Subject-Verb Rules

Subject-Verb Agreement
More Grammar Rules:
NOTE
We will use the standard of underlining subjects once and

verbs twice.
Being able to find the right subject and verb will help you
correct errors of subject-verb agreement.
Basic Rule. A singular subject (she, Bill, car) takes a

singular verb (is, goes, shines), whereas a plural subject
takes a plural verb.
Example: The list of items is/are on the desk.

If you know that list is the subject, then you will
choose is for the verb.
Rule 1. A subject will come before a phrase beginning

with of. This is a key rule for understanding subjects. The
word of is the culprit in many, perhaps most, subject-verb
mistakes.
Hasty writers, speakers, readers, and listeners might miss

the all-too-common mistake in the following sentence:
Incorrect: A bouquet of yellow roses lend color and

fragrance to the room.
Correct: A bouquet of yellow roses lends . . . (bouquet

lends, not roses lend)
Rule 2. Two singular subjects connected by or,
either/or, or neither/nor require a singular verb.
Examples:
My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today.
Neither Juan nor Carmen is available.
Either Kiana or Casey is helping today with stage
decorations.
Rule 3. The verb in an or,

either/or, or neither/nor sentence agrees with the noun or
pronoun closest to it.
Examples:
Neither the plates nor the serving bowl goes on that
shelf.
Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on that
shelf.
This rule can lead to bumps in the road. For example, if I is

one of two (or more) subjects, it could lead to this odd
sentence:
Awkward: Neither she, my friends, nor I am going to the

festival.
If possible, it's best to reword such grammatically correct

but awkward sentences.
Better:
Neither she, I, nor my friends are going to the festival.
OR
She, my friends, and I are not going to the festival.
Rule 4. As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more
subjects when they are connected by and.
Example: A car and a bike are my means of

transportation.
But note these exceptions:
Exceptions:
Breaking and entering is against the law.
The bed and breakfast was charming.
In those sentences, breaking and entering and bed and

breakfast are compound nouns.
Rule 5a. Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb

by such words as along with, as well as, besides, not, etc.
These words and phrases are not part of the subject. Ignore
them and use a singular verb when the subject is singular.
Examples:
The politician, along with the newsmen, is
expected shortly.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her
shaking.
Rule 5b. Parentheses are not part of the subject.
Example: Joe (and his trusty mutt) was always

welcome.
If this seems awkward, try rewriting the sentence.

Rule 6. In sentences beginning with here or there, the
true subject follows the verb.
Examples:
There are four hurdles to jump.
There is a high hurdle to jump.
Here are the keys.
NOTE:
The word there's, a contraction of there is, leads to bad

habits in informal sentences like There's a lot of people
here today, because it's easier to say "there's" than "there
are." Take care never to use there's with a plural subject.
Rule 7. Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time,

sums of money, etc., when considered as a unit.
Examples:
Three miles is too far to walk.
Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
BUT
Ten dollars (i.e., dollar bills) were scattered on the floor.
Rule 8. With words that indicate portions—e.g., a lot, a

majority, some, all—Rule 1 given earlier in this section is
reversed, and we are guided by the noun after of. If the
noun after of is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural,
use a plural verb.
Examples:
A lot of the pie has disappeared.
A lot of the pies have disappeared.
A third of the city is unemployed.
A third of the people are unemployed.
All of the pie is gone.
All of the pies are gone.
Some of the pie is missing.
Some of the pies are missing.
NOTE
In recent years, the SAT testing service has

considered none to be strictly singular. However, according
to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage:
"Clearly none has been both singular and plural since Old
English and still is. The notion that it is singular only is a
myth of unknown origin that appears to have arisen in the
19th century. If in context it seems like a singular to you,
use a singular verb; if it seems like a plural, use a plural
verb. Both are acceptable beyond serious criticism."
When none is clearly intended to mean "not one," it is
followed by a singular verb.
Rule 9. With collective nouns such

as group, jury, family, audience, population, the verb
might be singular or plural, depending on the writer's intent.
Examples:
All of my family has arrived OR have arrived.
Most of the jury is here OR are here.
A third of the population was not in
favor OR were not in favor of the bill.
NOTE
Anyone who uses a plural verb with a collective noun must
take care to be accurate—and also consistent. It must not
be done carelessly. The following is the sort of flawed
sentence one sees and hears a lot these days:
The staff is deciding how they want to vote.

Careful speakers and writers would avoid assigning the
singular is and the plural they to staff in the same
sentence.
Consistent: The staff are deciding how they want to

vote.
Rewriting such sentences is recommended whenever

possible. The preceding sentence would read even better as:
The staff members are deciding how they want to vote.

