Subject Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement

Being able to find the right subject and verb will help you correct errors of subject-verb agreement.

Basic Rule

Basic Rule. A singular subject (she, Bill, car) takes a singular verb (is, goes, shines), whereas a plural subject takes a plural verb.

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​Example: 

The list of items is/are on the desk. If you know that list is the subject, then you will choose is for the verb

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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).

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Rule 1

A subject will come before a phrase beginning with of. This is a key rule for understanding subjects. The word of is the culprit of many, perhaps most, subject-verb mistkes.

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Hasty writers, speakers, readers, and listeners might miss the all-too-common mistake in the following sentence:

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Incorrect: A bouquet of yellow roses lend color and fragrance to the room.

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Correct: A bouquet of roses lends....​ (A boguet lends, not roses lend)

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Rule 2

Two singular subjects connected by or, either/or, or neither/nor require a singular verb.

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Examples:

My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today.

Neither Juan nor Carmen is available.

Either Kiana or Casey is helping today with stage decorations.​

Rule 3

The verb in an or, either/or, or neither/nor sentence agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to it.

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Examples:

Neither the plates nor the serving bowl goes on that shelf.

Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on that shelf.​

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Rule 4

As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are connected by and.

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Examples:

A car and a bike are my means of transportation.

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Exceptions are when the noun is a compound noun.

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Example:

Breaking and entering is against the law.

The bed and breakfast was charming.​

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Rule 5a

Sometimes the subject is seperated from te 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.

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Examples:

The politician, along with the newsment, is expected shortly.

Excitement, as well as nevosness, is the cause of her shaking.​

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Rule 5B

Parenthesis are not part of the subject.

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Examples:

Joe (and his trusty mutt) was always welcome.

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Rule 6

In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject follows the verb.

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Examples:

​There are four hurdles to jump.

There is a high hurdle to jump.

Here are the keys.​

Rule 7

Use a singuar verb with distances, periods of time, sums of mone, etc., when considered as a unit.

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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.​

Rule 8a

With words that indicate portions--e.g., a lot, a majority, some, all--Rule 1 given earlier in this section is reversed, and we are guided by the noun after of. If the noun after of is singular, use a singular verb. If I is plural, use a plural verb.

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Examples:

​A lot of the pie has disappeared.

A lot of the pies have disappeared.

Fifty percent of the pie has disappered.

Fifty percent of the pies have disappered.​

Rule 8

With words that indicate portions--e.g., a lot, a majority, some, all--Rule 1 given earlier in this section is reversed, and we are guided by the noun after of. If the noun after of is singular, use a singular verb. If I is plural, use a plural verb.

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Examples:

​A lot of the pie has disappeared.

A lot of the pies have disappeared.

Fifty percent of the pie has disappered.

Fifty percent of the pies have disappered.​

Rule 9

The word were replaces was in sentences that express a wish or are contrary to fact.

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Examples:

​If Joe were her, you'd be sorry.

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Shouldn't Joe be followed by was, not were, given that Joe is singular? But Joe isn't actually here, so we say were, not was. 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.​