Subject/Verb Agreement

When writing your sentences, you need to make sure your subjects agree with your verbs.

 

Subjects and Verbs Must Agree in Number

A subject and its accompanying verb should always agree in number (i.e. singular or plural). Typically, plural nouns and singular verbs end in -s or -es. This means that a verb ending in -s or -es will usually follow a singular subject. Conversely, a plural noun will precede a verb that does not end in -s or -es.

Singular Subject + Verb Ending with -s or -es

Plural Subject Ending with -s or -es + Verb

Examples
Nick makes poor grades in Latin (Singular Subject with a Verb Ending in -s)
The bakers make great cakes (Plural Subject Ending in -s)

 

Subjects and Verbs Must Agree When Separated by Words and Phrases

Watch out for phrases that separate the subject and the verb. Remember, you verb must agree with the actual subject of the sentence, which is not necessarily the word closest to the verb.

 

• You may have prepositional phrases, adjectives, or adverbs between the subject and the verb.

Examples
The cost of those designer jeans is out of my price range. (The subject cost is separated from its verb is by a prepositional phrase).
James slowly reads the newspaper. (The subject and verb are separated by an adverb).

 

• Subjects joined by and are typically plural.

Examples
Katie and Krista are both promising candidates.
Zach and the guy who lives around the corner take karate together.       

 

• However, the conjunctions or/either and nor/neither have singular verbs.

Examples
My brother or my best friend buys me a birthday present.
My purse nor my wallet contains money.

 

• With the phrases either…or and neither…nor the verb is always agrees with the closest subject.

Examples
Either my dad or my aunts are paying for my trip to Mexico. (The verb is plural because the closest subject, aunts, is also plural).
Neither the dogs nor the cat is sleeping. (Here, the verb is singular because the closest subject is also singular).

 

• With additive phrases (accompanied by, as well as, along with) only the first subject (the one that does not include the additive phrase) agrees with the verb.

Examples
Shakespeare, along with other English playwrights, writes about complex political and social issues. (Here, the subject is singular while the subject included in the additive phrase is plural. However, the verb is also singular because it only agrees with the first subject).
The offices, as well as the break room, are located on the second floor. (Now, the first subject is plural, so the verb agrees with it).

 

• The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, and nobody are singular and require a singular verb.

Example
Each of the books costs twenty dollars. (Each is a singular subject and matches the singular verb).

 

Exercises

1.   Either those tacks or this nail (is / are) used for hanging up posters.

2.   My mom and sister (buys / buy) new furniture every year.

3.   My cats, along with my hamster, (chews / chew) on my shoelaces.

4.   LaShonda, the girl who sits next to me in class, (enjoys / enjoy) reading.

5.   Everybody just (needs / need) to calm down!

6.   My wisdom teeth (has / have) appeared.

7.   My skirt or my jacket (is / are) at the dry cleaners.

8.   Scholars (discuss / discusses) the need for a new database.

9.   Amy (live / lives) next door, but her mom and dad (live / lives) in Oklahoma.

10. The calendars, which are on my desk, (feature / features) pictures of forests.    

 

Answers

1.   Either those tacks or this nail (is / are) used for hanging up posters.
2.   My mom and sister (buys / buy) new furniture every year.
3.   My cats, along with my hamster, (chews / chew) on my shoelaces.
4.   LaShonda, the girl who sits next to me in class, (enjoys / enjoy) reading.
5.   Everybody just (needs / need) to calm down!
6.   My wisdom teeth (has / have) appeared.
7.   My skirt or my jacket (is / are) at the dry cleaners.
8.   Scholars (discuss / discusses) the need for a new database.
9.   Amy (live / lives) next door, but her mom and dad (live / lives) in Oklahoma.
10. The calendars, which are on my desk, (feature / features) pictures of forests.   

 

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