Subject Verb Agreement Definition, Rules, and Examples

Table of Contents

Subject Verb Agreement

English grammar keeps a core place for subject verb agreement at the top. While researching, I have left almost nothing to discuss regarding the subject-verb agreement. I wrote this masterpiece from the student’s perspective.

It is interesting to learn it comprehensively, and my research revealed me to explain it for learning in a planned sequence. The research contains almost everything for you, like Subject Verb Agreement Definition, Rules, and Examples.

Topics For Today’s Discussion

Subject-Verb Agreement or Concord Definition
Importance of Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-Verb Agreement Rules and Principles
Subject-Verb Agreement Collective Nouns
Subject-Verb Agreement Using Indefinite Pronouns
Subject-Verb Agreement Using Uncountable Nouns
Subject-Verb Agreement Using Compound Subjects
Subject-Verb Agreement Using Do and Does
Subject-Verb Agreement Using Here and There
Subject-verb agreement Using Or vs. Nor
Subject-Verb Agreement Using Is vs. Are
Subject-Verb Agreement Using All
Subject-Verb Agreement Using As Well As
Subject-Verb Agreement with Prepositional Phrases
Subject-Verb Agreement with Intervening Phrases
Subject-Verb Agreement for Time, Money, and Distance
Subject-Verb Agreement Using Amount
Subject-Verb agreement using Units of Measurement
Subject-Verb Agreement Using Expressions of Quantity
Subject-Verb Agreement in Questions
Subject-Verb Agreement Tenses and Fragments
Subject-Verb Agreement Sentences and Examples
Subject-Verb Agreement Summary
Subject-Verb PDF Downloadable and Printable Resources:

Subject Verb Agreement Sentences with Reasoning PDF
Subject Verb Agreement Rules PDF
Subject Verb Agreement MCQs Worksheet with Answers PDF
Subject Verb Agreement Rules PPT

What is the Subject Verb Agreement or Concord definition?

The subject-verb agreement refers to the relationship between the subject and the verb. Subject and verb must agree with each other in a sentence. Most of the time, we will be discussing the helping verb that must be following the subject or subjects.

In grammar, it is the art of making sure that sentence parts connect in the right way. It makes sure that a square peg goes in a square hole and not a square peg in a round hole.

In other words, if a subject is singular, its verb must also be singular, and similarly, if a subject is plural, then its verb must also be plural. We also call it the Concord.

The Importance of Subject Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is vital in English grammar because, without it, the reader can become confused. The subject must agree with the verb in number. Singular subjects require singular verbs.

Similarly, plural subjects require plural verbs to give complete and correct meanings.

With the help of the Subject Verb Agreement Sentences PDF and much practice, I am confident that you will master it.

Subject Verb Agreement for Collective Nouns

Yes, here is the topic you require to focus on well. Can a singular collective noun take a singular or plural verb? It depends. It takes a singular verb if the collective noun refers to the group as a whole.

On the other hand, The verb should be plural if it refers to the individuals or parts of the group. Understand the need for the singular or plural verb accurately to the collective noun in the following sentences.

This organization puts on a barbecue every summer.

In this sentence, the collective noun organization requires, the singular verb because the staff acts as a unit. All the members of the organization are acting in unison.

The flute ensemble is playing at the National Music Festival.

In this example, the collective noun ensemble requires, the singular verb because the flute ensemble acts as a single unit. In this sentence, all the flutists are playing together at the same time.

David’s family plans to visit China this summer.

In this sentence, the collective noun family demands the singular verb plans because the family acts as a single unit. All the members of the family have the same plan.

A massive swarm of locusts has attacked the whole crops.

In this sentence, the collective noun swarm acts as a single unit. You, therefore, require the singular verb to show the singularity in the sentence.

The pack of dogs was running off in different directions.

In this example, the collective noun pack requires the plural verb because the dogs act individually: Each dog is running in a different direction as a separate entity.

Every fall, the French class writes special reports on its summer reading.

