WHAT IS SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT?

Subject-verb agreement refers to ensuring that singular subjects have singular verbs, and plural subjects have plural verbs. This
is called agreement in number, and it refers specifically to verbs in the present tense.
When I write a sentence, how can I make sure the subject agrees with the verb?
a)
b)
c)
d)

Identify your subject, and then ask yourself, "Is my subject singular or plural?"
Then identify your verb and ask yourself, "Is my verb singular or plural?
If they are both the same, you have subject- verb agreement.
If they aren't, you have subject-verb disagreement and must change either your subject or your verb so that both are singular or
both are plural.
1. When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a plural verb.
She and her friends are at the fair.
2. When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or or nor, use a singular verb.
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.

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 only with a singular subject. Don't is a contraction of do not
and should be used only 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, the contraction don't should be used.
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.
One of the boxes is open
The people who listen to that music are few.
The team captain, as well as his players, is anxious.

The book, including all the chapters in the first 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.
Each of these hot dogs is juicy.

Either is correct.

7. Nouns such as civics, mathematics, dollars, measles, and news require singular verbs.
The news is on at six.
Five dollars is a lot of money.

Dollars are often used instead of rubles in Russia.

 Note: the word dollars is a special case. When talking about an amount of money, it requires a singular verb, but when
referring to the dollars themselves, a plural verb is required.

8. Nouns such as scissors, tweezers, trousers, and shears require plural verbs. (There are two parts to these things.)
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.
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.
The team runs during practice.
The committee decides how to proceed.
The family has a long history.

My family has never been able to agree.

The crew is preparing to dock the ship.

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.
The President, accompanied by his wife, is traveling to

All of the books, including yours, are in that box.

India.

12. Fractional expressions such as half of, a part of, a percentage of, a majority of are sometimes singular and
sometimes plural, depending on the meaning. (The same is true, of course, when all, any, more, most and some act as
subjects.) Sums and products of mathematical processes are expressed as singular and require singular verbs. The
expression "more than one" (oddly enough) takes a singular verb: "More than one student has tried this."
Some of the voters are still angry.
A large percentage of the older population is voting against
her.
Two-fifths of the troops were lost in the battle.
Two-fifths of the vineyard was destroyed by fire.

Forty percent of the students are in favor of changing the

policy.
Forty percent of the student body is in favor of changing
the policy.
Two and two is four.
Four times four divided by two is eight.

 13. If your sentence compounds a positive and a negative subject and one is plural, the other singular, the verb should
agree with the positive subject.
The department members but not the chair have decided not to teach on Valentine's Day.
It is not the faculty members but the president who decides this issue.
It was the speaker, not his ideas, that has provoked the students to riot.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
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17.
18.
19.

Either Santiago, Cristian, and Cristina in this classroom or Natalia __________ (is / are) going to have to make a decision.
Some of the votes __________ (seem / seems) to have been miscounted.
The tornadoes that tear through this county every spring __________ (is / are) more than just a nuisance.
Everyone selected to serve on this jury __________ (have / has) to be willing to give up a lot of time.
Andrea, together with her teammates, __________ (present / presents) a formidable opponent on the race track.
Some of the grain __________ (appear / appears) to be contaminated.
Three-quarters of the students __________ (is / are) against the tuition hike.
Three-quarters of the student body __________ (is / are) against the tuition hike.
A high percentage of the population __________ (is / are) voting for the new school.
A high percentage of the people __________ (was / were) voting for the new school.
The piano as well as the pipe organ ____________ (have / has) to be tuned for the big concert.
The mayor together with his two brothers ____________ (is / are) going to be indicted for accepting bribes.
Neither of my two suitcases ____________ (is / are) adequate for this trip.
Everybody in the class ____________ (have / has) done the homework well in advance.
Neither the teacher nor the students ____________ (seem / seems) to understand this assignment.
____________ (have / has) either my father or my brothers made a down-payment on the house?
Cristina or Natalia ____________ (is / are) going to be responsible for this.
A few of the students ____________ (is / are) doing so well they can skip the next course.
Either the Committee on Course Design or the Committee on College Operations ____________ (decide / decides) these

20.
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matters.
Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.
Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.
The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.
Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.
George and Tamara (doesn't, don't) want to see that movie.
Robinson (doesn't, don't) know the answer.
One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.
The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.
The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours to watch.
The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win.
Either answer (is, are) acceptable.
Every one of those books (is, are) fiction.
Nobody (know, knows) the trouble I've seen.
(Is, Are) the news on at five or six?
Mathematics (is, are) John's favorite subject, while Civics (is, are) Andrea's favorite subject.
Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie these days.
There (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag. Now there (is, are) only one left!
The committee (debates, debate) these questions carefully.
The committee (leads, lead) very different lives in private.
Santiago, together with his wife, (greets, greet) everyone cordially.

All of the CDs, even the scratched one, (is, are) in this case.

http://www.chompchomp.com/hotpotatoes/sva04.htm

Every pale tomato slice, wilted pickle, and brown lettuce leaf _____ an extra 25 cents at Bernie's Burger

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Emporium.

costs

cost

are going to

a.

b.

c.

Not only the Smiths but also Tonya __________ agreed to try one of the world-famous chocolate-broccoli

41

cost

had cost

d.

muffins.
has

a.

b.

My dog Floyd, together with Buster the cat, __________ to play with money; the cat swats crumpled bills

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have

c.

had

has been

d.

onto the floor where the dog shreds them to pieces.

likes

like

liked

had liked

a.

b.

c.

d.

Even though Santiago has many friends who love their Chevrolets and Buicks, he has always believed that

43

General Motors __________ lemons.

makes

make

made

had made

a.

b.

c.

d.

Cristina and Natalia, along with Santaigo, _________ to avoid indigestion after eating empanadas.

44

hopes

hope

hoped

had hoped

a.

b.

c.

d.

Carolina Cruz is one of those students who ___________ up to the professor every chance that she gets.

45

a.

kisses

b.

has kissed

c.

kissed

d.

kiss

Each man, woman, and child __________ to write General Foods a letter supporting the company's decision

46

to produce a chocolate-broccoli breakfast cereal.

needs

need

needed

will need

a.

b.

c.

d.

General Foods, the maker of Cheerios, ___________ developed a new cereal with chocolate puffs and

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broccoli-flavored marshmallows.
has

a.

b.

Mr. Fernandez, our English teacher, believes that students who major in economics or physics __________

48

have

c.

had

is

d.

their imaginations.

ruins

ruin

has ruined

ruined

a.

b.

c.

d.

Neither the student nor their professors __________ happy with the long cafeteria line.

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is

are

was

were

a.

b.

c.

d.

Neither the students nor their professor __________ happy with the long cafeteria line for pandebono and

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coffee.

is

are

was

were

a.

b.

c.

d.

All of my important keys __________ now stuck in the drain pipe of my bathroom sink. Buster, my kitten,

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doesn't realize how much his playfulness inconveniences me.

is

are

was

were

a.

b.

c.

d.

Even though Johnson and Johnson _________ consumers not to insert Q-tips into their ears, people refuse to

52

a.

read directions and frequently puncture their eardrums.

warns

b.

warn

c.

warned

had warned

d.