One of the most common errors ESL and EFL learners make is failing to match the subject with the correct form of the verb — a concept known as subject-verb agreement, or concord. Whether you are writing an email, an essay, or speaking in everyday conversation, getting this right makes your English sound natural and confident. In this lesson, you will learn every important rule with clear examples so you never make this mistake again.
📘 What You Will Learn
- What subject-verb agreement (concord) means and why it matters
- All key rules of concord with examples for ESL learners
- Common mistakes learners make and how to avoid them
- Practice exercises with a full answer key to test yourself
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What Is Subject-Verb Agreement (Concord) in English Grammar?
Subject-verb agreement, also called concord, is the grammatical rule that the verb in a sentence must match its subject in number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third). When the subject and verb do not match, the sentence sounds ungrammatical and confusing to native speakers.
📘 Rule 1
A singular subject takes a singular verb. A plural subject takes a plural verb.
✅ She works hard every day. (singular subject → singular verb)
✅ They work hard every day. (plural subject → plural verb)
❌ She work hard every day. (wrong)
Why Subject-Verb Agreement Matters for ESL Learners
Errors in concord are immediately noticeable to native English speakers and can affect the clarity of your writing and speaking. Mastering these rules will help you score higher on exams like IELTS and TOEFL, write better essays, and communicate more confidently in real-life situations.
When you are unsure about agreement, try replacing the subject with he/she/it (singular) or they (plural). This often makes the correct verb form immediately clear.
The Core Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement with Examples
Rule 1: Singular and Plural Subjects
This is the foundation of concord. A singular subject (one person or thing) uses a singular verb, and a plural subject (more than one) uses a plural verb.
📘 Rule 1
Singular subjects take verbs ending in -s or -es in the simple present. Plural subjects take the base form of the verb.
✅ The dog barks loudly.
✅ The dogs bark loudly.
✅ My brother plays football.
✅ My brothers play football.
Rule 2: Compound Subjects Joined by "And"
When two subjects are joined by and, the subject is usually treated as plural and takes a plural verb.
📘 Rule 2
Two or more subjects connected by and take a plural verb. Exception: when both subjects refer to the same person or thing, a singular verb is used.
✅ Tom and Jerry are friends.
✅ Rice and curry is my favourite meal. (same dish — treated as one)
✅ The teacher and the principal have arrived.
Rule 3: Subjects Joined by "Or" / "Nor" / "Either…Or" / "Neither…Nor"
When subjects are joined by or, nor, either…or, or neither…nor, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. This is called the proximity rule.
📘 Rule 3
The verb agrees with the subject nearest to it when subjects are connected by or, nor, either…or, or neither…nor.
✅ Either the manager or the staff are responsible.
✅ Either the staff or the manager is responsible.
✅ Neither the students nor the teacher was present.
Rule 4: Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects
Indefinite pronouns can be tricky. Some are always singular, some are always plural, and some can be either depending on context.
| Type |
Pronouns |
Verb |
| Always Singular |
everyone, someone, anyone, nobody, each, either, neither, one |
Singular verb |
| Always Plural |
both, few, many, others, several |
Plural verb |
| Singular or Plural |
all, any, most, none, some |
Depends on context |
📘 Rule 4
Indefinite pronouns like everyone, each, and nobody are always singular and take a singular verb.
✅ Everyone is welcome here.
✅ Nobody knows the answer.
✅ Each of the students has a book.
✅ Both of them are correct.
Rule 5: Collective Nouns as Subjects
Collective nouns name a group of people or things. In American English, they almost always take a singular verb. In British English, they can take either a singular or plural verb depending on whether the group acts as one unit or as individuals.
📘 Rule 5
A collective noun acting as a single unit takes a singular verb. If the members act individually, a plural verb may be used (especially in British English).
✅ The team is ready to play. (acting as one unit)
✅ The committee has made its decision.
