Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

Subject–Verb Agreement means that the verb in a sentence must match the subject in number and person. If the subject is singular, the verb should be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb should be plural.

Example:

• The boy runs fast. (Singular subject + singular verb)
• The boys run fast. (Plural subject + plural verb)

Singular and Plural Verb Form

Rule 1:

A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. The subject of a sentence can be a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase. When the subject is a pronoun, the verb form depends on the person and number of the pronoun.

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)

Rule 2:

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. The following table to see how it works with different pronouns.

Moreover, the rule holds true when the word is employed with other nouns and noun phrases. When verbs in the 'be' form are used as the main verb or supporting verb, the same holds true for simple past, present continuous, and past continuous tenses. For clarification, consider the following instances.

Example: 

• The girls are waiting for you.
• Santana is a singer.
• 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.

Note: If the word “each” or “every” is used before two singular nouns joined by “and,” the verb remains singular because the subjects are considered separately.

(e.g. Every boy and every girl was given a bar of chocolate, a biscuit, and two bananas).

Rule 3:

The subject determines whether we use “have” or “has.”

• “Has” is used with third-person singular subjects (he, she, it, or singular names).
• “Have” is used with I, you, we, they, and all plural subjects.

This rule applies when “have/has” is used as a main verb and also as a helping verb in the present perfect and present perfect continuous tenses.

Example:

• 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

Rule 4:

When two or more subjects are joined by the conjunction “and,” they take a plural verb because they refer to more than one person or thing.

Example:

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

Rule 5:

When two singular nouns are joined by the conjunction “or,” the verb is usually singular because only one of them is being referred to.

Example:

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

Note: If the subjects joined by “or” are different in number (one singular and one plural), the verb agrees with the subject that is closer to the verb.

(e.g. The teacher or the students are coming.).

Rule 6:

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.

Example:

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

Rule 7:

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

Example:

• 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.

Rule 8:

Some nouns look plural but are actually treated as singular, while some are always treated as plural.

• Singular in meaning (take singular verb): News, Mathematics, Physics, Economics, etc.
• Plural in meaning (take plural verb): Police, Scissors, Trousers, Glasses, etc.

Example:

• The news of demonetisation shocks the entire nation. (Singular verb)
• The police have been looking for the culprits. (Plural verb)

Rule 9:

In negative sentences in the simple present tense, we use “do” or “does” with not. The helping verb must agree with the subject.

• “Do” is used with plural subjects and with I, you, we, they.
• “Does” is used with third-person singular subjects (he, she, it, or singular nouns).

Example:

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

Rule 10:

In interrogative sentences, helping verbs such as “do,” “does,” “did,” “is,” “are,” “was,” “were,” “has,” and “have” are used at the beginning of the sentence. The helping verb must agree with the subject in number and person.

Example:

• 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?

Rule 11:

When you have sentences that begin with ‘here’, ‘there’, ‘this’, ‘that’, ‘those’, ‘these’, etc., always remember that the subject follows the verb. So, the verb must agree with the real subject that follows it.

Example:

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

Rule 12:

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

Example:

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

Rule 13:

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

Example:

• 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?

Rule 14:

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.

Example:

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

Rule 15:

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.

Example:

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

Rule 16:

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

Example:

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

Rule 17:

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.

Example:

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

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules Chart

Solved Questions on Subject Verb Agreement

Direction: Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.

1. The amenities of the farmhouse ____ quite impressive. (is/are)

2. Man and woman _____ complementary to each other. (is/are)

3. The leader as well as his supporters _____ to the same tribe. (belong/belongs)

4. The students accompanied by their professor _____ went on a trip. (has/have)

5. A large sum of money _____ stolen. (was/were)

6. A lot of buildings _____ collapsed in the storm. (has/have)

7. The government ____ criticised by the High Court for their actions. (was/were)

8. Many people _____ tried hard to climb the treacherous mountain range. (have/has)

9. All the tourists ____ excited to visit the museum. (was/were)

10. Somebody ____ waiting at the restaurant for you. (is/are)

11. The carpenter, along with his helper ____, expected to come soon. (is/are)

12. Neither Danny nor Emily ____ went to work. (has/have)

Answers:

1. The amenities of the farmhouse are quite impressive. 
2. Man and woman are complementary to each other. 
3. The leader as well as his supporters belongs to the same tribe. 
4. The students accompanied by their professor have gone on a trip. 
5. A large sum of money was stolen. 
6. A lot of buildings have collapsed in the storm. 
7. The government was criticized by the High Court for its actions. 
8. Many people have tried hard to climb the treacherous mountain range.
9. All the tourists were excited to visit the museum.
10. Somebody is waiting at the restaurant for you. 
11. The carpenter, along with his helper is, expected to come soon.
12. Neither Danny nor Emily has gone to work.