Subject Verb Agreement

Subject Verb Agreement

​All nouns and pronouns have a number.

​

They are singular if they refer to 1 thing.

​

They are plural in number if they refer to more than 1 thing.​

Basic Rule 1

• Singular Subject (she, pizza, idea)

• Singular Verb (is, sounds, makes)

Basic Rule 2

• Plural Subject (they, Jamie and Lisa, friends)

• Plural Verb (are, go, run)

​A verb agrees with its subject in number.

• She is ready to go. (singular subject/singular verb)

• Animals fight. (plural subject/plural verb)

​Singular Subjects take singular verbs.

• She is ready to go. (singular subject/singular verb)

• The lightning fills the sky. (singular subject/singular verb)

​Plural subjects take plural verbs.

• Cheetahs run faster than most other animals. (plural subject/plural verb)

• New families move into our neighborhood frequently. (The verb move is plural to agree with the subject families)​

​When a sentence contains a verb phrase, it is the helping verb that agrees with its subject.

• The motor is running.

• The motors are running.

• The girl has been sick.

• The girls have been sick.

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Multiple Choice

The committee ________ this situation carefully, lest the situation spiral out of control.

• debate

• debates

Multiple Choice

Annie and her brothers _____ at school.

• is

• are

• am

Rule 6: Prepositional phrases

Prepositional phrases that follow the subject do not affect agreement.

The colors of the rainbow are beautiful.

Multiple Choice

The nutritional value of sweet potatoes _______many health benefits.

• has

• have

Multiple Choice

A dog with three legs ___ near my house.

• lives

• live

Multiple Choice

The number of people buying houses ____ decreased.

• Has

• Have

Multiple Choice

Each of the contractors ____ a different type of house.

• build

• builds

Rule 3: Doesn't/Don't

• Does is a singular verb/goes with a singular noun

• Doesn't means "does not" and is a singular verb

• Do is a plural verb/goes with a plural noun

• Don't means "do not" and is a plural verb

Multiple Choice

Benito _____ know the answer.

• don't

• doesn't

• isn't

Multiple Choice

George and Tamara _____ want to see that movie.

• don't

• doesn't

• does

Multiple Choice

We usually ____ the dishes after dinner.

• do

• does

Rule 4: here or there

If a sentence begins with here or there, use the subject that follows to determine whether the verb is singular or plural.

There is a delicious slushy in Dave's future.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence that has correct subject-verb agreement:

• There is only one right answer.

• There are only one right answer.

Multiple Choice

1.   There _______ five puppies for sale because the couple already has ten puppies.

• are

• is

Rule 5: Singular nouns that end in -s

The news is good.

The United Nations is headquartered in New York.

Brussels is the capitol of Belgium.

Rule 6 AGAIN: Prepositional phrases

Prepositional phrases that follow the subject do not affect agreement.

The flowers in the garden need water.

Multiple Choice

The women in the pool _____ well.

• swim

• swims

Rule 7: singular indefinite pronouns

• each, either neither, nor

• anybody, somebody, nobody, everybody

• anyone, someone, no one, everyone

• anything, something, nothing, everything

Multiple Choice

Each one of the students ___ passing.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Everyone at the party _____ to take a lie detector test.

• needs

• need

Multiple Choice

Either my mother or my father ____ coming to the meeting.

• is

• are

• were

Multiple Choice

Neither an elephant nor an antelope  _____ a carnivore. 

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Each of the SCA members _____ contributing treats for the bake sale. 

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Each of the signals on those two streets (is/are) broken.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Everybody ________ asked to be quiet.

• was

• were

Multiple Choice

Which of the following has the correct subject-verb agreement?

• Neither of the options are available.

• Neither of the options is available.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following has the correct subject-verb agreement?

• Either of the hats is fine.

• Either of the hats are fine.

Multiple Choice

WHICH IS CORRECT?

• The president or the vice president are speaking today.

• The president or the vice president is speaking today.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following has the correct subject-verb agreement?

• Only one of the answers are correct.

• Only one of the answers is correct.

Rule 7: plural indefinite pronouns

• both, several, few, many, much

Multiple Choice

If any of my siblings ___________ me for money, I will be glad to loan it to them.

• asks

• ask

Multiple Choice

Most of the students ____ passing.

• is

• are

Rule 8: Gerunds and infinitives are SINGULAR

• Swimming is difficult.

• Playing games is fun.

• To speak five languages is an advantageous skill.

Rule 9: collective nouns

• Singular or Plural depending on the context

• The audience is happy.

• The audience are from different countries.

Multiple Choice

The team _________ heading for practice this afternoon.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

The pack of dogs ____________running off in different directions.

• is

• are