✓ Expert Reviewed by Dr. Irfan Mansuri | Last Updated: July 2026
Subject Verb Agreement Rules: 15 Rules, Examples & Mistakes
What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that a verb must match its subject in number (singular or plural) and person. A singular subject takes a singular verb form, and a plural subject takes a plural verb form. For example: “She writes” (singular) vs. “They write” (plural).
This rule sounds simple on the surface. But in my experience teaching grammar to thousands of students, I have seen it trip up even confident writers — because English has dozens of edge cases that feel counterintuitive.
Think about this sentence: “The quality of the reports is poor.” Many people write “are” because “reports” is right next to the verb. But the true subject is “quality” — singular — so the correct verb is “is.” That one mistake can cost you points on a test or credibility in professional writing.
In this guide, I break down all 15 core subject-verb agreement rules, show you the most common agreement errors, and give you a quiz to test yourself. By the end, you will know exactly which verb to use in every situation.
- 🎯 Understand what subject-verb agreement means and why it matters
- 📏 Learn all 15 core grammar rules with clear examples
- ⚠️ Identify the trickiest agreement errors students make
- ✏️ Practice with real sentences and instant feedback
- 🏆 Apply these rules confidently in writing and on tests
⚡ TL;DR – Quick Summary
- 📌 A singular subject needs a singular verb; a plural subject needs a plural verb.
- 📌 Ignore prepositional phrases between subject and verb — they do not change agreement.
- 📌 “Everyone,” “each,” “either,” and “neither” are always singular.
- 📌 Compound subjects with “and” take plural verbs; with “or/nor,” match the nearest subject.
- 📌 Collective nouns are singular when the group acts as one unit.
- 📌 Titles, amounts, and distances are treated as singular even if they look plural.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Grammar concept | Subject-verb agreement (concord) |
| Core rule | Singular subject → singular verb; plural subject → plural verb |
| Number of core rules | 15 (covered in this guide) |
| Most common error | Verb agreeing with nearest noun, not the true subject |
| Trickiest pronouns | Everyone, each, either, neither, none |
| Applies to | All English writing — academic, professional, test-taking |
| Tested on | SAT, ACT, IELTS, TOEFL, GMAT, school exams |
Why Subject-Verb Agreement Matters in Writing and Tests
Subject-verb agreement errors are among the most frequently tested grammar points on standardized exams worldwide. On the ACT English section, for example, agreement errors appear in nearly every test. In academic writing, a single agreement mistake can undermine an otherwise strong argument.
Beyond tests, agreement errors affect how readers perceive your writing. When a verb does not match its subject, the sentence feels “off” — even to readers who cannot name the rule. It signals a lack of attention to detail.
In professional settings — emails, reports, presentations — consistent grammar signals competence. I have seen students lose scholarship essay points not because their ideas were weak, but because of repeated agreement errors that distracted the reader.
In my 15+ years of teaching grammar, I have noticed that students who struggle with subject-verb agreement are not bad at grammar — they are just trying to match the verb to the nearest noun instead of the true subject. Once you train yourself to always find the subject first, 80% of these errors disappear instantly. That one habit change is worth more than memorizing a dozen rules.
How to Apply Subject-Verb Agreement Rules (Step-by-Step)
Before you memorize the 15 rules, you need a reliable process. Follow these five steps every time you write or edit a sentence.
🔢 The 5-Step Agreement Check
- Step 1 – Find the verb. Locate the main action or linking word in the sentence.
- Step 2 – Ask “who or what?” Ask “who or what is doing the action?” That answer is your subject.
- Step 3 – Strip away distractors. Cross out prepositional phrases, relative clauses, and parenthetical phrases between subject and verb.
- Step 4 – Decide: singular or plural? Is the true subject one thing or more than one?
- Step 5 – Match the verb. Use a singular verb for a singular subject, plural for plural.
SENTENCE: "The results of the experiment [is / are] surprising."
Step 1 → Verb candidates: "is" or "are"
Step 2 → Who/what is surprising? → "The results"
Step 3 → Strip "of the experiment" (prepositional phrase)
The results [of the experiment] ___ surprising.
