Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement ensures that the subject and verb in a sentence match in number (singular or plural). Correct agreement is essential for grammatical accuracy.

Definition / Explanation

Subject-verb agreement is the rule that a verb must agree with its subject in number and person. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.

Rules / Guidelines

• A singular subject takes a singular verb: The cat runs fast.
• A plural subject takes a plural verb: The cats run fast.
• When subjects are joined by and, use a plural verb: Tom and Jerry are friends.
• When subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject: Either the teacher or the students are late.
• Collective nouns (team, family, group) usually take singular verbs: The team wins every match.
• Indefinite pronouns (everyone, someone, each) take singular verbs: Everyone is invited.

Special Cases

• Amounts and quantities: Ten dollars is enough.
• Titles of books, movies, or organizations take singular verbs: 'The Lord of the Rings' is amazing.
• Subjects separated by phrases: Ignore intervening words between subject and verb: The bouquet of flowers smells nice.

Examples

Singular: The dog barks loudly.
Plural: The dogs bark loudly.
And: The teacher and the student are talking.
Or / Nor: Neither the students nor the teacher was late.
Collective: The jury decides the verdict.
Indefinite Pronoun: Somebody has left a message.

Practice Exercises

1. Select the correct verb: "The book (is/are) on the table."
2. Select the correct verb: "Either the cat or the dogs (is/are) outside."
3. Correct the verb: "Each of the players (run/runs) fast."
4. Correct the verb: "The team (win/wins) the championship."
5. Identify the error: "The flowers in the garden (smells/smell) beautiful."

Answers / Explanation

1. is
2. are (agrees with the nearer subject "dogs")
3. runs
4. wins
5. smell