Back to Course
Subject-Verb Agreement
The Golden Rule: Singular vs. Plural Balance
The Subject and Verb must always agree in Number; a singular subject requires a singular verb, while a plural subject requires a plural verb.
$S_{sing} \rightarrow V_{+s/es} \quad | \quad S_{plur} \rightarrow V_{base}$
The Inverse -s Rule: Nouns add -s to become plural, but verbs typically remove -s to be plural.
$S_{sing}$=Singular Subject(1 unit)
$V_{+s/es}$=Singular Verb form(Third-person singular)
Plural Noun
→Ends in -s (e.g., dogs)
Singular Verb
→Ends in -s (e.g., barks)
Inverse -s Rule: Nouns use -s for plurality (dogs), but verbs use -s for singularity in the Third-person singular (barks).
Base Form: Plural subjects pair with the verb's base form without any additional endings.
'Be' Verb Exception: The verb 'be' is the most irregular: am/is/are (present), was/were (past). It requires memorization rather than the -s rule.
Intervening Phrases: The 'Distractor' Effect
Phrases placed between the subject and verb do not change the number of the subject; the verb must ignore these Distractor phrases.
$S + [Phrase] + V \implies V = f(S)$
The verb's form is a function of the subject alone, bypassing intervening text.
$S$=True Subject(Noun/Pronoun)
$f(S)$=Agreement function(Verb form)
Prepositional phrase
→Words like 'of', 'in', 'with' often contain distractors.
Appositive
→Renaming phrases set off by commas should be bypassed.
Parenthetical expressions
→Phrases in dashes or parentheses (e.g., '—along with his friends—') do not affect agreement.
The Bridge Principle: Treat the subject and verb as two banks of a river; the intervening phrase is the water flowing beneath that doesn't affect the connection.
Key Distractors: Phrases like 'along with', 'as well as', 'together with', 'in addition to', and 'including' are not conjunctions and do not create plural subjects.
The Deletion Test: Mentally delete everything between the subject and the verb. If the remaining sentence sounds right, the agreement is correct. 'The box of chocolates is heavy' → 'The box is heavy' ✓.
Compound Subjects: The Power of Conjunctions
The Conjugation of a Compound subject depends entirely on the conjunction used to join the individual parts.
$S_1 + \text{and} + S_2 = V_{plur} \quad | \quad S_1 + \text{or/nor} + S_2 \rightarrow V \propto S_2$
Conjunctions act as logic gates determining the singular or plural output.
$\text{and}$=Additive conjunction(Always Plural)
$\text{or/nor}$=Disjunctive conjunction(Proximity Based)
Single-concept units
→Compound subjects treated as a single unit (e.g., 'Bacon and eggs') take a singular verb.
'Every' or 'Each' before compound
→'Every boy and girl has a ticket' — 'every/each' forces singularity even with 'and'.
The [Proximity rule]: When using 'or' or 'nor', the verb matches the Number of the subject physically closest to it.
Additive Rule: Subjects joined by 'and' almost always function as a plural unit, regardless of individual singularity.
Single-Unit Exception: When two nouns joined by 'and' refer to one thing or one person — 'bread and butter is served' (one dish), 'the secretary and treasurer was present' (one person holding both roles) — a singular verb is correct.
Indefinite Pronouns and Collective Nouns
Indefinite pronouns fall into set categories (Singular, Plural, or Variable), while Collective noun agreement depends on whether the group acts as one or as individuals.
$$\text{SANAM} + \text{of} + [N] \rightarrow V = f(N)$$
The number of variable pronouns depends on the object of the following preposition.
$\text{SANAM}$=Some, Any, None, All, Most(Variable)
$N$=Object of preposition(Determiner)
Unitary action
→Collective noun takes singular verb: 'The jury has reached a verdict.'
Individual action
→Collective noun takes plural verb: 'The jury are divided on the sentence.'
Singular Constants: Words like 'Everyone', 'Each', 'Neither', 'Either', 'Nobody', 'Anybody', and 'Somebody' are always singular, regardless of the perceived group size.
The Context Lens: For SANAM pronouns, look at the noun in the 'of' phrase to determine the verb form: 'Most of the water is gone' (uncountable → singular) vs. 'Most of the students are gone' (countable → plural).
