Rules of

Subject Verb
Agreement
MARK JEZREEL A. GABALES, LPT
FACULTY, CCMADI
MAKING SUBJECTS AND VERBS AGREE
The basic idea of subject-verb agreement is a simple one: A singular subject
requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb. The subject
and its verb are said to agree in number.
Notice that in the present tense, the singular form of the verb usually ends in –s or
–es.

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT WITH NOUNS AS SUBJECTS

SINGULAR PLURAL

A botanist studies plant life. Botanists study plant life.

A plant requires care. Plants require care.
MAKING SUBJECTS AND VERBS AGREE
A verb must also agree with a subject that is a pronoun. Look at the chart that
follows. Notice how the verb changes. In the present tense, the –s ending is used
with the subject pronouns he, she, and it.

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT WITH PRONOUNS AS SUBJECTS

SINGULAR PLURAL
I work. We work.
You work. You work.
He, she, or it works. They work.
1. Subjects and verbs must agree in number.
Singular subject = singular verb *Hint*
Plural subject = plural verb Singular yes?- the verb has an “S”!
Cow= singular, eats= singular Singular no? The “S” has to go!
Ducks= plural, quack= plural

Forest fires destroy millions of trees each year.

He is reading about space travel.
Janelle likes to share food with homeless people.
2. Don’t get confused by the words that come
between the subject and verb.

The detective who was called to the case is usually very good.
This book of Mark Twain’s stories appeals to people of all ages.
Stories by Washington Irving are also popular.

These are called intervening phrases. An intervening phrase is a group of words

that comes between the subject and verb of a sentence.
3. Prepositional phrases between the subject and
verb usually do not affect the agreement.

The biker in this race is very competitive.

The bikers in this race are very competitive.
4. If a sentence starts with “there” or “ here”, the
subject will always be placed after the verb.
There are lots of great superhero movies coming out this summer.
Here are the results from this past month.
Here is a picture of my grandparents.
There are three bonfires burning in the field

Inverted sentences often begin with a prepositional phrase. Don’t mistake the
object of the proposition for the subject of the sentence.
In inverted sentences beginning with Here or There, look for the subject after the
verb. Here or There is never the subject of a sentence.
5. Subjects can come after the verb in questions.
Does Betty always play with dolls?
How are the Bosco sticks today?
Do these stories interest you?

You can check the subject-verb agreement by making the sentence declarative.

Betty does always play with dolls.

The Bosco sticks are good today.
These stories do interest you.
6. If two subjects are joined by “and”, they
typically require a plural verb.
The puppy and the lady are friends.
Automobiles and factories contribute to smog.
Ravi and his brother are participating in the science competition.

Sometimes and is used to join two words that are part of one unit or refer to a
single person or thing. In these cases, the subject is singular.

The captain and the leader of the team is Ms. Andrews.

Cookies and cream is my favorite ice cream flavor.
7. If two subjects are separated by “and” refer to
the same thing, the verb is singular.

Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite pasta dish.

Our Math teacher and softball coach is Mr. Jordan.
A bagel and cream cheese is one of my favorite breakfasts.
8. If both subjects are singular and connected by or,
nor, neither/nor, either/or and not only/but also, the
verb is singular.

Sally or Bubba has stolen the scarecrow.

Not only the guitar player but also the drummer was soaked with sweat
.
9. If both subjects are plural and connected by the words or, nor,
neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also, the verb is plural.

Cookies or brownies are nice treats for your teacher.

The boys or his friends run every day.
Neither the students nor the teachers are going.
Neither the trucks nor the car is available.

When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or

pronoun joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject
that is nearer the verb.
10. If one subject is singular and one plural and are connected
by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but
also, use the subject that is nearest the verb.

Either my sisters or my mom has sent me a present.

Not only Bob but also the Smiths want some hamburgers for supper.
The rangers, the campers, or the explorer sees the bear.

When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or

pronoun joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject
that is nearer the verb.
11. Units of measurement usually use a singular verb.

Six gallons of paint was used on the house.

Five dollars is too much for a cup of coffee.

When a unit of measurement is the subject of a sentence, the verb

should be singular. This is because units of measurement are considered
collective nouns.
12. Collective nouns usually take a singular verb.
Collective nouns follow special agreement rules. A collective noun has a
singular meaning when it names a group that acts as one unit.
The herd is stampeding.
The class was ready for the test.

Collective nouns follow special agreement rules. A collective noun has a

singular meaning when it names a group that acts as one unit.
The audience sits in silence. (a unit, singular)
The audience sit on chairs and pillows. (individuals, plural)
12. Collective nouns usually take a singular verb.
A subject that refers to an amount as a single unit is singular. A subject
that refers to a number of individual units is plural.
Ten years seems too long. (a single unit)
Ten years pass quickly. (individual units)

Three dollars is the admission price. (a unit, singular)

Three dollars are on the table. (individual units, plural)
13. Titles of books, movies, novels, etc. are
treated as singular.

Holes was one of my favorite books.I want to see the movie.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is having a live-action film
adaptation this year.
The Last of the Mohicans was written by James Fenimore Cooper.

The title of a book or a work of art is always singular, even if a noun in the
title is plural.
14. Two infinitives separated by and take a plural
verb.
To run and to read are my two favorite “Free-time” activities.
To study hard and to practice regularly are key to success.
To finish the project on time and to maintain quality are the main priorities of
the group.

An infinitive is a verb form that functions as another part of speech in a

sentence. Infinitives are formed by adding the word "to" before the base
form of a verb.
15. Gerunds alone take a singular verb. Gerunds
linked by and take a plural verb.
Dancing is not something everyone can do as well as I can!
Hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro is quite a challenge.
Volunteering at the shelter and donating clothes are meaningful
ways to give back to the community.
Practicing the piano regularly and taking vocal lessons will
improve her performance.
A gerund is a verb form that ends with –ing and is used like a noun.
Similar to infinitives, gerunds can also act as a subject of the sentence,
direct object, or as subject complement.
16. If the words each, every or no come before the
subject, the verb is singular.

Each boy and girl has to take the test.

Every frog and toad turns into a prince.
No paper and pen is required.
 17. Most indefinite pronouns take singular verbs.
Little One
-one -body -thing Another Neither
someone somebody something Much Either
anyone anybody anything
Each
No one nobody nothing
* Everybody is happy.
everyone everybody everything
* No one has a dime.
* Nothing was going to help.
18. Both, few, many, others, and several take a
plural verb.

Several need to finish the race.

A few have the right answer.
19. When the subject is all, any, more, most, none, or
some, this is the ONLY time you must look at the object
of the prepositional phrase to determine whether it is
singular or plural.

All of the chickens have laid eggs.

Some of the milk has spilled.
20. Final rule- Remember, only the SUBJECT
affects the verb!