Subject-Verb Agreement

What is Subject-Verb Agreement?

The subject and the verb of a sentence must agree with one another. If the subject is plural, the verb is plural. If the subject is singular, the verb is singular.

(Hint: If a subject ends in -s or -es, it is plural. If a verb ends in -s or -es, it is singular.)

Basic Rules:

1. For agreement purposes, ignore words that come between the subject and the verb.
   

                              s                                                              v
   Plural: The students (at Del Mar College often) go on to larger colleges and universities.
                              s                                                                   v
   Singular: A student (from Del Mar College often) goes on to a larger college or university.

2. Use a plural verb for subjects connected by "and."
   

                                  s                        v
   Plural: Del Mar and TAMUCC are colleges in the Corpus Christi area.

3. When subjects are joined by the conjunctions "or," "nor," or "or not only...but," the verb should agree with the closer subject.

                                                                s       v
   Plural: Neither Grace nor her sisters are going.
                                                                s       v
   Singular: Neither Ben nor his brother is here.

4. Use singular verbs for most indefinite pronouns.
   Indefinite pronouns do not refer to any certain person, thing, or idea.
   (Common indefinite pronouns: anyone, everyone, no one, one, someone, every, anybody, everybody, nobody, somebody, anything, neither, everything, nothing, something, each, and either.)
   

                            s                      v
   Singular: Everyone in lab is here.
                            s                      v
   Singular: Neither of them is at school today.

5. With collective nouns, use singular or plural verbs according to context.
   A collective noun names a group of people or things (such as jury, committee, team, crowd, band, class, and group).
   Use a singular verb when the group acts as one unit.
   

                                                s   v
   Singular: My English class is very thought provoking.
   Use a plural verb when the members of the group act individually.
                          s       v
   Plural: The jury are working on separate charges.

6. Use singular verbs with subjects that specify amounts. (distance, money, or measurements).

                                      s       v
   Singular: Eight dollars is a lot of money to lose.
                               s                      v
   Singular: Six cups of water is what the recipe called for.

Remember: The subject and the verb of a sentence must agree with one another. If the subject is plural, the verb is plural. If the subject is singular, the verb is singular.