Plural Constants: 'Both', 'few', 'many', and 'several' are always plural — 'Both were present', 'Few have arrived'.
Quick Reference: Indefinite Pronoun Categories
•
Always Singular: each, every, everyone, everybody, everything, anyone, anybody, anything, someone, somebody, something, no one, nobody, nothing, either, neither
•
Always Plural: both, few, many, several
•
Variable (SANAM): some, any, none, all, most — check the 'of' phrase
Inverted Sentences and 'There' Construction
In an inverted sentence, the subject follows the verb; the verb must still agree with this delayed subject.
$$\text{There} + V + S \implies V = f(S)$$
The introductory 'There' is an expletive, not the subject.
$V$=Predicate Verb(Lead element)
$S$=True Subject(Trailing element)
List of items after 'there'
→Verb agrees with the first noun: 'There is a book and two pens on the table' (formal); plural is acceptable in informal usage.
'Here' constructions
→'Here comes the bus' — same rule applies; the delayed subject controls the verb.
Rearrangement Test: To find the subject, mentally flip the sentence (e.g., 'There are books on the shelf' becomes 'Books are on the shelf').
Prepositional Starts: Sentences starting with prepositional phrases often hide the subject at the very end: 'In the garden grow many varieties of roses' → 'Many varieties of roses grow in the garden.'
Tricky Nouns: Deceptive Number Forms
Certain English nouns have deceptive forms that make their Number ambiguous — some look plural but are singular, some look singular but are plural, and some change number based on context.
-ics Nouns (Dual Identity): Words like 'mathematics', 'physics', 'economics', 'politics', and 'statistics' are singular when referring to the discipline ('Economics is fascinating') but plural when referring to individual instances ('The economics of the deal are complicated').
Uncountable Nouns: Words like 'news', 'information', 'furniture', 'luggage', 'equipment', and 'advice' are always singular despite appearing plural or referring to multiple items: 'The news is alarming', 'The furniture was expensive'.
Latin/Greek Plurals: 'Data' (plural of 'datum'), 'criteria' (plural of 'criterion'), 'phenomena' (plural of 'phenomenon'), 'media' (plural of 'medium') — these take plural verbs: 'The data suggest a trend', 'The criteria are strict'.
Amounts and Measurements: Sums of money, time periods, distances, and weights treated as a single unit take singular verbs: 'Ten dollars is too much', 'Three miles is a long walk'.
Titles and Names: Book titles, organization names, and country names are singular even if they contain plural words: 'The United States is a large country', 'Great Expectations is a classic novel'.
Always Singular Despite -s Ending
•
news, measles, mumps, rabies, billiards, checkers, darts
•
mathematics, physics, economics, athletics (as disciplines)
•
the United States, the Philippines, the Netherlands
Relative Clauses and Special Constructions
In sentences with relative clauses introduced by 'who', 'which', or 'that', the verb inside the clause must agree with the antecedent — the noun the pronoun refers back to.
'One of the...who': In 'She is one of the students who study hard', 'who' refers to 'students' (plural) → 'study'. But in 'She is the only one of the students who studies hard', 'who' refers to 'one' (singular) → 'studies'.
'It is I who...': After 'it is + pronoun + who', the verb agrees with the pronoun: 'It is I who am responsible' (not 'is'), 'It is they who are guilty' (not 'is').
'The number of' vs. 'A number of': 'The number of students has increased' (singular — refers to the number itself), while 'A number of students have complained' (plural — functions as a quantifier like 'many').
Gerund Subjects: A gerund (verb + -ing) used as a subject is always singular: 'Running marathons is exhausting', 'Eating and drinking is not allowed' (when treated as one activity).
Application Strategy
Worked Examples
Problem Statement
Correct the following sentence: 'A variety of local vegetables is available at the farmer's market.'
A variety of vs. The variety ofNumber agreement
Strategic Toolkit
$\text{A variety of} = \text{Plural}$
Step 1
Identify the key phrase
Locate the phrase 'A variety of'.
$\text{Subject Unit} = \text{'A variety of local vegetables'}$
Step 2
Apply the collective idiom rule
'A variety of' functions as a plural quantifier (similar to 'many'), whereas 'The variety' refers to the singular concept of diversity.
