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100+ Subject Verb Agreement Questions Answers Examples

Explore 100+ subject verb agreement examples and practice sets to gain a comprehensive understanding of this vital grammar concept. Learn how to apply it effectively in your writing.

These examples demonstrate how subject-verb agreement works in various contexts. Ensuring that your subjects and verbs agree in number is essential for maintaining proper grammar and clarity in your writing and speech.

In this Subject-verb agreement Examples exploration, we’ll manage an in-depth analysis of What is a subject-verb agreement in Gramma r, its rules , common errors , and examples with practice sets , to enhance your writing prowess and communicative skills.

Subject Verb Agreement

The person or thing about which something is said in a sentence is called the subject of that sentence.

We can Identify the subject of a sentence by asking the verb with “Who?” or “What?”. In “The sun shines brightly,” “sun” is the subject.

A  verb is a doing word . A verb in a sentence indicates what the subject of the sentence does.

The subject represents the main focus of the sentence, while the verb indicates the action or state of being related to the subject. Let’s delve into this with some examples:

Subject: John | Verb: runs Example: John runs every morning.

Subject: Cats | Verb: are Example: Cats are playful animals.

In these examples :

In the first example, “John” is the subject, and “runs” is the verb. The sentence conveys the action of John running.

In the second example, “Cats” is the subject, and “are” is the verb. The sentence describes the playful nature of cats.

People also ask

Subject Verb Agreement Examples

The Agreement with Subject-Verb refers to the grammatical conformity between a subject and its corresponding verb in a sentence. 

In simpler terms, if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb should be plural as well. This agreement forms the backbone of clear and effective communication.

Correct: He plays an important role in the movie.

Incorrect: He play an important role in the movie.

This agreement ensures a sentence’s logical structure and coherence, preventing confusion and misinterpretation.

Without subject-verb agreement, sentences can become convoluted, leading to ambiguity and undermining effective communication.

Importance of Subject Verb Agreement Examples

Imagine a sentence like “The book seems interesting.” Now, replace “seems” with “seem.” Suddenly, the sentence becomes awkward. This is why the subject-verb agreement is vital: it ensures that sentences flow naturally and are easy to understand.

Subject Verb Agreement Topics

To enhance our understanding of subject-verb agreement, it’s beneficial to practice topics like

1. singular and plural subjects

2. Corresponding verbs

3. Collective nouns

4. Indefinite pronouns

5. distributive pronouns

6. Agreement across tenses .

Consistent practice with these concepts will lead to greater proficiency in maintaining grammatical accuracy in our communication

Subject Verb Agreement Examples with Rules

Here are some subject-verb agreement examples and practice sets to help you better understand and practice this concept:

Number: Singular Number and Plural Number Subjects

The first step in mastering subject-verb agreement is identifying whether a subject is singular or plural. Singular subjects refer to one person, place, thing, or idea, while plural subjects involve multiple entities. For example, “Apple” is singular, while “Apples” is plural.

Singula r Subjects with Singular Verbs when dealing with a singular subject, the verb must also be singular. 

The cat runs through the garden.

She writes eloquent poetry.

Plural Subjects with Plural Verbs When the subject is plural, the verb must be plural as well.

The dogs bark loudly.

They study diligently for exams.

Matching Singular Subjects with Singular Verbs

A singular subject calls for a singular verb, completing the grammatical duet. 

 The cat jumps over the fence.”

 However, when the subject is plural, the verb changes: 

The cats jump over the fence.

Person: First, Second, and Third Person Subjects

The rules regarding the person are as follows:

(i) The first person singular or plural takes a singular verb:

I like this scenery.

We like this scenery.

(ii) The second perso n singular or plural takes a singular verb:

You like this scenery.

(iii) The third person singula r takes a singular verb:

He likes this scenery.

She sings a song.

This is a cat.

It is a mistake.

Sanu plats well today.

(iv) The third person plural takes a plural verb:

They like this scenery.

Mohit and Shruti see the moon.

Compound Subjects Agreement

Agreement with Compound Subjects When two or more singular subjects are connected by “and,” they require a plural verb. 

Conversely, if the subjects are connected by “or,” the verb should agree with the subject closer to it. 

Jenny and Tom play tennis together.

Either the book or the magazines are on the table.

Collective Nouns Agreement

Collective Nouns Collective nouns, representing a group of people or things, can take either singular or plural verbs based on context. When the emphasis is on the group acting as a single entity, we use a singular verb. If the focus shifts to individual members of the group, a plural verb is appropriate. 

The team is preparing for the championship.

The team are debating their strategy.

Indefinite Pronouns Agreement

Indefinite Pronouns Certain indefinite pronouns, like “everyone,” “nobody,” “everything,” and “nothing,” are always treated as singular subjects, thus taking singular verbs.

Everyone has a unique perspective.

Nothing goes unnoticed by her keen eyes.

Distributive Pronouns Agreement

Distributive pronouns like “either”, “neither”, “each”, and “every” are always treated as singular subjects, thus taking singular verbs.

Either of the girls is suitable for the job.

Neithe r of the two r oads leads to my aunt’s house.

Intermediate Phrases Agreement 

When expressions like as well as, together with, with, in addition to, along with, and besides, are used to join two singular subjects, the verb that is used is singular. However, if one subject is singular and the other is plural, the verb agrees with the first subject. 

Ronaldo , as well as Messi, is a brilliant player.

Rahul , besides Priya and Gauri, is invited to the party.

The bag , with all its contents, was washed away in the sea.

The general manage r, together with her sales team, was given an award.

Error of Proximity 

A verb must agree with its Subject in Number and Person. Sometimes, the verb agrees with its number with a noun near it instead of with its proper subject. This we call an Error of Proximity and we should avoid this.

The cost of luxury goods has gone up.

The quality of the mangoes is not good.

The presence of so many men is encouraging.

Numbers and Amounts Agreement 

Nouns relating to weight, measure, amount, and time/distance or the collective number take singular verbs.

Five years is a pretty long time.

T en kilos of milk was consumed in just one day.

A hundred rupees is not a big amount for him.

Only one-fourth of the total police force was deployed in the area.

Subjects that Come After the Verb

In sentences starting with ‘there is’ or ‘there are’, the subject takes its place after the verb, while the verb aligns with the true subject for agreement.

There are ten musicians in the school band.

There is no teacher in the staffroom.

Subjunctive Mood

When portraying wishes or conflicting realities, the term ‘were’ substitutes for ‘was’ in statements in the subjunctive mood.

I wish I were a bird.

If I were there, I would have managed this.

Subject Verb Agreement Exceptions Rules

While the rules of subject-verb agreement provide a strong foundation, certain cases can be tricky due to exceptions or misleading structures. Let’s explore some subject-verb agreement exceptions with advanced rules

Navigating Tricky Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns like “everyone,” “someone,” and “nobody” can pose challenges. Although they might sound plural, they are singular and require singular verbs.

  Examples:

Everyone wants to succeed.

Nobody is mortal in this world.

Collective Nouns and Their Verbs

A collective noun may take a singular or plural verb and the general rule is to usethe singular verb when the idea is suggested and the plural verb the idea of plurality is predominant.

The committee are not unanimous in their decision.

The committee has issued its reports.

Compound Subjects and Compound Verbs

When subjects are connected by “and,” they create a compound subject. If they convey a single idea, use a singular verb. If separate ideas, opt for a plural verb. 

“Bread and butter are healthy for me” 

 “Bread and butter is my favorite food.”

Intervening Phrases: Agreement Amidst Complexity

Phrases like “along with,” “as well as,” “including”, and ” together with” can intervene between subjects and verbs. The key is to focus on the subject closest to the verb to determine agreement.

The book , along with the pens, is on the desk.

The players as well as the captain have made the effort.

Phrases and Clauses Agreement

When the Phrases, and clauses, are the subjects, the verb is in the third person singular number.

The writing of letters well is not easy.

That he is ill is known to all.

Agreement with “Or” and “Nor”

When subjects are linked by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. “Neither the cat nor the dogs are causing trouble.”

Either Preeti or Sausamya is at home.

Either Preeti or the children are at home.

Neither the manager nor his assistan t is present at the meeting.

Neither he nor his friends were going to the party.

Special Cases: Titles, Time, and Money

Titles, periods of time, and sums of money often trick us into choosing the wrong verb. However, they are singular and require singular verbs:

 Ten dollars is missing.

Twenty shillings makes one pound.

Three miles is a long distance.

The subject-verb agreement depends on whether we consider the number or amount is singular or plural.

Fifty percen t of the cake is gone. (Singular)

Ten percent of the students are absent. (Plural)

Three-fourths of the work is done.[work – amount; is – singular verb]

Three-fourths of the men are dead.[men – a number; are – plural verb]

Common Subject-Verb Agreement Errors

Nouns agreement errors.

Nouns singular in form take plural Verbs

Aristocracy, Nobility, Gentry, clergy, cattle, poultry, people, folk, etc. take plural verbs.

Cattle are grazing in the field.

Who are those people ?

The old folk are gone.

Nouns plural in form take singular verbs.

Gallows, mathematics, news, physics, politics, smallpox, whereabouts, linguistics, mumps, etc. take singular verbs.

The news is true.

His whereabouts is not known.

Politics is my favorite subject.

Nouns that have no plural forms

Alphabet, expenditure, furniture, hair, information, luggage, scenery, poetry, etc take singular verbs.

The alphabet is written on the blackboard.

The scenery of Simla is beautiful.

Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects

Indefinite pronouns like anyone everyone, someone, no one, nobody takes singular verbs.

Everyone in the class is going for a picnic.

Someone is missing from the room.

No one has the ability to do it.

When subjects unite with “and,” forming a compound subject, a singular or plural verb choice hinges on whether they represent one or distinct notions, respectively.

The indefinite pronouns any, all , none , and some are used both in the singular and plural.

Any of them was not present (singular). 

Do any of you like it? (plural)

All is not beautiful (singular). 

All of them are not honest. (plural)

None of the boys was good (singular). 

None of us love him. (Plural)

Some of this sugar is bad (singular). 

Some of the mangoes were rotten. (plural)

Two Subjects Connected by ‘and’ 

Two or more singular subjects joined by and, take plural verb.

Ram and Shyam are two friends.

She and her father have gone there.

But two or more singular subjects joined by ‘and’ express the same person or thing or a single idea, take singular v erbs.

The secretary and treasurer has come. (same person)

A hue and cry was raised. (single idea)

Connecting Two Singular Subjects

Two singular subjects joined by ‘or’, ‘either…or’, ‘neither…nor’ take singular verbs.

Either the pink dress or the white gown is best. 

Neither the brother nor the sister wants to do the work.