✅ The jury were divided in their opinions. (British English — acting individually)
Rule 6: Subjects with Intervening Phrases
Sometimes a phrase comes between the subject and the verb. This phrase does not change the verb — the verb must still agree with the main subject, not with the noun in the intervening phrase.
📘 Rule 6
Phrases introduced by along with, as well as, together with, in addition to, or including do not change the number of the main subject.
✅ The teacher, along with her students, is attending the seminar.
✅ John, as well as his friends, was invited to the party.
✅ The principal, together with the staff, has approved the plan.
❌ The teacher, along with her students, are attending the seminar. — Wrong! The main subject is teacher (singular).
❌ John, as well as his friends, were invited. — Wrong! The main subject is John (singular).
Rule 7: Nouns Plural in Form but Singular in Meaning
Some nouns look plural because they end in -s, but they are actually singular in meaning and take a singular verb.
📘 Rule 7
Subjects like news, mathematics, physics, economics, politics, and athletics are singular in meaning and always take a singular verb.
✅ The news is shocking.
✅ Mathematics is my favourite subject.
✅ Politics has always been a complex field.
❌ The news are shocking. — Wrong!
Rule 8: "There Is" and "There Are" Constructions
In sentences beginning with there is or there are, the real subject comes after the verb. The verb must agree with that subject, not with the word there.
📘 Rule 8
Use there is when the subject that follows is singular. Use there are when the subject that follows is plural.
✅ There is a problem with your work.
✅ There are many problems with your work.
✅ There is a cat on the roof.
✅ There are three cats on the roof.
Rule 9: Titles, Names, and Fixed Expressions
Titles of books, films, songs, or fixed expressions — even if they look plural — take a singular verb because they refer to one single work or idea.
📘 Rule 9
Titles, names of organisations, countries, and fixed expressions are treated as single units and take a singular verb.
✅ "The Chronicles of Narnia" is a classic novel series.
✅ The United States has a large economy.
✅ Twenty dollars is not enough for this item.
Rule 10: Relative Pronouns (Who, Which, That) as Subjects
When who, which, or that are used as the subject of a relative clause, the verb agrees with the antecedent — the noun the pronoun refers to.
📘 Rule 10
The verb in a relative clause agrees with the noun (antecedent) that the relative pronoun refers to.
✅ She is one of the students who work hard. (who refers to students — plural)
✅ He is the only student who works hard. (who refers to student — singular)
✅ The book that is on the table belongs to me.
Complete Rules of Subject Verb Agreement with Examples
The Singular Subject Rules
🖊 From the Teacher
In my classroom, I find that many learners struggle with the third-person singular "s." I always remind my students that when the subject is just one person or thing, the verb usually needs that extra 's' to be complete in the present tense.
📘 Rule 1
Singular nouns and pronouns that denote one person or thing always agree with singular verbs (is, was, has, does, v5).
- Lisa types 50 words a minute.
- She is absolutely furious with me.
- He has not done anything wrong.
- It is a difficult question.
- His friend looks funny to me.
- The earth goes round the sun.
- Sarah was watching TV.
- The child has got a tummy ache.
- The book does not contain good stories.
- Does the bus stop here?
- Is she busy at the moment?
- Has he gone out for shopping?
- The man was swimming in the river.
- A book is on the table.
- There is a wooden bench in the park.
- This is my new dress.
To check your work, try replacing a singular noun with the pronouns He, She, or It. If the sentence still sounds correct with the verb, you have likely followed the rule correctly!
The Plural Subject Rules
🖊 From the Teacher
One thing I always tell my students is to watch out for nouns that look like singular words but act as plurals—like "police" or "cattle." These often trip up even advanced learners in the classroom!
📘 Rule 2
Plural nouns and pronouns that denote more than one person or thing always agree with plural verbs (are, were, have, do, v1).
- Lisa and Mona type 50 words a minute.
- They are absolutely furious with me.
- They have not done anything wrong.
- They are difficult questions.
- His friends look funny to me.
- All the planets go round the sun.
- Sarah and Jane were watching TV.
- The children have got a tummy ache.
