SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that requires the verb or verbs in a phrase to
correspond to the number, person, and gender of the subject; in English, the verb must match only
the number and sometimes the person. Learning the norms of subject-verb agreement can be
challenging at first, but with sufficient practice, they will become simpler to comprehend. Below, we
explain everything you need to know to face any subject-verb agreement exercises you come across,
including demonstrations of how they function with a variety of subject-verb agreement examples.
What constitutes subject-verb agreement?
Subject-verb agreement, also known as "subject-verb concord," is the pairing of a sentence's
subject and verb in tense, aspect, and mood (TAM), which interprets as number, person, and
gender.
This is primarily in reference to singular and plural nouns/pronouns that function as subjects.
According to the Collins Dictionary, "concord" refers to a word's form being suited to the
number or gender of the noun or pronoun to which it refers.
Garner's Modern English Usage states that the basic norm for subject-verb agreement is to
employ a plural verb with a plural subject and a singular verb with a singular subject. This rule
applies in the vast majority of circumstances. However, there are several exceptions to the
norm. Check out the next section to discover how to conjugate verbs such that they agree with
the subject.
English does not utilize grammatical gender (with the exception for pronouns), and the verb
simply varies depending on whether it is in the first, second, or third person. That means that
most English subject-verb agreement is based on quantity: if the subject is singular, the verb
must be singular; if the subject is numerous, the verb must be plural.
Principles for Subject-Verb Agreement with Figures
The principle of subject-verb concord is most important when employing the present tense. The
simple past and simple future tenses use the same verbs regardless of the subject in the phrase.
Knowing and adhering to the norms of subject-verb agreement will help you construct error-free
sentences.
Rule 1
A singular subject requires singular verb, a plural subject requires plural verb.
The boy walks to school.
The boys walk to school.
Rule 2
Subjects joined by and usually require a plural verb.
My wife and my secretary are joining me.
Sinigang and adobo are our specialties.
Rule 3
If the subjects joined by and refer to the same person or thing or are regarded as one, use a singular
verb.
My wife and secretary is always with me. ( The wife and the secretary are one person)
Bacon and eggs is our breakfast.
, Rule 4
If subjects are connected by or or nor, the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
Neither the watermelon nor the apples were eaten.
Either the employees or the employer is going to give way.
Rule 5
The indefinite pronouns much, little, either, and neither & with the combination of the following:
A. any + one, body, thing= anyone, anybody, anything B. some + one, body, thing C. no + one, body,
D. every + one, body, thing will then take singular verb.
This rule does not apply to: few, many, several, both, all, and some.
Every boy was in attendance.
Little is expected from the students.
Neither is willing to play for the third place
Somebody helps me.
Rule 6
The words each and every count as singular when they’re used as the subject, even if they’re
followed by multiple nouns.
Each is welcome to ask his own questions.
Each window and door needs to be sealed.
Every doctor, nurse, and technician gets free training here.
Rule 7
The indefinite pronouns few, several, many, and both are plural.
A few are exempted from the test.
Several were caught cheating during the final examinations.
Rule 8
Words that indicate portion such as fractions or percentage and the words that refer to mass noun
and count nouns like plenty, lots, most, more, any, all, none, and some take:
A. singular verbs when they refer to mass nouns or a singular count noun.
One-half of the rice has been donated to the victims. (Rice is a mass noun).
Twenty percent of water is oxygen. (Water is a mass noun.)
Is there any problem?
All of the buko pie was spoiled.
B. Plural verbs when they refer to plural count nouns.
One-half of the apples have been donated. (Apples are countable nouns)
Twenty percent of the rivers are polluted. (Rivers are in plural form)
All of the buko pies were spoiled.
Are there any questions?
Rule 9
The pronoun I takes plural verbs EXCEPT for the linking verbs am and was.
I do not know the answer.
I was waiting here for you.
I usually argue with impolite receptionists.
Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that requires the verb or verbs in a phrase to
correspond to the number, person, and gender of the subject; in English, the verb must match only
the number and sometimes the person. Learning the norms of subject-verb agreement can be
challenging at first, but with sufficient practice, they will become simpler to comprehend. Below, we
explain everything you need to know to face any subject-verb agreement exercises you come across,
including demonstrations of how they function with a variety of subject-verb agreement examples.
What constitutes subject-verb agreement?
Subject-verb agreement, also known as "subject-verb concord," is the pairing of a sentence's
subject and verb in tense, aspect, and mood (TAM), which interprets as number, person, and
gender.
This is primarily in reference to singular and plural nouns/pronouns that function as subjects.
According to the Collins Dictionary, "concord" refers to a word's form being suited to the
number or gender of the noun or pronoun to which it refers.
Garner's Modern English Usage states that the basic norm for subject-verb agreement is to
employ a plural verb with a plural subject and a singular verb with a singular subject. This rule
applies in the vast majority of circumstances. However, there are several exceptions to the
norm. Check out the next section to discover how to conjugate verbs such that they agree with
the subject.
English does not utilize grammatical gender (with the exception for pronouns), and the verb
simply varies depending on whether it is in the first, second, or third person. That means that
most English subject-verb agreement is based on quantity: if the subject is singular, the verb
must be singular; if the subject is numerous, the verb must be plural.
Principles for Subject-Verb Agreement with Figures
The principle of subject-verb concord is most important when employing the present tense. The
simple past and simple future tenses use the same verbs regardless of the subject in the phrase.
Knowing and adhering to the norms of subject-verb agreement will help you construct error-free
sentences.
Rule 1
A singular subject requires singular verb, a plural subject requires plural verb.
The boy walks to school.
The boys walk to school.
Rule 2
Subjects joined by and usually require a plural verb.
My wife and my secretary are joining me.
Sinigang and adobo are our specialties.
Rule 3
If the subjects joined by and refer to the same person or thing or are regarded as one, use a singular
verb.
My wife and secretary is always with me. ( The wife and the secretary are one person)
Bacon and eggs is our breakfast.
, Rule 4
If subjects are connected by or or nor, the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
Neither the watermelon nor the apples were eaten.
Either the employees or the employer is going to give way.
Rule 5
The indefinite pronouns much, little, either, and neither & with the combination of the following:
A. any + one, body, thing= anyone, anybody, anything B. some + one, body, thing C. no + one, body,
D. every + one, body, thing will then take singular verb.
This rule does not apply to: few, many, several, both, all, and some.
Every boy was in attendance.
Little is expected from the students.
Neither is willing to play for the third place
Somebody helps me.
Rule 6
The words each and every count as singular when they’re used as the subject, even if they’re
followed by multiple nouns.
Each is welcome to ask his own questions.
Each window and door needs to be sealed.
Every doctor, nurse, and technician gets free training here.
Rule 7
The indefinite pronouns few, several, many, and both are plural.
A few are exempted from the test.
Several were caught cheating during the final examinations.
Rule 8
Words that indicate portion such as fractions or percentage and the words that refer to mass noun
and count nouns like plenty, lots, most, more, any, all, none, and some take:
A. singular verbs when they refer to mass nouns or a singular count noun.
One-half of the rice has been donated to the victims. (Rice is a mass noun).
Twenty percent of water is oxygen. (Water is a mass noun.)
Is there any problem?
All of the buko pie was spoiled.
B. Plural verbs when they refer to plural count nouns.
One-half of the apples have been donated. (Apples are countable nouns)
Twenty percent of the rivers are polluted. (Rivers are in plural form)
All of the buko pies were spoiled.
Are there any questions?
Rule 9
The pronoun I takes plural verbs EXCEPT for the linking verbs am and was.
I do not know the answer.
I was waiting here for you.
I usually argue with impolite receptionists.
