What Is Subject-Verb Agreement? Rules and Examples

The subject-verb agreement is one of the most important English grammar rules. It ensures that the subject and verb in a sentence match in number – whether singular or plural. 

Mastering this rule is key to writing clear and correct sentences, so it’s important to know it inside out! 

Ready to master the subject-verb agreement? Let’s get started. 

What is Subject-Verb Agreement?

Simply put, subject-verb agreement (or concord) means that the verb must match the subject in number. A singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb. 

• Singular subject: The cat runs across the yard. (subject: the cat, verb: runs)

• Plural subject: The cats run across the yard. (subject: the cats, verb: run)

Do you see how the subject agrees with the verb in these examples? 

A great rule to bear in mind is that:  If the subject doesn’t end with an ‘s’ the verb usually does. However, if the subject ends with an ‘s’ the verb typically won’t.

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, which we’ll discuss later, but it’s a good place to start. 

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

1. Singular Subject, Singular Verb

• If your subject is singular, your verb should be singular as well. Add an -s or -es to the verb in most cases.

• Example: The dog barks at strangers.

 2. Plural Subject, Plural Verb

• Use a plural verb with a plural subject. Plural verbs typically do not end in -s.

• Example: The dogs bark at strangers.

3. Compound Subjects

• When two or more subjects are joined by and, they usually take a plural verb.

• Example: Tom and Jerry are always fighting.

• When a sentence has more than one subject per verb, (a compound subject) that refers to the same person or thing, use a singular verb.

• Example: Macaroni and cheese is my favourite dish.

4. Subjects Joined by Or or Nor

• When subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the subject closest to it.

• Example: Neither the teacher nor the students were prepared for the test.

• Example: Either the cats or the dog is making noise.

Irregular Cases in the Subject-Verb Agreement

1. Indefinite Pronouns

• Pronouns like everyone, someone, each, everybody, and nobody are treated as singular and take singular verbs.

• Example: Everyone loves ice cream. 

• Example: Each of the players is ready.

2. Collective Nouns

• Collective nouns like team, family, and group can be singular or plural depending on the context. In British English, collective nouns are often treated as plural when referring to individuals within the group.

• Example (singular): The team is playing well this season.

• Example (plural): The team are arguing among themselves.

3. Nouns That Look Plural but Are Singular

• Some nouns end in -s but are actually singular, such as news, mathematics, and measles. These take singular verbs.

• Example: The news is on at six o’clock.

• Example: Mathematics is my least favourite subject.

4. Uncountable Nouns

Uncountable nouns, also known as mass nouns, refer to substances, concepts, or things that cannot be counted (e.g., water, furniture, information). These nouns always take a singular verb.

• Example: The information is helpful. 

• Example: The furniture was expensive. 

Even though uncountable nouns may look plural (because they mean a collection of something), they always require a singular verb.

4. Phrases Between Subject and Verb

• A phrase between the subject and the verb doesn’t change the subject-verb agreement. Ensure the verb still agrees with the subject, not the intervening phrase.

• Example: The box of chocolates is delicious. 

• Example: The car, along with its passengers, was damaged in the accident.

6. Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs don’t follow the same rules as many of other other verbs we’ve looked at in the subject-verb agreement. Let’s look at some of the most common, including auxiliary verbs: 

Auxiliary verbs (also known as helping verbs) such as have, be, and do help follow specific subject-verb agreement rules, particularly when used in the third-person singular.

1. Have becomes has:

• He has finished the book. (not He have finished the book)

• She has a meeting later today.

2. Do becomes does:

• He does his homework every night. (not He do his homework)

• She does not agree with the proposal.

3. Be verbs change as well:

• He is going to the store. (for he, she, it—use is)

• She was at the party yesterday. (for he, she, it—use was in the past tense)

Auxiliary verbs are crucial when forming questions or negatives, especially in the third-person singular:

• Does he know the answer? (Notice how do becomes does)

• She doesn’t want to go. (does not becomes doesn’t)

7. Modal Verbs

Modal verbs (a type of auxiliary verb) such as can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, and must behave differently. They remain the same regardless of the subject.

• He can jump. (The verb can remains the same, regardless of whether the subject is he, she, it, or they.)

• She will attend the meeting. (Modal verbs like will do not add -s or -es in the third person.)

But have you noticed that the modal verb in the sentence changes the form of the main verb? Normally it would be ‘he jumps’, or ‘she attends the meeting’ but the main verb loses its ‘s’ with the addition of the modal verb. 

This is because auxiliary verbs, like can, do affect the form of the main verb by requiring it to stay in its base form, regardless of subject-verb agreement.

Subject-Verb Agreement FAQ

1. What happens if I use the wrong verb form?

• Incorrect subject-verb agreement can make your writing look unprofessional and confuse your reader. It’s an easy mistake to overlook, but double checking that your verb and subject agree is a simple way to ensure clear writing.

2. What if the subject is far apart from the verb in the sentence?

• Even if other words come between the subject and verb, the subject still controls the verb. Always ensure that the verb and subject agree, regardless of intervening phrases.

3. What if there is more than one verb in the sentence? 

When there is more than one verb in a sentence, each verb must agree with its corresponding subject. In complex sentences with multiple clauses, each subject-verb pair should follow the subject-verb agreement rules.

For example:

• ‘The cat runs around the garden and chases birds.’

Here, the singular subject “cat” agrees with both singular verbs “runs” and “chases.”

You Now Know How To Make Your Subject and Verb Agree!

Mastering subject-verb agreement is essential for clear and professional writing, whether you’re writing an academic paper, a novel, or everyday emails.

Understanding the difference between singular and plural subjects, knowing how to choose the correct plural or singular form of the verb and, of course, ensuring that your subject follows the verb will ensure your sentences are grammatically correct. 

While it may seem like a lot to remember, consistent practice with these rules will make subject-verb agreement second nature in no time!