Step 4 → "Results" = plural noun
Step 5 → Plural subject → plural verb
✅ CORRECT: "The results of the experiment ARE surprising."
❌ WRONG: "The results of the experiment IS surprising."
MEMORY TIP:
Subject ──────────────────────────────► Verb
(singular) (singular -s)
The dog runs
The team plays
(plural) (no -s)
The dogs run
The teams play
The 15 Core Subject-Verb Agreement Rules with Examples
These 15 rules cover every situation you will encounter in academic writing, professional communication, and standardized tests. I have ordered them from most basic to most advanced.
Basic singular/plural rule. A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb.
✓ The student studies hard. | ✓ The students study hard.
Prepositional phrase rule. A prepositional phrase between subject and verb does not change the verb.
✓ The box of apples is on the table. | ✗ The box of apples are on the table.
Compound subject with “and.” Two or more subjects joined by “and” take a plural verb.
✓ Tom and Maria are classmates. | ✗ Tom and Maria is classmates.
Exception: “and” as a single unit. When two nouns joined by “and” refer to one thing or person, use a singular verb.
✓ Bread and butter is my favorite breakfast. | ✓ The founder and CEO is present.
“Or” / “Nor” rule (proximity rule). When subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
✓ Neither the teacher nor the students were ready. | ✓ Neither the students nor the teacher was ready.
Indefinite pronouns — always singular. Each, every, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, anyone, anybody, no one, nobody, either, neither — always take a singular verb.
✓ Everyone is welcome. | ✗ Everyone are welcome.
Indefinite pronouns — always plural. Both, few, many, others, several — always take a plural verb.
✓ Several students have passed. | ✗ Several students has passed.
Indefinite pronouns — singular or plural. Some, any, none, all, most — singular or plural depending on the noun they refer to.
✓ Some of the water is gone. | ✓ Some of the cookies are gone.
Collective nouns. Words like team, class, committee, family, jury take a singular verb when acting as one unit, plural when members act individually.
✓ The jury has reached a verdict. | ✓ The jury are arguing among themselves.
Titles, names, and works. Titles of books, films, companies, and countries take a singular verb, even if the title is plural in form.
✓ “The Outsiders” is a classic novel. | ✓ The United States has a large economy.
Amounts, distances, and time. Expressions of amount, distance, or time are treated as a single unit and take a singular verb.
✓ Ten kilometers is a long run. | ✓ Fifty dollars is too expensive.
Inverted sentences. When the subject comes after the verb (in questions or sentences starting with “here/there”), find the true subject and match the verb to it.
✓ There are three problems on the test. | ✗ There is three problems on the test.
Relative clause agreement. In a relative clause, the verb agrees with the antecedent (the noun the relative pronoun refers to).
✓ She is one of the students who study late. | ✓ She is the only student who studies late.
Nouns plural in form but singular in meaning. Words like news, mathematics, physics, economics, measles take a singular verb.
✓ The news is shocking. | ✓ Mathematics is my favorite subject.
“The number” vs. “A number.” “The number” is singular; “a number” is plural.
✓ The number of applicants is rising. | ✓ A number of applicants are waiting.
Tricky Cases That Fool Most Students
These are the agreement situations that cause the most confusion — even among strong writers. I have seen each of these appear on standardized tests and in student essays repeatedly.
🔴 Tricky Case 1: “Each” and “Every” Before a Compound Subject
When “each” or “every” precedes a compound subject, the entire subject is treated as singular.
✗ Each boy and girl are responsible for their own work.
🔴 Tricky Case 2: Subjects with “As Well As,” “Along With,” “Together With”
These phrases do not make a compound subject. The verb agrees with the first (main) subject only.
✗ The principal, as well as the teachers, are attending the meeting.
🔴 Tricky Case 3: “None” — Singular or Plural?
“None” can be either singular or plural depending on context. When it means “not one,” use singular. When it means “not any” with a plural noun, plural is acceptable.
