Mistakes involving subject–verb agreement are very common for people learning English as a foreign language. However, these mistakes do not usually hinder communication, and as a result, mastering the art of concord is not always prioritised. In fact, it may be one of the last things that we truly master as English learners. However, for native speakers, mistakes involving subject verb-agreement are very noticeable, and in a professional setting such mistakes may be perceived as a lack of language skills.
The rules of subject–verb agreement:
The cornerstone rule of subject–verb agreement is that a third person singular subject (he, businesswoman, John, car) takes a singular verb (is, works, goes, shines), whereas a plural subject (we, workers, John and Anna, cars) takes a plural verb (are, work, go, shine).
While the basic rule is simple, you will often come across examples of subject-verb agreement where the rules are less clear. Below, we explore some common rules for subject–verb agreement. Note that the list is not exhaustive, and that you may find other examples that are not covered by these rules.
If a subordinate clause comes between the subject and the verb, it does not change their agreement.
(Learn more about subordinate clauses here: link to: "What a Subordinate Clause?" Grammarly.com)
The man, who is marching up and down the street, is very loud.
The mountains, which are covered in freshly fallen snow, look lovely today.
Also, if there is a prepositional phrase between the subject and the verb, it will usually not change their agreement.
(Learn more about prepositional phrases here: link to: "What Is a Prepositional Phrase?" Grammarly.com)
The taste of this apple is very peculiar.
The hikes around the streets of Sicily were very short.
When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, you will normally use a plural verb.
A subject that is made up of two or more elements is called a compound subject.
Harry and his dog are running down the street.
The cup, the saucer, and all the biscuits are broken.
However, if the compound subject refers to the same thing as a whole, then the verb will be singular.
Chicken and rice is my sister's favourite meal. (Chicken and rice = meal = singular).
Hard work and dedication is the key to success. (Hard work and dedication = key (to success) = singular).
If the nouns that make up a compound subject are singular and connected by the words 'or', 'nor', 'neither'/'nor', 'either'/'or', or 'not only'/'but also', then the verb is singular.
Neither Jessica nor Christian is coming to the party.
Success or failure is largely based on luck.
If a compound subject consists of both singular and plural nouns/pronouns, it is the noun/pronoun closest to the verb that determines if the verb is plural or singular. This is called the rule of proximity.
My cat or my dogs greet me at the door.
Neither my parents nor my sister remembers my birthday.
The verb should be singular if the the words 'no', 'each', or 'every' come before the subject.
No man is an island.
Every man and woman is expected to do their best.Each of my sons is very tall.
If a sentence starts with there or here, the subject will be placed after the verb, but the subject and verb must still agree.
There is a strange man outside.
Here are the dresses you ordered.
In questions, the verb comes before the subject. This means that you must consider extra carefully what form the verb should take.
Are you leaving for your holiday?
Is this person bothering you?
Titles of films, songs, books, etc. are treated as singular and take a singular verb.
All the White Horses is a song by Tori Amos.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the last film I saw.
Collective nouns such as 'team', 'staff', 'family', 'board', 'choir', 'class', and 'police' will usually take a singular verb. The exception is when we talk about the various members that make up the collective noun. If that is the case the subject will be plural.
The police has apprehended the culprit. (We are talking about the police as an organisation, not the individual police officers).
The board are in disagreement about the decision. (The members of the board disagree with each other).
If the subject is a noun or a pronoun like 'half', 'none', 'some', 'more', or 'all' followed by a prepositional phrase, then the object of the prepositional phrase determines the form of the verb. This is also the case with fractions and percentages.
All of the apple is eaten.
All of the apples are eaten.
Fifty percent of the job is routine.
If the subject describes units of measurement or units of time, the verb will usually be singular.
Three quarters of the tank is filled.
Fifty dollars is too much to lose.
And finally, the verb is singular if the subject is an indefinite pronoun that ends in -body, -one or -thing. For example: anybody, anyone, anything, everybody, everyone, everything, nobody, no one, one, somebody, someone.
Everyone has arrived.
Nobody is right all the time.