$\text{'A variety of'} \implies \text{Plural Verb}$
Step 3
Check current verb agreement
The verb 'is' is singular, which conflicts with the plural sense of the quantifier.
$\text{is} \neq \text{Plural}$
Step 4
Correct the verb
Change 'is' to the plural form 'are'.
$V = \text{'are'}$
Problem Statement
Identify the subject and choose the verb: 'The cost of new high-tech gadgets (decrease/decreases) every year.'
Prepositional phrase interferenceSingular subject agreement
Strategic Toolkit
$S + [of ... ] + V \implies V = f(S)$
Step 1
Map the sentence structure
Break the sentence into components: Subject, Prepositional Phrase, Verb.
$S = \text{The cost} \mid \text{PP} = \text{of new high-tech gadgets}$
Step 2
Eliminate the distractor
Remove the prepositional phrase to find the 'naked' subject.
$S = \text{cost (Singular)}$
Step 3
Apply Golden Rule
A singular subject requires a verb with an -s ending in the present tense.
$\text{cost} \rightarrow \text{decreases}$
Problem Statement
Choose the correct verb: 'Most of the information (was/were) inaccurate, but most of the reports (was/were) well written.'
Variable indefinite pronounsCountable vs. uncountable nouns
Strategic Toolkit
$\text{SANAM} + \text{of} + [N] \rightarrow V = f(N)$
Step 1
Identify the SANAM pronoun
Both clauses use 'most', which is a variable pronoun from the SANAM group.
$\text{Most} \in \text{SANAM}$
Step 2
Check the 'of' phrase in clause 1
'Most of the information' — 'information' is uncountable (mass noun), so it functions as singular.
$\text{information} = \text{uncountable} \rightarrow \text{singular}$
Step 3
Apply agreement to clause 1
Since 'information' is singular, the verb must be singular.
$\text{Most of the information} \rightarrow \text{was}$
Step 4
Check the 'of' phrase in clause 2
'Most of the reports' — 'reports' is countable and plural.
$\text{reports} = \text{countable plural} \rightarrow \text{plural}$
Step 5
Apply agreement to clause 2
Since 'reports' is plural, the verb must be plural.
$\text{Most of the reports} \rightarrow \text{were}$
Problem Statement
Correct the error if any: 'Among the ruins of the ancient city stands several towering columns.'
Inverted sentence structureDelayed subject identification
Strategic Toolkit
$\text{PP} + V + S \implies V = f(S)$
Step 1
Recognize the inversion
The sentence begins with a prepositional phrase ('Among the ruins...'), pushing the subject after the verb.
$\text{PP} = \text{Among the ruins of the ancient city}$
Step 2
Apply the rearrangement test
Flip the sentence: 'Several towering columns stand among the ruins of the ancient city.'
$S = \text{several towering columns (Plural)}$
Step 3
Check current agreement
'Stands' is singular, but the true subject 'columns' is plural. This is an error.
$\text{stands} \neq f(\text{columns})$
Step 4
Correct the verb
Change 'stands' to the plural form 'stand' to match 'columns'.
$\text{columns} \rightarrow \text{stand}$
Memorize formulas
The Proximity Rule
Used for 'or', 'nor', 'either/or', 'neither/nor'. The verb agrees with the subject physically closest to it.
Formula
$S_1 + \text{or/nor} + S_2 \rightarrow V = \text{agree}(S_2)$
The 'And' Addition
Used for compound subjects joined by 'and'. They almost always form a plural unit.
Formula
$S_1 + \text{and} + S_2 = \text{Plural Verb}$
SANAM Pronouns
Some, Any, None, All, Most. These pronouns' number depends on the 'of' phrase following them.
Formula
$\text{SANAM} + \text{of} + [Noun] \rightarrow V = \text{agree}(Noun)$
Inverted Sentence Agreement
'There/Here' and prepositional-start sentences: the verb agrees with the delayed subject, not the opening word.
Formula
$\text{There/Here/PP} + V + S \implies V = f(S)$
Review
1
Choose the correct verb form: The collection of rare stamps, including several from the nineteenth century, ________ currently on display at the museum.