✓ None of the students were absent. (not any)
🔴 Tricky Case 4: Fractions and Percentages
With fractions and percentages, the verb agrees with the noun in the “of” phrase.
✓ Two-thirds of the students are passing. (students = plural)
🔴 Tricky Case 5: Linking Verbs with Predicate Nouns
The verb agrees with the subject, not the predicate noun that comes after it.
✗ The biggest problem are the budget cuts.
Common Agreement Errors: Wrong vs. Right
Here are the most frequent agreement errors I see in student writing and on test answer choices. Study these carefully — recognizing the wrong pattern is just as important as knowing the right one.
| ❌ Wrong | ✅ Correct | Rule Broken |
|---|---|---|
| The team are playing well. | The team is playing well. | Collective noun acting as one unit → singular |
| Everyone have a ticket. | Everyone has a ticket. | “Everyone” is always singular |
| The news are shocking. | The news is shocking. | Plural-form noun with singular meaning |
| There is many reasons. | There are many reasons. | Inverted sentence — subject is “reasons” (plural) |
| Neither he nor I are ready. | Neither he nor I am ready. | Proximity rule — verb matches “I” |
| The number of errors are increasing. | The number of errors is increasing. | “The number” is singular |
| Physics are my hardest subject. | Physics is my hardest subject. | Academic subject names are singular |
| Each of the boys have a pen. | Each of the boys has a pen. | “Each” is always singular |
| Five miles are a long walk. | Five miles is a long walk. | Distance as a single unit → singular |
| The jury are still deliberating. | The jury is still deliberating. (acting as one) | Collective noun acting as one unit |
The “there is/are” mistake is the one I see most in student writing — even from students who know the rule. The problem is that “there” feels like a subject, but it is never the subject. The real subject always comes after the verb in these sentences. My fix: whenever you write a sentence starting with “there,” immediately look past the verb to find the real subject, then decide on “is” or “are.” It takes two seconds and eliminates one of the most common errors in English writing.
Quick-Reference: Indefinite Pronoun Agreement Table
Indefinite pronouns are the single biggest source of agreement errors on standardized tests. This table gives you a complete reference in one place.
| Always Singular | Always Plural | Singular or Plural (context-dependent) |
|---|---|---|
| each, every everyone, everybody someone, somebody anyone, anybody no one, nobody everything, something anything, nothing either, neither one, another |
both few many others several |
some, any none, all most, more half, rest plenty |
[IMAGE: Indefinite pronoun agreement chart with color-coded singular and plural groups | ALT: indefinite pronouns subject verb agreement chart singular plural examples]
Real-World Applications of Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement is not just a classroom rule. It shows up in every form of professional and academic communication.
📝 Academic Writing
In research papers and essays, agreement errors distract readers from your argument. Sentences like “The data shows a clear trend” (correct — “data” can be treated as singular in modern academic writing) vs. “The data show” (also acceptable in formal scientific writing) reflect awareness of register and style.
💼 Professional Communication
Business emails, reports, and presentations are judged partly on grammar. A subject-verb agreement error in a client proposal signals carelessness. Correct agreement builds trust and credibility.
🎓 Standardized Tests
On tests like the ACT, SAT, IELTS, and TOEFL, agreement errors are tested directly in grammar sections. The test writers deliberately place distractors — nouns near the verb that are NOT the subject — to catch students who do not identify the true subject first.
🗣 Everyday Speech
While spoken English is more forgiving, agreement errors in formal speech — presentations, interviews, public speaking — can undermine your perceived competence. Correct grammar in speech signals education and attention to detail.
🧠 Interactive Grammar Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
📝 Quick Quiz — Subject-Verb Agreement
Select the correct answer. The correct choice highlights green instantly.
Q1. Choose the correct sentence:
Q2. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Q3. Select the correct option:
✏️ Practice Problems — Reveal the Answer
Problem 1: “The committee [has / have] submitted its report.” — Which is correct and why?
✅ Answer: “has”
The committee is acting as a single unit (submitting one report together), so the collective noun “committee” takes a singular verb. If the members were acting individually, “have” would be acceptable.
