Subject-verb agreement keeps sentences clear by matching singular subjects with singular verbs and plural subjects with plural verbs.
Most agreement mistakes aren’t about “bad grammar.” They happen when the real subject hides behind extra words, or when a sentence starts with a phrase that distracts your ear. The fix is learnable: spot the subject, match the verb, move on each time.
You’ll see the patterns that cause the most wrong choices: subjects separated from verbs, “or/nor” pairings, collective nouns, quantities, and sentences that start with there or a question. Use the first table to check. Use the second table to repair.
| Sentence Situation | Verb To Match | Quick Check |
|---|---|---|
| One singular subject (The teacher) | Singular verb (teaches) | Third-person singular often ends in -s |
| One plural subject (The teachers) | Plural verb (teach) | No -s on present-tense plural verbs |
| Two subjects joined by and (Salt and pepper) | Plural verb (are) | Treat as “they” unless it acts as one unit |
| Subjects joined by or/nor (Either the dog or the cats) | Verb agrees with the nearer subject | Match the noun right next to the verb |
| Words between subject and verb (The box of tools) | Verb matches the head noun (box is) | Ignore the prepositional phrase |
| Indefinite pronouns (each, someone, anybody) | Often singular (each is) | Test with “he/she/it” |
| Collective nouns (team, family, staff) | Singular or plural by meaning | One unit = singular; members = plural |
| There + be (There is/There are) | Verb matches what follows | Find the noun after the verb |
| Titles and gerund phrases (Running, “The Great Gatsby”) | Singular verb | Treat as one thing |
| Fractions and amounts (Two-thirds of the class) | Verb matches the noun after of | “Of” points to the real number |
Verb And Subject Agreement Rules For Common Patterns
Agreement is one match: the verb follows the subject’s number. Singular subjects pair with singular verbs; plural subjects pair with plural verbs. Trouble shows up when the sentence shape hides the subject or puts a tempting plural noun near the verb. These verb and subject agreement rules travel well.
Verb Forms People Mix Up
In the present tense, third-person singular subjects take a verb with -s: she runs, it works. Plural subjects don’t: they run, they work. Nouns do the opposite, so your eye may want to “match the -s” in the wrong place.
Two verbs change shape a lot: to be (I am, she is, they are) and to have (he has, they have). If you’re stuck, check these first.
A Two-Step Scan
- Circle the subject of the clause. Swap it with it or they to confirm number.
- Find the tense-carrying verb. Match it to the subject, not to nearby nouns.
Finding The Real Subject When Words Get In The Way
Agreement errors love clutter. A clause can sound plural because a plural noun sits close to the verb, even when that noun isn’t the subject. Strip the clause down until the subject stands out.
Skip Prepositional Phrases
Prepositional phrases often start with of, in, with, between, and near. They add detail, but they rarely control the verb. In The bouquet of roses smells sweet, bouquet is the subject, not roses.
Watch For Interrupting Clauses
Relative clauses can sit between a subject and its verb: The students who sit near the window are ready. The words who sit near the window add detail. The subject is still students, so the verb stays plural.
Handle “Along With” Phrases
Along with, as well as, and together with feel like and, but they don’t create a true compound subject. The coach, along with the players, is arriving stays singular because coach runs the verb. If you mean two subjects, rewrite with and.
When you want a straight rule list, the Purdue OWL subject-verb agreement handout is a cross-check while you edit.
Compound Subjects, Either Or Choices, And Nor Traps
Compound subjects create two tracks: nouns joined with and, and nouns joined with or/nor. Spot the connector early and the verb choice gets easier.
Subjects Joined By “And”
Two subjects joined by and usually take a plural verb: Tea and coffee are available. This holds even when each noun is singular, because the pair acts like “they.”
One exception is a pair that names one thing: Macaroni and cheese is my comfort meal. If the phrase points to one item, a singular verb can fit.
Subjects Joined By “Or” Or “Nor”
With or and nor, the verb matches the nearer subject: Either the manager or the assistants are closing. Flip the order and the verb flips too. If that reads awkwardly, rewrite so both subjects are the same number.
Either, Neither, And Each
Either and neither can act as singular subjects: Neither is ready. Each also leans singular: Each of the students is present. When you see one of these, test it with it. If it fits, a singular verb often follows.
Collective Nouns, Amounts, And “All Of” Phrases
Collective nouns and quantity phrases shift by meaning. That’s why they trigger edits so often.
Collective Nouns
Words like team, committee, family, and staff can take a singular verb when you mean the group as one unit: The team is practicing. They can take a plural verb when you mean members acting as individuals: The team are arguing among themselves. In U.S. academic writing, the singular form is common for groups.
