AGREEMENT BETWEEN SUBJECT AND VERB

In the grammatical code of English, a verb must agree with its subject according to whether
the subject is singular or plural: a singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes
a plural verb.
When the subject of the sentence includes both singular and plural words, take care to identify
the part of the subject that controls the verb. In the following examples, the part of the subject
that controls the verb appears in bold letters and the verb is underlined.

Example 1
The exhibition of manufactured goods is drawing huge crowds.

Example 2
The reasons for the breakdown of the equipment have not yet been established.

In Example 1, it is not the ‘manufactured goods’ that are drawing crowds but, rather, the
‘exhibition’. Similarly, in Example 2, it is not the breakdown’ or the ‘equipment’ that have
not yet been established; it is the ‘reasons’.
Errors of subject-verb agreement are nearly always the result of misidentifying the number
(i.e. singular or plural) of the subject. The following are some points to help you in deciding
whether to use a singular or plural verb to agree with the subject in particular cases.

Singular pronoun rule

The following pronouns are singular and are always followed by a singular verb:
each anybody
every anyone
either everyone
neither everybody

Example 1
Everyone in the team was interviewed.

Example 2
Neither of the students was interested in the project.

Example 3
Each of them is able to run a meeting effectively.
Plural name for single entity rule
When a plural noun is in fact the name for a single thing, it requires a singular verb. In the
following examples, the subject appears in bold letters and the verb is underlined.

Example 1
The Simpsons is a popular television show

Example 2
Linguistics is an interesting field of study.

This rule also applies to amounts of money and periods of time.

Example 1
Five hundred dollars was all I had to pay for a return air ticket.

Example 2
Three months to finish the project is not enough time.

Exceptions to the single entity rule:

barracks proceeds thanks
premises scissors trousers
pants statistics tweezers

Example 1
Thanks are due to all those who helped to organise the conference.

Example 2
The premises of the organisation were destroyed by fire.

Collective noun/singular verb rule

A collective noun takes a singular verb. For instance, ‘a flock of sheep’ may be made up of
many individual sheep, but when we use the collective noun ‘flock’, we are referring to these
sheep as a single entity.

Example 1
The local football team is being sponsored by the business.

Example 2
The government is to consider a change to the immigration laws.

However, sometimes when we write about a group, we wish to distinguish individual

members of the group from one another. In the first of the following two examples, we’re
referring to the group as one whole entity; in the second example, we’re focusing on
individual members.

Example 1
The committee is to meet early next month.

Example 2
The committee are arguing over the issue.

Subject joined with ‘and’ rule

Two or more singular objects joined by ‘and’ require a plural verb.

Example 1
Clarity and conciseness are qualities of effective writing.

Example 2
The essay and the report are standard examples of academic writing.

Example 3
Its warm climate and outdoor lifestyle make Perth an ideal holiday destination.

Subject-support unit-verb rule

As we saw in the Sentece Structure Section, when the subject is separated from the verb by a
support unit such as ‘and not’, ‘together with’, ‘with’, or ‘as well as’, the number (singular or
plural) of the verb is not affected.

Example 1
The foreign minister, as well as his leading advisers, has arrived for the peace conference.

Example 2
The boat’s fittings, together with its hull, are made of fibreglass.
Subject-Verb Agreement Exercise
In the following sentences, choose the verb that agrees with the subject.
1. Pollution and traffic congestion threaten the future of the city.
2. The number of cases of violent assault recorded in Australia rises every year.
3. Ongoing revisions to the system are necessary.
4. Everyone, including the top students, finds academic writing difficult.
5. A flock of wild geese is/ flying above the lake.
6. Neither the foreman nor the supervising technician was/ present when the accident
occured.
7. Stock prices on the Hang Seng index /are showing an upturn.
8. Work with children with intellectual handicaps and other people with disabilities reveals
that regular therapy can lead to significant improvements in motor ability.
9. The use of domestic security alarms has reduced the number of burglaries in the
neighbourhood.
10. The chief engineer, in addition to most of the electricians, is opposed to the new roster.
HOMEWORK
In the following sentences, choose the verb that agrees with the subject, and translate the
sentences to Indonesian language.
1. One of the boxes of photographs WAS/were destroyed in the fire.
2. The excellent employment conditions in the industry makes/MAKE pharmacy a popular
career.
3. The cricket team HAS/have been successful this year.
4. New procedures introduced to improve safety in the laboratory was/WERE instituted by
the chief scientist.
5. The behaviour of the spectators who came to the final matches WAS/were atrocious.
6. Misunderstandings between the director and the leading actor is/ARE causing a delay in
the filming schedule.
7. The President, together with his entourage of personal assistants, publicists, and
bodyguards, IS/are arriving soon.
8. Everyone involved in developing the new guidelines EXPECTS/expect immediate
improvements in productivity.
9. The new series of advertisements IS/are going to air next month.
10. Attempts by the council to change the dog license fee was/WERE opposed by the
ratepayers.