Subject-Verb Agreement: Making the Verb Match
Which form of the verb goes with which subject — including the tricky cases where the subject is not the word sitting next to the verb.
The basic rule is simple. The marks are lost on the cases where the subject is harder to find than it looks.
The basic rule
Singular subject → singular verb. Plural subject → plural verb.
- The dog barks. / The dogs bark.
- She has a car. / They have a car.
Note the oddity: in the present simple, it is the singular that takes the -s, the opposite of nouns.
Trap 1: words between the subject and the verb
The verb agrees with the subject, not with whatever noun happens to be nearest.
The box of chocolates is on the table. (the box is, not the chocolates)
The results of the survey were surprising. (the results were)
The fix — mentally delete everything between the subject and the verb. The box … is. That is the agreement, and it survives however long the phrase in the middle gets.
Phrases introduced by as well as, along with, together with, in addition to also don't change the subject:
- ✅ The manager, as well as the assistants, is attending.
Trap 2: uncountable nouns that look plural
News, information, advice, furniture, luggage, money, research are singular in English.
❌ The news are bad. ✅ The news is bad.
❌ These informations are useful. ✅ This information is useful.
The subjects mathematics, physics, economics, politics work the same way, despite the -s: Physics is hard.
And two that look singular but aren't
Things made of two parts take a plural verb: trousers, jeans, glasses, scissors.
- ✅ My glasses are on the desk. (to make them singular you need a pair of glasses is)
Trap 3: each, every, everyone
All singular, however many people are involved.
- Everyone is here. (not are)
- Each of the students has a folder.
The same goes for somebody, nobody, anything, neither: Neither of them was available.
Trap 4: there is / there are
The verb agrees with what comes after it.
- There is a problem. / There are problems.
- With a list, it follows the first item: There is a table and four chairs.
Trap 5: and vs or
- A and B → plural: Tom and Sara are coming.
- A or B → agrees with the nearer one: Either the manager or the assistants are coming.
Trap 6: collective nouns
Team, family, company, government, staff, class describe one group of several people, and English lets you choose:
| Example | Emphasis | |
|---|---|---|
| singular | The team is playing well. | the unit |
| plural | The team are arguing among themselves. | the individuals |
British English uses the plural far more freely than American English does. Either is defensible — but stay consistent within one piece of writing.
Trap 7: an action as the subject
When the subject is an -ing form or a whole clause, it counts as one thing, so the verb is singular.
- ✅ Reading books is relaxing. (not are, even though books is plural)
- ✅ What we need now is more time.
Trap 8: a number of / the number of
These two look alike and behave oppositely.
- A number of students are waiting. (means "several" → plural)
- The number of students is falling. (the number itself → singular)
With a lot of, most of, half of, some of, the noun after of decides: Half of the cake is gone. / Half of the guests have left.
Test yourself
The quiz below is built almost entirely from the traps.