English Grammar: Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

Basic Rules

• A singular subject takes a singular verb.
• A plural subject takes a plural verb.

Subject Types

• Singular subjects:
  • Nouns (cat, dog, house)
  • Pronouns (he, she, it)
  • Indefinite pronouns (someone, nobody)
• Plural subjects:
  • Nouns (cats, dogs, houses)
  • Pronouns (they, we, you)
  • Indefinite pronouns (some, many, few)

Special Cases

• Collective nouns:
  • Singular verbs with collective nouns (team, family, herd)
  • Plural verbs with collective nouns when referring to individual members (team are playing)
• Indefinite pronouns:
  • Singular verbs with indefinite pronouns (everyone, someone)
  • Plural verbs with indefinite pronouns when referring to plural nouns (many are coming)
• Compound subjects:
  • Connected by and: plural verb (John and Mary are going)
  • Connected by or or nor: verb agrees with the closest subject (John or Mary is going)
• Singular nouns that appear plural:
  • News, physics, measles, and economics take a singular verb
• Plural nouns that appear singular:
  • Scissors, pants, and glasses take a plural verb

Verb Agreement with Clauses

• Relative clauses:
  • Verb agrees with the antecedent (The student, who is tired, is sleeping)
• Independent clauses:
  • Each clause has its own subject-verb agreement (I went to the store, and I bought milk)

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

Basic Rules

• Singular subjects take singular verbs.
• Plural subjects take plural verbs.

Subject Types

• Singular subjects include:
  • Nouns (e.g., cat, dog, house)
  • Pronouns (e.g., he, she, it)
  • Indefinite pronouns (e.g., someone, nobody)
• Plural subjects include:
  • Nouns (e.g., cats, dogs, houses)
  • Pronouns (e.g., they, we, you)
  • Indefinite pronouns (e.g., some, many, few)

Special Cases

Collective Nouns

• Take singular verbs when referring to a single unit.
• Take plural verbs when referring to individual members (e.g., the team are playing).

Indefinite Pronouns

• Take singular verbs when referring to single entities (e.g., everyone).
• Take plural verbs when referring to plural nouns (e.g., many are coming).

Compound Subjects

• Connected by and: take plural verbs.
• Connected by or or nor: verb agrees with the closest subject.

Nouns with Unusual Plurality

• Singular nouns that appear plural:
  • News, physics, measles, and economics take singular verbs.
• Plural nouns that appear singular:
  • Scissors, pants, and glasses take plural verbs.

Verb Agreement with Clauses

Relative Clauses

• Verb agrees with the antecedent (e.g., The student, who is tired, is sleeping).

Independent Clauses

• Each clause has its own subject-verb agreement (e.g., I went to the store, and I bought milk).

Learn the basic rules and special cases of subject-verb agreement in English grammar, including singular and plural subjects and collective nouns.