Subject Verb Agreement
The basic idea…
• The number of the subject determines the
number of the verb.
• Singular subject=singular verb
• Plural subject=plural verb
Ex: The girl graduates. (Singular)
The students graduate. (Plural)
Most of the time…
• Nouns ending in -S are plural (aunts, cities,
tacos, friends)
• Verbs ending in –S are singular (gives, takes,
runs, has, is)
• Note: Verbs used with I and you do NOT end in
–S
• Ex: I run. You run. I walk. You walk.
Some Rules
I  Plural verb (no –s) (exception)
You  Plural verb (no –s)
He, She, It  Singular Verb (-s)
You  Plural Verb (no –s)
We  Plural Verb (no –s)
They  Plural Verb (no –s)
Practice: Choose the correct form of the verb.
Write the subject and verb.
1. The people (walk, walks) across the street when the
cars stop.
2. You (is, are) required to turn in your work by noon.
3. That house (has, have) always given me the creeps.
4. We (talk, talks) on the phone everyday.
5. Kristin (was, were) in the mall and ran into her best
friend.
6. The kids (sing, sings) every time they hear that song
on the radio.
7. They (believe, believes) that they will win the game.
8. All the women (seems, seem) to feel the same way
about the issue.
9. Julia (reads, read) all the time.
10. They (attends, attend) the church on the corner.
Special Rules for Subject Verb Agreement!
Compound subjects: When the compound subject
is connected by “and,” use a plural verb.
Ex: Jim and Thomas like hiking.
Plural Verb
Ex: Her dad, mom, and her brothers are
doctors.
Special Rules for Subject Verb Agreement!
When the subject is 2 or more singular nouns
joined by “or” or “nor,” use a singular verb.
Ex: A pen or pencil is acceptable to use.
Singular Verb
Ex: Neither Sam nor Mike likes sports.
Special Rules for Subject Verb Agreement!
When a singular subject and a plural subject are
joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the
subject closest to the verb.
Ex: Neither the potatoes nor the roast is done.
Ex: Neither the roast nor the potatoes are done.
Practice: Choose the correct form of the verb. Write the subject
and verb.
1. Mario and Luigi (run, runs) away from the
fireball.
2. Kathy and Bobby (play, plays) basketball
every Saturday.
3. She and Simon (is, are) going to the
Homecoming Dance.
4. Either my mom or my dad (drive, drives) me to
school.
5. Neither the grapes nor the cantaloupe (was,
were) ripe enough to eat.
1.
SVA Checkpoint Quiz (Just write
the
verb)
Neither the cantaloupe nor the grapes (was, were) ripe
enough to eat.
2. Actors and singers (is, are) very prominent in Hollywood.
3. Either the faucet or the shower head (leak, leaks) when the
water runs.
4. The campers and the counselors (run, runs) 3 miles every
morning.
5. The assistant managers or the boss (monitor, monitors) the
sales floor.
6. I (is, am) always up for a good movie.
7. The girls (park, parks) the car and then go inside.
8. My mom and dad (love, loves) music from the 70s.
9. The students (is, are) very excited for the game.
10. The players or the coach (creates, create) the plays.
Some more SVA Rules
Sometimes phrases will appear in between the
subject and the verb. Don’t be misled by these
phrases!!
Ex: The boy with the purple shoes runs fast.
The people in the parking lot drive slowly.
What are these two phrases???
PREPOSITIONAL
PHRASES!!!
SVA
So, if we cross out the prepositional phrases we
can easily choose the verb.
Ex: The boy with the purple shoes runs fast.
Ex: The people in the parking lot drive slowly.
Remember: The subject and verb will
never be in the prepositional phrase!
SVA
More phrases…
Other phrases (adjective clauses, appositives, and
participle phrases) might also interrupt the subject
and the verb. Do not let these phrases confuse you!
•
•
•
•
One of the boxes is open
The people who listen to that music are few.
The team captain, as well as his players, is anxious.
The book, including all the chapters in the first
section, is boring.
• The woman with all the dogs walks down my street.
Directions: Write the sentence. Draw a line through the
interrupting phrase and then identify the subject and correct verb.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Students in the 8th grade (is, are) not permitted to attend.
Her husband, a very kind man, (call, calls) her everyday at
lunch.
The pond, frozen over since early December, (is, are) now
safe for ice-skating.
The boy with the guitar (play, plays) all the time.
The girl winning the race (are, is) my best friend.
All the bands in the contest (deserve, deserves) an award.
That band from California ( perform, performs) all around the
world.
The woman, a Florida native, (sings, sing) beautifully.
SVA: Special Rules
The words each, each one, either, neither,
everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone,
nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are
singular and require a singular verb.
• Each of these hot dogs is juicy.
• Everybody knows Mr. Jones.
• Either is correct.
SVA: Special Rules
Collective nouns are words that imply more than
one person but that are considered singular and
take a singular verb, such as group, team,
committee, class, and family.
• The team runs during practice.
• The committee decides how to proceed.
• The family has a long history.
SVA: Special Rules
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.
• There are many questions.
• There is a question.
Practice: Write the correct verb.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Each of the cars (is, are) expensive.
Everybody (want, wants) to go to the pep rally.
There (is, are) a book on the table.
There (is, are) books on the table.
The group (is, are) ready to leave.
The class (has, have) a test every three
weeks.
7. My family (has, have) never been able to
agree.
8. Anyone (is, are) welcome to attend.