- The books do not contain good stories.
- Do the buses stop here?
- Are they busy at the moment?
- Have they gone out for shopping?
- The men were swimming in the river.
- Some books are on the table.
- There are two wooden benches in the park.
- These are my old boots.
- All these knives are very old.
- My feet are aching.
- The oxen are grazing in the field.
- His shorts are ruined.
- Her spectacles were very heavy.
- The scissors are too blunt.
- The police have made several arrests.
- The cattle are being fed well.
Grammar Review: Understanding Plural Forms
| Category | Examples |
| Regular Plurals | books, cats, boys, buses, benches, babies, ladies, leaves, knives, potatoes, photos, zoos |
| Irregular Plurals | feet, teeth, mice, lice, oxen, geese, children, men, women |
| Always Plural (No singular form) | pants, shorts, trousers, scissors, tongs, forceps, clothes, thanks, stairs, spectacles |
| Collective Plurals (Look singular) | police, people, cattle, gentry, public, vermin, poultry |
When a subject consists of two or more nouns joined by "and" (like Lisa and Mona), it is always treated as plural and requires a plural verb.
Indefinite Pronouns
🖊 From the Teacher
One of the trickiest things for my students to remember is that words like "Everyone" or "Each" are actually singular. Even though they sound like they talk about many people, grammatically they refer to individuals one by one!
📘 Rule 3
Certain indefinite pronouns (like each, either, neither, everyone, someone, nobody) are always singular and must agree with a singular verb. However, other pronouns (like both, few, many, several) are always plural.
Singular Indefinite Pronouns
- Either party has the right to sign the contract.
- Anybody who is good at computer typing can apply.
- Somebody has broken that bench.
- Everybody is ready to do it.
- Nobody knows what’s going on.
- Each class is 45 minutes in length.
- Neither answer was correct.
- Anyone has the right to be a member.
- Someone was screaming for help.
- Everyone needs a little downtime.
- No one believes a word she says.
- One tries one’s best.
- Something is jamming the machine.
- Everything was going according to plan.
- Nothing is going right for me today.
- Each and every student has a textbook.
- Every letter was carefully checked.
- Each of the girls sings well.
- Neither of the boys is interested.
- One of my friends wants to meet the Principal.
Plural Indefinite Pronouns
- Both men were charged.
- Few people live to be 100.
- A few students are not interested.
- Many students have passed the test.
- Several candidates were called for an interview.
- Others have met similar problems.
Indefinite Pronoun Classification with Examples
| Category |
Pronouns |
Example Sentence |
| Always Singular |
Each, Everyone, Nobody, Either, Someone, Everything |
Everyone is excited for the lesson. |
| Always Plural |
Both, Few, Many, Several, Others |
Several were invited to the meeting. |
Do not be confused by the word "of" followed by a plural noun. For example:
❌ One of my friends want to stay.
✅ One of my friends wants to stay. (The subject is "One," not "friends").
To easily identify plural indefinite pronouns, remember the acronym F.A.M.B.O.S.: Few, A (few), Many, Both, Others, Several.
Uncountable Nouns
🖊 From the Teacher
In my experience, words like "Furniture" or "Information" are the most common traps for learners. Even if you have ten pieces of news, the word "News" stays singular. I always tell my students: if you can't count it individually, treat it as one single unit!
📘 Rule 4
Uncountable nouns are always singular. They do not have a plural form and must always agree with singular verbs (is, was, has, does, v5).
- Water freezes at 32°F.
- Coffee was served during the intermission.
- Air is a mixture of gases.
- Hydrogen is highly explosive.
- Rice is the biggest export.
- Salt dissolves in water.
- Sugar is the destroyer of healthy teeth.
- Gold is very expensive.
- Measles is a serious illness.
- Education is a top priority.
- Physics is a difficult subject.
- Politics doesn’t interest me.
- Linguistics is my favourite subject.
- All his luggage was lost.
- Our baggage has been loaded into the car.
- All the equipment is cleaned regularly.