In this example, the collective noun class requires the plural verb write because the students act individually: each student writes a different book report.

Subject Verb Agreement Using Indefinite Pronouns

Anybody
Everybody
Somebody
Nobody
Each one
Anyone
Everyone
No one
Someone
Anything
Everything
Something
Nothing
Each
Either
Neither

Some of these pronouns are always singular or always plural. However, some can change their number—singular or plural, depending on the context.

It is essential to know whether an indefinite pronoun subject is singular or plural to make the verb agree.

Singular indefinite pronouns

A singular verb is used with these pronouns:

Nobody likes lemon for tea.
Everyone speaks at the party.
Something smells very different.
One of the keys does not fit the door lock.
Each of the members has the right to bring a pet.
Either she is fine with him.

Plural indefinite pronouns

A plural verb is used with the pronouns like both, few, many, and several, which always remain plural:

Both of them play the game very well.
Many of our young people go to the hospital.
Numerous of the neighborhood roads need to be renewed.

Pronouns that can be either singular or plural

Now, let us discuss some problematic parts of subject-verb agreement for pronouns like all, more, none, and some. These words require attention to take their meaning from the word to which they refer (you can say it as a phrase following the pronoun):

All the milk has spilled on the table.

(all refers to milk and appears as singular)

All the boxes were sold last week.

(all refers to boxes and appears as plural)

More of the content is found online.

(more refers to content and appears as singular)

More of the rules apply to you than to him.

(more refers to rules and appears as plural)

None of the cake is left for me.

(none refers to cake and appears as singular)

None of the images is good.

(none refers to images and appears as plural)

Some bread is expired.

(some ‘refers’ to bread and ‘appears’ as singular)

Some images are out of context.

(some ‘refers’ to images and ‘appears’ as plural)

Subject Verb Agreement for Pronoun You and I

‘I’ is a singular pronoun, so why does it take plural verbs?

I go
I have
I belong

A question generally comes to our minds: Why do ‘I’ agree with a singular verb when “he” and “she” take singular pronouns?

All singular nouns and the singular pronouns I, he, and she takes a singular verb form. There is no plural form for the singular pronoun ‘you’. All verbs except have the same first-person singular verb form as the plural.

The second-person plural form you now replaces the old singular form thou in standard English.

Subject Verb Agreement Using Uncountable Nouns

Examples:

Giving is a virtue.
His writing is excellent.
Happiness is important.

Collective nouns differ from uncountable nouns. Nouns are singular in form but composed of a group, such as board, committee, company, staff, and department.

In contrast to uncountable nouns, collective nouns use singular verbs only when the group acts as a unit. If the members are acting independently, it uses a plural verb.

Examples:

English grammar is essential. In this sentence, ‘English grammar’ is an uncountable noun. Uncountable nouns take a singular verb always.

The committee has announced its decision.

Now, “Committee” is a collective noun with members acting together as a single unit, so it requires a singular verb.)

The members of the committee have not been able to agree with their decision.

Now, “Committee” is a collective noun, with members acting separately. Therefore, the verb is plural.

Subject Verb Agreement Compound Subjects

Using With / and

When a subject has two or more parts joined by and, treat the subject as plural and use a plural verb form.

My daughter and my son want me to move to London.

(plural subjects agree with a plural verb)

However, if the two joined parts refer to a single person or thing, we can use a singular verb.

The restaurant’s chef and helper make good food.

(singular subject (one person) / singular verb)

Fish and models are popular dishes in China.

(Plural subject / Plural verb)

Using Each / Every

When “each” or “everyone” is used with a subject with two or more parts joined, the verb is singular.

Every toy and game has to be put away.

(Has ‘comes’ as a singular verb)

Each plate and glass looks new.

(Looks comes as a singular verb as each is singular)

Using OR / NOR

With compound subjects joined by or/nor, the verb agrees with the part of the subject nearer to it.