Amounts, Fractions, And Percentages
Amounts can act as singular units: Ten dollars is enough; Five miles is a long walk. Fractions and percentages depend on the noun after of: Two-thirds of the pie is gone, but Two-thirds of the cookies are gone.
All Of, Some Of, A Lot Of
These phrases point to a noun. The verb matches that noun: Some of the water is spilled; Some of the cups are dirty. If you’re unsure, ask: “Some of what?” The answer controls the verb.
Tricky Openers: There, Here, Questions, And Inversions
When a sentence starts with there or here, or when the subject comes after the verb, your ear can get fooled. Hunt the noun that follows the verb and match to it.
There Is, There Are
There isn’t the subject in There are many reasons. The subject is reasons, so the verb is plural. In There is a reason, the subject is reason, so the verb is singular.
Questions And Inverted Word Order
Questions flip order: Are the reports ready? The subject is reports, so are fits. The same trick shows up after negative openings: Never were the rules clearer. In each case, find the subject after the verb.
Linking Verbs And Predicate Nouns
In The problem is the late shipments, the subject is problem, so the verb stays singular. Don’t let the plural noun after the verb steal control.
| Common Error Pattern | Fix Move | Clean Rewrite |
|---|---|---|
| The list of items are long | Match the head noun | The list of items is long |
| Either the hinges or the latch are stuck | Match the nearer subject | Either the hinges or the latch is stuck |
| A number of students is absent | Treat “a number of” as plural | A number of students are absent |
| The number of students are rising | Treat “the number” as singular | The number of students is rising |
| Someone in the classrooms know the answer | Indefinite pronoun = singular | Someone in the classrooms knows the answer |
| There is many options | Match the noun after the verb | There are many options |
| The team are winning as a unit | Group-as-one = singular | The team is winning as a unit |
| Two-thirds of the cookies is gone | Match the noun after “of” | Two-thirds of the cookies are gone |
Special Cases That Editors Mark
Some agreement calls depend on idiom and common classroom style. A few checks keep you steady.
Words Ending In -s That Aren’t Plural
Nouns like mathematics and news look plural, yet they often act singular: The news is surprising. Treat them as one thing unless context points to separate items.
The Pair Of And The Series Of Pattern
A pair of, a set of, and a series of usually take singular verbs: A pair of scissors is on the table. If you mean multiple pairs, make the head noun plural: Two pairs of scissors are on the table.
One Of The People Who
In a relative clause, the verb matches the word the clause refers to: She is one of the students who work late. Here, who points to students, so work is plural.
Modal Verbs Stay The Same
Modal verbs like can, could, may, might, must, should, and will don’t take the usual present-tense -s. The subject changes, but the modal form doesn’t: She can write, They can write.
In editing, this helps in two ways. First, if you see she can writes, the fix is drop the -s from the main verb: she can write. Second, if a sentence already uses a modal, don’t “correct” the modal itself. Match agreement on the helper verbs that change form, like is/are and has/have.
The University of Wisconsin Writing Center subject-verb guide breaks down these “one of the” patterns in a clear, classroom-friendly way.
Editing Checklist You Can Run Fast
Don’t hunt for every rule at once. Run the same short checklist each time. It keeps your edits clean, even on long drafts.
- Underline each tense-carrying verb.
- Find the subject for that verb and test with it or they.
- Ignore prepositional phrases and recheck the match.
- On there is/there are, name the noun after the verb.
- On either/or and neither/nor, match the nearer subject.
- Scan for each, someone, anyone, nobody. These often push the verb to singular.
Practice Set: Fix The Verb In Each Sentence
Say the subject out loud, then choose the verb form that matches it. Write your answer, then check the answers right after.
- The stack of notebooks (sit/sits) on the desk.
- Either the librarians or the director (approve/approves) the request.
- Each of the players (know/knows) the plan.
- There (is/are) several reasons for the delay.
- Macaroni and cheese (taste/tastes) better the next day.
- The number of applicants (grow/grows) each week.
- A number of applicants (show/shows) up early.
- Two-thirds of the paint (remain/remains) in the can.
- Two-thirds of the brushes (need/needs) cleaning.
- One of the students who (work/works) nights is absent.
Answers
1) sits. 2) approves. 3) knows. 4) are. 5) tastes. 6) grows. 7) show. 8) remains. 9) need. 10) work.
Now take one paragraph you wrote recently and run the checklist on it. You’ll start to hear patterns. When you can spot them, verb and subject agreement rules stop stealing your time in any draft today.