Subject and Verb Agreement

Making Subjects and Verbs Agree

WHAT IS SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT?

Subject-verb agreement means that a verb must agree with its subject in number (singular or plural).

Basic Subject-Verb Agreement

When the subject is a singular noun, the verb takes an -s (or -es) in the present tense.

The baby sleeps.

The baby cries.

When the subject is a plural noun, the verb does not take an -s (or -es) in the present tense.

The babies sleep.

The babies cry.

AGREEMENT: Hard to Find Subjects

When looking for subject-verb agreement in sentences where the subjects are difficult to find, keep two points in mind:

• Subjects are not found in prepositional phrases or appositive phrases.

• Subjects can be found after the verb in sentences that are questions and in sentences that begin with the word there or the word here.

Examples
Here (is, are) a plan about time management.

A period of time without interruptions (is, are) crucial

A useful tool, a pair of tweezers, (removes, remove) splinters

Multiple Select

They (nominates, nominate) several

writers each year for the award.

• nominates

• nominate

Multiple Select

A successful mystery writer (lives, live)

in our town

• lives

• live

Multiple Select

His books usually (centers, center) around

a sports theme.

• center

• centers

Multiple Select

Too much busywork in your day (prevents, prevent) efficiency.

• prevent

• prevents

Multiple Select

A useful tool, a pair of tweezers, (removes, remove) splinters.

• removes

• remove

Multiple Select

In a home ready for emergencies, a list of emergency phone numbers (sits,

sit) next to the telephone.

• sit

• sits

AGREEMENT: Collective Nouns

A collective noun (also called a group noun) is considered singular unless the meaning is clearly plural.

The class was waiting for its turn to use the gym. (Unit)

The Cub Scout troop is holding its jamboree in July. (Unit)

The orchestra performs in Cincinnati next week. (Unit)

AGREEMENT: Collective Nouns

Sometimes a collective noun takes a plural verb or requires a plural pronoun to refer to that noun because the members of the group are clearly acting as individuals, with separate actions as a result.

The class were putting on their coats. (acting as individuals)

The Cub Scout troop were having difficulty with their tents. (Individuals)
The orchestra are debating whether or not to go on tour. (Individuals)

AGREEMENT: Indefinite Pronouns

AGREEMENT: Indefinite Pronouns

AGREEMENT: Compound Subjects

​If the parts of a compound subject are connected by the word and, the

verb is usually plural.

Alberto and Ramon are the winners.

If the parts of a compound subject connected by and are thought of as

a single unit, the verb is singular.

Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich.

The rule becomes more complicated when the parts of the compound subject are connected by or, nor, either, either/or, neither, neither/nor, or not only/but also.

AGREEMENT: Compound Subjects

AGREEMENT:Unusual Nouns

​Some nouns are always singular in meaning but end in -s:

mathematics, diabetes, United States, economics, measles, Kansas

Mathematics is my major.

Some nouns are always plural in meaning.
clothes, tweezers, pants, scissors, fireworks, pliers

My blue pants are ripped.