Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is a grammatical concept that refers to the proper matching of the subject and verb in a sentence.

The basic rule is that a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

 

Example (singular): The cat is sleeping.

Example (plural): The cats are sleeping.

 

In these examples, cat is singular, so it takes the singular verb is, while cats is plural and takes the plural verb are.

This agreement helps maintain clarity and grammatical correctness in sentences.

 

 

Two or more subjects connected by and:

When a sentence has two or more subjects connected by a conjunction, the verb should be in the plural form.

Here’s an example: Sarah and Tom are going to the party.

In this sentence, Sarah and Tom are both subjects connected by and, and the verb are is plural to agree with the plural subjects.

 

 

Subject after there is/there are:

When the phrase there is or there are is used to introduce a sentence, the verb agrees with the first subject that follows.

Here are examples: There is a cat and two dogs in the yard.

In this case, the verb is agrees with the singular subject cat.

 

There are three books and a pen on the table.

Here, the verb are agrees with the plural subject books.

 

So, in constructions like there is or there are, it’s important to identify the subject that immediately follows the verb to determine the correct verb form.

 

 

A lot of before subject:

When a lot of is used before the subject following there is or there are, the verb typically agrees with the noun or pronoun that comes after a lot of.

Since a lot of suggests a quantity or a plural sense, the verb is often in the plural form.

Here are examples: There are a lot of students in the classroom.

In this case, the verb are agrees with the plural noun students.

 

There are a lot of cars in the parking lot.

The verb are matches with the plural noun cars.

 

There are a lot of opportunities for growth in this company.

Here, the verb are agrees with the plural noun opportunities.

 

In these examples, a lot of emphasises a quantity or a plural sense, influencing the verb to be in the plural form.

 

 

Two subjects connected by with  and as well as:

When two subjects are connected by with or as well as, the verb agrees with the first subject.

Here are examples: The professor, with his students, is conducting a research project.

In this example, professor is the main subject, and the verb is agrees with it.

 

The singer, as well as the band, is performing tonight.

Here, singer is the main subject, and the verb is agrees with it.

 

In sentences like these, the additional phrase or subject introduced by with or as well as does not change the number of the main subject, so the verb agrees with the main subject.

 

 

Subjects connected by either ..or and neither..nor:

When two subjects are connected by the conjunctions either…or or neither…nor, the verb agrees with the subject that is closest to it.

Here are examples: Either the cat or the dogs are making a lot of noise.

In this case, the verb are agrees with the plural subject dogs, which is the closest to the verb.

 

Neither the teacher nor the students want to cancel the field trip.

Here, the verb want agrees with the plural subject students, which is the closest to the verb.

 

In sentences with either…or or neither…nor, it’s essential to pay attention to the subject that is nearest to the verb to determine the correct verb form.

 

Subject as a collective noun:

When a collective noun is used as the subject of a sentence, the verb is usually in the singular form.

A collective noun represents a group of people or things as a single entity.

Here are examples: The team is playing well this season.

In this sentence, team is a collective noun representing a group of individuals, and the verb is is singular.

 

The family enjoys spending time together.

Here, family is a collective noun, and the verb enjoys is in the singular form.

 

The committee is meeting to discuss the new policy.

In this example, committee is a collective noun, and the verb is is singular.

 

Collective nouns such as team, family, committee, audience, and others are treated as singular entities, and the verb reflects this singular agreement.

 

 Subject as an Indefinite pronoun:

When the subject is one of the indefinite pronouns like each, every, everyone, everybody, no one, nobody, somebody, someone, either, or neither, the verb is singular.

Here are examples: Each of the students has completed the assignment.

The verb has agrees with the singular pronoun each

 

Everybody is invited to the party.

Here, the verb is agrees with the singular pronoun everybody.

 

Nobody wants to miss the bus.

The verb wants agrees with the singular pronoun nobody.

 

Either option is acceptable.

In this case, the verb is agrees with the singular pronoun either.