- All the furniture was made of wood.
- The traffic here is very busy.
- The weather was awful last year.
- Good news has pleased them.
- The apparatus does not work well for the experiment.
- The scenery is very nice in the mountains.
- All the information is available at the website.
- The homework for the winter vacation was on the blackboard.
Grammar Review: Categories of Uncountable Nouns
| Category | Examples | Usage Tip |
| Liquids & Gases | Water, coffee, milk, air, oxygen | Always singular |
| Foods & Particles | Bread, rice, salt, sugar, dust | Always singular |
| Subjects & Diseases | Physics, Mathematics, Measles, Mumps | Ends in -s but singular |
| Abstract Ideas | Education, honesty, truth, music | Always singular |
| Common Collective | Luggage, furniture, equipment, news | No plural form |
Be careful with words like Physics, Mathematics, and News. Even though they end in "s," they are NOT plural.
❌ The news are good.
✅ The news is good.
If you need to count these items, you must use a "counting word" or quantifier. For example: a piece of furniture, two bags of luggage, or a bottle of water.
Verbal Nouns
🖊 From the Teacher
Verbal nouns can be tricky because they look like verbs but act like things. In my classroom, I tell students to imagine the action as a single 'activity.' Since one activity is a single unit, it always takes a singular verb.
📘 Rule 5
Verbal nouns (Gerunds ending in -ing and To-infinitives) act as the subject of a sentence. They are always treated as singular and agree with singular verbs (is, was, has, does, v5).
- Walking is a healthy exercise.
- To walk is healthy.
- Dancing is a good way to keep fit.
- To err is human.
- Swimming always gives me a good appetite.
- To smoke is injurious to our health.
Verbal Nouns Comparison
| Type | Structure | Example |
| Gerund | Verb + ing | Reading improves knowledge. |
| Infinitive | To + Verb | To read is beneficial. |
If you aren't sure, try replacing the Gerund or Infinitive with the pronoun "It."
Walking is healthy → It is healthy.
If "It" works, the verb must be singular!
Adjectives as Subjects
🖊 From the Teacher
I often see learners get confused when they don't see a noun like 'people' after 'the poor.' Just remember that when we use 'the' with an adjective to describe a whole group, it always represents many individuals. Therefore, we must use a plural verb!
📘 Rule 6
When certain adjectives are used with the definite article 'the' to represent a specific group of people, they act as plural subjects and must agree with plural verbs.
- The poor are given shelter.
- The rich are happy.
- The old are treated with great compassion.
- The young have great expectations.
- The sick were given free treatment.
- The intelligent are selected.
- The Chinese are hard-working.
Common Adjective-Subjects
| Adjective Group | Noun Equivalent | Verb Type |
| The Blind / The Deaf | Blind people | Plural (are/were/have) |
| The Unemployed | Unemployed people | Plural (are/were/have) |
| The Brave | Brave people | Plural (are/were/have) |
Never add an 's' to the adjective to make it plural.
❌ The poors are...
✅ The poor are...
If you want to talk about just one person, you must add a singular noun: "The poor man is waiting outside."
Subject-Verb Agreement: Arithmetic Sums
🖊 From the Teacher
Math and grammar meet here! Even though you are adding or multiplying multiple numbers, the 'sum' or the 'result' is considered a single mathematical fact. That is why we use singular verbs in these sentences.
📘 Rule 7
Arithmetic sums and mathematical calculations normally agree with singular verbs (is, was, equals, v5). We treat the entire calculation as a single unit or numerical fact.
- Three plus three equals six.
- Ten minus four is six.
- Two times six is twelve.
- Three subtracted from seven is four.
- Twenty divided by five equals four.
- Two plus two is four.
- Four times four divided by two is eight.
Mathematical Verbs Guide
| Operation | Common Verb | Verb Status |
| Addition (+) | is / equals / makes | Singular |
| Subtraction (-) | is / leaves | Singular |
| Multiplication (x) | is / equals | Singular |
| Division (÷) | is / equals | Singular |
While singular verbs are the standard in modern English, some speakers occasionally use plural verbs for addition (e.g., "Two and two make four"). However, for exams and professional writing, always stick to the singular verb.
