30 Rules of Subject Verb Agreement and Their Examples

Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of English grammar that simply cannot be overlooked. It is the foundation upon which all sentences are built, and without it, communication can quickly become ambiguous and confusing. As a professional, I have come across many instances where subject-verb agreement has been misused, leading to poorly written content that fails to resonate with readers.

In this article, we will delve into the essential rules of subject-verb agreement and provide examples to help you improve your writing skills.

1. Singular subject, singular verb

When the subject is singular, the verb must be singular as well. For example:

– John runs every morning.

– The cat loves to sleep on the couch.

2. Plural subject, plural verb

When the subject is plural, the verb must be plural too. For example:

– The children are playing in the park.

– The dogs love to play fetch.

3. Singular subjects joined by “or”, “nor”, “either/or”, or “neither/nor”

If two singular subjects are joined by “or”, “nor”, “either/or”, or “neither/nor”, then the verb agrees with the closest subject. For example:

– Either the cat or the dog is responsible for the mess.

– Neither the cat nor the dog wants to go outside.

4. Plural subjects joined by “or”, “nor”, “either/or”, or “neither/nor”

If two plural subjects are joined by “or”, “nor”, “either/or”, or “neither/nor”, then the verb agrees with the closest subject. For example:

– Either the cats or the dogs are responsible for the mess.

– Neither the cats nor the dogs want to go outside.

5. Singular subjects joined by “and”

When two singular subjects are connected by “and”, the verb must be plural. For example:

– The cat and the dog are sleeping on the couch.

– The student and the teacher were discussing the lesson.

6. Singular and plural subjects joined by “and”

If one subject is singular and the other is plural, then the verb agrees with the subject closest to the verb. For example:

– The cat and the dogs are sleeping on the couch.

– The teacher and her students were discussing the lesson.

7. Indefinite pronouns

Indefinite pronouns such as anyone, everyone, somebody, nobody, and others are always singular, and the verb must agree with them in number. For example:

– Everyone is invited to the party.

– Nobody knows where the keys are.

8. Collective nouns

Collective nouns such as team, family, class, and committee can be singular or plural, depending on the context. If the group is acting as a single entity, then the verb is singular. If the members are acting individually, then the verb is plural. For example:

– The team is practicing for the tournament.

– The team members are practicing individually.

9. Titles and company names

Titles and company names are always treated as singular entities, and the verb must agree with them accordingly. For example:

– Microsoft is releasing a new software update.

– Harry Potter and the Philosopher`s Stone is a popular book.

10. Fractions and percentages

When fractions and percentages are used as the subject, the verb agrees with them in number. For example:

– One-third of the students are absent.

– Twenty percent of the project is complete.

11. Measurements and quantities

When measurements and quantities are used as the subject, the verb agrees with them in number. For example:

– Two cups of sugar are needed for the recipe.

– Ten miles is a long distance to run.

12. Expressions of time, money, and distance

Expressions of time, money, and distance are singular, and the verb must agree with them accordingly. For example:

– Two hours is not enough time to complete the project.

– Ten dollars was the cost of the movie ticket.

13. Intervening phrases and clauses

When a phrase or clause intervenes between the subject and verb, the verb still agrees with the subject. For example:

– The dog, as well as the cat, enjoys playing in the park.

– Mary, along with her friends, is planning a trip.

14. “One of” and “each of”

When “one of” or “each of” is used as the subject, the verb agrees with the object of the preposition. For example:

– One of the cats is missing.

– Each of the students is required to submit a project.

15. “None”

“None” can be treated as singular or plural depending on the context. For example:

– None of the cake was left.

– None of the people were present.

16. “More than one”

“More than one” always takes a plural verb. For example:

– More than one student has failed the exam.

17. “The number of”

“The number of” is always singular, and the verb agrees with it accordingly. For example:

– The number of people attending the conference has increased.

18. “A number of”

“A number of” is always plural, and the verb agrees with it accordingly. For example:

– A number of students have signed up for the program.

19. “Either” and “neither”

When “either” and “neither” are used as subjects, they are always singular. For example:

– Neither of the options is suitable for me.

– Either of the choices will work.

20. “Every”

“Every” is always singular, and the verb agrees with it accordingly. For example:

– Every car needs maintenance.

21. “Some”

“Some” can be singular or plural depending on the context. For example:

– Some of the food is rotten.

– Some of the students are absent.

22. “Many”

“Many” is always plural, and the verb agrees with it accordingly. For example:

– Many people are attending the concert.

23. “Few”

“Few” is always plural, and the verb agrees with it accordingly. For example:

– Few students have completed the assignment.

24. “Several”

“Several” is always plural, and the verb agrees with it accordingly. For example:

– Several books have been published on the topic.

25. “All”

“All” can be singular or plural depending on the context. For example:

– All the water has evaporated.

– All the students were present.

26. “Any”

“Any” can be singular or plural depending on the context. For example:

– Any of the options will work.

– Any of the students can answer the question.

27. “Most”

“Most” is always plural, and the verb agrees with it accordingly. For example:

– Most of the people in the room are wearing masks.

28. “None of”

“None of” can be singular or plural depending on the context. For example:

– None of the cake was left.

– None of the people were present.

29. “Each,” “either,” and “neither”

“Each,” “either,” and “neither” are always singular. For example:

– Each student has to submit the project.

– Either option is acceptable.

– Neither of the choices is ideal.

30. “One”

“One” is always singular. For example:

– One person is responsible for the accident.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a critical grammar rule that must be followed meticulously to ensure clear communication. These 30 rules and their examples should help you understand the nuances of subject-verb agreement and improve your writing skills. As a professional, I cannot stress enough the importance of mastering subject-verb agreement to create engaging and compelling content that resonates with readers.