Subject-Verb Agreement: Rules and Examples

Subject-Verb Agreement

In English grammar, subject-verb agreement, also known as subject-verb concord, is the principle where the subject and verb in a sentence have the same number, person, and gender. This guide explains the rules of subject-verb concord, provides examples, and answers frequently asked questions on this topic.

Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement

For most cases, the rule is to use a singular verb with a singular subject and a plural verb with a plural subject. However, there are exceptions:

1. Contraction with the verb "to be": When the subject is a singular noun and the verb "to be" is contracted with a pronoun, use the singular form of the verb:
   • A cat is sleeping.
   • He is a teacher.
2. Quantifiers or pronouns with singular meaning: Sometimes quantifiers or pronouns can create a singular meaning together with a noun. In such cases, use the singular form of the verb:
   • Each book needs a review.
   • Every student registered.
3. Compound subjects: For compound subjects consisting of multiple singular subjects connected by "and," use the singular form of the verb:
   • The cats and the dog bark.
   • My family and I live in London.

However, if the compound subject consists of multiple plural subjects connected by "or," use the plural form of the verb:

• Cats or dogs grow old.
• Students or professors teach classes.

4. Collective nouns: Collective nouns can show singular or plural behavior. When acting as a single group, use the singular form of the verb. Otherwise, use the plural form:

   • The team is training.
   • The team are scattered around.

5. Exceptional verbs: Some verbs are never preceded by a numeral, and others are never part of a numbered collection:

   • No dogs have tails.
   • Only vowels are pronounced differently in this sentence.

6. Appositive and other descriptive phrases: When writing about groups of items that aren't related, use the singular verb:

   • The red and blue cars were parked separately.

7. Modal verbs: Modals place the subject in a certain tense or voice but don't change their own form. In such cases, use the corresponding base form of the subject:

   • She might have gone shopping.
   • They may want to read the article.

8. Countable objects: With countable objects, use a singular verb:

   • A cup of coffee costs $0.25.

9. Uncountable objects: Uncountable objects require a singular verb:

   • Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

Check Your Understanding of Subject-Verb Agreement

Consider the following sentences, underline the correct verb form:

• John lifted five squares.
• Many teachers give tests.