Subject-verb agreement means that the verb must agree in number with the subject. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. Examples:
Verb | Singular subject + verb | Plural subject + verb |
Be (present tense) | The result is significant. | The results are significant. |
Be (past tense) | The result was significant. | The results were significant. |
Become | The kid becomes happier. | The kids become happier. |
Do | The student does her best | The student do their best. |
Have | The kid has started school. | The kids have started school. |
1. When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a plural verb.
Example
She and her friends are at the party.
2. When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or or nor, use a singular verb.
Example
The book or the pen is in the drawer.
3. When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearer the verb.
Examples
The boy or his friends run every day.
His friends or the boy runs every day.
4. Doesn’t is a contraction of does not and should be used with a singular subject. Don’t is a contraction of do not and should be used with a plural subject. The exception to this rule appears in the case of the first person and second person pronouns I and you. With these pronouns, use the contraction don’t.
Examples
He doesn’t like it.
They don’t like it.
5. Do not be misled by a phrase that comes between the subject and the verb. The verb agrees with the subject, not with a noun or pronoun in the phrase.
Examples
One of the boxes is open.
The people who listen to jazz music are few.
The team captain, as well as his players, is reckless.
The book, including all the chapters in the last section, is boring.
The woman with all the dogs walks down my street.
6. The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are singular and require a singular verb.
Examples
No one is safe.
Does anybody know Jim?
Everybody knows Mr. Jones.
Each of these hot dogs is juicy.
Someone has forgotten to eat lunch.
7. Nouns such as civics, mathematics, dollars, measles, and news require singular verbs.
Examples
The news is on at six o clock.
Mathematics is a fascinating subject!
8. Nouns such as scissors, tweezers, trousers, and shears require plural verbs, since there are two parts to these things.
Examples
These scissors are dull.
Those trousers are made of wool.
9. In sentences beginning with ”There is” or ”There are”, the subject follows the verb. Since ”There” is not the subject, the verb agrees with what follows.
Examples
There are many questions.
There is a question.
10. Collective nouns are words that imply more than one person but that are considered singular and take a singular verb, such as group, team, committee, class, and family.
Examples
The team runs during practice.
The committee decides how to proceed.
My family has never been able to agree.
The crew is preparing to leave the harbour.
11. Expressions such as with, together with, including, accompanied by, in addition to, or as well do not change the number of the subject. If the subject is singular, the verb is too.
Examples
The President, accompanied by his wife, is traveling to India.
The wife, including her children, leaves Hollywood tomorrow.