Lesson 1 Subject Verb Agreement

E N H A N C E M EN T L esso n s o f En g lish Co nce pt s
Subject - Verb
Agreement
Basic Rule:
A singular subject takes a

singular verb, whereas a plural
subject takes a plural verb.
E N H A N C E M E N T L esso ns of E n glish C on cepts
Example:
The list of items is/are on the desk.
Answer: The list of items is on the desk.
Exceptions to the Basic rule:
a. The first person pronoun I takes a plural verb (I go, I drive).
b. The basic form of the verb is used after certain main verbs such as
watch, see, hear, feel, help, let, and make.
(He watched Ronaldo score the winning goal).
Correct or Incorrect?
A bouquet of yellow roses lend color and fragrance to the

room. INCORRECT
CORRECT
A bouquet of yellow roses lends color and fragrance to the

room.
Rule #1
A subject will come before a

phrase beginning with of. This
is a key rule for understanding
subjects.
Rule #2
Two singular subjects

connected by or, either/or, or
neither/nor require a singular
verb.
Examples:
Either Kiana or
My aunt or my Neither Juan nor
Casey is helping
uncle is arriving by Carmen is
today with stage
train today. available.
decorations.
Rule #3
The verb in an or, either/or, or

neither/nor sentence agrees
with the noun or pronoun
closest to it.
Examples:
• Neither the plates nor the serving bowl goes on that shelf.
• Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on that shelf.
This rule can lead to bumps in the road. For example, if I is one of two (or more)
subjects, it could lead to this odd sentence:
Awkward: Neither she, my friends, nor I am going to the festival.

This rule can lead to bumps in the road. For example, if I is one of two (or more)
subjects, it could lead to this odd sentence:
Better:
Neither she, I, nor my friends are going to the festival.
OR
She, my friends, and I are not going to the festival.
Rule #4
As a general rule, use a plural

verb with two or more
subjects when they are
connected by and.
Examples:
A car and a bike are my means of transportation.
But note these exceptions:
Exceptions:
Breaking and entering is against the law.
The bed and breakfast was charming.
In those sentences, breaking and entering and bed and

breakfast are compound nouns.
Basic Rule:
NOTE
Some think it is incorrect to place a personal pronoun first
in a multi-subject sentence.
Examples:
• I, my dad, and my step-mom are going to the movies.
• She and Orville bought a dog.
While not grammatically incorrect per se, it is a courtesy
to place the pronoun last, except when awkward to do so
as shown under Rule 3
Rule #5
Sometimes the subject is separated
from the verb by such words as along
with, as well as, besides, not, etc.
These words and phrases are not part
of the subject. Ignore them and use a
singular verb when the subject is
singular.
EXAMPLES:
• The politician, along with the newsmen, is
expected shortly.
• Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the

cause of her shaking.
Rule #6
In sentences beginning with

here or there, the true subject
follows the verb.
EXAMPLES:
• There are four hurdles to jump.
• There is a high hurdle to jump.
• Here are the keys.

NOTE
The word there's, a contraction of there is,
leads to bad habits in informal sentences like
There's a lot of people here today, because it's
easier to say "there's" than "there are." Take
care never to use there's with a plural subject.
Rule #7
Use a singular verb with

distances, periods of time,
sums of money, etc., when
considered as a unit.
EXAMPLES:
• Three miles is too far to walk.
• Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
• Ten dollars is a high price to pay.

BUT
• Ten dollars (i.e., dollar bills) were scattered on the

floor.
Rule #8a
Sometimes the subject is separated

from the verb by such words as along
with, as well as, besides, not, etc. These
words and phrases are not part of the
subject. Ignore them and use a singular
verb when the subject is singular.
EXAMPLES:
• A lot of the pie has disappeared.
• A lot of the pies have disappeared.
• Fifty percent of the pie has disappeared.
• Fifty percent of the pies have disappeared.
• A third of the city is unemployed.

• A third of the people are unemployed.
• All of the pie is gone.
• All of the pies are gone.
• Some of the pie is missing.
• Some of the pies are missing.
NOTE
Most people have considered none to be strictly
singular. However, authorities agree that none has
been both singular and plural since Old English and
still is. If in context it seems like a singular to you,
use a singular verb; if it seems like a plural, use a
plural verb. When none is clearly intended to mean
"not one," it is followed by a singular verb.
Rule #8b
With collective nouns such as

group, jury, family, audience,
population, the verb might be
singular or plural, depending on
the writer's intent.
Rule #8b
Collective nouns like “team,”

“company,” “city,” “state,”
“government,” “committee,” and
“store” are singular nouns and
thus take singular verbs.
Rule #8b
Collective nouns like “team

members,” “company leaders,”
and “city officials” are plural and
thus take plural verbs.
EXAMPLES:
• All of my family has arrived OR have arrived.
• Most of the jury is here OR are here.
• A third of the population was not in favor OR were not

in favor of the bill.
NOTE
Anyone who uses a plural verb with a collective noun must take care
to be accurate—and also consistent. It must not be done carelessly.
The following is the sort of flawed sentence one sees and hears a lot
these days:
The staff is deciding how they want to vote.
Careful speakers and writers would avoid assigning the singular is
and the plural they to staff in the same sentence.
Consistent: The staff are deciding how they want to vote.
The staff members are deciding how they want to vote.
Rule #9
The word were replaces was

in sentences that express a
wish or are contrary to fact.
EXAMPLE:
• If Joe were here, you'd be sorry.
The sentence demonstrates the subjunctive mood, which is used to express a
hypothetical, wishful, imaginary, or factually contradictory thought. The
subjunctive mood pairs singular subjects with what we usually think of as
plural verbs.
• I wish it were Friday.
• She requested that he raise his hand.
• The foreman demanded that Joe wear safety goggles.

Rule #10
Indefinite pronouns are singular and

take singular verbs.
“anything,” “anywhere,” “anybody,”
“anyone,” “each,” “each one,”
“either,” “neither,” “everyone,”
“everybody,” “nobody,” “somebody,”
“someone,” and “no one” are singular.
EXAMPLES:
• Nobody likes fondue anymore.
• Everything has its own time and place.
• Everybody is expected to arrive at the airport on time.
• Somebody need to take out the trash.

Rule #11
A pair is a singular noun and
takes a singular verb.
Example:
That old pair of jeans has treated me
well.
Thank you.

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E N H A N C E M EN T L esso n s o f En g lish Co nce pt s

A singular subject takes a

A bouquet of yellow roses lend color and fragrance to the

A bouquet of yellow roses lends color and fragrance to the

A subject will come before a

Two singular subjects

The verb in an or, either/or, or

Awkward: Neither she, my friends, nor I am going to the festival.

As a general rule, use a plural

In those sentences, breaking and entering and bed and

• Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the

In sentences beginning with

• There are four hurdles to jump.

• There is a high hurdle to jump.

• Here are the keys.

Use a singular verb with

• Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.

• Ten dollars is a high price to pay.

• Ten dollars (i.e., dollar bills) were scattered on the

Sometimes the subject is separated

• A third of the city is unemployed.

With collective nouns such as

Collective nouns like “team,”

Collective nouns like “team

• Most of the jury is here OR are here.

• A third of the population was not in favor OR were not

The word were replaces was

• She requested that he raise his hand.

• The foreman demanded that Joe wear safety goggles.

Indefinite pronouns are singular and

• Everything has its own time and place.

• Everybody is expected to arrive at the airport on time.

• Somebody need to take out the trash.

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