The Core Rule
Subject-verb agreement means that the verb in a sentence must match its subject in number. A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb.
- "The dog runs in the park." (singular subject, singular verb)
- "The dogs run in the park." (plural subject, plural verb)
Simple enough — until the sentences get complicated.
Tricky Case #1: Words Between the Subject and Verb
When a phrase separates the subject from the verb, it's easy to accidentally agree with the nearest noun instead of the actual subject.
"The box of chocolates was on the table." — The subject is box (singular), not chocolates.
Tip: Mentally cross out the interrupting phrase and check agreement between what remains.
Tricky Case #2: Compound Subjects
When two subjects are joined by and, the verb is almost always plural.
"Maria and James are presenting today."
Exception: When the two subjects refer to the same person or concept, use singular.
"The chef and restaurant owner is here." (same person)
With "or" and "nor":
When subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
- "Either the manager or the assistants are responsible."
- "Either the assistants or the manager is responsible."
Tricky Case #3: Indefinite Pronouns
Some indefinite pronouns are always singular, some are always plural, and some can be either depending on context.
| Always Singular | Always Plural | Either/Or |
|---|---|---|
| everyone, someone, anyone, no one, each, either, neither, one | both, few, many, several | all, some, most, none, any |
"Everyone is invited." (singular)
"Both of the candidates were qualified." (plural)
"Some of the water is contaminated." vs. "Some of the reports are missing." (depends on the noun)
Tricky Case #4: Collective Nouns
Collective nouns (team, committee, group, jury, audience) refer to a group. In American English, they're generally treated as singular.
"The committee has made its decision."
In British English, collective nouns often take a plural verb when emphasizing individual members:
"The team are arguing among themselves."
Tricky Case #5: Inverted Sentences
In sentences where the verb comes before the subject — common in questions and sentences beginning with "there" — it's easy to lose track of the subject.
"There are several issues to address." — Subject is issues (plural).
"There is a problem." — Subject is problem (singular).
A Quick Checklist for Agreement
- Find the true subject — ignore any prepositional phrases between subject and verb.
- Determine whether it's singular or plural.
- Match your verb accordingly.
- Watch for indefinite pronouns, collective nouns, and compound subjects.
Subject-verb agreement is one of those rules that becomes automatic with practice. Once you know where to look for the real subject, the rest falls into place.