Subject – Verb Agreement Rules

Subjects Joined by “and”… When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, You almost always should use a plural verb. You can replace the subjects with the pronoun they, and you will always get the right answer. Ex: She and her friends (is, are) at the fair. Answer: They (are) at the fair.

Exceptions to That Rule… Rarely, but sometimes, two subjects joined by and represent one object. If that is the case, you should use a singular verb. You can replace the subjects with he, she, or it, and the sentence will work. Ex: Ice cream and cake (is, are) my favorite dessert. Answer: It (is) my favorite dessert. since the SC = one dessert, then the subject must be singular.

Compound Subjects Preceded by Each, Every, Many a, or No… When you have two subjects joined by “and” but preceded by “each” or “every”, “many a”, or “no”, you should use a singular verb. You can replace the subject with “he”, “she”, or “it” and it will work. Ex: Every aunt and uncle (was, were) at the reunion. He (was) at the reunion. Ex: Each lion and tiger (is, are) dangerous. It (is) dangerous.

Subjects Joined by “or” or “nor”, When a compound subject is joined by “or” or “nor”, the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearer the verb. If it is singular, replace with “he”, “she”, or “it.” If it is plural replace with “they.” Ex: The boy or his friends (runs, run) every day. They (run) every day. Ex: His friends or the boy (runs, run) every day. He (runs) every day.

Sentences Beginning with “There” In sentences beginning with “there is” or “there are”, the verb agrees with the word/words that follows the verb. Ex: There are many questions. Ex: There is a question.

Collective Nouns Collective nouns are words that imply more than one person but that are considered singular and usually take a singular verb, such as: group, team, committee, class, and family. You can replace the subject with “he”, “she”, or “it.” Ex: The class (want, wants) a recess. He (wants) a recess.

Exceptions to That Rule… In some rare cases, a sentence may call for the use of a plural verb when using a collective noun. The crew are preparing to dock the ship. This sentence is referring to the individual efforts of each crew member.

Singular Indefinite Pronouns The indefinite pronouns that end in “one”, “body”, or “thing” are always singular and, therefore, require singular verbs. You can replace them with “he”, “she” or “it” and it will always work. Ex: Everyone (has, have) done homework. He (has) done homework.

Plural Indefinite Pronouns Plural indefinite pronouns such as: some, many, few, several, are plural and can be replaced with “they” to use with the plural verb. Ex: Several of the girls (swim, swims) on the team. They (swim) on the team.

Distributive Pronouns The pronouns each, neither and either are singular and require singular verbs even though they seem to be referring, in a sense, to two things. You can replace it with “he”, “she”, or “it” and it will work. Ex: Neither of the two traffic lights (is, are) working. It is working. Ex: Either shirt (is, are) fine with me. It is fine with me.

Doesn’t and Don’t in 3rd person…. If the subject is in 3rd person “doesn’t” is correct for singular & “don’t” is correct for plurals. Ex: The girls (doesn’t, don’t) play often. They don’t play often. Ex: The girl (doesn’t, don’t) play often. She doesn’t play often.

Doesn’t & Don’t in 1st & 2nd Person… In the first and second person “”don’t is the correct form to always use. Ex: I don’t like coffee. (1st person) Ex: You don’t like coffee. (2nd person)

Phrases between the Subject & Verb You should ignore any phrases between the subject and verb, remembering to just look at the subject. Ex: Everyone of the girls (is, are) tired. She (is) tired. Ex: Melody, as well as her sisters, (like, likes) running. She (likes) running.

Special Singular Subjects Some nouns that may look plural actually use a singular verb. They can be replace with “he”, “she”, or “it” and it will always work. Ex: aeronautics, athletics, civics, economics, mathematics, physics, measles, mumps, news, molasses. Ex: Mumps (is, are) contagious. It (is) contagious.

Special Plural Subjects Some other nouns are always considered plural and should be used with a plural noun. You can replace them with the pronoun “they” and it will always work. Ex: pincers, pliers, scales, scissors, shears, tongs, tweezers, clothes, glasses, trousers, suspenders, ashes, proceeds, thanks Ex: The pliers (are, is) in the shed. They (are) in the shed.

Practice: 1. (Doesn’t, Don’t) my brother look nice? 2. (Doesn’t, Don’t) we make a nice couple?

Answers: 1. (Doesn’t, Don’t) my brother look nice? Since “brother “ is singular, we can say: he doesn’t. 2. (Doesn’t, Don’t) we make a nice couple? Since “we” is plural, we can say: they don’t.

Practice: 1. Everyone of the toys (lay, lays) under the tree. 2. Several of the toys (lay, lays) under the tree.

Answers 1. Everyone of the toys (lay, lays) under the tree. Since everyone is a singular indefinite pronoun, you can replace it with “it” : It lays under the tree. 2. Several of the toys (lay, lays) under the tree. Since several is a plural indefinite pronoun, you can replace it with “they” : They lay under the tree.

Practice My mother and father (like, likes) the new car. Black and blue (is, are) my favorite color combination.

Answers My mother and father (like, likes) the new car. Since the subjects are joined by “and” and represent two different objects, you can replace them with “they”. They like the new car. Black and blue (is, are) my favorite color combination. Although the subjects are joined by “and” they represent one combination (singular SC). You should replace with “it” to find the subject. It is my favorite color combination. Remember: this is a rare exception.

Practice There (is, are) twenty students in the class. Scissors (is, are) dangerous when running. The flock of sheep (graze, grazes) in the field.

Answers There (is, are) twenty students in the class. There (are) 20 students… since students is plural, you should use: they are. Scissors (is, are) dangerous when running. Scissors (are) dangerous… since scissors is plural, you should use: they are. The flock of sheep (graze, grazes) in the field. The flock of sheep (grazes)….. Since flock is a singular collective noun, you should use: it grazes.

Practice The girls or the boy (like, likes) science best. Each of the cars (race, races) down the street. Every boy and girl (make, makes) a toy.

Answers The girls or the boy (like, likes) science best. Since subjects are joined by “or” use the one closest to the verb: boy likes science best. Each of the cars (race, races) down the street. Since the subject is a singular distributive pronoun, you can use: It races. Every boy and girl (make, makes) a toy. The two subjects joined by “and” have “every” in front of them, which makes the subject singular. You can use: he makes a toy.