Rule 10. The word were replaces was in sentences that
express a wish or are contrary to fact:
Example: If Joe were here, you'd be sorry.
Shouldn't Joe be followed by was, not were, given

that Joe is singular? But Joe isn't actually here, so we
say were, not was. The sentence demonstrates
the subjunctive mood, which is used to express things that
are hypothetical, wishful, imaginary, or factually
contradictory. The subjunctive mood pairs singular subjects
with what we usually think of as plural verbs.
Examples:
I wish it were Friday.
She requested that he raise his hand.
In the first example, a wishful statement, not a fact, is being
expressed; therefore, were, which we usually think of as a
plural verb, is used with the singular it. (Technically, it is
the singular subject of the object clause in the subjunctive
mood: it were Friday.)
Normally, he raise would sound terrible to us. However, in

the second example, where a request is being expressed,
the subjunctive mood is correct.
Note: The subjunctive mood is losing ground in spoken

English but should still be used in formal speech and writing.
Subject and Verb Agreement Quiz 1

1. For each of the following, choose the sentence in which
the subject and verb agree.
A) Every one of the shirts has a green collar.
B) Every one of the shirts have a green collar.
2.
A) This singer, along with a few others, play the harmonica on stage
B) This singer, along with a few others, plays the harmonica on stag
3.
A) Sandals and towels are essential gear for a trip to the beach.
B) Sandals and towels is essential gear for a trip to the beach.
4.
A) The president or the vice president are speaking today.
B) The president or the vice president is speaking today.
5.
A) Either Cassie or Marie pays the employees this afternoon.
B) Either Cassie or Marie pay the employees this afternoon.

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Continue
6.
A) Either the sculpture or the paintings are in the museum today.
B) Either the sculpture or the paintings is in the museum today.
7.
A) The coat or the hats are in that closet.
B) The coat or the hats is in that closet.
8.
A) Neither she nor I is getting the lunch special.

B) Neither she nor I am getting the lunch special.
C) Neither she nor I are getting the lunch special.
9.
A) Each of the dancers twirls brilliantly.
B) Each of the dancers twirl brilliantly.
10.
A) Mustard greens are my favorite vegetable.
B) Mustard greens is my favorite vegetable.
11.
A) Everybody at the party was enjoying the food.
B) Everybody at the party were enjoying the food.

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Subject-Verb Agreement

More Grammar Rules:

We will use the standard of underlining subjects once and

Basic Rule. A singular subject (she, Bill, car) takes a

Example: The list of items is/are on the desk.

Rule 1. A subject will come before a phrase beginning

Hasty writers, speakers, readers, and listeners might miss

Incorrect: A bouquet of yellow roses lend color and

Correct: A bouquet of yellow roses lends . . . (bouquet

Rule 3. The verb in an or,

This rule can lead to bumps in the road. For example, if I is

Awkward: Neither she, my friends, nor I am going to the

If possible, it's best to reword such grammatically correct

Example: A car and a bike are my means of

But note these exceptions:

In those sentences, breaking and entering and bed and

Rule 5a. Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb

Rule 5b. Parentheses are not part of the subject.

Example: Joe (and his trusty mutt) was always

If this seems awkward, try rewriting the sentence.

The word there's, a contraction of there is, leads to bad

Rule 7. Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time,

Rule 8. With words that indicate portions—e.g., a lot, a

In recent years, the SAT testing service has

Rule 9. With collective nouns such

The staff is deciding how they want to vote.

Consistent: The staff are deciding how they want to

Rewriting such sentences is recommended whenever

The staff members are deciding how they want to vote.

Example: If Joe were here, you'd be sorry.

Shouldn't Joe be followed by was, not were, given

Normally, he raise would sound terrible to us. However, in

Note: The subjunctive mood is losing ground in spoken

Subject and Verb Agreement Quiz 1

B) Every one of the shirts have a green collar.

B) Sandals and towels is essential gear for a trip to the beach.

A) The president or the vice president are speaking today.

B) The president or the vice president is speaking today.

A) Either Cassie or Marie pays the employees this afternoon.

B) Either Cassie or Marie pay the employees this afternoon.

A) Either the sculpture or the paintings are in the museum today.

B) Either the sculpture or the paintings is in the museum today.

A) The coat or the hats are in that closet.

B) The coat or the hats is in that closet.

A) Neither she nor I is getting the lunch special.

C) Neither she nor I are getting the lunch special.

A) Each of the dancers twirls brilliantly.

B) Each of the dancers twirl brilliantly.

A) Mustard greens are my favorite vegetable.

B) Mustard greens is my favorite vegetable.

A) Everybody at the party was enjoying the food.

B) Everybody at the party were enjoying the food.

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