English
What is subject-verb agreement, and what are the rules?
Quick answer
Subject-verb agreement means the verb matches its subject in number: a singular subject takes a singular verb (The dog barks) and a plural subject takes a plural verb (The dogs bark).
In one sentence
Subject-verb agreement means the verb must match its subject: one thing takes a singular verb, more than one takes a plural verb.
Explained
Every sentence has a subject (who or what the sentence is about) and a verb. In English the verb often changes depending on whether the subject is singular (one) or plural (more than one). When the two match, we say they agree.
- The dog barks. (one dog: singular verb)
- The dogs bark. (more than one dog: plural verb)
dog
cat
book
This looks odd at first: the plural noun dogs has an -s, but the plural verb bark does not. A handy way to remember it is that in the present simple, only he, she, it (or one person or thing) adds -s to the verb: she sings, it rains, Tom runs. With I, you, we, they there is no -s: they sing.
Three verbs need special care because they change more:
| Subject | be (present) | be (past) | have | do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | am | was | have | do |
| you, we, they | are | were | have | do |
| he, she, it | is | was | has | does |
Most agreement mistakes happen when the subject is hard to find. Words can sit between the subject and the verb (The box of chocolates is empty), the subject can come after the verb (There are two cats), or it can be a word like everyone that sounds plural but is grammatically singular. The trick is always the same: find the true subject first, then match the verb to it. Knowing your nouns and pronouns helps, and agreement matters most in the present tense.
Examples
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Singular subject, singular verb | The baby cries at night. |
| Plural subject, plural verb | The babies cry at night. |
| Two subjects joined by and are plural | Tom and Ella are late. |
| or / nor: match the nearer subject | Either my brothers or my dad is coming. |
| Words in between do not count | The list of names is on the wall. |
| each, every, everyone, nobody are singular | Each of the players has a shirt. |
| There is / there are: look after the verb | There are three apples. There is one pear. |
| Questions: subject after the verb | Where are my shoes? |
| Amounts as one sum are singular | Ten pounds is too much for a pencil. |
| Some nouns ending in -s are singular | The news is good. Maths is my favourite. |
Collective nouns like team, family, class are usually singular in American English (The team is winning). In British English you can also treat them as plural when you mean the members (The team are celebrating). Both are correct in their own variety; just be consistent.
Common mistakes
- Agreeing with the nearest noun instead of the subject. The bag of apples are heavy is wrong: the subject is bag, so The bag of apples is heavy.
- Forgetting the -s with he, she, it. She don't like peas should be She doesn't like peas.
- Treating everyone or each as plural. Everyone have finished should be Everyone has finished.
- Using there's with a plural. In careful writing, There's lots of reasons should be There are lots of reasons.
Step by step
Step by step
- Find the verbLook for the action or being word: The box of pencils (is / are) on the desk.
- Ask who or whatAsk who or what is on the desk? The answer is the subject: the box.
- Ignore the extrasCross out phrases like of pencils, with his friends, as well as me. They do not change the subject.
- Decide: one or more?Box is one thing, so it is singular.
- Match the verbSingular subject, singular verb: The box of pencils is on the desk.
If you are unsure, swap the subject for a pronoun. The box of pencils is it, and you would say it is, so the verb is is.
Practice questions
Choose the verb that agrees
Try each one, then check your answer.
- The dog (bark / barks) at night.
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One dog = it: barks - My sisters (play / plays) netball.
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Sisters = they: play - He (don't / doesn't) like peas.
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He takes does: doesn't - The box of pencils (is / are) on the desk.
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The subject is box: is - Tom and Ella (is / are) late.
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Two subjects joined by and: are - Either my brothers or my dad (is / are) coming.
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Match the nearer subject, dad: is - Everyone (know / knows) the answer.
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Everyone is singular: knows - There (is / are) three apples left.
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The subject is three apples: are - Where (is / are) my shoes?
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The subject is my shoes: are - Each of the players (has / have) a shirt.
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Each is singular: has - The news (is / are) good today.
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News is singular: is - Ten pounds (is / are) too much for a pencil.
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One sum of money: is - The teacher, along with her pupils, (was / were) on the trip.
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Along with does not add to the subject: was - A number of students (has / have) asked for help.
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A number of means several: have - Find and fix the mistake: The list of names are on the wall.
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The subject is list: The list of names is on the wall. - Find and fix the mistake: Neither of my friends like spinach.
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In formal writing neither is singular: Neither of my friends likes spinach.
Questions people ask
What is subject-verb agreement in simple words?
It means the verb fits its subject. One person or thing takes a singular verb (The cat sleeps); more than one takes a plural verb (The cats sleep).
What are the main subject-verb agreement rules?
Singular subjects take singular verbs and plural subjects take plural verbs. Subjects joined by and are plural. With or and nor, match the nearer subject. Words like each, everyone and nobody are singular. Ignore phrases between the subject and the verb.
How do you identify the subject when checking agreement?
Find the verb, then ask who or what is doing it. Cross out phrases starting with of, with, along with or as well as: the subject is the noun or pronoun that is left.
Is it "there is" or "there are"?
It depends on what comes after. There is a single thing (There is a cat); there are plural things (There are two cats). With a list, many writers match the first item: There is a pen and two pencils.
Do collective nouns take a singular or plural verb?
In American English they are usually singular: The family is on holiday. In British English both are used, singular for the group as a whole and plural for its members: The family are arguing about the holiday.
What is a subject-verb agreement error?
It is a sentence where the verb does not match its subject, such as The children was happy. Tests like the SAT often hide the subject behind a long phrase to see if you spot it: The quality of the photos (is / are) needs is, because the subject is quality.
Quick quiz
Subject-verb agreement
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Related topics
Verbs
A verb is a word for an action (run, eat, write) or a state of being (is, seem, know). Almost every sentence has one, and verbs change to show tense.
Nouns
A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing or idea, such as teacher, Lagos, pencil or happiness.
Pronouns
A pronoun is a word that stands in for a noun so you don't have to repeat it, such as he, she, it, they, we, me, mine or who.
Present tense
The present tense is the verb form for things happening now, things that are always true, and habits, like I walk, she walks or we are walking.
Adjectives
An adjective is a word that describes a noun, telling you what kind, which one or how many, like a huge elephant, a sour lemon or three red balloons.
Adverbs
An adverb gives more information about a verb, adjective or another adverb, telling how, when, where or how often, like slowly, tomorrow, outside or always.