Her sister or her parents plan to visit her next week.
Neither her parents nor her sister drives a station wagon.

Subject Verb Agreement Using Do and Does

Do is used for the first-person singular and plural, and second-person singular and plural.

I do.
We do.
You do.

Also, do is used for the third-person plural.

They do.

Does is used for the third-person singular.

He does
She does.
It does.

Similarly, the Subject-Verb Agreement for Does not and Do not is treated in the same fashion.

We use don’t for the first-person singular and plural, and second-person singular and plural.

I don’t.
We don’t.
You don’t.

Also, we use don’t for the third-person plural.

They don’t.

Does is used for the third-person singular.

He doesn’t
She does not.
It does not.

Subject Verb Agreement Using Here and There

In English sentences, usually, the subject comes before the verb. However, sentences beginning with “there is” or “there are” follow a different order: the subject comes after the verb is or are. Here is an example:

There is the cab!

The subject in this sentence is the cab. Both cab and is are singular, so both do agree.

Here is another example:

There are two bags for sale.

Bags is the subject of this sentence, and it is plural, so we need the plural verb “are” to agree with the plural subject.

We can also apply the same rule to the following:

there was
there were
there seems
appears to be
there seem
appear to be
here is
here are

Here are some examples:

There was a cat in the room.
There were three players on the ground.
There seems to be a hole in the box.
There appear to be multiple errors in the report.
Here is the world map.
Here are your rings.

Exception

There is an exception when there is a list of nouns as a subject. It is logical that a list of two or more items would be plural and therefore require a plural verb: in the below case, both are correct/

There is a bowl, noodles, and a pizza on the table.
There are bowls, noodles, and a pizza on the table.

Subject Verb Agreement Using Or vs. Nor

When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or/nor, use a singular verb.

Similarly, when a compound subject contains a singular plus a plural noun or pronoun joined by or /nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearer the verb.

1. When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a plural verb.

He and his friends are at the fair.

2. When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or/nor, use a singular verb.

The book or the notebook is in the drawer.

3. When a compound subject contains a singular plus a plural noun or pronoun joined by or/nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearer the verb.

The boy or his friends run every day.
His friends or the boy runs every day.

Subject Verb Agreement Using Is vs. Are

We know that we use “is” to show singularity, and, similarly, we use “and” for plurality. Let us see some examples:

Three miles is too far to walk.
Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
Some pie is missing.
There is a high hurdle to jump.
All the pie is gone.
One-third of the city is educated.
The majority of the people are educated.
There are five hurdles to jump.
All the pies are gone.
Some pies are missing.
Here are the cups.

Subject Verb Agreement Using All

The only time the object of the Preposition decides plural or singular verb forms is when noun and pronoun subjects, like the following:

Some
Half
None
More
All

These all are followed by a prepositional phrase. Then the object of the Preposition determines the form of the verb.

All the chicken is gone.
All the chickens are gone.

Subject Verb Agreement Using As Well As

Whenever two subjects are joined by “as well as”, the verb agrees in number and person with the first. A verb must be plural if one of the subjects joined by or/nor is plural, and the plural subject should come close to the verb.

Connectives like “as well as“, together with, or including do not affect the number of a subject. If the subject is singular, it stays singular and agrees with the singular verb.

EXAMPLES:

My friend, as well as his entire family, is moving to London.
The subject (my friend) is singular. Use the singular verb ‘is’ rather than the plural verb ‘are’.
A flashing blue light and a sign on the vehicle refer to the police force.
The subject (flashing red lights) is plural. Use the plural verb warn rather than the singular verb warns. Did you notice the use of commas in the sentence?

With a plural subject, do not use commas around the additional phrase.

Flashing blue lights, as well as a sign on the vehicle, refer to the police force.

My brother, as well as my parents, are coming to the wedding.

Subject-Verb Agreement with Prepositional Phrases

A prepositional phrase may be placed between the subject and the verb.

The player on the ground is my friend.

The subject (man) is singular, so the verb (is) also needs to be singular.

