Subject and Verb Agreement

October 18, 2025

Posted by STLCC in Writing Resources 

Every complete sentence must have a subject and a verb, which can be either singular or plural in form. Logically, a singular verb should be used with a singular subject and a plural verb with a plural subject. This resource shows how to ensure that the subject and verb of a sentence match in number, using singular or plural forms of verbs. 

Examples:

• A protest march takes time to organize. 
• Dilemmas take time to solve. 
• Evelyn and Durand take the bus to work. 

In the subject, the “s” ending indicates that the subject is plural, and in the verb the “s” ending indicates that the verb is in the third person singular, i.e. he, she, it, one.  Although this case of subject-verb agreement is quite simple, there are some instances in which it is not so easy to be sure of agreement. 

Rule 1: Words between the subject and verb

Words that come between a subject and its verb, such as prepositional phrases, do not change the number of the subject. 

Examples:

• The team with the siblings plays at noon. 
• The employees in the office work long hours. 

Also, the number of the subject is not changed by expressions introduced by such words as “together with,” “in addition to,” “including,” “except,” “as well as,” etc. 

Examples:

• Professor Tobin, as well as her students, was surprised. 
• The President, together with the lobbyists, has left for vacation.  

Rule 2: Subjects joined by either/or or neither/nor

When subjects are joined by “either...or,” “neither...nor,” “not only...but also,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. 

Examples:

• Neither Seon nor his sisters like to study. 
• Either the captains or the umpire calls time out. 

Subjects joined by “and” are usually plural and take a plural verb. However, when “each” or “every” precedes singular subjects joined by “and,” a singular verb should be used.

Examples:

• Soungyoung and Manny exercise every day.
• Every person has the right to vote.

Rule 3: Sentences beginning with "there is" or "here is"

In sentences beginning with “here is,” “there is,” and “where is,” be especially careful to look ahead and determine the subject. Make it and the verb agree. 

Examples:

• There are forty members in the commune. 
• Here is an eroded hillside. 

The introductory “it” is always followed by a singular verb. 

Examples:

• It is the most appropriate gift possible.
• It is the citizens who will make the nation strong. 

The title of a written work, even when plural in form, takes a singular verb.

Examples:

• The Grapes of Wrath is one of Steinbeck’s best works.
• The New York Times prints all the news fit to print.

Rule 4: Indefinite pronouns

When used as subjects, “each,” “every,” “everyone,” “everybody,” “anybody,” “nobody,” “someone,” “somebody,” “something,” “everything,” “either,” “neither,” and “nothing” regularly take singular verbs. 

Examples:

• Everyone is fascinated with space exploration. 
• Each of us lives a rather complex existence. 

“None,” “some,” “any,” and “all” may be either singular or plural.

Examples:

• None are so appreciative as those who have little.
• None is so appreciative as he who has little.

 “Class,” “number,” “family,” “group,” and other collective subjects take a singular verb when the subject is regarded as a unit.  A singular verb is used when the subject is regarded as a unit.  A plural verb is used when the subject refers to the individuals of a gro

Examples:

• The whole family is going on the trip.
• The family have gone their separate ways. 

Rule 5: Amounts and special nouns

Words stating an amount (time, money, weight, etc.) are usually singular and take a singular verb. 

Examples:

• Two weeks is the usual vacation.
• Six ounces of cough syrup is what I ordered.

Subjects that are plural in form but singular in meaning usually take singular verbs. These include “economics,” “civics,” “mathematics,” “physics,” “news,” “measles,” “mumps,” “ethics.” 

Examples:

• Economics is my favorite subject.
• Measles is a common childhood disease.

Words such as “trousers,” “scissors,” “eyeglasses,” “thanks,” “riches,” and “means” usually take a plural verb.

Examples:

• The scissors are on the table.
• The millionaire’s riches are to be given to charity.