Subject Verb Agreement

SUBJECT-VERB
AGREEMENT
The Rules of Subject – Verb Agreement in Standard English
DEFINITION OF TERMS
• SUBJECT
The subject of a sentence is who or what the sentence is about. The
subject is typically a person, place, or thing that performs an action.
• VERB
Every complete sentence or clause must contain a verb. Verbs are used
to describe an action (e.g., run, sit, talk) or a state (e.g., be, do, has).
SUBJECT AND VERBS MUST AGREE IN
NUMBER
• When the sentence's subject is singular, use a singular

verb.
Example: The baby needs love, care, and affection.
• When the sentence's subject is plural, use a plural verb.
Example: Babies need love, care, and affection.
EXCEPTIONS
• The singular pronouns I and you are accompanied by plural main

verbs.
Examples:
• You make my day complete.
• You are the reason of my living.
PHRASES BETWEEN SUBJECT AND VERB
The verb agrees with the main subject and not with the prepositional
phrase or object of the “of phrase” that follows it.
Examples:
• The doors of the academic building need to be repainted.
• The order of the three ladies has not yet been delivered.
These intervening words like along with, together with, including,
with, in coordination with, and with others do not affect agreement.
Examples:
• The members, as well as the chairman, attend the symposium.
• Celia, with all her relatives, is attending the wedding
MULTIPLE SUBJECTS
If two subjects are joined by and, they typically require a plural verb
form.
Examples:
• Reading and watching are my favorite past times.
• The owner and the caretaker of the house love to travel.
• The verb is singular if the two subjects joined by and refer to the
same person or thing.
Example:
• Rice and fish makes a good dish.
• The executive secretary and board member is the honoree.
• When the subject is two or more singular nouns joined by the
conjunctions or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also
the verb is singular.
Examples:
• Macky or Dexter is to blame for the accident.
• Singing or dancing has to be presented during the orientation.
• When the subjects are two or more plural nouns joined by the conjunctions
or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also the verb is plural.
Examples:
• Parents and children are to attend the meeting with the President.
• Not only the students but also the faculty members have to wear the
prescribed uniform.
• When a sentence contains a compound subject (multiple subjects,
including singular and plural) joined by or, nor, neither/nor, either/or,
and not only/but also, the verb should agree with the subject closest
to it.
Examples:
• Neither the projects nor the term paper was submitted by the
student.
• Either you or I am assigned to proctor the examination.
When a compound subject is composed of a negative and positive
elements, the verb agrees with the affirmative one.
Examples:
• The director, not the producers, deserves an applause.
• The parents, not the child, need guidance and counseling.
INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that don't refer to anything specific, such
as anything, something, each, either, neither, someone, somebody,
anybody, etc. Indefinite pronouns are usually treated as a singular subject and
require a singular verb.
Examples:
Somebody is knocking at the door.
Neither dog likes this food.
Anything you say is important to me.
EXCEPTION:
• Pronouns like few, many, several, both, all, and some always take
plural form.
Examples:
• Few were left alive after the tsunamis.
• Others overlook the difficulties.
QUANTIFIERS AND
COUNTABLE/UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
• When the subject contains a quantifier, e.g., some, many, any, all, the verb can be
either singular or plural depending on whether the subject is countable or
uncountable. Countable subjects are considered plural and uncountable subjects
are singular.
• All cheese is delicious. (cheese is an uncountable noun)
• There is a lot of hair in the bathtub! (hair is uncountable)
• All reports are available online. (reports is countable)
COLLECTIVE NOUNS
Sometimes we use a singular collective noun to refer to a group of

people, animals, or things—for example, team, family, crew, staff, and
herd. When using collective nouns, the verb should be singular.
Examples:
The staff is very accommodating.
My family is my world.
• Words or phrases that express periods of time, weights, amounts of
money, taken as a unit are generally singular.
Examples:
• Liters of oil was required to get the car running.
• Two galloons of whitewash is all that the dentist needs.
FRACTIONS AND PERCENTAGE
Fractions and percentage carry singular verbs. However, when an “of phrase”
follows them, the verbs agree with the objects of the phrase and not with the
fractions or percentages.
Examples:
• Half of the boxed fruits were rotten.
• Ninety percent approves the conduct of an outreach program at Pukel, Sanchez
Mira, Cagayan.
TITLES
• Title of the books, movies, short stories, poems, novels and others are treated as singular and
take a singular verb.
Examples:
• In Your Eyes stars Claudine, Richard and Anne.
• Edgar Allan Poe’s “ The Bells” makes a good piece for Speech Choir.
THE NUMBER/A NUMBER EXPRESSION
• Sentences beginning with the expression “The number” take the singular
verbs while sentences beginning with “A number” take plural verbs.
Examples:
• The number of applicants in the call center world grows each year.
• A number of test takers in the Criminologists Board Exam are now
waiting for the result.
Remember, only the subject affects the verb!

Subject Verb Agreement

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SUBJECT-VERB

• When the sentence's subject is singular, use a singular

• The singular pronouns I and you are accompanied by plural main

Sometimes we use a singular collective noun to refer to a group of

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