Ans
is
Review
Tap to reveal
Find the real subject
Ignore the phrases after 'of' and 'including'; the head noun is 'collection', which is singular.
Match the singular verb
A singular subject takes a singular verb, so the sentence should read naturally with 'is'.
The collection is currently on display at the museum.
2
Identify the error: Either the regional directors or the CEO himself (A) are (B) expected to address (C) the shareholders at (D) tomorrow's meeting.
Ans
(A) are
Review
Tap to reveal
Apply proximity in either/or
With 'either/or', the verb agrees with the nearer subject. The nearer subject here is 'the CEO himself'.
Choose the singular verb
Because 'the CEO himself' is singular, the verb must be 'is' rather than 'are'.
Either the regional directors or the CEO himself is expected to address the shareholders.
3
Select the correct verb: 'The committee ________ divided on the new policy proposal.'
Ans
are
Review
Tap to reveal
Read the collective noun by meaning
The committee is not acting as one unit here; 'divided' shows the members are split.
Use the plural agreement
When a collective noun acts as separate individuals, it takes a plural verb.
The committee are divided on the new policy proposal.
4
Choose the correct verb: 'The number of students who ________ enrolled in the advanced course ________ increased significantly.'
Ans
have / has
Review
Tap to reveal
Fix the relative clause first
'Who' refers to 'students', so the first blank must be plural.
Treat 'the number of' as singular
The head noun is 'number', so the main verb stays singular even though 'students' is plural.
The number of students who have enrolled in the advanced course has increased significantly.
5
Complete the sentence: Down the hallway and around the corner ________ the entrance to the secret laboratory.
Ans
lies
Review
Tap to reveal
Undo the inversion
Move the subject to the front mentally so the structure becomes easier to read: 'The entrance ... ________'.
Match the singular subject
Since 'entrance' is singular, the correct verb form is 'lies'.
The entrance to the secret laboratory lies down the hallway and around the corner.
6
Choose the correct verb: 'The data collected from the field study ________ inconsistent with the phenomena reported in previous literature.'
Ans
were
Review
Tap to reveal
Identify the subject as plural
'Data' is the plural noun here, so it needs a plural verb.
Choose the matching form
The plural verb that fits the sentence is 'were'.
The data collected from the field study were inconsistent with the phenomena reported in previous literature.
7
Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:
Ans
Most of the information gathered from the witnesses was contradictory.
Review
Tap to reveal
Check each subject's number
'A number of' is plural, 'news' is singular, and 'every' makes the compound subject singular, so those options fail.
Use the SANAM rule for most
'Most of the information' stays singular because 'information' is uncountable, so 'was' is correct.
Most of the information gathered from the witnesses was contradictory.
8
Choose the correct verb: 'Three thousand dollars ________ a reasonable price for the antique clock, though the appraiser who ________ consulted disagreed.'
Ans
is / was
Review
Tap to reveal
Treat the money amount as one unit
A price expressed as a sum of money is singular in meaning, so the first blank takes 'is'.
Match the relative pronoun to the noun
'Who' refers to 'appraiser', which is singular, so the second blank takes 'was'.
Three thousand dollars is a reasonable price for the antique clock, though the appraiser who was consulted disagreed.
9
Choose the correct verb: 'She is the only one of the volunteers who ________ willing to work overtime during the festival.'
Ans
is
Review
Tap to reveal
Follow the restricted antecedent
'The only one' makes the antecedent singular, so the relative clause cannot refer to all the volunteers.
Use singular agreement
Because 'who' refers to 'one', the verb must be singular.
She is the only one of the volunteers who is willing to work overtime during the festival.
10
Identify the error in the following sentence: The economics (A) of maintaining a fleet of commercial aircraft (B) are (C) complex and requires (D) specialized expertise.
Ans
(D) requires
Review
Tap to reveal
Read 'economics' in context
Here it means the financial realities of the situation, so it takes plural agreement.
Fix the second verb to match the first
The predicate already uses the plural verb 'are', so the coordinated verb must also be plural.
The economics of maintaining a fleet of commercial aircraft are complex and require specialized expertise.
Question 1 of 10
0:00
1
Choose the correct verb form: The collection of rare stamps, including several from the nineteenth century, ________ currently on display at the museum.