10 Rules for SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT | English Grammar

10 Rules for SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT | Free Practice | English Grammar

Explanation + Extra activities

What is Subject-Verb Agreement?

In English, the subject and the verb must “agree” or match. This means that:

  • If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular.
  • If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.

For example:

  • He runs. (singular subject, singular verb)
  • They run. (plural subject, plural verb)

Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement:

  1. Singular subjects take singular verbs.
    • Example: The cat jumps.
  2. Plural subjects take plural verbs.
    • Example: The cats jump.
  3. If the subject has he, she, it, or a singular noun (one person or thing), the verb often ends with -s.
    • Example: She likes ice cream.
  4. If the subject has I, you, we, they, or a plural noun (more than one person or thing), the verb usually does not end with -s.
    • Example: They like ice cream.

Tricky Examples:

  1. Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, group) are singular in American English, even though they refer to a group of people.
    • Example: The team is winning.
  2. Either and neither are singular.
    • Example: Either of the answers is correct.
  3. Everyone, someone, nobody, and similar words are singular.
    • Example: Everyone enjoys the party.
  4. Subjects joined by “and” are plural.
    • Example: Tom and Jerry are friends.
  5. Subjects joined by “or” or “nor”: The verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
    • Example: Either the teacher or the students are responsible.
    • Example: Either the students or the teacher is responsible.
  6. “There is” and “There are”: The verb agrees with the noun that comes after.
    • Example: There is a book on the table.
    • Example: There are books on the table.
  7. Amounts of time, money, or distance are singular.
    • Example: Five dollars is enough.

Summary:

  • Match the subject and verb: singular with singular, plural with plural.
  • Watch out for tricky examples like collective nouns, either/neither, and subjects joined by “or” or “nor.”
  • Watch the video for A LOT of extra practice!

Extra Activities

Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz

Beginner Level (15 Questions)

  1. My brother and his friend (is/are) coming over for dinner.
  2. Neither the teacher nor the students (was/were) ready for the exam.
  3. The news (is/are) spreading quickly on social media.
  4. Ten dollars (is/are) enough to buy lunch.
  5. Each of the students (has/have) to submit their homework by Friday.
  6. One-third of the cake (was/were) eaten.
  7. The cake, as well as the cookies, (was/were) delicious.
  8. Everyone (wants/want) to attend the concert.
  9. Some of the water (has/have) leaked from the bottle.
  10. One of the dogs (has/have) a collar.
  11. Either the cats or the dog (is/are) sleeping in the yard.
  12. The scissors (is/are) on the table.
  13. Half of the pizza (was/were) eaten by my brother.
  14. Nobody (knows/know) where the key is.
  15. A lot of the food (was/were) wasted at the party.
Beginner Level Answers:
  1. are, 2. were, 3. is, 4. is, 5. has, 6. was, 7. was, 8. wants, 9. has, 10. has, 11. is, 12. are, 13. was, 14. knows, 15. was

Intermediate Level (15 Questions)

  1. My father and mentor (is/are) always guiding me in life.
  2. Either the manager or the employees (is/are) responsible for this mess.
  3. The United States (is/are) a global superpower.
  4. Five kilometers (is/are) too far to walk.
  5. The majority of the class (was/were) absent yesterday.
  6. Seventy percent of the homework (has/have) been completed.
  7. The car, together with the bikes, (was/were) stolen.
  8. Somebody (has/have) left their bag behind.
  9. Most of the books (is/are) interesting.
  10. One of the teachers (has/have) a unique teaching method.
  11. Neither the students nor the teacher (was/were) aware of the changes.
  12. The clothes (is/are) in the dryer.
  13. Three-fourths of the team (was/were) injured in the game.
  14. None of the information (was/were) useful for the test.
  15. More than one student (is/are) competing in the contest.
Intermediate Level Answers:
  1. is, 2. are, 3. is, 4. is, 5. was, 6. has, 7. was, 8. has, 9. are, 10. has, 11. was, 12. are, 13. were, 14. was, 15. is

Advanced Level (15 Questions)

  1. The CEO and the board (is/are) meeting tomorrow to discuss the merger.
  2. Neither the principal nor the teachers (has/have) seen the new policy draft yet.
  3. Physics (is/are) one of the most challenging subjects in high school.
  4. Twenty dollars (is/are) all I have left in my wallet.
  5. The jury (was/were) divided in their decision on the case.
  6. Two-thirds of the research paper (has/have) been written by now.
  7. The athlete, along with his coaches, (was/were) awarded a medal.
  8. Everyone in the group (is/are) excited for the trip.
  9. Plenty of time (was/were) given to finish the project.
  10. One of the only players (has/have) been selected for the national team.
  11. Either the employees or the supervisor (is/are) responsible for closing the shop.
  12. The pants (is/are) too long for me to wear without hemming.
  13. Half of the documents (was/were) missing from the file.
  14. All of the evidence (was/were) presented during the trial.
  15. More than one of the applicants (is/are) qualified for the job.
Advanced Level Answers:
  1. are, 2. have, 3. is, 4. is, 5. were, 6. has, 7. was, 8. is, 9. was, 10. has, 11. is, 12. are, 13. were, 14. was, 15. is

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