Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical relationship in which a finite verb matches its subject in number and, where the verb form shows it, person. For example, English contrasts “I am,” “you are,” and “she is,” as well as “the dog runs” and “the dogs run.” This guide explains the main agreement patterns, context-sensitive cases, common errors, and practice exercises.
What is a Subject-Verb Agreement?
Definition
Subject-verb agreement means that a finite verb takes the form required by its grammatical subject. The most visible contrast is usually number:
- Singular subjects take singular verbs.
- Plural subjects take plural verbs.
Let’s look at some examples:
- Singular: “The cat runs quickly.”
- Plural: “The cats run quickly.”
Present-tense verbs show the clearest number contrast, while forms of be also distinguish person. Most ordinary past-tense verbs do not change with the subject, although was and were do.
Why Subject-Verb Agreement Matters?
Standard subject-verb agreement helps readers process a clause and identify its grammatical structure. The subject may perform an action, experience a state, receive an action, or serve another grammatical role, so agreement is not limited to identifying an actor.
Consider the difference:
❌ “The dog bark at strangers.”
✅ “The dog barks at strangers.”
❌ “My friends is coming over.”
✅ “My friends are coming over.”
Agreement errors are especially noticeable in edited prose. Learning to identify the complete subject, its head, and the finite verb provides a reliable method for correcting them.
Basic Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
The following rules describe common agreement patterns in standard edited English. Dialect, notional meaning, and regional convention can affect some collective and coordinated subjects.
1. Singular and Plural Subjects
A third-person singular subject normally takes a singular present-tense verb, while a plural subject takes the corresponding plural form. The pronouns I and you follow their own present-tense patterns.
Examples:
❌ “The dog bark at strangers.”
✅ “The dog barks at strangers.”
❌ “The children plays in the park.”
✅ “The children play in the park.”
2. Compound Subjects
Two or more subjects joined by “and” normally take a plural verb. A singular verb may be appropriate when the coordinated expression names one conventional unit, dish, title, or combined idea.
Examples:
❌ “Jack and Jill is going to the market.”
✅ “Jack and Jill are going to the market.”
❌ “My brother and my sister loves pizza.”
✅ “My brother and my sister love pizza.”
3. Singular Subjects Joined by “or” or “nor”
When two singular subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” use a singular verb. When the alternatives differ in number, formal guidance commonly makes the verb agree with the nearer subject. Because that construction can sound awkward, recasting the sentence is often clearer.
Examples:
❌ “Neither the teacher nor the student are in the classroom.”
✅ “Neither the teacher nor the student is in the classroom.”
❌ “Either the dog or the cats is making noise.”
✅ “Either the dog or the cats are making noise.”
4. Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects
Some indefinite pronouns are singular, some are plural, and others change according to the noun or meaning they represent. Pronouns such as all, any, more, most, none, and some take singular or plural agreement according to their referent.
- Singular Indefinite Pronouns: each, someone, everyone, anybody, nobody, nothing → use a singular verb.
- Plural Indefinite Pronouns: few, many, several, both → use a plural verb.
Examples:
❌ “Everybody love a good book.”
✅ “Everybody loves a good book.”
❌ “Many was excited about the event.”
✅ “Many were excited about the event.”
Advanced Subject-Verb Agreement Rules
1. Collective Nouns
Collective nouns such as “team,” “group,” “family,” and “committee” often take a singular verb when the group is treated as one unit. British English more readily uses plural agreement when emphasizing the members; American English often recasts the subject as “team members” or “committee members.”
Examples:
- “The team is winning its games.” (acting as a unit)
- “The team members are arguing among themselves.” (individual members, clear in all major varieties)
2. Phrases Between Subject and Verb
Modifiers between the subject and verb do not change the number of the subject’s head. Identify the complete subject, then determine which noun or pronoun controls the verb.
Examples:
❌ “The bouquet of flowers are beautiful.”
✅ “The bouquet of flowers is beautiful.”
❌ “The list of participants have been updated.”
✅ “The list of participants has been updated.”
3. “There is” and “There are” Follow the Subject
In formal edited sentences beginning with existential “there,” the verb normally agrees with the following noun phrase: “There is a reason” and “There are several reasons.” Contractions such as “there’s” are often used more broadly in conversation.
Examples:
- “There is a book on the table.”
- “There are several books on the table.”
4. Amounts and Quantities
An amount or measurement takes a singular verb when treated as one total. Fractions and percentages usually agree with the noun or referent they quantify.
Examples:
- “Fifty dollars is too much for this item.”
- “Two-thirds of the voters are in favor of the proposal.”
Avoid Common Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
Agreement errors often arise when a nearby noun distracts from the subject’s head or when meaning and grammatical form point in different directions. The examples below show reliable ways to avoid those errors.