Anil or Suman is hosting the event. 

Connecting a Plural and Singular Subject

Two singular subjects of different numbers and persons joined by ‘or’, ‘either…or’, ‘neither…nor’ the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

“Neither the chocolates nor the salad tempts her.”

“Neither the salad nor the chocolates tempt her.” 

Difficult Subject Verb Agreement Examples

Collective nouns.

When a collective noun refers to one individual whole, the verb is singular and denotes the individual of the group. But when a collective noun refers to the individual of the group, the verb is in plural.

The committee has approved the decision

The committee were divided in their opinions. 

Your famil y is bigger than mine.

Your family are assigned to different rooms.

‘Here is’ and ‘There is’ constructio n

Care should be taken about the use of the number in sentences beginning with introductory ‘there’, and ‘here’.

“Here is the bag you want to borrow.”

“There are four books I love to read.” 

Intervening Phrases:  

When the subject of a sentence consists of two nouns or pronouns that are joined by ‘As well as’, ‘together with’, ‘with’, along with’, the verb  agrees with the first   Noun/Pronoun .

The captain as well as his crew members was polite.

The students along with their teacher have visited the spot.

I as well as Sushama am going for a picnic.

Numbers and Units

To ensure proper agreement, consistently employ a singular verb form when discussing sums of money, time durations, or unit distances, and when a number directly follows the main noun.

Two thousand dollars is needed for her operation.

The first two miles are easier than the last two miles.

Fractions and Portions

When terms like ‘some,’ ‘all,’ or ‘a lot’ are employed to indicate portions, the subject often seems to be within a prepositional phrase including the term ‘of’.

“A lot of the cake has been given out.” 

“A lot of the cakes have been given out.” 

“Some of the room is occupied.” 

“Some of the rooms are occupied.” 

Subject Verb Agreement Questions Answers

Question set 1:, singular number and plural number rules.

1. They ________ (study/studies) diligently for exams.

2. The cat ________ (jumps/jump) over the fence

3 . Cattle ________ (is/are) grazing in the field.

4. His whereabouts ________  (are/is) not known.

5. The scenery of Simla________  (are/is) beautiful.

Question Set 2:

1. The headmaster and secretary (have/has) decided to hold a meeting in his room.

2.   Author and publisher, Mr. Desai, (are/is) in town to inaugurate the Book Fair.

3.   Either Preeti or the children (is/are) at home.

4. Each girl and each boy (was /were) given a mango.

5. No man and no woman (has/have) been found there.

Question Set 3: 

3. choose the correct verb (singular or plural) to complete each sentence:.

1. The cat and the dog (play/plays) together in the yard.

2. She, along with her friends, (go/goes) to the movies on weekends.

3. Either the book or the magazines (is/are) on the table.

4. The team of scientists (is/are) conducting important research.

5. Everyone in the class (has/have) submitted their assignments.

Question Set 4:

4. rewrite the following sentences with the correct subject-verb agreement:.

1. The group of singers are/is performing on stage.

2. Neither the cake nor the cookies is/are delicious.

3. Everyone at the party have/has brought their favorite dishes.

4. The committee members is/are meeting tomorrow.

5. Each of the students have/has passed the exam.

Practice Set 5:

5. choose the correct verb (singular or plural) to complete each sentence:.

1. The movie, along with the trailers, _______________ (start/starts) at 7 PM.

2. Both the cat and the dog _______________ (is/are) friendly.

3. Neither the students nor the teacher _______________ (want/wants) to miss the field trip.

4. The box of chocolates _______________ (was/were) a thoughtful gift.

5. Many of the employees _______________ (has/have) received awards for their hard work.

Practice Set 6: 

6. rewrite the following sentences with the correct subject-verb agreement:.

1. A group of tourists is/are exploring the ancient ruins.

2. Either the red or the blue car are/is available for rent.

3. The committee members are/is discussing the new proposal.

4. One of the books have/has gone missing from the library.

5. The herd of cows is/are grazing peacefully in the field.

Practice Set 7:

7. choose the correct option for m the brackets.

1. The sun shines/shine brightly in the morning.

2. The birds sing/sings melodiously in the trees.

3. The car and the bicycle are/is parked in the garage.

4. The students study/studies diligently for their exams.

5. The flowers in the garden bloom/blooms beautifully in the spring.

6. The musicians in the orchestra play/plays harmoniously together.

Practice Set 8: 

8. choose the correct verb (singular or plural) to complete each sentence:.

1. The concert, along with the fireworks, _______________ (start/starts) at 9 PM.

2. Both my brother and I _______________ (is/are) excited for the trip.

3. Neither the manager nor the employees _______________ (agree/agrees) with the new policy.

4. The collection of stamps _______________ (was/were) displayed at the museum.

5. Many of the students _______________ (has/have) received scholarships for their achievements.

Practice Set 9:

9. rewrite the following sentences with the correct subject-verb agreement:.

1. A group of musicians are/is performing on stage.

2. Either the red or the green apples are/is ripe.

3. The jury members is/are reaching a verdict.

4. One of the books have/has fallen off the shelf.

5. The flock of birds is/are migrating south for the winter.

Practice Set 10: 

10. choose the correct verb (singular or plural) to complete each sentence:.

1. The team, along with their coach, _______________ (celebrate/celebrates) the victory.

2. Both the cat and the dog _______________ (sleeps/sleep) in the same bed.

3. Neither the book nor the movie _______________ (interest/interests) me.

4. The bundle of keys _______________ (was/were) found on the kitchen counter.

5. Many of the students _______________ (participate/participates) in the school play.

Practice Set 11: 

11. rewrite the following sentences with the correct subject-verb agreement:.

1. A group of athletes is/are competing in the tournament.

2. Either the red or the blue dress are/is suitable for the occasion.

3. The committee members was/were reviewing the proposal.

4. One of the books have/has been borrowed from the library. 5. The swarm of bees is/are buzzing around the garden.

Practice Set 12:

12. choose the correct verb (singular or plural) to complete each sentence:.

1. The band, along with their manager, _______________ (perform/performs) at the festival.

2. Both the book and the magazine _______________ (has/have) interesting articles.

3. Neither the students nor the teacher _______________ (understand/understands) the complex equation.

4. The group of friends _______________ (enjoy/enjoys) hiking in the mountains.

5. Many of the employees _______________ (work/works) remotely.

Practice Set 13: 

13. rewrite the following sentences with the correct subject-verb agreement:.

1. A team of scientists was/were conducting experiments.

2. Either the red or the green oranges is/are delicious.

3. The jury members were/was deliberating the verdict.

4. One of the candidates have/has been selected for the job.

5. The flock of birds is/are migrating north for the summer.

Practice Set 14:

14. choose the correct verb (singular or plural) to complete each sentence:.

1. The choir, along with the conductor, _______________ (sing/sings) beautifully.

2. Both the car and the bicycle _______________ (is/are) in the garage.

3. Neither the cake nor the cookies _______________ (tastes/taste) good.

4. The collection of rare coins _______________ (belong/belongs) to my grandfather.

5. Many of the students _______________ (excel/excels) in mathematics.

Practice Set 15: 

15. rewrite the following sentences with the correct subject-verb agreement:.

1. A group of actors is/are rehearsing for the play.

2. Either the red or the blue shoes are/is suitable for the occasion.

3. The committee members was/were discussing the proposal.

4. One of the pens have/has run out of ink.

5. The pack of wolves is/are hunting for food.

Practice Set 16:

16. choose the correct verb (singular or plural) to complete each sentence:.

1. The orchestra, along with the conductor, _______________ (performs/perform) classical symphonies.

2. Both the laptop and the tablet _______________ (is/are) on the desk.

3. Neither the apples nor the oranges _______________ (tastes/taste) sour.

4. The stack of books _______________ (belongs/belong) to the library.

5. Many of the students _______________ (participate/participates) in the science fair.

Practice Set 17: 

17. rewrite the following sentences with the correct subject-verb agreement:.

1. A group of artists were/was showcasing their paintings.

2. Either the red or the yellow tulip is/are blooming in the garden.

3. The jury members were/was reviewing the evidence.

4. One of the keys have/has gone missing.

5. The herd of elephants is/are crossing the savannah.

Practice Set 18: 

18. choose the correct verb (singular or plural) to complete each sentence:.

1. The choir, along with their conductor, _______________ (sings/sing) beautifully.

2. Both the computer and the printer _______________ (is/are) in the office.

3. Neither the cake nor the cookies _______________ (taste/tastes) good.

4. The collection of vintage cars _______________ (belong/belongs) to the museum.

5. Many of the team members _______________ (excel/excels) in sports.

Practice Set 19: 

19. rewrite the following sentences with the correct subject-verb agreement :.

1. A group of students was/were attending the lecture.

2. Either the red or the green mangoes is/are ripe.

3. The committee members are/is reviewing the proposals.

4. One of the books have/has been misplaced.

Practice Set 20:

20. choose the correct verb (singular or plural) to complete each sentence:.

2. Both the cat and the dog _______________ (sleep/sleeps) soundly at night.

3. Neither the book nor the magazine _______________ (interest/interests) me.

4. The group of friends _______________ (enjoy/enjoys) spending time together.

Practice Set 21: 

21. rewrite the following sentences with the correct subject-verb agreement:.

1. A herd of cattle were/was grazing in the field.

2. Either the red or the blue dress is/are available in your size.

3. The committee members was/were discussing the new proposal.

4. One of the keys have/has been misplaced.

5. The flock of birds is/are migrating to warmer climates.

Solution Keys : Subject-verb agreement Practice sets

Answers key 1:  .

1. study 2. jump  3. is   4. are   5. is  

Answers Key 2:  

1. has 2. is 3. are 4. was  5. has  

Answers Key 3:  

1. play 2. goes   3. are   4. is   5. has  

Answers Key 4:  

1. is 2. are   3. has  4. are   5. has  

Answers Key 5:  

1. starts 2. are   3. wants 4. were   5. have 

Answers Key 6:  

1. are 2. is   3. are 4. has   5. is

Answers Key 7:  

1. shines 2. sing  3. are  4. study   5. play

Answers Key 8:  

1. starts 2. are 3. agree  4. were   5. Have

Answers Key 9:  

1. starts 2. are 3. agree  4. were   5. have

Answers Key 10:  

1. celebrates 2. sleep 3. interests  4. were   5. paticipate

Answers Key 11:  

1. are 2. is 3. were  4. has   5. Is

Answers Key 12:  

1. performs 2. have 3. understands  4. enjoy   5. work

Answers Key 13:  

1. was 2. is 3. was  4. has   5. is

Answers Key 14:  

1. sings 2. is 3. taste  4. belong   5. excel 

Answers Key 15:  

1. sings 2. is 3. taste  4. belong   5. Excel 

Answers Key 16:  

1. performs 2. are 3. taste  4. belong   5. participate

Answers Key 17:  

1. were 2. is 3. was  4. has 5. is

Answers Key 18:  

1. sings 2. are 3. taste  4. belong 5. excel

Answers Key 19:  

1. were 2. is 3. is  4. has 5. is

Answers Key 20:  

1. celebrates2. sleep 3. interests  4. enjoys 5. work

Answers Key 21:  

1. was 2. is 3. was 4. has 5. is

FAQs on What is a subject-verb agreement?

