Subject-verb agreement means a verb must match its subject in number: a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. In the present tense, that usually means adding -s to the verb for a third-person singular subject, as in The report is late but The reports are late.
The basic idea is simple, but long sentences, tricky subjects, and words like each and none make agreement errors common. This GrammarVista.com USA guide covers the subject verb agreement rules that matter most in American English, with original examples and a practice set.
Key Takeaways
- Find the true subject first and ignore phrases that sit between the subject and the verb.
- Subjects joined by and are usually plural; with or and nor, the verb matches the nearer subject.
- Words like each, everyone, and nobody take singular verbs.
- In American English, collective nouns such as team and staff usually take singular verbs.
- Amounts, titles, and the number are singular, while a number of is plural.
The Basic Rule
In the present tense, a third-person singular subject (he, she, it, or a singular noun) takes a verb ending in -s: The printer works. A plural subject takes the base form: The printers work.
The verbs be and have are irregular, so memorize their forms: I am, he is, they are; she has, they have. The Excelsior OWL subject-verb agreement page lists more examples.
Ten Subject-Verb Agreement Rules
1. Find the True Subject
Phrases between the subject and the verb do not change the verb. In The box of old files is in the closet, the subject is box, not files. Phrases such as along with, as well as, and together with also leave a singular subject singular: The coach, along with two players, is attending.
2. Subjects Joined by And Are Usually Plural
Two subjects joined by and take a plural verb: Lena and Marcus are on the call. The exception is a pair that names one thing or idea, such as Macaroni and cheese is on the menu. When each or every comes before the pair, use a singular verb: Every desk and chair has a label.
3. With Or and Nor, Match the Nearer Subject
When subjects are joined by or, either…or, or neither…nor, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it: Neither the manager nor the interns are available. Placing the plural subject last usually sounds smoother.
4. Most Indefinite Pronouns Are Singular
Words such as each, either, neither, everyone, somebody, and nobody take singular verbs: Everyone is invited. Both, few, many, and several are plural. Some, all, most, any, and none depend on the noun that follows: Some of the cake is gone, but Some of the cookies are gone. Our guide to what a pronoun is explains these words in more detail.
5. Collective Nouns Usually Take Singular Verbs
In American English, a collective noun treated as one unit takes a singular verb: The jury is deliberating. The staff has approved the plan. British English often uses a plural verb here, a difference explained in the GrammarVista.com USA guide to American English grammar rules.
6. Watch Inverted Sentences
When the subject comes after the verb, find it before choosing the verb. In There are three reasons for the delay, the subject is reasons. The same check applies to Here comes the bus.
7. Amounts, Titles, and Names Are Singular
Sums of money, time, and distance treated as one amount take a singular verb: Ten dollars is a fair price. Five miles is a long walk. Titles and place names are singular even when they look plural: Little Women is on the reading list. The United States is hosting the event.
8. Use A Number and The Number Correctly
A number of means “several,” so it takes a plural verb: A number of applicants have called. The number of refers to one figure, so it takes a singular verb: The number of applicants has doubled.
9. Match Verbs in Who and That Clauses to the Antecedent
In a relative clause, the verb agrees with the noun the pronoun refers to. In She is one of the volunteers who help every weekend, who refers to volunteers, so the verb is plural. In She is the only one of the volunteers who helps every weekend, who refers to one, so the verb is singular.
10. Some Nouns Look Plural but Are Singular
Nouns such as news, mathematics, physics, and measles end in s but take singular verbs: The news is good. Words for paired items, such as scissors, pants, and glasses, take plural verbs: My glasses are scratched.
| Incorrect | Correct | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| The list of tasks are long. | The list of tasks is long. | Find the true subject |
| Neither the nurse nor the doctors was ready. | Neither the nurse nor the doctors were ready. | Match the nearer subject |
| Each of the rooms have a window. | Each of the rooms has a window. | Singular indefinite pronoun |
| The committee have voted. | The committee has voted. | Collective noun (American English) |
| There’s two options. | There are two options. | Inverted sentence |
| The number of complaints have dropped. | The number of complaints has dropped. | The number is singular |
Agreement in Questions and Passive Voice
In questions, the helping verb agrees with the subject that follows it: Does everyone know the password? Where are the keys? In passive sentences, the helping verb agrees with the grammatical subject, not the person doing the action: The forms were signed by the director. Our guide to active vs. passive voice shows how to spot these constructions.
A Quick Agreement Checklist
Run through these steps when you revise a draft:
- Underline each main verb, then ask “Who or what is doing this?” to find the true subject.
- Cross out phrases between the subject and the verb, then read the sentence again.
- Check compound subjects for and, or, and nor.
- Look twice at sentences that start with There or Here.
Practice: Choose the Correct Verb
Test the rules with this short GrammarVista.com USA quiz.
- The bag of groceries (was / were) heavy.
- Either the twins or their father (picks / pick) them up.
- Nobody on the panel (agrees / agree) with the proposal.
- There (is / are) several typos in the memo.
- Physics (is / are) my favorite subject.
Answer key:
- was, because the subject is bag.
- picks, because father is the nearer subject.
- agrees, because nobody is singular.
- are, because the subject is typos.
- is, because physics is a singular noun.
The Bottom Line
Most agreement errors come from losing track of the subject. Find the true subject, check joining words, and remember the special cases: indefinite pronouns, collective nouns, amounts, and the number. For more rules like these, browse the Grammar Rules and Parts of Speech sections on GrammarVista.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “data” singular or plural?
Both uses are accepted in American English. In everyday and business writing, data often works as a singular mass noun: The data is ready. APA Style and much scientific writing treat data as plural: The data are consistent. Follow the style guide for your field and stay consistent throughout the document.
Do agreement rules apply in the past tense?
Mostly not, because past-tense verbs use the same form for every subject: she walked, they walked. The exception is be, which uses was for singular subjects and were for plural ones. In hypothetical statements, formal writing uses were for all subjects, as in If I were you.
Why do we say “you are” for one person?
The pronoun you always takes the plural verb form, even when it refers to one person. That is why standard English uses you are and you were, never you is or you was. The same pattern applies to singular they, which also takes a plural verb: they are.
Is “a lot of” singular or plural?
A lot of takes its number from the noun that follows it. Use a plural verb with a plural noun, as in A lot of people are waiting, and a singular verb with a noncount noun, as in A lot of time was wasted. The same rule applies to plenty of and lots of.
