unit)
The class were not all present. (class as individuals)
The class members were not all present. (better)
VIII. Words stating amounts of time, money, measurement, etc, are usually singular. Plural
nouns describing a mass, a quantity, or a number require a singular verb when the subject
is regarded as a unit.
Example: Five dollars is too much for her to pay.
(This really means the sum of five dollars is too much.)
Fifty bushels was all the bin would hold.
Phrases involving addition, multiplication, subtraction, and division of numbers preferably
take the singular. (Usage, however, is divided here.)
Example: Two and two is (are) four.
(This really means the sum of two and two is four.)
Two times three is six.
(This really means the product of two times three is six.)
Twelve divided by six is two.
(This really means the quotient of twelve divided by six is three.)
IX.
Book titles are singular even if they are plural in form.
Short Stories for Boys is worth reading.
**For additional examples, see "Subject-Verb Rules" handout.
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