Q. is subject-verb agreement essential in everyday communicatio n .

A: Absolutely. Proper agreement enhances sentence clarity and overall communication effectiveness.

Q. What is the role of collective nouns in subject-verb agreement?

A: Collective nouns are singular and require singular verbs, even though they refer to groups of individuals.

Q. Are there exceptions to the subject-verb agreement rule? 

A: While some situations might seem tricky, the rule remains steadfast. The golden rule of subject-verb agreement: singular subjects harmonize with singular verbs, while plural subjects dance with plural verbs.

Q. How can I improve my subject-verb agreement skills? 

A: Engage in grammar exercises, proofread your work, and read extensively to reinforce your understanding and application of subject-verb agreement.

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Grammar: Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject–verb agreement rules.

Key : subject = yellow, bold ; verb = green, underline

Subjects and verbs must agree in number. In addition to the explanations on this page, also see the post on Subject—Verb Agreement .

Example: She writes every day. Exception: When using the singular "they," use plural verb forms. Example: The participant expressed satisfaction with their job. They are currently in a managerial role at the organization.

Example: They write every day.

Sometimes, however, it seems a bit more complicated than this.

Example: The doctoral student and the committee members write every day.

Example : The percentage of employees who called in sick and the number of employees who left their jobs within 2 years   are reflective of the level of job satisfaction.

Example: Interviews are one way to collect data and allow researchers to gain an in-depth understanding of participants.

Example: An assumption is  something that is generally accepted as true and  is an important consideration when conducting a doctoral study.

Example: The student , as well as the committee members, is excited.

Example: The student with all the master’s degrees is very motivated.

Example: Strategies that the teacher uses to encourage classroom participation include using small groups and clarifying expectations.

Example: The focus of the interviews was nine purposively selected participants.

Example: The chairperson or the CEO approves the proposal before proceeding.

Example: The student or the committee members write every day.

Example: The committee members or the student writes every day.

Example: Each of the participants  was willing to be recorded.

Example:  Neither   alternative hypothesis  was  accepted.

Example: I will offer a $5 gift card to  everybody who  participates  in the study.

Example: No one   was  available to meet with me at the preferred times.

Example: Education   is  the key to success.

Example: Diabetes affects many people around the world.

Example: The information obtained from the business owners was relevant to include in the study.

Example:   The research I found on the topic was limited.

Example: The earnings  for this quarter  exceed  expectations.

Example: The proceeds  from the sale  go  to support the homeless population in the city.

Example: Locally produced goods   have the advantage of shorter supply chains.

Example: There is  little  administrative support .

Example: There are many factors  affecting teacher retention.

Example: The group meets every week.

Example: The committee agrees on the quality of the writing.

However, the plural verb is used if the focus is on the individuals in the group. This is much less common.

Example: The committee participate in various volunteer activities in their private lives.

Subject–Verb Agreement Video Playlist

Note that these videos were created while APA 6 was the style guide edition in use. There may be some examples of writing that have not been updated to APA 7 guidelines.

• Grammar for Academic Writers: Advanced Subject–Verb Agreement (video transcript)
• Common Error: Subject–Verb Agreement (video transcript)

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Knowledge Check: Subject–Verb Agreement

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• Subject-Verb Agreement | Examples, Rules & Use

Subject-Verb Agreement | Examples, Rules & Use

Published on April 30, 2019 by Fiona Middleton . Revised on April 18, 2023.

Subject-verb agreement means that the subject of the sentence matches the verb describing its action. This helps your reader understand who or what is doing something and makes your writing easier to read.

First, identify the subject (the person or thing doing the action) and the verb (the action word) in a sentence. If the subject is singular, the verb describing its action should be singular. If the subject is plural , the verb should be plural.

While subject-verb agreement is easy in simple sentences like these, it can become tricky in more complex sentences. This article teaches you the most important rules and common mistakes.

Table of contents

Compound subjects, subjects separated from verbs, indefinite pronouns, subjects that come after the verb, numbers and amounts, collective and uncountable nouns, abbreviations and acronyms.

Sometimes two or more subjects are linked to one verb. These are called compound subjects. To decide whether to use a singular or plural verb, consider how the subjects are linked.

Subjects linked with “and”

When subjects are linked with and , use a plural verb.

A bicycle and a pedestrian were involved. The goose and the chickens eat early in the morning.

Exception : When the two nouns don’t refer to separate things but to a single entity, use a singular verb.

The new bed and breakfast opens this week. Macaroni and cheese is a delicious meal.

Subjects linked with “or”

When singular subjects are linked with or , either…or , nor , neither…nor , use a singular verb.

Just a card or a balloon is enough. Either the measurement or the calculation has created a problem.

If all the subjects are plural, use a plural verb.

Either the measurements or the calculations have created a problem.

If the compound subject contains both singular and plural nouns, the verb takes the form of the closest subject.

Neither the batteries nor the machine operates as intended.

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Often the verb does not directly follow the subject, which can lead to agreement mistakes. Make sure to match the verb with the correct subject, especially in long sentences with phrases or clauses in between subject and verb.

“As well as” and other tricky phrases

The phrase as well as is not the same as the conjunction and . Subjects linked by and  always take a plural verb. In contrast, phrases like as well as , in addition to , or along with are not linked to the verb. If the subject is singular, the verb should stay singular.

These refer to non-specific persons, places, and things (e.g., someone , other , anyone , anything , somewhere , every , none ).

Most indefinite pronouns are treated as singular subjects. However, some are always treated as plural, as they refer to multiple items or amounts.

Certain indefinite pronouns may be treated as either singular or plural, depending on whether they refer to multiple items or to a proportion of a single item.

Sometimes the subject follows the verb, especially when the sentence begins with there or here . In this case,  there is not the subject – the true subject should be identified and matched with the correct verb form.

There are many gaps in the literature. Here is the answer .

Note : Identifying the true subject can be difficult when using these phrases in a long sentence, which can be confusing for your readers, so be careful when starting a sentence in this way.

When using  numbers, percentages or proportions , the correct form of verb agreement depends on exactly what you’re referring to. It’s helpful to look beyond the numbers and find the true subject.

If you’re referring to a specific number or amount of something, match the verb with the noun rather than the number.

Only 25% of the measurements are reliable. Three meters of wire surrounds the core. Over 300 civilians reside in the area.

This also applies when the number refers to an unnamed noun.

I invited 10 people to the party, but only nine are coming. 30% say they will vote in the next election.

If the subject of the sentence is a number referring to a unified quantity of something, use a singular verb.

One thousand dollars is too much. In fact, 63% is a better result than expected.

Proportions

Terms that describe a proportion of something are usually followed by “of” (such as most of ). First look at the noun you are describing to determine if it’s singular or plural, then match it to the verb.

The majority of the samples are contaminated. The majority of the sample is contaminated. One third of the participants were given the placebo .

It can be hard to work out whether to treat collective and uncountable nouns as singular or plural.

Collective nouns

A collective noun refers to a group of people or things as a singular whole (e.g., population , team , committee , staff ). The form of verb depends on the style of English you are using.  US English  tends to use a singular verb, while UK English tends to use a plural verb. This also applies to the names of companies and organizations.

However, in both styles of English, this rule is somewhat flexible depending on whether you want to emphasize the actions of the collective as a whole or the individual actions of its members.

*A singular verb makes more sense here, as the emphasis is on the company as a unified entity.

**A plural verb makes more sense here, as the emphasis is on the individual staff members.

Uncountable nouns

These nouns describe abstract concepts or masses that can’t be counted (e.g., research , power , water  and vegetation ). They take a singular verb.

This  equipment is unusable. The research goes  smoothly. Water flows through the streets.

Note :  Data is technically a plural noun, but it is widely treated as an uncountable noun, so it is acceptable to use either the singular or plural verb form.

This research aims  to gather additional data on bee behaviour, which is currently lacking. Data were collected over a period of three months.

Abbreviations and acronyms usually take a singular verb. If you’re unsure, check if the full version of the acronym or abbreviation is a singular, plural or collective noun, and refer to the rules above. It’s most important to use one form of agreement consistently.

The country’s GDP correlates with its birth rate. The RPM falls rapidly. In addition to oil, HNS are a common form of cargo.

In the examples above, RPM (“revolutions per minute”) refers to a stand-alone number, so it takes a singular verb.  HNS (“hazardous and noxious substances”), on the other hand, is used to describe multiple things, so it takes a plural verb.

Sources in this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

Middleton, F. (2023, April 18). Subject-Verb Agreement | Examples, Rules & Use. Scribbr. Retrieved August 11, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/verbs/subject-verb-agreement/

Aarts, B. (2011).  Oxford modern English grammar . Oxford University Press.

Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015).  Fowler’s dictionary of modern English usage  (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Garner, B. A. (2016).  Garner’s modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

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Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement

Understanding subject-verb agreement is vital. We’ll go over what it is and how to avoid subject-verb agreement errors in your writing.

Subject-Verb Agreement—Quick Summary

• Subject-verb agreement is when the subject and verb of a sentence coincide with one another in number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third).

❌ The train stop every hour.

• The main rule of subject-verb agreement is that singular subjects must be paired with singular verbs and plural subjects with plural verbs, but it isn’t always so clear-cut.

What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?

If you look up the word agreement , you’ll come across definitions like “harmony and accordance” or “the absence of incompatibility between two things.”

Knowing this, you can deduce that subject-verb agreement refers to the subject and verb of a sentence being harmonious and compatible with one another.

Errors in subject-verb agreement make sentences clunky and hard to follow. This blog post will go over all the rules you should follow to make sure you avoid making mistakes in subject-verb agreement .

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

1. singular subjects must go with singular verbs and plural subjects with plural verbs..

The foundation of subject-verb agreement is quite simple: If the subject is singular, then the verb that follows it must also be singular. Furthermore, if the subject is plural, then the verb must also be plural.

Simply add an “-s” or “-es” to the base form of a verb to make it agree with a third-person singular subject .

He danc es gleefully.

With any other subject, use the base form of a verb.

I visit my parents every day.

They cook dinner for me.

The cats enjoy my company too.