 

 Subject as all:

The verb agreement can depend on the context of what all is referring to.

 

Examples to illustrate both cases: All of the water is gone.

In this example, all refers to a singular entity (water), so the verb is is singular.

 

All the students are present.

Here, all refers to multiple entities (students), so the verb are is plural.

 

So, whether the verb is singular or plural after all depends on whether all is considered as a singular unit or as a collection of individual entities in a particular context.

 

Subject as both:

When the subject is expressed by the word both, the verb is typically in the plural form.

Here are examples: Both of the teams are strong contenders.

The verb are agrees with the plural subject teams.

 

Both the cat and the dog were adopted by the family.

Here, the verb were agrees with the plural subject cat and dog.

 

Both books are interesting.

In this case, the verb are agrees with the plural subject books.

 

Both indicates a combination or a pair of items, and the verb takes a plural form to agree with the idea of multiplicity or two entities.

Subject as who, which or that:

When the subject is expressed by the pronouns who, which, or that, the verb agrees with the antecedent (the word that the pronoun refers to).

Here are examples: The person who is responsible has arrived.

The verb has agrees with the singular antecedent person.

 

The book that I borrowed is interesting.

Here, the verb is agrees with the singular antecedent book.

 

The team that won the championship deserves recognition.

In this case, the verb deserves agrees with the singular antecedent team.

 

It’s important to identify the antecedent of the pronoun to determine the correct verb form in sentences like these.

 

Subject as who and what:

When the subject is expressed by the interrogative pronouns who or what, the verb is typically singular.

Here are examples: Who is at the door?

The verb is agrees with the singular pronoun who.

 

What was on the table?

Here, the verb was agrees with the singular pronoun what.

 

In interrogative sentences where who or what is the subject, the verb takes a singular form.

Subject as an uncountable noun:

When the subject is expressed by certain uncountable or abstract nouns like news, mathematics, physics, statistics, and others, the verb is typically in the singular form.

Here are examples: The news is interesting today.

The verb is agrees with the singular noun news.

 

Mathematics is a challenging subject.

Here, the verb is agrees with the singular noun mathematics.

 

Physics requires a deep understanding of principles.

In this case, the verb requires agrees with the singular noun physics.

 

Statistics plays a crucial role in research.

The verb plays agrees with the singular noun statistics.

 

These nouns are treated as singular entities, and the verbs that go with them are singular to maintain grammatical agreement.

 

Subject as a noun in plural form:

When the subject is expressed by certain nouns like goods, contents, riches, proceeds, and clothes, the verb is typically in the plural form.

Here are examples: The goods are being delivered tomorrow.

The verb are agrees with the plural noun goods.

 

The contents of the box were damaged.

Here, the verb were agrees with the plural noun contents.

 

Her riches have been the subject of much speculation.

In this case, the verb have agrees with the plural noun riches.

 

The proceeds from the fundraiser will go to charity.

The verb will agrees with the plural noun proceeds.

 

The clothes in the closet need to be organised.

Here, the verb need agrees with the plural noun clothes.

 

These nouns are treated as plural entities, and the verbs that go with them are plural to maintain grammatical agreement.

 

Subject as a noun in singular form:

When the subject is expressed by certain nouns like hair, money, watch, and gate, the verb is typically in the singular form.

Here are examples: Her hair is beautiful.

The verb is agrees with the singular noun hair.

 

The money was on the table.

Here, the verb was agrees with the singular noun money.

 

My watch tells the correct time.

In this case, the verb tells agrees with the singular noun watch.

 

The gate needs repairs.

The verb needs agrees with the singular noun gate.

 

These nouns are treated as singular entities, and the verbs that go with them are singular to maintain grammatical agreement

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subject-Verb Agreement in English.

There is/There are

What is a predicate? Predicate Types

Subject Pronoun/ “One” and “They” as subject meaning

Cleft sentence ( It was yesterday that…)