SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
1. PLURAL SUBJECTS (end in s/es) need
PLURAL VERBS:
The cats are black.
2. SINGULAR SUBJECTS (DO NOT END IN
S/ES): need singular verbs (end in s/es
for singular)
The cat is black.
3. Don’t be mislead by confusing sounding
endings:
The painting consists of bright colors.
4. Don’t be mislead by "clutter" between the
subject and its verb:
The book on the table between the two
chairs is new.
5. TWO SINGULAR SUBJECTS joined by AND are
PLURAL:
Tom and John are here.
6. TWO SINGULAR SUBJECTS joined by OR are
SINGULAR:
Either Tom or John is here.
7. When a SINGULAR subject is joined to a PLURAL
subject with "OR" the verb agrees with the
SUBJECT CLOSEST TO THE VERB:
Tom or his parents have arrived.
His parents or Tom has arrived.
8. Don’t be confused by THERE and inverted
sentences (verb before subject)
There are three cats in the barn. In the barn are
three cats.
9. A RELATIVE PRONOUN has the same number as
the noun it renames:
The cake which is stale has been eaten.
The cupcakes which are fresh are still here.
10. EITHER, NEITHER, EACH, ONE, ANYONE, EVERYONE,
and SOMEONE all refer to one person at a time and
so are SINGULAR:
Each person is responsible for his own homework.
Everyone takes his own test.
11. COLLECTIVE NOUNS are singular when they refer
to the whole group together but plural when
they refer to each person in the group:
My family celebrates Halloween with a party.
My family have their own costumes.
12. LINKING VERBS agree with the subject not the
predicate nominative (after the verb):
The problem is frequent headaches.
Frequent headaches are the problem.
13. TITLES, WORDS AS WORDS, AND CERTAIN NOUNS
THAT ALWAYS END IN "S" are SINGULAR:
"Two Gentlemen of Verona" is a play by
Shakespeare.
News travels fast.
"Kids" is informal for children.