Caution: Have and be have their own forms, and don’t get “-s” or “-es” added with third-person singular subjects. Instead, have becomes has . Be has three irregular forms for the present tense and two for the past tense. Additionally, modal verbs also don’t follow this pattern.

It is really cold in the classroom.

Luckily, she has a sweater on.

2. Compound subjects joined by “and” generally require a plural verb.

Compound subjects that are joined by “and” generally take a plural verb.

Ana and Nicole are not here yet.

Ana and Nicole is not here yet.

However, when the subjects joined by “and” are considered a single unit (or refer to the same person or thing), use a singular verb.

Ham and cheese is John’s favorite type of sandwich.

When the compound subject is joined by “or” or “nor,” then singular subjects take a singular verb, and plural subjects take a plural verb.

My mom or my dad is going to attend the play.

My mom or my dad are going to attend the play.

My parents and my brothers are going to attend the play.

My parents and my brothers is going to attend the play.

Sometimes the compound subject joined by “or” or “nor” contains both a singular and plural subject. In this case, the verb should agree with the subject that is closest to it.

Either the receptionist or the clients were lying.

The clients or the receptionist was lying.

3. “Remove” prepositional phrases.

Sometimes a subject and a verb are separated by a prepositional phrase, making the “singular subject with singular verb and plural subject with plural verb” difficult to follow. To avoid errors, just make sure the verb agrees with the subject and not the prepositional phrase. An easy trick would be to cover or remove it to see if the verb agrees with the subject before it. Consider the following sentence:

The plate of cookies has fallen on the kitchen floor.

If you remove the prepositional phrase “of cookies,” the sentence reads:

The plate has fallen on the kitchen floor.

Because the verb must agree with plate and not cookies , the singular verb has is required.

4. Collective nouns can be singular or plural.

Collective nouns take a singular or plural verb, depending on whether it’s referring to the group as a whole or the individual members. If the collective noun is referring to the entire group ( team, government, family, etc. ), then use a singular noun. But if it’s specifying the individual members of the group, use a plural verb.

The jury decides on a verdict.

The jury disagree on sentencing.

Both sentences above can technically be grammatically correct because in the first example, the jury is a single unit. In the second example, however, the jury refers to the individual members.

Nouns like jeans, eyeglasses, and scissors go with plural verbs because they are made up of pairs, even though technically, they refer to single items.

The jeans look good on you.

The jeans looks good on you.

Additionally, phrases that start with “a number of” take a plural verb, whereas those that start with “the number of” take a singular verb.

A number of photographs we took were selected for the competition.

The number of students that applied was impressive.

5. Remember: Some subjects have a plural form, but are singular in meaning.

Some nouns that end in “-s” appear plural but are singular in meaning. These subjects take singular verb forms. Take the subject United States as an example:

The United States is experiencing high inflation.

The United States are experiencing high inflation.

Some of these nouns can be either singular or plural, depending on the context of the sentence.

Politics is something I don’t understand.

The politics of it are questionable.

Generally, if the plural-form subject is presented as a title, it’s paired with a singular verb.

Economics is a class every high school student should take.

Economics are a class every high school student should take.

6. Most (but not all) indefinite pronouns take singular verbs.

Most indefinite pronouns take singular verb forms ( another, anyone, neither, other, something, nothing, etc.)

There are two positions available, but neither intrigues me.

Be careful with these indefinite pronouns because although some indicate a plural number ( each, everybody, everything ), they are still considered to be singular and therefore take singular verbs.

Everybody is waiting on you.

Everybody are waiting on you.

Both, few, others, many, and several are paired with plural verbs.

Several are leaving.

Some pronouns— all, any, enough, more, most, none, and some —can be either singular or plural. To use the right verb form, look at the noun the pronoun is referring to.

All the pie was eaten.

All the pies were eaten.

7. The verb of a relative clause that starts with “who,” “which,” or “that” must agree with the antecedent.

When the words who, that, and which precede the pronoun, the verb must agree with the antecedent (the word, phrase, or clause that gets replaced by the pronoun).

Love is the secret ingredient that goes into making our slow-cook entrées.

Love and patience are the secret ingredients that go into making our slow-cook entrées.

Subject-Verb Agreement: What To Look Out For

Yes, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to subject-verb agreement. Don’t be intimated by everything that needs to be remembered in order to get it right. The most important things to keep in mind are:

• The subject and the verb of a sentence must agree in person and in number.
• Remember that compound subjects joined by “and” generally take a plural verb. Those joined by “or/nor” agree with the part of the subject that’s closest to the verb.
• Indefinite pronouns can be tricky. Most take a singular verb, but both, few, many, others, and several take a plural verb. All, any, enough, more, most, none, and some can function as either a singular or plural subject.
• Collective nouns act as a singular subject if it’s referring to a group as a whole, but are plural subjects if they’re referring to the individual members of a group.

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What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?

Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that the verb or verbs in a sentence must match the number, person, and gender of the subject; in English, the verb needs to match just the number and sometimes the person. For example, the singular subject it and the plural subject they use different versions of the same verb: “it goes . . . ” and “they go . . . ”

Learning the rules for subject-verb agreement can be difficult at first, but with enough practice, you’ll find they start to make more sense. Below, we explain everything you need to tackle any subject-verb agreement exercises you come across, including demonstrations of how they work with lots of subject-verb agreement examples.  Give your writing extra polish Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly

What is subject-verb agreement?

Subject-verb agreement, also called “subject-verb concord,” refers to matching the subject and verb of a sentence in tense, aspect, and mood (abbreviated as TAM), which translates to number, person, and gender. 

English doesn’t use grammatical gender (except for pronouns ), and only the verb be changes based on whether it’s first, second, or third person. That means most English subject-verb agreement is about quantity: if the subject is singular, the verb must be singular; if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. 

Even this can get confusing, though, because talking in the first-person singular (“I climb the fence”) uses the same verb format as talking in the first-person plural (“We climb the fence”). Aside from the verb be , subject-verb agreement in English adapts verbs to the third-person singular (“It climbs the fence”). 

Usage and subject-verb agreement examples

Basically, most subjects except third-person singular use the standard form of a verb in the present tense. 

The dogs roll in the mud. 

I need to catch my breath. 

You look like a celebrity! 

However, if the subject is third-person singular, you must use the singular form of the verb when speaking in the present tense. Most of the time, this means adding an -s to the end of the verb. 

The dog roll s in the mud. 

She need s to catch her breath. 

He look s like a celebrity!

If the verb ends in -x , – ss , – sh , – ch , – tch , or – zz , you add – es to the end to match the third-person singular. 

My snake hiss es to say “I love you.” 

She only match es with creeps in online dating. 

If the verb ends in a consonant + y , remove the y and add – ies to match the third-person singular. 

Atlas carr ies the world on his shoulders. 

The new drone fl ies higher than the old one. 

However, with words that end in a vowel + y , follow the normal format and add only – s to make the third-person singular. 

My roommate stay s in his bedroom from morning to night. 

With the exception of the verb be , these guidelines apply to irregular verbs as well as regular verbs .  

Our father eats with the ferocity of a tiger. 

So why does the verb be have so many exceptions? The most common verb in English, be doesn’t just represent a general state of existence; it’s also an auxiliary verb necessary for the continuous tenses. 

In English, be is the only verb that changes based on the person. If you’re using the verb be , alone or as part of a continuous tense, the subject-verb agreement rules require that you match both the number and the person . Here’s a quick reminder of how to conjugate be in the singular and plural of each person: 

Considering how frequently be is used in English, it’s best to memorize this chart so you can apply the proper subject-verb agreement instinctively. 

You are always welcome in our home. 

I am running a marathon tomorrow. 

It is raining even though it is sunny. 

If the subject-verb agreement rules seem complicated, there is some good news: the simple past and simple future don’t change based on the number or person of the subject . Both singular and plural subjects use the same form for those tenses. 

They will be here tomorrow. 

He will be here tomorrow. 

The potatoes grew overnight!

The potato grew overnight! 

The only exception is, again, the verb be , which changes between was and were based on the subject in the simple past tense. 

I was young once.

We were young once. 

On the other hand, the perfect tenses change their auxiliary verb depending on the number of the subject. Singular subjects use has , and plural subjects use have . 

They have not seen the movie yet, so no spoilers. 

She has not seen the movie yet, so no spoilers. 

That covers the basics for subject-verb agreement in English. Still, there are some particularly difficult areas and more precise rules for special situations, which we explain below. 

Advanced subject-verb agreement rules

Here’s a list of some additional subject-verb agreement rules to clear up the more problematic areas. If you’re still confused, review the subject-verb agreement examples to see how they work. 

1 When using the negative form in the present tense, only the verb do needs to match the subject. 

She does not like reading before bed. 

She likes reading before bed. 

2 Likewise, in questions that involve the word do , only do needs to match the subject. 

Do you know where the train station is? 

Does anyone know where the train station is? 

3 If the subject consists of multiple nouns joined by the conjunction and , treat the subject as plural and use the plural form of the verb. 

Lucas and Maxine are in love!

Only Lucas is in love. 

However, some common phrases that form a single unit can act as singular. 

This bed and breakfast is delightful! 

4 If the subject consists of multiple singular nouns joined by or , treat the subject as singular. 

Penne or rigatoni works fine for the recipe. 

However, if the subject consists of multiple plural nouns joined by or , treat the subject as plural. 

Cats or dogs make good friends. 

If there’s a combination of singular and plural nouns joined by or , the verb follows the number of the final one listed. 

The teacher or the students have to inform the principal. 

The students or the teacher has to inform the principal. 

5 If there is more than one active verb, as with compound predicates , all the verbs must agree with the subject. 

After work, I go shopping, pick up the kids, cook dinner, and then relax for the night. 

6 Mass nouns , otherwise known as “uncountable nouns” or “noncount nouns,” act as singular subjects. 

Love makes the world go around. 

7 Collective nouns can be either singular or plural, depending on whether they act together or separately. 

[Together, singular] The team goes to practice at 4:00. 

[Separately, plural] The team go to their own homes after practice. 

8 Verbs used in alternative forms, such as gerunds , infinitives , or participles , do not need to follow subject-verb agreement. However, the main verbs of the sentence still do. 

The coach makes running mandatory. 

The coaches make running mandatory. 

9 Unless you’re using an appositive or other descriptive phrase, do not put a comma between subjects and verbs .

The holiday is becoming a total disaster. 

The holiday, which I was looking forward to, is becoming a total disaster. 

10 The words each and every count as singular when they’re used as the subject, even if they’re followed by multiple nouns. 

Each window and door needs to be sealed. 

Every doctor, nurse, and technician gets free training here. 