1. Misidentifying the Subject
Writers may mistake words in a prepositional phrase for the subject.
❌ “The list of items are on the desk.”
✅ “The list of items is on the desk.”
The subject is a grammatical element that may be a noun phrase, pronoun, clause, or dummy form such as “it.” In this example, “list” is the head of the subject phrase, while “of items” modifies it.
2. Confusion with Compound Subjects
When compound subjects are joined by “and,” they normally require a plural verb. A singular verb may be appropriate when the coordinated words conventionally name one combined item or concept.
❌ “Peanut butter and jelly are my favorite snack.”
✅ “Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite snack.”
Tip: Determine whether the coordinated expression identifies separate entities or functions as the conventional name of one unit.
3. Errors with Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns such as “everyone,” “anyone,” “each,” and “nobody” are grammatically singular and require singular verbs. A singular verb remains correct when singular “they” appears later in the sentence.
❌ “Everyone have their own opinion.”
✅ “Everyone has their own opinion.”
Tip: Learn which indefinite pronouns are singular, plural, or context-dependent rather than treating the entire category alike.
4. Proximity Errors
With alternatives joined by “or” or “nor,” standard guidance makes the verb agree with the nearer subject when the alternatives differ in number.
❌ “Either the students or the teacher are responsible for the mess.”
✅ “Either the students or the teacher is responsible for the mess.”
Tip: Place the plural alternative nearer the verb when possible, or recast the sentence to avoid an awkward mixed-number construction.
Subject-Verb Agreement Practice Exercises
Test your understanding of subject-verb agreement with these practice exercises. Choose the correct verb to complete each sentence. Answers are provided at the end.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
- The list of items ___ (is/are) on the desk.
- Either the teacher or the students ___ (has/have) to attend the meeting.
- Everyone ___ (enjoy/enjoys) the holiday party.
- The team ___ (is/are) preparing for its next match.
- Neither of the answers ___ (is/are) correct.
- The dogs, along with the cat, ___ (bark/barks) loudly at night.
- There ___ (is/are) several options to consider.
- The family ___ (is/are) united in its decision.
- Each of the players ___ (has/have) a unique skill.
- The captain and the coach ___ (is/are) discussing the game plan.
Download: Subject-Verb Agreement Practice Worksheet
Answers:
- is
- have
- enjoys
- is
- is
- bark
- are
- is
- has
- are
Exercise 2: Identify Errors
Find and correct the subject-verb agreement errors in the following sentences:
- The bouquet of flowers are beautiful.
- Everybody have their own way of solving problems.
- The committee have issued its report.
- Neither the manager nor the employees was aware of the changes.
- Ten dollars are too much to pay for this item.
Download: Identify Subject-Verb Agreement Errors Worksheet
Answers:
- Correct: The bouquet of flowers is beautiful.
- Correct: Everybody has their own way of solving problems.
- Correct: The committee has issued its report.
- Correct: Neither the manager nor the employees were aware of the changes.
- Correct: Ten dollars is too much to pay for this item.
Regular practice reinforces the process of identifying the subject’s head and selecting the matching finite verb. For more exercises, explore the subject-verb agreement worksheets available at Worksheetzone.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is subject-verb agreement, and why is it important?
Subject-verb agreement means that a finite verb matches its grammatical subject in number and, where the verb form distinguishes it, person. Standard agreement makes clause structure easier to process and is expected in edited English.
2. What are the exceptions to subject-verb agreement rules?
Many apparent exceptions are context-sensitive agreement patterns:
- Collective nouns may take singular or plural agreement according to meaning and regional convention.
- Fractions and percentages usually agree with the noun or referent they quantify, while a total amount treated as one unit takes a singular verb.
- A title of a book, film, or other single work normally takes a singular verb even when the title appears plural.
3. What is the correct verb to use with indefinite pronouns?
Singular indefinite pronouns such as “everyone,” “anyone,” “each,” and “somebody” take singular verbs. Plural forms such as “both,” “few,” “many,” and “several” take plural verbs. Pronouns such as “all,” “any,” “most,” “none,” and “some” depend on their referent.
4. How do I determine the subject in complex sentences?
Locate the finite verb in each clause, then ask which noun phrase, pronoun, or clause controls that verb. Separate modifiers and intervening phrases from the subject, but do not assume that every sentence has only one clause or one subject.
Example: “The book, along with its sequels, is on the shelf.”
Here, the head of the subject phrase is “book”; “along with its sequels” is an intervening modifier.
In Summary
Accurate subject-verb agreement depends on identifying the grammatical subject, finding its head, and accounting for person, number, coordination, quantity, and notional meaning. Regional conventions can also affect collective nouns.
To continue building these skills, explore Worksheetzone’s curated verb worksheets for additional practice.
