Subject–Verb Agreement

Intermediate · Foundations

The verb has to "agree" with its subject, like a dance partner matching steps. One person → one form of the verb; many people → another form.

It sounds simple, but tricky subjects (long ones, or ones joined by "or") cause a lot of errors. The key skill is finding the real subject.

How to build it

Singular subject → singular verb (adds -s) · Plural subject → plural verb (no -s)

Singular subject takes a singular verb; plural takes a plural verb.
Strangely, in the present tense the -s goes on the verb for he/she/it, not the plural.
- The dog barks.
- The dogs bark.
Two subjects joined by "and" are plural.
Two things together need the plural verb.
- Tom and Jerry are friends.
With "or/either...or/neither...nor", the verb agrees with the NEAREST subject.
Look at the subject closest to the verb and match it.
- Neither the manager nor the workers were happy.
- Either the workers or the manager is responsible.
Words between the subject and verb do not change the agreement.
Ignore the extra phrase and find the true subject.
- The box of chocolates is on the table. (subject = box, not chocolates)
Indefinite pronouns (everyone, each, somebody, nobody) are singular.
They feel like "many" but grammatically they are one.
- Everyone is here.
- Each of the students has a book.

Cover the words between the subject and the verb with your finger. "The list (of items) is long" → "The list ... is long." Now it is obvious.
Uncountable and most group nouns are singular: "The news is good." "The team is winning."

✗ The list of items are long. → ✓ The list of items is long. — The subject is "list" (singular). "of items" is just extra description.
✗ Everyone have arrived. → ✓ Everyone has arrived. — "Everyone" is grammatically singular.