SUBJECT–VERB AGREEMENT — FULL NOTES (SELLABLE VERSION)
Clear explanations + examples + common exam traps
1. What Is Subject–Verb Agreement?
Subject–verb agreement means the subject of a sentence must match the verb in
number.
Singular subjects → singular verbs
Plural subjects → plural verbs
✔ The girl runs every morning.
✘ The girl run every morning.
✔ The boys run every morning.
✘ The boys runs every morning.
2. Basic Rules of Agreement
Rule 1: Singular Subject → Verb Ends with “-s”
Examples:
She walks to school.
The dog barks loudly.
Plural subjects do NOT take -s.
They walk to school.
The dogs bark loudly.
Rule 2: Compound Subjects (A and B) = Plural Verb
If two subjects are joined by and, use a plural verb.
Tom and Jerry are friends.
, The teacher and the students attend the ceremony.
Exception: If the two subjects refer to one person or one thing, use a singular verb.
Bread and butter is my favourite breakfast.
Fish and chips are sold here.
Rule 3: Subjects Joined by “Or / Either…or / Neither…nor”
The verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
Examples:
Either the teacher or the students are making noise.
Neither the students nor the teacher are in class.
The books or the pen are on the table.
Rule 4: Indefinite Pronouns
Always Singular
Each
Everyone
Everyone
Someone
Anyone
No one
Anybody
Somebody
Everything
✔ Everyone is ready.
Clear explanations + examples + common exam traps
1. What Is Subject–Verb Agreement?
Subject–verb agreement means the subject of a sentence must match the verb in
number.
Singular subjects → singular verbs
Plural subjects → plural verbs
✔ The girl runs every morning.
✘ The girl run every morning.
✔ The boys run every morning.
✘ The boys runs every morning.
2. Basic Rules of Agreement
Rule 1: Singular Subject → Verb Ends with “-s”
Examples:
She walks to school.
The dog barks loudly.
Plural subjects do NOT take -s.
They walk to school.
The dogs bark loudly.
Rule 2: Compound Subjects (A and B) = Plural Verb
If two subjects are joined by and, use a plural verb.
Tom and Jerry are friends.
, The teacher and the students attend the ceremony.
Exception: If the two subjects refer to one person or one thing, use a singular verb.
Bread and butter is my favourite breakfast.
Fish and chips are sold here.
Rule 3: Subjects Joined by “Or / Either…or / Neither…nor”
The verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
Examples:
Either the teacher or the students are making noise.
Neither the students nor the teacher are in class.
The books or the pen are on the table.
Rule 4: Indefinite Pronouns
Always Singular
Each
Everyone
Everyone
Someone
Anyone
No one
Anybody
Somebody
Everything
✔ Everyone is ready.
