Tyler Hoel
Attention: Subject-verb agreement is common in the English language, and mistakes are likely to occur. The basic rule is this: both subject and verb must agree in number. This means both need to be singular or both need to be plural. However, we see and hear subject-verb disagreements every day without even realizing it. Luckily, this tutorial contains exercises, videos, and examples better insight into correcting these mistakes.
Basic Rules
Change the verb form to agree with the subjects in the following three cases:
• When using the present tense, add –s to the verb if the subject of the sentence is or can be replaced by he, she, or it. If not, only use the simple form.
Example: Jim works at the fire department; he does firefighting for the city he lives.
Example: His colleagues like him.
• When using the BE verb alone or as a helping verb, use am/was if the subject is I; use is/was if the subject is or can be replaced by he, she, or it; use are/were if the subject is or can be replaced by we, they, or you.
Example: The mayor candidate is popular, however his views on most issues are unclear.
Example: When he was a high school dean, some of his policies were controversial.
• When using the HAVE verb alone or as a helping verb, use has if the subject is or can be replaced with he, she, or it; use have if the subject is or can be replaced by I, you, we, or they.
Example: Jane has no idea why the meetings have been canceled.
Subjects with Several Words
• A subject can be a single word or a phrase. A long noun phrase has a head subject, and a set of words that define the head subject.
Example: The figures in Doctor Strange’s controversial article are erroneous.
Note that the phrase in Doctor Strange’s controversial article simply describes the head subject, which is figures.
• The verb must agree with the head subject, not with another noun in the set of words that follow it.
Incorrect: The students who conducted the study with Professor Finesser was applauded by the president.
Corrected: The students who conducted the study with Professor Finesser were applauded by the president.
Subjects with and, or, each, or -ing
Sometimes, it is not easy to control whether the subject is plural or singular. Here are some rules:
• When the subject is two or more nouns connected by and, use the plural form of the verb.
Example: Hard work and perseverance are vital abilities that most successful people have.
• When the subject is two or more nouns connected by or, the verb agrees with the noun that is closer to the verb.
Example: A passport or two identification cards are essential for the application process.
Example: Two identification cards or a passport is necessary for the application process.
• When using expressions such as with, together with, including, as well as, the verb agrees with the noun phrase that comes before these expressions.
Example: The directors, as well as the guest speaker, must arrive early.
Example: The guest speaker, as well as the directors, must arrive early.
• When the subject includes each, every, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody, someone, and no one, use the singular form of the verb.
Example: No one anticipates the shamed candidate to win the election.
Sentences with there is / there are
• When there is a long noun phrase, identify the base noun and make sure it agrees with the verb. Remember that noun phrases that begin with one of take a singular verb.
Example: The failure of the government to authorize reasonable labor laws has allowed businesses to exploit workers.
Example: One of the challenges met by government officials is stopping additional terrorist attacks.
• When a sentence begins with the structure there + BE, the verb BE agrees with the noun that follows it.
Example: There was no answer from the union concerning salary increases.
Example: There are many questions that need to be looked into about the September 11 attacks.
• When two subjects are connected with either … or, or neither … nor, the verb agrees with the subject that is nearest to it.
Example: Neither the government nor the unions protect workers’ rights.
Example: Neither the unions nor the government protects workers’ rights.
• When the subject of a sentence is a gerund (verb + ing), the verb that follows is singular.
Example: Lobbying is one of the methods used by businesses to impact policies and labor laws.
Making Verbs Agree with Subjects
• When there is a long noun phrase, identify the base noun and make sure it agrees with the verb. Remember that noun phrases that begin with one of take a singular verb.
Example: The candidate that has the support of most voters is Mr. Smith.
Example: One of the defendants was sentenced to three years in prison.
• When using the + adjective to refer to a group that is defined by a particular characteristic, such as the rich, the poor, the homeless, the mentally ill, the verbs that follow are plural.