11 Likewise, these words always act as singular subjects, even when they describe more than one thing:

Everybody loves using correct grammar! 

Either blue or green works for the wallpaper color. 

12 If additional phrases come between the subject and the verb, the verb must still agree with the subject. These sentences can be tricky, so be careful. 

A group consisting of Professor Lidenbrock, the Icelandic guide Hans Bjelke, and the professor’s nephew Axel departs for the volcano. 

Be particularly careful of subjects that use the phrase “one of . . . ” The word one is singular, even when followed by plural nouns. 

One of the world’s leading scientists still has trouble speaking in public. 

13 In the active vs. passive voice debate, the verb in the passive voice still follows whatever word acts as the subject. 

They pay the electric bill online. 

The electric bill is paid by them online. 

14 When choosing between “ there is . . . ” and “there are . . . ,” the verb should match the number of the noun that follows it. The same goes for sentences beginning with “here . . . ”

There is a new map in the DLC. 

There are new maps in the DLC. 

15 Similarly, words that indicate a portion, including percentages, use the number of the noun they describe. This noun is typically the object of the phrase “of . . . ”

All of the book is ruined!

All of the books are ruined!

Some of the film is funny. 

Some of the films are funny. 

Fifty percent of the house is made of wood. 

Fifty percent of the houses are made of wood. 

16 When referring to distances, periods of time, or amounts of money—taken as a whole—use the singular form of the verb. 

Twenty dollars is too much for IMAX! 

17 Be careful of nouns that exist only in the plural form; they sometimes act as singular. 

The news has been depressing lately. 

Politics is getting too combative. 

However, some of these nouns act as plural. 

The scissors do not work. 

If a plural noun is preceded by the word pair , treat the subject as singular because pair is singular.  

The pair of scissors does not work. 

Subject-verb agreement FAQs

Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that the subject and verb in a sentence should use the same number, person, and gender. With the exception of the verb be , in English subject-verb agreement is about matching the number. 

How does subject-verb agreement work?

In English, if a subject is singular, use the singular form of the verb; if the subject is plural, use the plural form of the verb. The only exception to this rule is the verb be , which uses different forms based on both number and person. 

What are examples of subject-verb agreement?

Look at these two sentences: “Cats make great pets” and “A cat makes a great pet.” The plural subject cats uses the plural form of the verb without – s at the end ( make ). The singular subject a cat uses the singular form of the verb with -s at the end ( make s ). 

Subject-verb Agreement

Watch the subject-verb agreement in your sentences when…

When the subject follows the verb

When the subject follows the verb (especially in sentences beginning with the expletives “there is” or “there are”), special care is needed to determine the subject and to make certain that the verb agrees with it.

On the wall were several posters. There are many possible candidates. There is only one good candidate.

When words like “each” are the subject

When used as subjects, words such as

• each, either, neither
• anyone, anybody, anything
• someone, somebody, something
• one, everyone
• everybody, everything
• no one, nobody, nothing

take singular verbs.

Do not be confused by prepositional phrases which come between a subject and its verb. They do not change the number of the subject.

Each takes her turn at rowing. Neither likes the friends of the other. Everyone in the fraternity has his own set of prejudices. Each of the rowers takes her turn at rowing. Every one of the fraternity members has his own set of prejudices.

When words like “none” are the subject

Other words such as

• none, any, all
• more, most, some

may take either singular or plural verbs, depending on the context.

Some of the dollar was spent. Some of the dollars were spent.

[Note: here the prepositional phrase does affect the subject. It tells you whether you are talking about a part of one thing (singular) or about a number of things (plural).]

When the subjects are joined by “and”

Subjects joined by “and” take plural verbs.

Be aware: phrases such as “in addition to,” “as well as,” and “along with” do not mean the same thing as “and.” When inserted between the subject and the verb, these phrases do not change the number of the subject.

Both Tom and Jane have English 167 papers due on Tuesday. Tom, as well as Jane, has an English 207 paper due Tuesday.

When singular subjects are joined by words like “or”

Singular subjects joined by “or,” “nor,” “either . . . or,” or “neither. . . nor” take a singular verb.

Either the man or his wife knows the truth of the matter. Neither money nor power was important any longer.

When one subject is singular and one plural

If one subject is singular and one is plural, the verb agrees with the nearer subject.

Neither the television nor the radios work. Neither the radios nor the television works.

When a linking verb is used

A linking verb (“is,” “are,” “was,” “were,” “seem” and others) agrees with its subject, not its complement.

Joe’s favorite dessert is blueberry muffins. Blueberry muffins are Joe’s favorite dessert.

When a collective noun is used

When regarded as a unit, collective nouns, as well as noun phrases denoting quantity, take singular verbs.

The whole family is active.

(Family is a collective noun regarded as a unit.)

The family have met their various obligations.

(The individuals of the family are regarded separately.)

A thousand bushels is a good yield.

(a quantity or unit)

A thousand bushels were crated.

(individual bushels)

When a relative pronoun is used as a subject of an adjective clause

A relative pronoun (“who,” “which,” or “that”) used as a subject of an adjective clause takes either a singular or plural verb in order to agree with its antecedent.

A vegetable that contains DDT can be harmful.

(Adjective clause modifying the singular noun “vegetable.”)

Vegetables that contain DDT can be harmful.

(Adjective clause modifying the plural noun “vegetables.”)

Mary is one of the students who have done honor to the college.

(Adjective clause modifies the plural noun “students.” “Students” is the antecedent of “who.”

In the above sentence Mary is just one of the students. So at least two students have done honor to the college.

Compare that to:

Mary is the only one of our students who has achieved national recognition.

In this case, “one,” not “students,” is the antecedent of “who.”

Compare to the sentence above:

Of all our students, Mary is the only one who has achieved national recognition.

Grammar and Punctuation

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Using Dashes

Using Commas

Using Semicolons

Using Coordinating Conjunctions

Using Conjunctive Adverbs

Subject-Verb Agreement

Using Gender–Neutral Pronouns in Academic Writing

How to Proofread

Twelve Common Errors: An Editing Checklist

Clear, Concise Sentences

Subject-Verb Agreement

What is subject-verb agreement.

More about Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement Mistakes

(issue 1) "someone" and "anyone" take singular verbs.

(Issue 2) "All" and "Some" Can Take a Singular or a Plural Verb

(Issue 3) "Number Of" Takes a Plural Verb...Most of the Time

(Issue 4) Terms Like "Half Of," "the Majority Of," and "a Percentage Of" Can Be Singular or Plural

(Issue 5) "None" Can Take a Singular or Plural Verb

• None of the team has polished their boots.

(Issue 6) The Words after "As Well As" Are Not Part of the Subject

(Issue 7) "Either" and "Neither" Are Singular

(Issue 8) "Or" Does Not Conjoin

(Issue 9) Beware Modifiers between the Subject and the Verb

(Issue 10) A List of Words That Cause Confusion

(Issue 11) Collective Nouns Can be Singular or Plural

(Issue 12) The Term "More Than One" Is Singular!

(Issue 13) The Positive Element Governs the Verb

This page was written by Craig Shrives .

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What is Subject-Verb Agreement? Definition, Examples of English SVA

Home » The Writer’s Dictionary » What is Subject-Verb Agreement? Definition, Examples of English SVA

Subject-verb agreement definition: Subject-verb agreement includes matching the subject with the correct form of a verb.

What is Subject-verb Agreement?

Subject-verb agreement means that the subject and the verb must agree in case and in number.

When a writer uses a singular noun , he must use a verb that is conjugated to match singular nouns.

When a writer uses a plural noun , he must use a verb that is conjugated to match plural nouns.

Subject-verb Agreement Examples

• I walk. (singular)
• You walk. (singular and plural)
• He/She/It walks. (singular)
• We walk. (plural)
• They walk. (plural)

Incorrect Examples:

• They walks.

Subject-Verb Agreement in Different Constructions

For simple sentences, subject-verb agreement isn’t difficult to figure out.

• John is leaving.
• They are leaving.

These sentences are incredibly simple, which means it’s also incredibly simple to determine the correct subject and verb case.

Subject and verb agreement can be tricky, however, when the construction of the subject changes.

Let’s take a look at some of those tricky constructions.

With More Than One Subject Connected by “And”

• Drake and Drew ARE playing soccer.
• Drake, Drew, and Danny ARE playing soccer.
• Cats and dogs DO NOT play together well.
• My friends and I ARE playing soccer.

With More Than One Singular Subject Connected by “Or”

When there is more than one singular noun as the subject and the nouns in the subject are connected with “or,” a singular verb must be used.

• Drake or Drew IS playing soccer.
• A cat or dog IS making noise outside.

Agreement with Contractions

Examples with “don’t:”

• I do not = I don’t (singular)
• You do not = You don’t (singular and plural)
• He/She/It does not = He/She/It doesn’t (singular)
• We do not = We don’t (plural)
• They do not = They don’t (plural)

When Phrases Come Between the Subject and Verb

When a phrase interrupts the subject and the verb, the verb must agree with the subject regardless of the phrase.

• The man who plays soccer IS handsome.
• The men who play soccer ARE handsome.
• That toy, which I found in the oven, IS ruined.

Non-count Noun

• Mathematics IS a difficult course for me.
• My luggage IS packed and ready to go.
• This environment IS congested.
• Civics IS not my favorite course.

Sentences With There Are, There is, Here Are, Here is .

When a writer begins sentences with “there” or “here,” the verb agreement must match the words that follow. If a singular noun follows, use a singular verb. If a plural noun follows, use a plural verb.

• There IS a ghost in our attic.
• There ARE ghosts in our attic.
• Here IS the ghost.
• Here ARE the ghosts.

Tricky Words to Determine Agreement

Some writers may find that matching indefinite pronouns with the appropriate subject and verb can be difficult.

Some tricky indefinite pronouns that are always singular include:

• Each one IS identified.
• Someone IS asking.
• Everyone IS talking at once.

Some tricky indefinite pronouns that are always plural include:

• All ARE identified.
• Some ARE talking.
• All ARE asking.

Collective Nouns

• The group MAKES a decision.
• The people MAKE a decision.

Summary: Subject-verb Agreement Rules

Define subject-verb agreement: the definition of subject-verb agreement is the requirement that a subject and verb of a clause must match in person and in number.

In summary, subjects and verbs should always have the appropriate agreement, whether singular or plural.

While some can be tricky, it is unacceptable to match a singular subject with a plural verb and vice versa.

Subject-Verb Agreement

I. real subjects.

The subject-verb agreement is tricky in a sentence or dependent clause that begins with the words "there, that, which, who," or "what" because they are not real subjects to determine agreement. You should look for the real subject in the sentence. For example, in the sentence "There are fifteen students in the room today," the real subject is "students," so the word "there" is treated as plural. However, in the sentence "There is a penny on the sidewalk," the real subject is "penny," so the word there is treated as singular.

