Subject-Verb Agreement Rules and Examples

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules and Examples

1. Singular subjects take singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs.
2. Subject and verb must agree in number (singular or plural).
3. Words such as “each,” “everyone,” “someone,” and “anybody” are

singular and take a singular verb.

singular and take a singular verb.

4. When subjects are joined by and, they take a plural verb. But when they refer to a single entity, they take a singular verb.

5. When subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject closer to it.

25 Examples of Subject-Verb Agreement:

1. She runs every morning. (singular subject, singular verb)

2. They run every morning. (plural subject, plural verb)

3. The book is on the table. (singular subject, singular verb)
4. The books are on the table. (plural subject, plural verb)
5. Everyone wants to be successful. (singular subject, singular verb)
6. The committee decides tomorrow. (singular collective noun, singular verb)
7. The team members have different roles. (plural subject, plural verb)
8. Each of the students has a textbook. (singular subject, singular verb)
9. Neither the teacher nor the students were prepared. (verb agrees with nearest subject – students)
10. Neither the students nor the teacher was prepared. (verb agrees with nearest subject – teacher)
11. The dog or the cats are making noise. (verb agrees with nearest subject – cats)
12. The cat or the dogs run fast. (verb agrees with nearest subject – dogs)
13. My family loves going to the beach. (singular collective noun, singular verb)
14. The crowd is getting restless. (singular collective noun, singular verb)
15. The police are investigating the case. (plural noun, plural verb)
16. There is a problem with the machine. (singular subject, singular verb)
17. There are many problems to solve. (plural subject, plural verb)
18. Mathematics is difficult for some students. (singular subject, singular verb)
19. The news was surprising. (singular subject, singular verb)
20. John and Mary are going to the party. (plural subject, plural verb)
21. Either the teacher or the student has to present. (singular subject, singular verb)
22. One of the girls is singing. (singular subject, singular verb)
23. The number of students is decreasing. (singular subject, singular verb)
24. A number of students are waiting outside. (plural subject, plural verb)
25. The committee are having different opinions on the matter. (plural verb for collective noun treated as plural)