Proper Nouns Ending in -s
🖊 From the Teacher
It is very common for students to see the 's' at the end of a title or a country's name and assume it is plural. I always tell my students: look for the capital letters! If it is a specific name of one thing—like a single movie or a single organization—it must take a singular verb.
📘 Rule 8
Proper nouns such as names of books, countries, hotels, and shows that end in -s are treated as singular because they represent one single entity. They always agree with singular verbs.
- Great Expectations was written by Charles Dickens.
- Gulliver’s Travels is a famous book by Jonathan Swift.
- Tom and Jerry is a famous cartoon.
- The United States has a big army.
- The United Nations is an international organization.
- Athens is one of the oldest cities in Europe.
Examples of Single Entities Ending in -s
| Category | Example Proper Noun | Correct Verb Form |
| Books/Titles | The Arabian Nights | is (singular) |
| Countries/Places | The Philippines / Wales | is / has (singular) |
| Organizations | General Motors | was founded (singular) |
Even if a title contains two names joined by "and," if it is the name of one show, use a singular verb.
❌ Tom and Jerry are a funny cartoon.
✅ Tom and Jerry is a funny cartoon.
To test the sentence, replace the proper noun with the pronoun "It."
The United States is large → It is large.
Since It takes a singular verb, the proper noun must too!
Subject-Verb Agreement: Measurement Units (Distance, Money, Time)
🖊 From the Teacher
This is a rule that often surprises my students. Even though "dollars" or "miles" sounds plural, we are talking about a single quantity or a total amount. When you think of the amount as a one big 'lump sum,' it becomes much easier to remember to use a singular verb!
📘 Rule 9
Plural expressions of distance, money, weight, and time are normally considered as a single unit or quantity. Therefore, they agree with singular verbs (is, was, costs, v5).
- Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
- Ten thousand dollars is enough for this work.
- Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
- Six months is not enough time to complete this project.
- Two kilos of rice costs about ten dollars.
- One hundred miles is a long distance.
- Two thousand dollars was set aside for emergencies.
- Five hundred dollars is the admission fee for this course.
Measurement Units as Singular Totals
| Category | Example Subject | Singular Verb |
| Money (Sum) | Fifty euros | is / was |
| Time (Period) | Three weeks | is / goes by fast |
| Distance (Length) | Five kilometers | is / seems long |
| Weight (Quantity) | Ten pounds | is / costs |
Avoid using plural verbs just because the unit ends in "s."
❌ Ten miles are too far to walk.
✅ Ten miles is too far to walk.
Think of the phrase "A total of..." before the subject.
(A total of) Ten dollars is the price.
If you can imagine the total as one unit, the verb should always be singular.
Expressions of Quantity
🖊 From the Teacher
This is what I call the 'Look Ahead' rule. Words like "All" or "Most" are like mirrors—they don't have a number of their own. They simply reflect the noun that follows them. If the noun is singular or uncountable, use a singular verb. If it's plural, go with a plural verb!
📘 Rule 10
Words indicating percent, fraction, part, majority, some, all, or none agree with the verb based on the noun that follows them. They act as singular with uncountable nouns and plural with countable plural nouns.
With Uncountable Nouns (Singular Verb)
- All of the food is gone off.
- A lot of water was put in the hay.
- Most of the bread is gone off.
- Some of the water is gone.
- Two-thirds of the book is torn.
- A quarter of it was nice.
- Lots of money was spent.
- A good deal of time was given.
With Countable Nouns (Plural Verb)
- All the children are physically strong.
- A lot of students were taught this course.
- Most of the students are out of discipline.
- Some of the beads are missing.
- Two-thirds of the books were interesting.
- A quarter of them were not good.
- A good deal of efforts are needed.
- Sixty percent of the students have scored well.
