Subject-verb agreement is an important component of English grammar since it ensures that the subject and verb in a phrase match in number (singular or plural) and person. This agreement is necessary for creating grammatically accurate statements. This is a complete guide to subject-verb agreement in English grammar.

Basic Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement

1. Singular Subjects Take Singular Verbs
  • The subject and verb must both be singular.
  • Examples:
    • "The cat runs fast."
    • "She likes chocolate."
2. Plural Subjects Take Plural Verbs
  • The verb must be plural if the subject is plural.
  • Examples:
    • "The cats run fast."
    • "They like chocolate."

Special Cases in Subject-Verb Agreement

1. Compound Subjects
  • When two singular nouns are joined by "and," they take a plural verb.

  • Examples:

    • "The dog and the cat are friends."
    • "My brother and sister visit often."
  • If the nouns refer to the same person or thing, use a singular verb.
  • Examples:
    • "My friend and mentor is coming to dinner." (same person)
2. Subjects Joined by "Or" or "Nor"
  • "Or" or "nor," when used to link subjects, indicates that the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
  • Examples:
    • "Neither the teacher nor the students are here."
    • "Either the students or the teacher is going to present."
3. Indefinite Pronouns
  • Singular indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, each, someone) take singular verbs.

  • Examples:

    • "Everyone is invited."
    • "Each of the apples is ripe."
  • Plural indefinite pronouns (e.g., many, few) take plural verbs.

  • Examples:

    • "Many are attending the meeting."
    • "Few have arrived."
  • Some indefinite pronouns (e.g., all, some) can be singular or plural, depending on the noun they refer to.
  • Examples:
    • "All of the cake is gone." (singular)
    • "All of the cookies are gone." (plural)
4. Collective Nouns
  • Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, group) might be singular or plural, depending on whether the group acts as a whole or as individuals.
  • Examples:
    • "The team is winning." (acting as a unit)
    • "The team are arguing among themselves." (acting as individuals)
5. Inverted Sentences
  • In sentences where the subject follows the verb, ensure the verb agrees with the subject.
  • Examples:
    • "There is a book on the table."
    • "There are books on the table."
6. Titles and Names
  • Titles of books, movies, and other works are treated as singular even if they are plural in form.
  • Examples:
    • "One well-liked series is The Chronicles of Narnia."
    • "Friends is a well-loved TV show."

Tips for Ensuring Subject-Verb Agreement

1. Identify the Subject and Verb

  • Find the verb and subject in the sentence and make sure they agree.
  • Be cautious of intervening words or phrases that may distract from the subject-verb relationship.

2. Check for Intervening Phrases

  • Phrases between the subject and verb do not affect agreement.
  • Example:
    • "The bouquet of roses is beautiful." (not "are")

3. Be Mindful of Compound Subjects

  • Determine whether compound subjects refer to one entity or multiple entities.
  • Example:
    • "Bread and butter is my favorite breakfast." (single entity)
4. Practice Regularly
    • Engage in exercises and practice questions to reinforce understanding of subject-verb agreement.

Practice Activities

1. Correct the Sentences: Identify and correct the subject-verb agreement errors.

  • "The list of items are on the table."
  • "Each of the players have a unique skill."
  • "The family are visiting for the holidays."

2. Complete the Sentences: Add the appropriate verb form to the blanks.

  • "Either the cat or the dogs ___ making noise." (is/are)
  • "One of the students ___ finished the test." (has/have)
  • "All of the information ___ accurate." (is/are)

3. Identify the Correct Form: For every sentence, select the appropriate verb tenses.

  • "The news ___ interesting." (is/are)
  • "None of the students ___ finished the homework." (has/have)
  • "Bread and butter ___ served for breakfast." (is/are)

By understanding and practicing subject-verb agreement, you can improve your grammatical accuracy and clarity in English writing and speaking.