Study these examples.

• There   is   three prerequisites   for this class. (incorrect)
• There   are   three prerequisites   for this class. (correct)

The word "there" is standing in for the real subject "prerequisites."

• Every teenager knows how to choose   clothes   that   flatters   her figure. (incorrect) 

• Every teenager knows how to choose   clothes   that   flatter   her figure. (correct) 


The word "that" is standing in for the real subject "clothes." 


II. Collective Nouns

Collective nouns express more than one person or thing, for example, "government," "equipment," "furniture," and "faculty," but each word refers to the group as a whole without taking a plural form. Collective nouns are treated as singular when verbs agree with them.

• The government   get   involved in people’s private business. (incorrect)
• The government   gets   involved in people’s private business. (correct)

"Government" is treated as singular when it agrees with "get."

III. Prepositional Phrases

The subject is not always the same as the noun next to the verb when the subject is followed by a prepositional phrase. For example, in the sentence “ One   of the many reasons   is   that it’s too expensive,” the subject is "one," not "reasons." The verb must agree with the real subject, which is the word that comes before the prepositional phrase.

• Everybody   on the buses   know   its route. (incorrect)
• Everybody   on the buses   knows   its route. (correct)

IV. Conjunctions

If nouns are connected with the conjunction "and," the subject is plural and the verb must agree with it.

• Mark and his sister   is studying   at Miami University. (incorrect)
• Mark and his sister   are studying   at Miami University. (correct)       

V. Either/Or and Neither/Nor

When the subject is formed with "either … or" "or neither … nor," make the verb agree with the closest noun to it.

• Either her brothers or her father   have   the money. (incorrect)
• Either her brothers or her father   has   the money. (incorrect)

Correct the following.

• Alexina found two online articles that is good for her assignment.
• Who are Sergey's and Mohammed's English teacher this semester?
• There is two sorority sisters in my class, Fatima and Thoa.
• Neither the cats nor the dog are responsible for the mess.
• Which are older, Enrique or Miguel?

Explanations and some examples are adapted with modifications from the following resources:

Bruce, S., & Rafoth, B. A. (2009).   ESL Writers: A guide for writing center tutors . Portsmouth, NH: Boynton/Cook.

Ferris, D. (2014).   Language power: Tutorials for writers . Boston: Bedford/St Martin's.

Raimes, A. (2008).   Grammar troublespots: A guide for student writers . Cambridge [etc.]: Cambridge University Press.

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Purdue OWL® Exercises Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Answer : Subject and Verb Agreement Exercise

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1. Annie and her brothers are at school.

2. Either my mother or my father is coming to the meeting.

3. The dog or the cats are outside.

4. Either my shoes or your coat is always on the floor.

5. George and Tamara don't want to see that movie.

6. Benito doesn't know the answer.

7. One of my sisters is going on a trip to France.

8. The man with all the birds lives on my street.

9. The movie, including all the previews, takes about two hours to watch.

10. The players, as well as the captain, want to win.

11. Either answer is acceptable.

12. Every one of those books is fiction.

13. Nobody knows the trouble I've seen.

14. Is the news on at five or six?

15. Mathematics is John's favorite subject, while Civics is Andrea's favorite subject.

16. Eight dollars is the price of a movie these days.

17. Are the tweezers in this drawer?

18. Your pants are at the cleaner's.

19. There were fifteen candies in that bag. Now there is only one left!

20. The committee debates these questions carefully.

21. The committee members  lead   very different lives in private.

22. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, greets the press cordially.

23. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, are in this case.

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Course: Grammar   >   Unit 9

Subject-verb agreement.

• Pronoun-antecedent agreement

A gallon of milk _____ four dollars.

• (Choice A)   cost A cost
• (Choice B)   costs B costs

Encyclopedia

Writing with artificial intelligence, subject-verb agreement.

• © 2023 by Jenifer Paquette - Hillsborough Community College , Joseph M. Moxley - Professor of English - USF , Brogan Sullivan

What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?

Subject-verb agreement happens when the subject and verb of a clause agree in number. For the subject and verb to agree, a singular subject must take a singular verb, and a plural subject must take a plural verb.

A verb denotes action, existence, or occurrence. A subject denotes the person or thing that performs the action, the person or thing that exists, or the incident that occurs. For example:

• Samantha drove .
• Mistakes were made .

In English, subjects and verbs must also agree with one another. That is, the form of the verb has to match the number of things in the subject. A singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb. For example:

• She talks . (Singular)
• They talk . (Plural)

Notice that, unlike nouns, regular verbs in the present tense become plural by subtracting the letter s from the end. In the past tense, verbs usually don’t change at all:

• I watched. (Singular)
• They watched. (Plural)

Related Concepts: Subjects, Verbs, & Objects

Why Does Subject-Verb Agreement Matter?

A single relationship lies at the heart of every sentence in the English language. Like an indivisible nucleus at the center of an atom, the subject-verb pair unifies the sentence. It can be surrounded by any number of modifying words, taking on new shades of meaning, but no matter how many adjectives, adverbs, and independent clauses become attached, the basic unit remains. The subject-verb pair guarantees that the sentence means something. Without this core, a sentence fragments and loses its power to speak. Indeed, a sentence only becomes complete when it contains at least a subject and a verb.

How To Determine Agreement in Special Cases

No matter what kind of verb you’re using, the trick to making your subjects and verbs agree with one another is to first identify the quantity of the subject and then use the appropriate verb form. Usually, the writer makes these calculations without effort. However, certain words and phrases defy such common sense evaluations. The following sections explore the most frequent areas of confusion.

Indefinite Pronouns

The indefinite pronouns anyone , everyone , someone , no one , everybody , and nobody are always singular, and require singular verbs.

• No one comes to the party.
• Everyone tips the waiter.
• Someone saves the day.

It’s tempting to think that a word like everybody is plural (after all, it seems to refer to a group of people). But everybody is a shorthand way of saying “each person in the group,” and therefore remains a singular word.

Some indefinite pronouns, such as some or all , can be either singular or plural, depending on the quantity of the things they refer to. For example, particulate things, like marbles or slices of bread, are countable, and therefore take plural verbs:

• All of the marbles roll away.
• Some of the slices of bread were eaten.

Non-particulate things, such as loyalty or air, are not countable, and therefore take singular verbs:

• All of my loyalty vanishes .
• Some of the air is gone.

Collective and Plural Nouns

Many nouns masquerade as plural nouns, but like some indefinite pronouns, actually count as singular nouns. Words like audience , dozen , jury , group , and team imply a plurality of members, but when those members act as one, the noun is singular, and takes a singular verb.

• The audience claps at the end of the guitar player’s solo.
• A jury of his peers convicts the man for fraud.

However, if the members of the collective noun are not acting as a group, then the noun becomes plural and takes a plural verb.

• After the play, the audience grab their coats, exit the building and head for the parking garage. (The individual audience members do not grab the same coats or exit at the exact same time, nor do they take the same route to the parking garage.)
• The jury are divided on the subject of the plaintiff’s guilt. (Since the jury members do not agree unanimously, the noun jury becomes plural and takes a plural verb).

Note that a collective noun also becomes plural when more than one of the same kind of group described by the noun appears in the sentence.

• Dozens of petitioners attend . (In this case, the collective noun “dozen” has become plural; there is more than one dozen in the sentence, and so the verb becomes a plural verb).  
• The teams march onto the field. (More than one team exists in this sentence, so the verb becomes plural.)

When you are in doubt about whether a collective noun is plural or singular in your sentence, you can do one of two things:

• Add a modifying word, like “members” to the collective noun. (The members of the audience exit the building and head for the parking garage.)
• Use a different word entirely. (The concertgoers exit the building and head for the parking garage.)

Amounts and Fractions

Nouns that express amounts of concepts like time, money, and distance are singular.

• Twenty-four hours feels longer when you’re stuck on a plane.
• Seven hundred dollars is more than I can afford.
• Fifty miles seems like a long distance to walk, but it’s not if you’re in good shape.

Fractions are singular if they modify singular nouns and plural if they modify plural nouns.

• Half of the voters have cast their ballots. (“Voters” is plural, so “half” takes a plural verb.)
• Forty percent of the newspaper is devoted to advertisements. (“Newspaper” is singular, so “forty percent” takes a singular verb.)

Phrases of Inclusion

Certain phrases, such as along with , including , as well as , and together with do not operate on the subject in the same way that the word and does. The word and , used to connect two nouns or pronouns, compounds them into a plural subject. But the phrases listed above only interrupt the link between subject and verb, leaving the subject’s quantity unchanged:

• You and I are always together. ( You and I is a plural subject)
• The actor, together with his entourage, arrives at the award ceremony. ( The actor is the subject; his entourage is not included in the quantity of the subject)

Neither and Either

When these pronouns appear by themselves, they are singular, even though their use connects two things:

• Neither of these movies is very entertaining.
• Either restaurant is fine with me.

However, when they appear with the conjoining words nor (for neither ) and or (for either ), the quantity of the subject closest to the verb determines the quantity of the verb:

• Neither you nor your friends are welcome at my party.
• Either the democratic candidates or the republican candidate is going to be elected in November.

(Note that the last sentence sounds a little strange. While grammatically correct, the move from plural to singular in the subject feels awkward. When faced with a situation like this, simply switch the order of the terms so that the plural element of the subject appears closest to the verb, and use the plural form of the verb.)

Other Interruptions

In the same way, phrases that come between the subject and the verb (usually set off with commas, parentheses, or dashes) do not contribute to the quantity of the verb:

• The weather in April, although periodically broken by afternoon thunderstorms, was generally quite pleasant.
• My grades (taken as an overall barometer of my conduct at the university) show that I am an exemplary student.

Here and There as Expletive Constructions

Even though these words often appear at the beginning of a sentence (the traditional position for subjects), when they do so, they do not necessarily operate as a subject. In cases where here and there function in tandem with the verb to be (or one of its conjugates), they are part of the verb phrase rather than part of the subject:

• There were five books on the shelf.
• Here are my sweaters.

In these cases, the subject of the sentence follows the verb, but still determines the quantity of the verb.

Editing for Subject-Verb Agreement

A subject-verb agreement is a major faux pas , a stylistic infelicity. Your readers may question your education and professionalism when your texts are undermined by subject-verb agreement problems.

Before submitting your work to your audience, it’s always a good idea to double check for subject verb agreement . The first step when editing for subject-verb agreement is to find the subject and the verb in question in a sentence.

Once you’ve found the subject and verb, you have two revision options.