Quantity Agreement Table
| Expression | Followed by... | Verb Agreement |
| All / Some / Most / A lot / Fractions / Percent | Uncountable Nouns (Water, Money, Time) | Singular (is/was/has) |
| Plural Countable Nouns (Students, Books, Workers) | Plural (are/were/have) |
To find the correct verb, ignore the fraction or percentage and look directly at the object of the preposition "of."
Example: Fifty percent of the pie [singular] is gone.
Example: Fifty percent of the pies [plural] are gone.
Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement: Intervening Phrases
🖊 From the Teacher
I call this the 'Distraction Rule.' Words like "along with" or "as well as" are just extra information—they aren't part of the actual subject. In my class, I suggest students mentally cross out everything between the first subject and the verb to see the real connection!
📘 Rule 11
When the subject is separated from the verb by phrases like as well as, along with, besides, with, together with, or rather than, the verb must agree only with the first subject. Ignore any plural nouns inside the separating phrase.
- Sarah as well as her sisters knows this very well.
- The daughters as well as their mother have arranged a party.
- The students along with their teacher were in the classroom.
- The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.
- The chair, together with the tables, is new.
- The apples in this basket are ripe.
- All the songs on this CD are pretty good.
- The boy at the door is waiting for somebody.
- The workers, rather than the manager, have done it.
- The condition of these villagers is pitiable.
Identifying the Real Subject
| The Full Sentence | The "Intervening" Phrase | The Real Subject (Matches Verb) |
| The Captain, along with his crew, is safe. | along with his crew | Captain (Singular) |
| The books on the shelf are old. | on the shelf | books (Plural) |
| Music, besides sports, is my hobby. | besides sports | Music (Singular) |
Do not use a plural verb just because the word right before it is plural.
❌ The color of the walls are blue.
✅ The color of the walls is blue. (The subject is "color," not "walls.")
If you can replace the entire phrase with brackets and the sentence still makes sense, you've found the true subject.
The chair [together with the tables] is new. → The chair is new.
Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement: Subjects with "And"
🖊 From the Teacher
This rule is all about counting! Usually, 'and' means 1 + 1 = 2 (plural). But sometimes, two things combine to make one concept, like 'bread and butter.' I tell my students to look closely at the articles—if there is only one 'the,' it's often just one person wearing two hats!
📘 Rule 12
Compound subjects joined by and usually take plural verbs. However, if the two nouns represent a single idea or the same person, a singular verb is used.
Standard Compound Subjects (Plural)
- Sarah and Mona are in the park.
- Father and son have dug the field.
- Blue and pink are my favourite colours.
- Dogs and cats are pet animals.
- He and I have planned a surprise party.
- The writer and the editor were in the park. (Two different people)
Single Ideas & Phrases (Singular)
- Truth and honesty is a good virtue.
- Slow and steady wins the race.
- Time and tide waits for none.
- Bread and butter is a good breakfast.
- Rice and curry is my favourite dish.
- Law and order is the government’s main concern.
Same Person vs. Different Persons
- The writer and Principal is sitting on the sofa. (One person with two roles)
- The writer and the Principal are sitting on the sofa. (Two separate people)
- My guardian and uncle is coming to see me. (One person)
- My guardian and my uncle are coming to see me. (Two people)
The Article Check: Singular vs. Plural
| Pattern | Meaning | Verb |
| The [Noun] and [Noun] | Same Person | Singular (is/was) |
| The [Noun] and The [Noun] | Two Different People | Plural (are/were) |
Be careful with compound subjects containing "I". Always list yourself last!
❌ I and Sarah are going.
✅ Sarah and I are going.
For food pairs like Rice and Curry, if you eat them together as one meal, use a singular verb. If you are talking about the items separately in a grocery list, use a plural verb!
Correlative Conjunctions
🖊 From the Teacher
I call this the 'Rule of Proximity' or the 'Good Neighbor Rule.' Unlike the 'and' rule, these connectors create a choice. Because of that choice, the verb only cares about the subject standing right next to it. If the closest neighbor is plural, the verb is plural; if it's singular, the verb is singular!
