Subject-Verb Agreement

 
A verb must agree with its subject in number and in person. In other words, if the subject is singular, the verb should be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb should be plural.


 
Subject and Verb Separated by Words
When words come between the subject and the verb, a subject/verb agreement error can occur. It is important to remember that an object of a prepositional phrase is never the subject of the sentence.
Incorrect: The two main goals of my life is to go to college and get a good job.
Correct: The two main goals of my life are to go to college and get a good job.


 
Plural Subjects
If a subject has two or more parts connected by and, the subject is almost always plural. If the parts of the subject refer to the same person or thing, however, the subject should be treated as singular.
Incorrect: My mother and father is going to the movies.
Correct: My mother and father are going to the movies.
 Incorrect: Thomas, a lawyer and a father, are always concerned with helping the community. (In this case, lawyer and father refer to the same person.)
Correct: Thomas, a lawyer and a father, is always concerned with helping the community.


 
Subjects Joined by Or or Nor
If a subject has two or more parts joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearest to the verb.
Incorrect: Neither the president nor the vice president are aware of the changes in the plan.
Correct: Neither the president nor the vice president is aware of the changes in the plan.
Incorrect: Either the director or her colleagues is invited to the conference.
Correct: Either the director or her colleagues are invited to the conference.


 
Collective Nouns
Collective nouns name a class or a group. If the group functions as a whole, treat the noun as singular. If the members of a group function individually, treat the noun as plural.
Incorrect: When the committee signs their names to the document, they will be relieved of their duties. (In this case, members of the committee sign their names as individuals, not as a committee; therefore, the subject is plural. Also, the use of the pronouns their and they indicate that the subject is plural, not singular.)
Correct: When the committee sign their names to the document, they will be relieved of their duties.
Incorrect: If the jury reach a decision by 4 p.m., we will be able to hear the results today. (In this case, the jury functions as one single unit; therefore, the subject is singular.)
Correct: If the jury reaches a decision by 4 p.m., we will be able to hear the results today.

 
Common Collective Nouns
audience company government society
board couple group team
class  crowd jury tribe
college family panel troop
committee flock school  


 
Indefinite pronouns
Indefinite pronouns refer to nonspecific persons or things.  Most indefinite pronouns are singular; however, a few are plural.
Incorrect: Each of the students need to brush up on his or her grammar skills.
Correct: Each of the students needs to brush up on his or her grammar skills.
Incorrect: Both wants to finish school before they get married.
Correct: Both want to finish school before they get married.
Incorrect: Some of the classmates wants to get together to study for the test.
Correct: Some of the classmates want to get together to study for the test.

 
Indefinite Pronouns
Singular
Plural
Singular or Plural
anybody neither both all
anyone nobody few any
anything no one many enough
each  one  others more
either somebody several most
everybody someone   none
everyone something   some


 
Take the Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz 


BACK