13.1 What is Subject-Verb Agreement?

Subject-verb agreement means that the verb in a sentence must match the subject in number and person.

✅ Example:

• Correct: She writes a letter. (Singular subject → Singular verb)
• Incorrect: She write a letter. ❌
• Correct: They write a letter. (Plural subject → Plural verb)
• Incorrect: They writes a letter. ❌

13.2 Basic Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule 1: Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.

Rule 2: Subjects joined by “and” take a plural verb.

• John and Mary are best friends.
• The cat and the dog play together.

🚨 Exception: When “and” connects two things that are considered one unit, use a singular verb.

• Bread and butter is my favorite breakfast.
• Fish and chips is delicious.

Rule 3: Singular subjects joined by “or” or “nor” take a singular verb.

• Either John or Mary is coming.
• Neither the teacher nor the student is late.

🚨 If one subject is singular and the other is plural, the verb agrees with the closer subject.

• Either the teacher or the students are coming.
• Neither the students nor the teacher is late.

Rule 4: Indefinite pronouns take singular or plural verbs.

✅ Singular Indefinite Pronouns (take singular verbs):
Everyone, someone, anyone, nobody, each, either, neither, one

• Everyone is excited.
• Neither of them has finished the work.

✅ Plural Indefinite Pronouns (take plural verbs):
Both, few, several, many

• Both are ready.
• Few have arrived.

✅ Some Indefinite Pronouns can be Singular or Plural, depending on the context:
Some, all, any, most, none

• Some of the water is dirty. (Water = Uncountable)
• Some of the students are absent. (Students = Countable)

Rule 5: Collective nouns usually take a singular verb but can be plural in some cases.

✅ Singular Use (when acting as one unit):

• The team is winning.
• The committee has decided.

✅ Plural Use (when acting as individuals):

• The team are celebrating their victory.
• The committee are divided in their opinions.

Rule 6: When using “there is” or “there are,” the verb agrees with the real subject.

• There is a book on the table. (Book = Singular)
• There are many books on the table. (Books = Plural)

Rule 7: Gerunds (-ing forms) used as subjects take a singular verb.

• Swimming is fun.
• Dancing makes her happy.

🚨 But if two gerunds are joined by “and,” use a plural verb.

• Dancing and singing are my hobbies.

Rule 8: Titles of books, movies, and works of art take singular verbs.

• “The Lord of the Rings” is a great movie.
• “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” was a bestseller.

Rule 9: Fractions and Percentages take singular or plural verbs based on the noun.

• One-third of the cake is gone. (Cake = Singular)
• One-third of the students are absent. (Students = Plural)

13.3 Common Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement

🚨 Incorrect: The list of books are on the table. ❌
✅ Correct: The list of books is on the table. ✔ (The subject is “list,” not “books.”)

🚨 Incorrect: Either my brother or my sisters is coming. ❌
✅ Correct: Either my brother or my sisters are coming. ✔ (Verb agrees with “sisters.”)

🚨 Incorrect: The committee are meeting today. ❌
✅ Correct: The committee is meeting today. ✔ (Committee = one unit.)

Exercises

A. Choose the correct verb to complete each sentence:

1. The dog and the cat (is/are) playing in the yard.
2. Either my mother or my father (is/are) coming to the meeting.
3. The news (is/are) very interesting today.
4. One-third of the students (is/are) absent.
5. Mathematics (is/are) my favorite subject.
6. Either the teacher or the students (is/are) responsible.
7. Dancing and singing (is/are) fun activities.
8. Some of the water (is/are) dirty.
9. The committee (has/have) made a decision.
10. The list of items (is/are) on the table.

B. Identify and correct the errors in subject-verb agreement:

1. The book on the shelf need to be returned.
2. Either John or his brothers is coming.
3. Neither the students nor the teacher were present.
4. The team are playing well today.
5. Ten percent of the cake are left.
6. The boy with his friends are going to the mall.
7. There is five apples in the basket.

Answers

A. Correct Answers:

1. The dog and the cat are playing in the yard.
2. Either my mother or my father is coming to the meeting.
3. The news is very interesting today.
4. One-third of the students are absent.
5. Mathematics is my favorite subject.
6. Either the teacher or the students are responsible.
7. Dancing and singing are fun activities.
8. Some of the water is dirty.
9. The committee has made a decision.
10. The list of items is on the table.

B. Corrected Sentences:

1. The book on the shelf needs to be returned.
2. Either John or his brothers are coming.
3. Neither the students nor the teacher was present.
4. The team is playing well today.
5. Ten percent of the cake is left.
6. The boy with his friends is going to the mall.
7. There are five apples in the basket.