Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb
Agreement

Basic Rule

● Singular subjects need

singular verbs.

● Plural subjects need

plural verbs.

Basic Rule

Students take the test on Tuesday.

The student takes the test on Tuesday.

They want to learn English.

He/She wants to learn English.

Basic Rule cont.

● When the subject is separated by other

words, the verb still agrees with the
subject.

Ex.: The paint on the walls is a soft blue.

● The sentence with two subjects requires

the verb in plural

Ex.: The couch and chair are light green.

Multiple Choice

The time of the meetings _____ inconvenient for all parties involved.

• was

• were

These create problems:

● Some subjects look plural but take a

singular verb. Examples are news,
politics, economics, athletics, series,
measles.

● Ex.: The news on TV is often

depressing.

● Measles still strikes many counties.

Multiple Choice

Statistics ____ branch of mathematics.

• are

• is

Multiple Choice

No news _____ good news.

• is

• are

These create problems:

● Pronouns such as everyone and

everybody seem plural, but they are
always singular — so they need a
singular verb.
1. Everyone who worked on the

science project is a winner.

2. Someone has to answer the
phone.

Multiple Choice

Everyone in the room _____ ready to go home.

• were

• was

These create problems:

● Phrases that come between the

subject pronoun and its verb —may
contain plural words and confuse.

Each of the basketball
players is excited about
tonight’s game.

Multiple Choice

Each book and magazine ____ listed in the bibliography.

• is

• are

These create problems:

• Verbs that accompany pronouns such

as all and some will be determined by
whether the pronoun is referring to
something that is COUNTABLE or not.

Some of the workers on
the building have left for the day.

These create problems:

• Verbs that accompany pronouns such

as all and some will be determined by
whether the pronoun is referring to
something that is COUNTABLE or not.

Some of the salt was spilled on the floor.

Multiple Choice

Some of the fruit in the bowl ____ rotten.

• are

• is

Multiple Choice

Some of the apples in that bowl _____ rotten.

• is

• are

These create problems:

None is usually regarded as singular,

but it can be used as a plural
pronoun.

None of the milk has spilled on the floor.

None of the boys have helped at the game.

These create problems:

Phrases such as together with, along with, and as well as seem to combine subjects but they don NOT. These phrases are used to provide extra information.

Some of the tile in our room, as well as the hall was soaked.

The major problem we had, together with that of our teacher, was tardiness.

Don’t be fooled by extra phrases!

Multiple Choice

The instructor, together with the students, ____ ready for a break.

• are

• is

These create problems:

When either and neither appear as a subject alone

(without the words or and nor), they are singular.

1. Either of those answers seems to be right.

2. You can have the bed by the window or the one by the door. Either is okay with me.

These create problems:

● With subjects joined by or or nor, the

verb agrees with the part closest to the
verb.

Ex.: Either the witnesses or
the defendant is lying.

Either the defendant other witnesses were lying.

Multiple Choice

Either my sister or my parents _____ going to visit me during the holidays.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Either the students or the professor ___ right.

• is

• are

These create problems:

The words there and here are never subjects.

1. There are papers on the desk.

2. Here is my answer.

Here is not
the subject.

Multiple Choice

There ____ any mail for you today.

• isn't

• aren't

Multiple Choice

There ____ any letters in the mail for you today.

• isn't

• aren't

References

● Adapted from

classroom.jc-schools.net/la/activities/ver
b-subjagree.ppt

● Ruetten, M. (2012). Developing

Composition Skills. Boston, MA: Heinle,
Cengage Learning.

● Lunsford, A. A. (2013). The Everyday

Writer 5th Edition. Boston, MA:
Bedford/St. Martin’s.