Subject-Verb agreement is a basic rule of English grammar that ensures the verb in a sentence matches the subject in number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third).
Subject-verb agreement is not just about following grammar rules; it plays a key role in ensuring sentences are grammatically correct, clear, and professional. Whether you’re writing, speaking, or teaching, mastering subject-verb agreement helps you communicate more effectively and confidently.
What is Subject-Verb agreement?
Definition of subject-verb agreement: Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental rule of English grammar that ensures the verb in a sentence matches the subject in number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third). In other words, the form of the verb must correspond to the subject it describes.
Key Definition
- Subject: The person, place, thing, or idea performing the action or being described in a sentence.
- Verb: The action or state of being in the sentence.
Rule:
- Singular subjects take singular verbs (e.g., He writes).
- Plural subjects take plural verbs (e.g., They write).
Importance of Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement is important for clarity and grammatical correctness. Without it, sentences may sound awkward or confusing.
Subject-verb agreement is essential because it ensures sentences are grammatically correct, clear, and easy to understand.
1. Ensures Grammatical Accuracy
Subject-verb agreement is one of the foundational principles of proper sentence structure in English. Without it, sentences can be considered grammatically incorrect. This rule helps to maintain the integrity of the language.
Example (Correct):
- The dog barks at strangers. (Singular subject with singular verb)
Example (Incorrect):
- The dog bark at strangers. (This sounds awkward and ungrammatical.)
2. Affects Clarity
Incorrect subject-verb agreement can confuse readers or listeners about the subject of a sentence, especially in complex sentences. Proper agreement eliminates ambiguity.
Example (Correct):
- The list of names is on the table.
Example (Incorrect):
- The list of names are on the table. (Incorrect agreement makes it unclear whether “list” or “names” is the subject.)
3. Reflects Language Proficiency
Using correct subject-verb agreement demonstrates a strong command of the English language, which is essential in both formal writing (e.g., essays, reports, business communication) and speech. It reflects attention to detail and professionalism.
Example (Correct):
- The committee has decided on the budget.
Example (Incorrect):
- The committee have decided on the budget. (Inconsistent use diminishes credibility.)
4. Maintains Logical Consistency
Subject-verb agreement ensures logical consistency between the subject and the verb, making the sentence sound natural and coherent.
Example (Correct):
- She runs every morning.
Example (Incorrect):
- She run every morning. (This disrupts the logic of the sentence.)
5. Avoids Miscommunication
Errors in subject-verb agreement can change the intended meaning of a sentence or make it harder to understand.
Example (Correct):
- The results of the experiment show that the hypothesis was correct.
Example (Incorrect):
- The results of the experiment shows that the hypothesis was correct. (This inconsistency may distract or confuse the reader.)
6. Adheres to Style Guides
Many academic, professional, and formal style guides emphasize proper subject-verb agreement as a basic requirement for good writing. Violating this rule may result in lower marks in academic contexts or reduced credibility in professional environments.
7. Creates a Positive Impression
Whether writing essays, giving presentations, or speaking publicly, correct subject-verb agreement contributes to the overall impression of competence and fluency in English.
Examples of Importance in Real-Life
a) Academic Writing:
Incorrect: The findings of the study proves the theory.
Correct: The findings of the study prove the theory.
b) Professional Communication:
Incorrect: The company have launched a new product.
Correct: The company has launched a new product.
c) Everyday Conversations:
Incorrect: He don’t like pizza.
Correct: He doesn’t like pizza.
Examples of Subject-Verb Agreement
Singular Subject with Singular Verb:
- The cat sleeps on the sofa.
- She is reading a book.
Plural Subject with Plural Verb:
- The cats sleep on the sofa.
- They are reading books.
Incorrect Examples:
- The cat sleep on the sofa. (wrong: singular subject with plural verb)
- The cats sleeps on the sofa. (wrong: plural subject with singular verb)
Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement with Examples
The concept of subject-verb concord matters the most when using the present tenses. The simple past and simple future tenses have the same verbs used irrespective of the subject in the sentence. Knowing and following the rules of subject-verb agreement will help you write error-free sentences.
1. Singular Subjects and Singular Verbs
A singular subject (one person, thing, or entity) requires a singular verb. Singular verbs often end with “-s” or “-es” in the present tense.
Examples:
- He eats lunch at noon.
- The dog barks loudly.
- A computer makes calculations quickly.
2. Plural Subjects and Plural Verbs
A plural subject (more than one person, thing, or entity) requires a plural verb. Plural verbs in the present tense do not have an “-s” at the end.
Examples:
- They play soccer on weekends.
- The dogs bark loudly.
- Computers make calculations quickly.
3. Compound Subjects
a) Subjects Joined by “And”
When two or more subjects are joined by and, the verb is plural.
Examples:
- John and Mary are friends.
- Apples and oranges are healthy snacks.
b) Subjects Joined by “Or” or “Nor”
When subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it (also called the proximity rule).
Examples:
- Neither the teacher nor the students are ready. (Plural: “students” is closer)
- Either the books or the pen is on the table. (Singular: “pen” is closer)
4. Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns can be tricky because some are always singular, others are always plural, and some depend on context.
a) Always Singular Pronouns:
Each, everyone, everything, anyone, anything, someone, something, nobody, nothing, etc.
Examples:
- Everyone enjoys the party.
- Somebody has left their bag.
- Each of the apples is ripe.
b) Always Plural Pronouns:
Few, many, several, both.
Examples:
- Many are coming to the event.
- Few have completed the assignment.
c) Context-Dependent Pronouns:
All, any, most, none, some can be singular or plural depending on whether they refer to a singular or plural noun.