• Revise the subject and the verb so that both are singular: Error : The houses on the next block over is less expensive. Revised: Each house on the next block over is less expensive.
• Revise the subject and verb so that both are plural. Error : The houses on the next block over is less expensive. Revised: The houses on the next block over are less expensive.

Example: A virus in the school computers is the worst-case scenario during exam week. In this sentence, “virus” is the subject and “is” is the verb. It is tempting in this case to choose “computers” because it’s a noun and it’s much closer to the verb, but if you look closely at the verb, the subject becomes clearer: it is the virus that is a worst-case scenario, not the computers.

• There (is/are) a small, curly hair in my soup.
• Neither the stars nor the moon (is/are) visible tonight.
• 20 years (is/are) a long time to be in school.
• The board (vote/votes) to approve the minutes in each meeting.
• All of my footwear (smell/smells) unpleasant.

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Subject-Verb Agreement Rules and Examples

Subject verb agreement – ever heard of the term? Well, here is a chance to learn what subject verb agreement means, what the term ‘concord’ refers to and the rules to help you understand how it works. Also check out the subject verb agreement examples given and try out the exercises on subject verb agreement to have a clear idea of what it is and how it has to be used to frame perfect sentences.

Table of Contents

What is subject-verb agreement – meaning and definition, rules of subject-verb agreement with examples.

• Examples of Subject-Verb Agreement

Check Your Understanding of Subject-Verb Agreement

Frequently asked questions on subject-verb agreement in english.

The term ‘subject-verb agreement’, just like the name suggests, refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb . This is mainly with reference to singular and plural nouns /pronouns that act as subjects. According to the Collins Dictionary, “concord refers to the way that a word has a form appropriate to the number or gender of the noun or pronoun it relates to. For example, in ‘She hates it’, there is concord between the singular form of the verb and the singular pronoun ‘she’.”

The general rule of subject-verb agreement according to Garner’s Modern English Usage is “to use a plural verb with a plural subject, a singular verb with a singular subject. This rule holds true for most cases. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Check out the next section to learn how verbs have to be conjugated in order to agree with the subject.

The concept of subject-verb concord matters the most when using the present tenses . The simple past and simple future tenses have the same verbs used irrespective of the subject in the sentence. Knowing and following the rules of subject-verb agreement will help you write error-free sentences. Go through the following rules and also go through the examples to understand how each rule is applied.

The first rule is what we have already discussed – the use of a singular verb with a singular subject and a plural verb with a plural subject. The subject can be a noun , a pronoun or even a noun phrase. If it is a pronoun, the subject-verb agreement is done with reference to the person of the pronoun .

For example:

• Rachel spends her free time listening to music. (Singular subject with singular verb)
• Blaine and Kurt play the piano. (Plural subject with plural verb)
• She likes to have a dessert after every meal. (Third person singular pronoun with singular subject)

When using the ‘be’ form of verbs, there is an exception. In this case, the verb is used according to the number and person of the subject. Check out the following table to see how it works with different pronouns.

Furthermore, when used with other nouns and noun phrases , the rule applies. The same works even with simple past, present continuous and past continuous tenses when the ‘be’ form of verbs are used as the principal verb/ helping verb . Check out the following examples to understand.

• Santana is a singer.
• The girls are waiting for you.
• We were happy with the review of our first movie.
• Michael Jackson’s songs are still enjoyed by millions.
• I was reading the latest book by Rudyard Kipling.

The use of ‘have’ and ‘has’ in the present perfect tense , the present perfect continuous tense and as a main verb is also dependent on the subject. All singular subjects use ‘has’ and all plural subjects use ‘have’.

• I have a younger brother.
• You have taken the wrong cut.
• Swetha has a pet dog.
• William Shakespeare has written around 37 plays.
• Finn has been waiting to talk to you about the test results.

Compound subjects combined using the conjunction ‘and’ take a plural verb.

• Krish and Radha are on their way to the airport.
• Caren, Sheela and Akash have completed their assessments.

When more than one noun is joined by the conjunction ‘or’, the subject is considered to be singular and a singular verb is used.

• Celery or spring onion works fine.
• Your mom or dad has to be here in an hour.

Sentences with pronouns such as anybody, anyone, no one, somebody, someone, everybody, everyone, nothing and nobody are treated as singular subjects and will therefore use a singular verb.

• Nobody has understood anything.
• Everyone was happy with the outcome.
• Nothing fits me well.
• No one finds the movie interesting.

For sentences using ‘either..or’ and ‘neither..nor’, the verb should agree with the noun or pronoun that comes just before it.

• Neither Ricky nor Gina is here yet.
• Either the teacher or the students have to take an initiative to keep the classroom clean.
• Neither the children nor their parents are aware of the consequences.

When sentences have subjects like police, news, scissors, mathematics, etc. (nouns that are plural by default), the verb used should be plural.

• The news of demonetisation shocks the entire nation.
• The police have been looking for the culprits.

When a negative sentence is written, the ‘do’ verb is used and it has to match the subject.

• The children do not like working out trigonometry problems.
• My father does not work at the bank anymore.

Interrogative sentences also take the help of the ‘do’ verb. As far as the subject-verb agreement of interrogative sentences is concerned, the first verb (‘be’ verb or ‘do’ verb) has to be aligned with the subject of the sentence.

• Do you read thriller novels?
• Doesn’t she know you already?
• Is Tina happy with the new house?
• Were you looking for me?
• Has Sharon submitted her final project yet?

When you have sentences that begin with ‘here’, ‘there’, ‘this’, ‘that’, ‘those’, ‘these’, etc., always remember that the subject follows the verb and therefore the verb has to be conjugated with reference to the subject.

• Here is your book.
• There lies your shirt.
• That was a great movie.
• There have been many changes in the timetable.

Abstract nouns and uncountable nouns are considered as singular subjects, so make sure you use a singular verb along with it.

• Honesty is the best policy.
• Love makes people do crazy things.
• Good friendship keeps your mind and body healthy.

When the subject refers to a period of time, distance or a sum of money, use a singular verb.

• 1267 kilometres is too long for us to travel in half a day.
• 10 years is not considered optimum to go on the water slide.
• Don’t you think 1000 rupees is a little too much for a portrait?

The next rule is based on the use of collective nouns as subjects. Remember that when you have a collective noun as the subject of the sentence, the verb can be singular or plural based on the sentence and the context.

• My family is settled in Australia.
• All groups of participants have arrived .

In sentences that have adjectives such as ‘all’, ‘a lot of’, ‘lots of’ or ‘some’ are used along with nouns to form a phrase that acts as the subject of the sentence, the verb is used according to the noun just before it.

• All of my dresses have become tight.
• A lot of food is left out.
• Some of the books are torn and damaged.

When a sentence begins with ‘each’ or ‘every’ as the subject, it is considered singular and so the verb has to be singular too.

• Each student has been asked to provide a consent letter.
• Every teacher, parent and student is expected to work together.

When you are using a sentence to express a wish or a sentence expressing a request, verbs are used a little differently from other sentences.

• I wish I were a bird.
• If you were here, I would not be sad.
• We request that everyone make their choices now.

Furthermore, go through the article on tenses to learn how verbs are conjugated according to the tense of the sentence.

Go through the following sentences, analyse if the underlined verb agrees with its subject and make changes if necessary.

1. One of the plates are broken.

2. The seven children from Chennai has been selected for the final round of the quiz.

3. Neither the children nor the teacher has reached yet.

4. Sheena and her sister is here to see you.

5. A lot of food choices was given.

6. My parents lives in New Zealand.

7. Don’t you think 4 days are a little too long?

8. Do anyone know where the lift is?

9. The little girl do not like mangoes for some reason.

10. You has brought all that I had asked for.

Here are the answers for the exercise. Go through them to find out how many of them you got right.

1. One of the plates is broken.

2. The seven children from Chennai have been selected for the final round of the quiz.

3. Neither the teacher nor the children have reached yet.

4. Sheena and her sister are here to see you.

5. A lot of food choices were given.

6. My parents live in New Zealand.

7. Don’t you think 4 days is a little too long?

8. Does anyone know where the lift is?

9. The little girl does not like mangoes for some reason.

10. You have brought all that I had asked for.

What do you mean by subject-verb agreement?

The term ‘subject-verb agreement’, just like the name suggests, refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb. This is mainly with reference to singular and plural nouns/pronouns that act as subjects.

What is the definition of subject-verb concord?

According to the Collins Dictionary, “concord refers to the way that a word has a form appropriate to the number or gender of the noun or pronoun it relates to. For example, in ‘She hates it’, there is concord between the singular form of the verb and the singular pronoun ‘she’.”

Give 5 examples of subject-verb agreement.

Here are 5 examples of subject-verb agreement for your reference.

• She likes to have a dessert after every meal.

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• Knowledge Base
• Subject-Verb Agreement | Examples, Rules & Use

Subject-Verb Agreement | Examples, Rules & Use

Published on 22 August 2022 by Fiona Middleton . Revised on 18 April 2023.

Subject-verb agreement means that the subject of the sentence matches the verb describing its action. This helps your reader understand who or what is doing something and makes your writing easier to read.

First, identify the subject (the person or thing doing the action) and the verb (the action word) in a sentence. If the subject is singular, the verb describing its action should be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb should be plural.

While subject-verb agreement is easy in simple sentences like these, it can become tricky in more complex sentences. This article teaches you the most important rules and common mistakes.

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Table of contents

Compound subjects, subjects separated from verbs, indefinite pronouns, subjects that come after the verb, numbers and amounts, collective and uncountable nouns, abbreviations and acronyms.

Sometimes two or more subjects are linked to one verb. These are called compound subjects. To decide whether to use a singular or plural verb, consider how the subjects are linked.

Subjects linked with ‘and’

When subjects are linked with and , use a plural verb.

Exception : When the two nouns don’t refer to separate things but to a single entity, use a singular verb.

Subjects linked with ‘or’

When singular subjects are linked with or , either…or , nor , neither…nor , use a singular verb.

If all the subjects are plural, use a plural verb.

If the compound subject contains both singular and plural nouns , the verb takes the form of the closest subject.

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Often the verb does not directly follow the subject, which can lead to agreement mistakes. Make sure to match the verb with the correct subject, especially in long sentences with phrases or clauses in between subject and verb.

‘As well as’ and other tricky phrases

The phrase as well as is not the same as the conjunction and . Subjects linked by and  always take a plural verb. In contrast, phrases like as well as , in addition to , or along with are not linked to the verb. If the subject is singular, the verb should stay singular.

These refer to non-specific persons, places, and things (e.g., someone , other , anyone , anything , somewhere , every , none ).