📘 Rule 13
When subjects are joined by or, nor, either...or, or neither...nor, the verb must agree with the subject nearest to it.
Singular + Singular (Singular Verb)
- Either the boy or the girl has done it.
- Neither the dog nor the cat was in the hall.
- Tony or Seema has gone out.
Plural + Plural (Plural Verb)
- Either the boys or the girls have done it.
- The teachers or the students are in the canteen.
Mixed Subjects (Nearest Subject Rule)
- Either the boy or the girls have done it.
- Either the workers or the boss is happy.
- Either you or I am selected for the contest.
- Neither Kunal nor they have won the match.
- My father or I was watching TV.
Grammar Review: Best Practices
| Topic | Guideline | Example |
| Placement | Put the plural subject last for better flow. | Neither the dog nor the puppies are... |
| Pronoun Order | Follow the order: 3rd - 2nd - 1st person. | You, she or I am right. |
| Questions | The verb agrees with the subject following it. | Has Anu or her brothers gone? |
Don't assume that because there are two names, the verb must be plural.
❌ Either Amit or Mona like to play.
✅ Either Amit or Mona likes to play. (Mona is singular and nearest to the verb).
In a Neither...nor sentence, if you have a pronoun "I", always place it last. It sounds much more natural: "Neither he nor I am going."
Not Only... But Also & Possessives
🖊 From the Teacher
Just like the 'either/or' rule, 'not only... but also' focuses on the subject that comes last. However, when using an apostrophe for possession, learners often get distracted by the owner. Always remember: the verb belongs to the thing being owned, not the person who owns it!
📘 Rule 14
For Not only... but also, the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun nearest to it. For Apostrophes (Possession), the verb agrees with the noun that follows the apostrophe.
Not Only... But Also (Proximity Rule)
- Not only Riya but also her brothers know the answer.
- Not only the students but also their teacher was in the park.
- Not only the apples but also the orange is ripe.
Apostrophe / Possession
- Riya’s brothers are intelligent students.
- The teacher’s book is on the table.
- The cat’s claws are very sharp.
- My friend’s house has a green door.
Understanding Possession Agreement
| The Subject Phrase |
The Owner (Ignore) |
The Real Subject (Match Verb) |
| The girl's kittens are cute. |
girl (singular) |
kittens (Plural) |
| The boys' dog is barking. |
boys (plural) |
dog (Singular) |
Don't be fooled by the owner's quantity.
❌ The men's car are outside.
✅ The men's car is outside. (There is only one car, even if many men own it!)
To check a possessive sentence, remove the owner and the apostrophe.
[Riya’s] brothers are students. → Brothers are students.
If the sentence still makes sense, you have matched the correct noun to the verb!
Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement: Collective Nouns & Phrases
🖊 From the Teacher
The biggest challenge here is distinguishing between a collective noun acting as a single 'unit' and a quantifying phrase like 'a number of.' I tell my students: look for the word 'A' versus 'The.' When you see 'A bunch' or 'A team,' think of it as one single package. But when you see 'A number of,' your focus should shift immediately to the plural noun that follows!
📘 Rule 15 (Part A): Collective Nouns
Collective nouns (family, committee, team) are singular when the group acts as one. They are plural when members act as individuals.
- The family comes from India. (One unit)
- The family are always quarrelling. (Individual members)
- The committee consists of eleven members. (One unit)
- The committee disagree about everything. (Individual members)
- The team is in a meeting. / The team are in disagreement.
📘 Rule 15 (Part B): Structure 'Noun + Of + Plural Noun'
When a collective noun is followed by "of + plural noun," the verb is usually singular because it focuses on the single group/container.
- His bunch of keys was lying on the floor.
- A kilo of apples is required.
- A team of players was welcomed.
- A series of books has been published.
- A bouquet of flowers was given.
