Subject/Verb Agreement

1. The subject and verb must match, even if they aren’t next to each other.            

• EXAMPLE: The group of researchers is working on the study.
  • Singular noun: group refers to singular verb: is
• *tip: Always ignore the nouns in prepositional phrases when determining if it’s single or plural.

2. Subject joined by and take on a plural verb.

• EXAMPLE: The students and teachers were talking on the lawn.
  • Plural nouns: students, teachers refers to the plural verb: talking
• *tip: When phrases refer to individual items such as “each student” or “every animal” always use a singular verb.

3. When the nouns are separated by or or nor look to the last noun to determine if verb is singular or plural.

• EXAMPLE: Neither the players or the coach wanted to run five miles.
  • Singular noun: participant refers to the singular verb: run
• EXAMPLE: Either the class or the instructors clean the lunch tables.
  • Plural noun: instructors refer to the plural verb: clean

4. Collective nouns (team, couple, employees) always take on a single verb.

• EXAMPLE: The team decided to go to the championship.
  • Singular noun: team refers to the singular verb: go

5. Connectives, or items connected with phrases such as combined, coupled by, accompanied by, do not change the number of items.

• EXAMPLE: Vinegar, combined with oil, makes a great salad dressing.
  • Singular noun: vinegar refers to singular verb: makes

6. Indefinite pronouns such as: “anything, anywhere, anybody, anyone, each, either, neither, everyone, everybody, nobody, somebody, someone” are singular.

• EXAMPLE: Each researcher is excited about the project.
  • Singular noun: each refers to singular verb: is

7. Concerning fraction, the verb agrees with the whole item.

• EXAMPLE: One-fourth of the cookies are gone.
  • Plural noun: cookies refers to plural verb: are

8. Items such as scissors or trousers are singular even though they are a pair.

• EXAMPLE: The scissors is in the drawer.
  • Singular noun: scissors refer to singular noun: is

9. Plural form subject are usually singular in a title.

• EXAMPLE: Mathematics is important to daily life.
  • Singular noun: mathematics refers to singular verb: is

10. “They” can be single if referring to a single person or plural if referring to a group of people.

• EXAMPLE: There are many students. They are ready to begin the race.
  • Plural noun: they refers to the plural noun: are