In the above example, the singular verb agrees with the singular subject man. Sometimes, a prepositional phrase inserted between the subject and verb makes agreement more difficult.

The jeep, with many riders, was my speeding around the turn.

The subject (jeep) is singular, so the verb (was) requires being singular as well.

You can make a process to master it by the following instructions:

Learn the significant prepositions.
Be alert for prepositional phrases placed between the subject and verb.
Identify the noun in the phrase immediately as the object of a preposition: An object can NEVER be a sentence subject.
Locate the proper sentence subject and choose a verb that agrees with it.

Subject-Verb Agreement with Intervening Sentences or Phrases

The subject-verb agreement is not affected by the word or clause coming between the subject and verb. Such words and phrases are called “intervening words” or “intervening phrases”. Examples of intervening words or phrases include:

Like
With
plus
Including
accompanied by
along with
as well as
in addition to
one of
together with

Intervening phrases and clauses do not affect subject-verb agreement.

Examples:

The discovery of old coins interests many historians.
Emma, accompanied by Gorge, goes to the park every Sunday.
The content on these websites is for learning.
Her bag plus her document was left on her bus.
The London club, as well as several other clubs, provides the membership.
A traffic light in the front market keeps the movement of vehicles under control.
Each entry within the guidelines receives a thorough reading.
The coach, as well as the fans, was disappointed in the team’s performance.
The artwork, in addition to the jewelry, is to be auctioned off in March.
David, one of my good friends, visits Germany every year.
The doctor, together with his nurses, is attending a meeting.
The garden, including the camp and a car, was damaged by the storm.
Emma, accompanied by her brother, goes to the superstore.
Robert, along with his friend, often helps out on his uncle’s fish farm
Her father, as well as her father, is going to visit China this year.
The president, in addition to the managers, has arrived.
The police officer, together with a detector, is now in the police station.

Expressions of Quantity in Subject Verb Agreement

Some additional rules of thumb are observed.

With Fractions, Percentages, and Indefinite Quantifiers:

all
Few
Many
Much
Some

The verb must agree with the preceding noun (as a subject) or clause(as a subject) in the sentence:

With singular or uncountable nouns or clauses: we use a singular verb:

All the information is correct.
One-third of this data is taken up with a random selection.
Much of the content seems irrelevant to this topic.
Half of what he writes is considerable.
Twenty percent of the task is routine work.

With a plural noun, use a plural verb:

Two-thirds of the students have master’s degrees.
Many students depend on grants from the government.
Sixty percent of the computers have USB drives.
All the English students are present.

With a collective noun, use a singular or a plural verb, depending on whether you want to emphasize the single group or its members:

Half of my family lives in Pakistan.
All the class is here.
Ten percent of the population is bilingual.

The words majority and minority are used in a variety of ways:

When the majority or minority means an unspecified number more or less than 50%, use a singular verb:

The majority holds no protest.
A small portion of the minority indicates its support.

When majority/minority means a specific percentage, you may use either a singular or a plural verb:

A 70% majority have/has voted against the decision.
A 20% minority are/is opposed to the decision.

When majority/minority refers to a specified set of persons, use a plural verb:

A majority of the members have voted for a review.
A minority of the students are ready to learn more.

Expressions of time, money, and distance, usually take a singular verb:

Twenty dollars is a not great deal of money for me.
Six kilometers are too far to walk.
Eight weeks is not long enough to wait.

Adjectives preceded by “the” and used as plural nouns take a plural verb:

The rich get richer in the modern world.
The poor face many hardships in life.

Expressions using the phrase number of, depending on the meaning of the phrase:

“They” take a singular verb when referring to a single quantity in a sentence:

The number of female students registered in the English class is 200.

They take plural verbs when they are used as indefinite quantifiers (see rule 1 above):

Some outstation students were late to the class.

Subject Verb Agreement Using Currency

There is a particular case for the word dollar. When referring to an amount of money, a singular verb is required, but a plural verb is required when referring to the dollars themselves.