Example: The elderly are concerned about the future of Social Security.
• When the subject of a sentence is a gerund (verb + ing), the verb that follows is singular.
Example: Jogging makes the heart strong.
Subject Comes Before Of
• A subject will come before a phrase beginning with of. This is a key rule for understanding subjects. The word of is the culprit in many, perhaps most, subject-verb mistakes
Speedy writers, speakers, readers, and listeners might miss the common mistake in the following example:
o Incorrect: A bouquet of yellow roses lend color and fragrance to the room
o Correct: A bouquet of yellow roses lends . . . (bouquet lends, not roses lend)
Either/Or, Neither/Nor
• Two singular subjects connected by or, either/or, or neither/nor require a singular verb
Examples:
o My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today
o Neither Juan nor Carmen is available
o Either Kiana or Casey is helping today with stage decorations
• The verb in an or, either/or, or neither/nor sentence agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to it
Examples:
o Neither the plates nor the serving bowl goes on that shelf
o Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on that shelf
• This rule can lead to bumps in the road. For example, if I is one of two (or more) subjects, it could lead to this odd sentence:
o Awkward: Neither she, my friends, nor I am going to the festival
• If possible, it’s best to reword such grammatically correct but awkward sentences. For example:
o Neither she, I, nor my friends are going to the festival OR
o She, my friends, and I are not going to the festival
Using Plural Verbs
• As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are connected by and
o Example: A car and a bike are my means of transportation
• But note these exceptions:
o Breaking and entering is against the law
o The bed and breakfast was charming
• In those sentences, breaking and entering and bed and breakfast are compound nouns
Here or There
• In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject follows the verb. For example:
o There are four hurdles to jump
o There is a high hurdle to jump
o Here are the keys
• Note: The word there’s, a contraction of there is, leads to bad habits in informal sentences like There’s a lot of people here today, because it’s easier to say “there’s” than “there are.” Be mindful to never use there’s with a plural subject.
Singular Verbs & Units
• Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as a unit. For example:
o Three miles is too far to walk
o Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense
o Ten dollars is a high price to pay
• EXCEPTION: Ten dollars (i.e., dollar bills) were scattered on the floor
Portions
• Words that indicate portions—e.g., a lot, a majority, some, all—the of rule earlier in this section is reversed. We are guided by the noun after of
• If the noun after of is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb
• For example:
o A lot of the pie has disappeared
o A lot of the pies have disappeared
o A third of the city is unemployed
o A third of the people are unemployed
o All of the pie is gone
o All of the pies are gone
o Some of the pie is missing
o Some of the pies are missing
• NOTE:
o SAT testing service has considered none to be strictly singular
o Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary states none has been both singular and plural since Olde English
o If in context it seems like a singular to you, use a singular verb; if it seems like a plural, use a plural verb
o When none is clearly intended to mean “not one,” it is followed by a singular verb
Collective Nouns
• collective nouns such as group, jury, family, audience, population, the verb might be singular or plural, depending on the writer’s intent. For example:
o All of my family has arrived OR have arrived
o Most of the jury is here OR are here
o A third of the population was not in favor OR were not in favor of the bill
Were vs Was
• The word were replaces was in sentences that express a wish or are contrary to fact. For example:
o If Joe were here, you’d be sorry
• The sentence demonstrates the subjunctive mood, which is used to express things that are hypothetical, wishful, imaginary, or factually contradictory
• The subjunctive mood pairs singular subjects with what we usually think of as plural verbs. Other examples:
o I wish it were Friday
o She requested that he raise his hand
• The first example, a wishful statement, not a fact, is being expressed; therefore, were, which we usually think of as a plural verb, is used with the singular it
• Usually, he raise would sound dreadful to us. However, in the second example, where a request is being stated, the subjunctive mood is correct
• NOTE: The subjunctive mood is losing ground in spoken English but should still be used in formal speech and writing