Most indefinite pronouns are treated as singular subjects. However, some are always treated as plural, as they refer to multiple items or amounts.

Certain indefinite pronouns may be treated as either singular or plural, depending on whether they refer to multiple items or to a proportion of a single item.

Sometimes the subject follows the verb, especially when the sentence begins with there or here . In this case,  there is not the subject – the true subject should be identified and matched with the correct verb form.

Note : Identifying the true subject can be difficult when using these phrases in a long sentence, which can be confusing for your readers, so be careful when starting a sentence in this way.

When using  numbers, percentages or proportions , the correct form of verb agreement depends on exactly what you’re referring to. It’s helpful to look beyond the numbers and find the true subject.

If you’re referring to a specific number or amount of something, match the verb with the noun rather than the number.

This also applies when the number refers to an unnamed noun.

If the subject of the sentence is a number referring to a unified quantity of something, use a singular verb.

Proportions

Terms that describe a proportion of something are usually followed by ‘of’ (such as most of ). First look at the noun you are describing to determine if it’s singular or plural, then match it to the verb.

It can be hard to work out whether to treat collective and uncountable nouns as singular or plural.

Collective nouns

A collective noun refers to a group of people or things as a singular whole (e.g., population , team , committee , staff ). The form of verb depends on the style of English you are using.  US English  tends to use a singular verb, while UK English tends to use a plural verb. This also applies to the names of companies and organizations.

However, in both styles of English, this rule is somewhat flexible depending on whether you want to emphasise the actions of the collective as a whole or the individual actions of its members.

*A singular verb makes more sense here, as the emphasis is on the company as a unified entity.

**A plural verb makes more sense here, as the emphasis is on the individual staff members.

Uncountable nouns

These nouns describe abstract concepts or masses that can’t be counted (e.g., research , power , water  and vegetation ). They take a singular verb.

Note :  Data is technically a plural noun, but it is widely treated as an uncountable noun, so it is acceptable to use either the singular or plural verb form.

Abbreviations and acronyms usually take a singular verb. If you’re unsure, check if the full version of the acronym or abbreviation is a singular, plural or collective noun, and refer to the rules above. It’s most important to use one form of agreement consistently.

In the examples above, RPM (‘revolutions per minute’) refers to a stand-alone number, so it takes a singular verb. HNS (‘hazardous and noxious substances’), on the other hand, is used to describe multiple things, so it takes a plural verb.

Sources for this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

Middleton, F. (2023, April 18). Subject-Verb Agreement | Examples, Rules & Use. Scribbr. Retrieved 5 August 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/verb/subject-verb-agreement-explained/

Aarts, B. (2011).  Oxford modern English grammar . Oxford University Press.

Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015).  Fowler’s dictionary of modern English usage  (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Garner, B. A. (2016).  Garner’s modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

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GSI - Japanese Language (Fall 2024)

How to apply.

In addition to applying via the University of Michigan Careers website, applicants should complete the following steps:

• Applicants MUST identify courses they are interested in applying for by completing the departmental application:  https://webapps.lsa.umich.edu/Apply/1916
• Submit a cover letter included as the first page of your CV/resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position(s), courses interested in, and outline skills and experiences that directly relate to this position. 
• Submit a resume/CV  
• Submit an unofficial transcript

If you have held a GSI position at U-M please attached the summary sheets of the E&E evaluations for all courses previously taught. This information should be uploaded to a single document combined with your cover letter and resume/CV. If you have trouble including evaluations, you may email evaluations only to our Student Services Team at  [email protected] . 

Applicants should note within the departmental application under section ?Other Info Section? if they would like to only be considered for a grader position. 

Graduate Student Instructor positions are only open to current or matriculating University of Michigan graduate students. 

Course Description

Students who apply to this posting will be considered for one of the following positions:

One 50% GSI position in ASIANLAN 125: First Year Japanese I.

One 50% Grader positions in ASIANLAN 225: Second Year Japanese I.

One 35% Grader position in ASIANLAN 325: Third year Japanese I.

Course descriptions and additional course information for each course can be found on the LSA Course Guide:  www.lsa.umich.edu/cg .  

ASIANLAN 125 First year Japanese I Credits: 5

This course is the first half of the first-year Japanese course, and is designed for students with little or no understanding of Japanese. The course focuses on the developing students? proficiency in all four language skills (speaking, listening, writing, and reading) while simultaneously familiarizing them with aspects of both traditional and modern Japanese culture that are necessary to build language competency. Recitation sessions are conducted in Japanese emphasizing speaking/reading in Japanese contexts. Analyses, explanation, and discussions utilizing English are specifically reserved for lecture sessions.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand and appropriately use the most basic grammar patterns and vocabulary terms (e.g. noun sentence structure, verb conjugation, adjective conjugation, location words, etc.). 
• Understand and participate in basic conversations (e.g. self-introductions, shopping, making invitations, describing locations of items, talking about one?s favorite trips, etc.).
• Read and write the Japanese hiragana and katakana characters, and produce approximately 60 k anji in context.
• Speak at a novice-mid, or higher, level of proficiency as defined by the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview.

Required Texts :    TOBIRA I: An Integrated Course In Elementary Japanese , UM JLP original textbook. It will be published on July 1st in 2021 from Kuroshio publishers in Japan.  

ASIANLAN 225 Second year Japanese I Credits: 5

ASIANLAN225 is the first half of the second-year Japanese course, and is designed for students who have the equivalent of one-year?s study of Japanese at the University of Michigan.  The goal of the course is the simultaneous progression of students? proficiency in all four language skills (speaking, listening, writing, and reading) along with an increase in familiarity with aspects of both traditional and modern Japanese culture that are necessary for language competency. Students will learn to successfully handle a variety of uncomplicated, basic, and communicative tasks and social situations.

• Understand and appropriately use basic grammar patterns and vocabulary terms (e.g. transitive and intransitive verbs, potential forms, volitional forms, honorific verbs, hearsay, etc.).
• Understand and participate in daily conversations and to be able to express opinions/ thoughts and to make presentations, using appropriate vocabulary, expressions and basic grammar in context (e.g. everyday life, school, particular interests, etc.).
• Read and write  novice-mid/high -level materials with a solid understanding of main ideas and supporting details on familiar topics from a variety of texts.
• Produce approximately  1 50 kanji in context.
• Speak at an  novice-high /intermediate- low , or higher, level of proficiency as defined by the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview.

Enforced Prerequisite : ASIANLAN126 /ASIANLAN127/ASIANLAN129 or obtain a qualifying score on the placement exam.

Required Texts :    TOBIRA II: An Integrated Course In Elementary Japanese , UM JLP original textbook. It will be published in 2022 from KURODHIO publisher in Japan.  

ASIANLAN 325 Third year Japanese I Credits: 4

ASIANLAN 325 is designed for students who have completed second-year Japanese or have the equivalent of a two-year study of Japanese at the University of Michigan. The course focuses on cultivating an intermediate level of linguistic, pragmatic, and socio-cultural language competence. Course readings, conversation exercises, and class discussion will introduce new grammar structures, vocabulary, expressions and various aspects of Japanese culture. In order to improve all four language skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing), various projects will also be assigned throughout the term.

By the end of the course, students in the regular section will be able to:

• Read intermediate-level materials with a solid understanding of sentence structure.
• Write intermediate-level essays, using appropriate grammatical forms and sentence structures regarding familiar topics, such as issues in Japanese culture and society.
• Speak at an intermediate-mid level of proficiency as defined by the ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview.
• Use appropriate speech styles and communication strategies for various settings.
• Produce/recognize approximately 600 kanji in context.

The STEM section is a class designed for students who major in science, technology, engineering, and math, with the goal to connect your language learning with your field of interest. The course introduces STEM-related content and vocabulary, and you will perform fun and meaningful task-based activities in order to acquire practical Japanese language skills.

Enforced Prerequisite : ASIANLAN226/ASIANLAN227/ASIANLAN229/RCLANG229 or obtain a qualifying score on the placement exam.

Required Texts : TOBIRA: Gateway to advanced Japanese learning through content and multimedia.  Kurosio Publishers.

Responsibilities*

ASIANLAN 125: First year Japanese (50% GSI)

• Lead up to three hours of recitation sections a week
• Attend lecture twice each week
• Implement teaching plans made in consultation with the primary instructor of the course
• Grading students assignment, quizzes, lesson tests , etc.
• Proctor exams and quizzes
• Attend weekly meeting with a supervising faculty member
• Hold at least one office hour in the South Thayer Building
• Proctoring final examinations and grading the exams with lecturers
• Class preparation: typing learning materials in Canvas, supporting course projects, helping to make audio files, etc.   

ASIANLAN 225: Second year Japanese (50% Grader)

• Observing one (of the two) lecture classes on Tuesday and Thursday 
• Grading of students? assignment, quizzes, lesson tests , etc.
• Maintaining Canvas site of ASIANLAN 225
• Class preparation: typing learning materials in Canvas, supporting course projects, helping to make audio files, making study aids, etc. 
• Tutoring students who want to practice conversation

ASIANLAN 325: Second year Japanese (35% Grader)

• Maintaining Canvas site of ASIANLAN 325

Students who have not previously been a GSI for the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures will also be required to attend an orientation.

GSIs are expected to be on campus and available to work no later than Monday, August 26, 2024, the first day of classes. 

Required Qualifications*

• Japanese Native speaker, or if a GSI is a non-native speaker, s/he should be Japanese Proficiency Test N1 level holder with Advanced-high speaking proficiency (at least) based on the ACTFL standard 
• Serious career interest in language teaching
• Good at  Computer operations including excel and word files
• Good penmanship to correct student?s writing performance

Desired Qualifications*

• Can speak standard Japanese with good pronunciation and intonation
• Organized and reliable personality
• Should be punctual and keep the deadline
• Prioritize GSI work as well as own study
• Cooperative and flexible

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department.  Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes here .

Contact Information

Contact [email protected] with any questions related to your application. 

Decision Making Process

All applications will be forwarded to the Director of the Japanese Language Program and the primary instructor of ASIAN 125/ ASIANLAN 225 /ASIANLAN 325. The Director will make hiring recommendations to the department. Once the recommendation is reviewed, an offer letter will be authorized. 

Selection Process

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Information for the Office for Institutional Equity may be found at https://oie.umich.edu/ and for the University Ombuds at https://ombuds.umich.edu/

Unsuccessful applications will be retained for consideration in the event that there are last minute openings for available positions. In the event that an employee does not receive their preferred assignment, they can request a written explanation or an in-person interview with the hiring agents(s) to be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time.

This position, as posted, is subject to a collective bargaining agreement between the Regents of the University of Michigan and the Graduate Employees' Organization, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO 3550.

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The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.