Fifty dollars is much money for a child.
The dollar is often used instead of Rupee in Indonesia.

Subject Verb agreement Using Units of Measurement

If a quantity is described in a sentence, it takes a singular verb form. A single quantity is treated as a single entity, which should be viewed together, not separately. The following examples show how the entire sample was added or tested at once:

20 g of tissue was tested this year.
Five milliliters of solvent were added to the mixture.

Percentages are divided into two categories:

A collection that we treat as a single entity (singular verb).
A group of individuals that we treat as a separate entity (plural verb).

Examples:

20% of the study duration was spent.
Ten percent of the samples were tested.

Subject Verb Agreement in Questions

In statements, the typical sentence structure is “subject + verb”. However, the questions are arranged differently. When a question is asked, the verb comes before the subject.

Helping verbs come before the subject in each case, while the rest follows the subject. There is a subject between the two parts of the verb, and the structure is “verb + subject + verb”:

Has Emma been working on the new project?

(The verb has + subject Emma + verb been working)

Does Emma play Cricketer?

(The verb does + subject Emma + verb play)

Have they seen the match? (The verb ‘have’ + subject they + verb seen)
Do you agree with my proposal? (The verb ‘do’ + subject you + verb agree)

Verbs may even come before subjects. In this case, the structure is verb + subject, as in these examples: (This is especially the case when a verb is a simple form of being: is, was, are, were.)

Is Emma with you?

([verb is + subject Emma)

Was the match good?

(The verb ‘was’ + subject concert)

Are the boys ready to play?

(The verb ‘are’ + subject boys)

Were the books in your bag?

List of all sentences, understanding subject verb agreement:

