Subject-Verb Agreement

There are certain words in English that are ALWAYS singular when they are the subject of a
sentence. Knowing these will allow you to ALWAYS pair them with a singular verb.

• Each (you mean each ONE when you use this)

• Every (you mean every ONE when you use this)
• Either (when it is alone)
• Neither (when it is alone)
• Someone (it ends in one=singular)
• Everyone
• No one
• Anyone
• Somebody (remember, bodies is plural; body is NOT)
• Everybody
• Nobody
• Anybody

When dealing with a compound subject linked by the word or, or by the construction either …
or, the verb of the sentence must agree with the possible subject that is closest to it.

• Ex: My brother or my sisters are coming to pick me up from the airport.

• Ex: My sisters or my brother is coming to pick me up from the airport.

When dealing with money or time as the subject of a sentence, take a moment to consider the
overall context of the sentence.

• Ex: Three dollars is the price of admission.

o There is a single price of admission, so the “three dollars” is treated as singular.
• Ex: Three dollars are sitting on the table.
o Three one dollar bills are sitting there, so the “three dollars” is plural.
• Ex: Sixty dollars is too much to pay for a textbook.
o There is a single price for the book, so “sixty dollars” is treated as singular.
• Fifty years is a long time to stay married.
o Fifty years is being used to evoke a single period/length of time, so it is treated as
singular.
Underline the correct verb form:
*Subjects have been highlighted in green.

1. Either the photographer or her companions (was, were) the first to see the
gorilla.
*Remember to always pick the possible subject that is closest to the
verb when faced with an “A...or…B” construction.
2. Jill’s natural ability and her desire to help others (has, have) led to a career
in the ministry.
*Always use a plural verb when you have an “A…and…B” compound
subject.
3. Everybody who signed up for the ski trip (was, were) taking lessons.
*“Everybody is always singular.”
4. Some of our luggage (was, were) lost.
*When dealing with indefinite pronouns that represent fractions or
percentages, make the verb agree with what the fration/percentage is of,
even if that thing is in a prepositional phrase. In this case, we’re talking
about “some of our luggage”; “luggage” is singular, so use a singular verb.
5. None of his advice (make, makes) sense.
*See comment for #4. This time, it’s “none of his advice”; “advice is
singular, so use a singular verb.
6. One out of every three sunsets (was, were) covered with clouds.
*This one is a little different. Even though it’s giving a fraction, the
subject is clearly “one out of every three sunsets.” “One” is singular, so use
a singular verb. If the sentence read, “Two out of every three sunsets,”
then you would need a plural verb to go with “two.”
7. A ship and a plane (has, have) recently disappeared in the Bermuda
Triangle.
*Compound subject, “A…and…B.”
8. The teeth in a crocodile’s mouth (is, are) sharp.
*“Teeth” is one of those irregular nouns that is plural even though it
doesn’t end in “s.”
9. The leaders of the expedition (was, were) looking for a campsite.
*Ignore “of the expedition” because it is a prepositional phrase.
10. The lions and the photographer (was, were) face to face.
*“A…and…B.”
11. During the trip, macaroni and cheese (was, were) the favorite meal for
the two drivers.
*“Macaroni and cheese” is the name of a single meal, so use a singular
verb.
12. Measles (is, are) a contagious childhood disease.
*“Measles” is the name of a single disease, so use a singular verb.
13. On the side (is, are) political correspondents hoping for an interview.
 *Ignore “on the side” because it is a prepositional phrase. The subject,
“correspondents,” is plural, so use a plural verb.
14. The trunk of the elephant and the belly of the hippo (make, makes) me
laugh.
*“A…and…B.” Ignore “of the elephant” and “of the hippo” because
they are prepositional phrases.
15. A group of students (was, were) blocking the road.
*Since the “group” is acting as a unified whole—as a singular entity—to
“block the road,” then use a singular verb.
16. Albert and Harry, members of a racing team, (drives, drive) across
America.
*“A…and…B.”
17. The samples on the tray in the lab (need, needs) testing.
*Ignore “on the tray” and “in the lab” because they are prepositional
phrases.
18. Billy (swim, swims) in the cold water often.
*“Billy” is singular, so use a singular verb.
19. The Whale Shark, the largest of all sharks, (grow, grows) up to 38 feet
long.
*Ignore the interrupting phrase “the largest of all sharks.”
20. The board of trustees (meet, meets) in Denver on the first Tuesday of
each month.
*The “board of trustees” is meeting as a unified whole, so use a
singular verb.