Problem 2: “Each of the answers [is / are] worth 5 points.” — Which is correct?
✅ Answer: “is”
“Each” is always singular. The prepositional phrase “of the answers” does not change the subject. The subject is “each” — singular — so the verb must be “is.”
Problem 3: “There [is / are] a dog and two cats in the yard.” — Which is correct?
✅ Answer: “are”
This is an inverted sentence. The true subject is “a dog and two cats” — a compound subject joined by “and,” which is plural. So the verb must be “are.” “There” is never the subject.
Problem 4: “The United Arab Emirates [is / are] a federation of seven emirates.” — Which is correct?
✅ Answer: “is”
Country names, even those that appear plural in form, take a singular verb. “The United Arab Emirates” is one country, so it takes “is.”
Problem 5: “Three-quarters of the budget [has / have] been spent.” — Which is correct?
✅ Answer: “has”
With fractions, the verb agrees with the noun in the “of” phrase. “Budget” is singular, so the verb is “has.” If it were “three-quarters of the funds,” the verb would be “have.”
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is subject-verb agreement?
Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that a verb must match its subject in number (singular or plural) and person. A singular subject takes a singular verb form, and a plural subject takes a plural verb form. For example: “She writes” (singular) and “They write” (plural). It is one of the most fundamental rules in English grammar and is tested on virtually every standardized English exam.
What are the most common subject-verb agreement errors?
The most common errors include: matching the verb to the nearest noun instead of the true subject, treating collective nouns as plural when they act as a unit, using plural verbs with indefinite pronouns like “everyone” and “each,” misapplying the “or/nor” proximity rule, and using plural verbs with singular-meaning nouns like “news” and “mathematics.”
Is “everyone” singular or plural in subject-verb agreement?
“Everyone” is always singular and takes a singular verb. Correct: “Everyone is ready.” Incorrect: “Everyone are ready.” The same rule applies to everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, anyone, anybody, no one, nobody, each, either, and neither — all always singular. This is one of the most tested grammar rules on standardized exams worldwide.
How do compound subjects affect verb agreement?
Compound subjects joined by “and” usually take a plural verb: “Tom and Maria are friends.” But when joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to it (the proximity rule): “Neither the teacher nor the students were prepared.” If the closer subject is singular, use a singular verb: “Neither the students nor the teacher was prepared.”
Do collective nouns take singular or plural verbs?
Collective nouns like “team,” “class,” “committee,” “family,” and “jury” usually take a singular verb when the group acts as one unit: “The team is winning.” They take a plural verb when members act individually or separately: “The team are arguing among themselves.” In most academic and formal writing contexts, the singular form is the safer and more common choice.
What is the rule for subjects separated from their verb by a phrase?
Always identify the true subject and ignore any words between the subject and verb, especially prepositional phrases. Example: “The box of chocolates is on the table.” The subject is “box” (singular), not “chocolates,” so the verb is “is.” A quick test: mentally cross out the phrase between commas or between “of” and the verb, then check agreement with what remains.
How does subject-verb agreement work in questions and sentences starting with “there”?
In questions and sentences starting with “there” or “here,” the subject comes after the verb. Find the real subject and match the verb to it. Example: “There are three books on the shelf.” The subject is “books” (plural), so the verb is “are.” “There” is never the subject — it is an expletive placeholder. This is one of the most common errors in everyday writing.
📌 Key Takeaways
- Always find the true subject first — ignore prepositional phrases and other distractors.
- Singular subject → singular verb; plural subject → plural verb. Always.
- Indefinite pronouns like each, every, everyone, either, neither are always singular.
- Compound subjects with “and” take plural verbs; with “or/nor”, match the nearest subject.
- Collective nouns are singular when the group acts as one unit.
- Titles, country names, academic subjects (news, mathematics, physics), amounts, and distances are treated as singular.
- “The number of” is singular; “a number of” is plural.
- In inverted sentences (there is/are, questions), find the subject after the verb.
- Phrases like “as well as,” “along with,” and “together with” do NOT create compound subjects.
- For fractions and percentages, the verb agrees with the noun in the “of” phrase.