Sentences and Examples of Subject Verb Agreement

Three miles is too far to walk.
Here are the tools you need.
Five years is a good time to wait.
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
Some pie is missing.
There is a problem with my car.
The dog, who was playing in the garden, is mine.
There are five hurdles to jump.
The dog runs when he is healthy.
The dogs run when they are healthy.
The colors of the rainbow are gorgeous.
Where are the pieces in this box?
Where is the key I left on the table?
Mark and David are jumping over the mat.
Red fried beans and rice is my favorite dish.
There is a big wall to jump.
Noodles and meatballs are a great meal.
No one is there to play in the garden.
Every man and woman is responsible.
Either Emma or Mark handles the accident.
Not only horses but also cats are available at the animal shelter.
Either the horses or the lion has escaped from the zoo.
Neither the lion nor the horses have escaped from the zoo.
Time and tide wait for no man.
Four quarts of oil were there.
Ten minutes is enough time to get there.
All the chicken from the cage has gone.
All the birds have feathers.
Gold and silver are precious metals.
Everybody wants to be famous.
Few were there after the break.
Standing in the water was a bad idea.
Swimming in the ocean and playing drums are my hobbies.
The herd is drinking water.
The flock is flying.
The Bugs is an old movie starring Tom.
The Old Man and The Sea is my favorite novel.
This team puts on a barbecue every summer.
The flute ensemble is playing at the National Music Festival.
His family plans to visit China this summer.
A massive swarm of locusts has attacked the whole crops.
The pack of dogs is running off in different directions.
Every fall, the French class writes reports on its summer reading.
Nobody likes lemon for tea.
Everyone speaks at the party.
Something smells very different.
One of the keys does not fit the door lock.
Each of the members has the right to bring a pet.
Both of them play the game very well.
Many of our young people go to the hospital.
Several of the neighborhood roads need attention.
All the milk has spilled on the table.
More of the content is available online.
More of the rules apply to you than to him.
None of the cake is there for me.
None of the images are good.
Some bread is fresh.
Some balls are green.
Giving is a virtue.
His writing is excellent.
Happiness is important.
The committee has announced its decision.
The members of the committee have black caps.
My daughter and my son want me to move to London.
The chef and the helper make a good cake.
Fish and noodles are popular dishes in China.
Each plate and glass looks new.
Her sister or her parents plan to visit her next week.
Neither her parents nor her sister drives a station wagon.
There is the cab.
There are two bags for sale.
There was a cat in the room.
There were three players on the ground.
There seems to be a hole in the box.
There appear to be many errors in the report.
Here is the world map.
Here are your rings.
There is a bowl, noodles, and a pizza on the table.
He and his friends are at the fair.
The book or the notebook is in the drawer.
The boy or his friends run every day.
His friends or the boy runs every day.
All the pies are gone.
Some pie is missing.
Here are the cups.
My friend, as well as his entire family, is moving to London.
A red light, as well as a sign, refers to a danger.
Blue lights, as well as a sign on the car, refer to the police force.
My brother, as well as my parents, are coming to the wedding.
The employees, as well as the president, have visited.
The player on the ground is my friend.
Were the books in your bag?
Are the boys ready to play?
Was the match good?
Is Emma with you?
Do you agree with my proposal?
Has the team seen the play?
Does Emma play Cricketer?
Has Emma been working on the new project?
Twenty percent of the sample was there.
Ten percent of the sample was positive.
20 g of tissue was there for use.
Five milliliters of solvent were present in the mixture.
Fifty dollars is much money for a child.
Dollars are often used instead of euros in Europe.
The number of female students registered in the English class is 200.
Some outstation students were late to the class.
The rich get richer in the modern world.
The poor face many hardships in life.
Twenty dollars is not a great deal of money for me.
Six kilometers is too far to walk.
Eight weeks is not long enough to wait.
A majority of members have voted for a review.
A minority of the students are ready to learn more.
A twenty percent minority is opposed to the decision. The majority holds cards.
A small minority indicates its support.
Half of my family lives in Pakistan.
All the class is there.
Ten percent of the population is bilingual.
Two-thirds of the students have high grades.
Many students depend on grants from UNDP.
Sixty percent of the computers have USB drives.
All the English students are present.
All the information is correct.
One-third of this data is ready for analysis.
Much of the content seems irrelevant to this topic.
Half of what he writes is considerable.
Twenty percent of the task is routine work.
Emma, accompanied by Gorge, goes to the park every Sunday.
The content on these websites is for learning.
Her bag plus her document was present in the class.
David, as well as several other friends, helps others.
A traffic light keeps the movement of vehicles under control.
Each entry within the guidelines receives a thorough check.
The coach, as well as the fans, was happy with the performance.
The artwork, besides the jewelry, is to be there.
David, one of my good friends, visits Germany every year.
The doctor, together with his nurses, is attending a meeting.
Emma, accompanied by her brother, goes to the club on Sunday.
Her father, as well as her uncle, is going to visit China this year.
The president, besides the managers, has arrived.
The police officer, together with a detector, is now in the police station.
The player on the ground is my friend.
The jeep, with many riders, was my speeding around the turn.
All the chicken is gone.
All the chickens are gone.
All the pie is gone.
One-third of the city is the taxpayer.
One-third of the people are a taxpayer.

Subject-Verb Agreement — Downloadable, Printable, and PDF Resources:

Subject-Verb Agreement Sentences PDF

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules PDF

Subject-Verb Agreement MCQs with Answer PDF

Subject-Verb Agreement Complete Article PDF

Summary

In the end, the subject must agree with the verb in all decorum. Here are some finishing lines to remember:

Subjects and verbs must agree in case and number.
A singular subject needs a singular verb.
The plural subject requires plural verbs.
Multiple subjects require plural verbs.
Spell out the contractions to avoid confusion.
Uncountable nouns require singular subjects.
Subordinate phrases do not affect the verb agreement.

I hope, with extensive practice, you will be able to cope with it entirely. One more secret is to keep reading leading newspapers loudly. The subject verb agreement is learned unconsciously. Cheers up

Muhammad Faisal Kiani