Examples:
- All of the cake is gone. (Singular: “cake” is uncountable)
- All of the cookies are gone. (Plural: “cookies” is countable)
5. Collective Nouns
Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, group, audience, jury) can take a singular or plural verb depending on how the group is acting:
- Singular verb: When the group acts as a single entity.
Example: The team is winning. - Plural verb: When the group acts as individuals.
Example: The team are arguing among themselves.
6. Phrases or Clauses Between Subject and Verb
Sometimes additional information is inserted between the subject and the verb, but it does not change the number of the subject.
Examples:
- The bouquet of roses is beautiful. (Subject: “bouquet”)
- The students, along with their teacher, are excited. (Subject: “students”)
7. Subjects Starting with “There” or “Here”
The subject comes after the verb in these cases. The verb agrees with the true subject.
Examples:
- There is a problem with your order. (Subject: “problem”)
- Here are the keys. (Subject: “keys”)
8. Titles, Names, or Entities
Titles of books, movies, organizations, or other works are treated as singular, even if they appear plural.
Examples:
- “The Chronicles of Narnia” is a popular series.
- The United Nations is headquartered in New York.
9. Amounts, Fractions, and Percentages
a) Amounts
Amounts of money, time, or distance are treated as singular when they act as a single unit.
Examples:
- Five dollars is enough.
- Ten kilometers is a long distance.
b) Fractions
Fractions depend on the noun they modify:
- One-third of the pie is gone. (Singular: “pie”)
- One-third of the students are present. (Plural: “students”)
c) Percentages
Percentages follow the same rule as fractions:
- Fifty percent of the cake is eaten. (Singular: “cake”)
- Fifty percent of the people are here. (Plural: “people”)
10. Special Cases with Singular or Plural Subjects
a) “None” as Subject
“None” can be singular or plural, depending on context:
- None of the water is spilled. (Singular: “water”)
- None of the cookies are left. (Plural: “cookies”)
b) “Each” and “Every”
“Each” and “every” are always singular, even if they refer to multiple subjects:
- Each student has a book.
- Every man, woman, and child is required to register.
11. Gerunds and Infinitives
When a gerund or infinitive acts as the subject, it is singular:
- Swimming is fun.
- To read books is a good habit.
12. Inverted Sentences
In questions or inverted sentences, the verb must still agree with the subject:
- Where is your friend? (Singular: “friend”)
- Where are your friends? (Plural: “friends”)
Practice Exercise
1. Each of the students (is/are) responsible for their homework.
Answer: is
Why?
The subject of the sentence is “Each,” which is singular, even though it refers to multiple students. The verb must agree with “Each,” not “students,” so we use the singular verb is.
2. The dogs or the cat (runs/run) through the house.
Answer: runs
Why?
When subjects are joined by “or,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. In this case, “the cat” (singular) is closest to the verb, so the singular verb runs is correct.
3. Neither my sister nor my parents (was/were) at home.
Answer: were
Why?
When “neither…nor” is used, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Here, “my parents” (plural) is closer to the verb, so the plural verb were is correct.
4. A bouquet of flowers (make/makes) a great gift.
Answer: makes
Why?
The subject of the sentence is “A bouquet” (singular), not “flowers.” The verb must agree with the singular subject “bouquet,” so the correct verb is makes.
5. Fifty percent of the work (is/are) complete.
Answer: is
Why?
The subject is “Fifty percent,” which depends on whether “work” (a singular, uncountable noun) or a plural noun follows. Since “work” is singular and uncountable, the singular verb is is correct.
6. Either the teachers or the principal (has/have) to make the decision.
Answer: has
Why?
When subjects are joined by “or,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. In this case, “the principal” (singular) is closer to the verb, so the singular verb has is correct.
7. The team (is/are) celebrating their victory.
Answer: is
Why?
In American English, collective nouns like “team” are treated as singular when acting as a single unit. Since “the team” is behaving as one entity (celebrating together), the singular verb is is correct.
8. All of the water (is/are) gone.
Answer: is
Why?
The subject is “All of the water.” Here, “water” is an uncountable noun, so the singular verb is is correct.
9. All of the cookies (is/are) gone.
Answer: are
Why?
In this case, “cookies” is a plural, countable noun. Therefore, the plural verb are is correct.
10. The results of the experiment (shows/show) that the hypothesis was correct.
Answer: show
Why?
The subject is “results,” which is plural. The verb must agree with this plural subject, so the correct verb is show (plural).
11. The United States (is/are) a powerful nation.
Answer: is
Why?
The United States is a singular proper noun referring to one entity (a country), so the singular verb is is correct.
12. Ten dollars (is/are) enough to buy lunch.
Answer: is
Why?
When referring to an amount of money as a single unit, it is treated as singular. Here, “Ten dollars” is a single amount, so the singular verb is is correct.
13. The news (is/are) depressing today.
Answer: is
Why?
“News” is treated as a singular, uncountable noun in English, so the singular verb is is correct.
14. Mathematics (is/are) a challenging subject.
Answer: is
Why?
Subjects like “Mathematics” are singular in English, even though they end with an “s.” The correct verb is is.
15. None of the furniture (is/are) broken.
Answer: is
Why?
“Furniture” is an uncountable noun, so it is treated as singular. The singular verb is is correct.
Key Takeaways for Why These Work
- Always identify the true subject of the sentence (not just the nearest noun or phrase).
- Pay attention to whether the subject is singular or plural, and match the verb accordingly.
- For compound subjects with “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
- Uncountable nouns (e.g., water, furniture) and collective nouns (e.g., team, family) are often singular.
- Some words that seem plural (e.g., “news,” “mathematics”) are actually singular in meaning.
English – KnowledgeSthali