📘 Rule 15 (Part C): Quantifying Expressions
Expressions like a lot of, a number of, the majority of, and the rest of act as plural determiners. They agree with plural verbs.
- A lot of students were there.
- A number of letters were written.
- The majority of students have failed.
- The rest of the workers were allowed to go home.
Comparison: Collective vs. Quantifier
| Expression Type |
Focus |
Verb Agreement |
| Collective (Bunch, Team, Pile) |
The "Container/Group" |
Singular (is/was) |
| Quantifier (A number of, A lot of) |
The "Items Inside" |
Plural (are/were) |
Be very careful with A number of vs. The number of.
✅ A number of students are coming. (Plural)
✅ The number of students is fifty. (Singular - focusing on the specific total).
Whenever you see "of + plural noun," ask yourself: Am I counting the items or the group? If you can replace it with "Some," it's plural. If you replace it with "One," it's singular.
Relative Pronouns
🖊 From the Teacher
Relative pronouns like 'who' or 'which' are like bridges. To know if the bridge is singular or plural, you must look at the 'anchor' (the noun) it is attached to. In my class, I call this anchor the Antecedent. If the anchor is one person, the verb is singular; if the anchor is a group, the verb is plural.
📘 Rule 16
The relative pronouns who, that, and which take their number from the noun directly in front of them (the antecedent). The verb following the relative pronoun must agree with that noun.
Singular Antecedents
- Prem is the journalist who writes this report. (Journalist = Singular)
- The boy who has done this work is intelligent. (Boy = Singular)
- This is the book that is missing. (Book = Singular)
Plural Antecedents
- He is one of the men who were invited to the party. (Men = Plural)
- The boys who have done this work are intelligent. (Boys = Plural)
- These are the reports which need your signature. (Reports = Plural)
Tracing the Agreement Bridge
| Antecedent (The Anchor) |
Relative Pronoun |
Correct Verb |
| Student (Singular) |
who |
studies (v5) |
| Students (Plural) |
who |
study (v1) |
The phrase "One of the..." is the most frequent trap.
❌ He is one of the men who was invited.
✅ He is one of the men who were invited. (Because 'who' refers to the men, and many men were invited!)
When you see a relative pronoun, draw an arrow to the noun right before it. That noun is the real boss of the verb that follows!
Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement: Inverted & Special Structures
🖊 From the Teacher
This final set of rules is all about word order. In English, we usually put the subject first, but with words like "There" or "Here," the subject comes after the verb. It’s like a game of hide-and-seek—you have to look past the first word to find out who the real subject is!
📘 Rule 17: Inverted Subjects (There, Here, Following)
In sentences starting with There, Here, or The following, the real subject follows the verb. The verb must agree with that noun.
- There is a boy... / There are six boys...
- Was there a dog? / Were there any dogs?
- Here is the money. / Here are some posters.
- The following is the winner. / The following are the winners.
📘 "The Number" vs. "A Number"
- The number of + plural noun = Singular Verb (The number of girls is eighty).
- A number of + plural noun = Plural Verb (A number of students have joined).
- Many a + singular noun = Singular Verb (Many a worker has rejected).
- Many + plural noun = Plural Verb (Many workers have rejected).
- More than one + singular noun = Singular Verb (More than one boy has submitted).
- More than two + plural noun = Plural Verb (More than two boys have submitted).
Special Pairings & WH-Questions
| Structure |
Verb Type |
Example |
| Pair of... |
Singular |
A pair of shoes belongs to me. |
| Couple of... |
Plural |
A couple of dresses need washing. |
| No + Singular |
Singular |
No book is needed. |
| No + Plural |
Plural |
No books are needed. |
Don't forget the question inversion!
❌ What are happened to these boots?
✅ What has happened to these boots? (What is the singular subject here).
When dealing with "There" or "Here," try re-arranging the sentence to find the subject:
"There are six boys" → "Six boys are there."
This makes the agreement much more obvious!
Common Mistakes ESL Learners Make with Subject-Verb Agreement
Mistake 1: Using plural verb with "everyone" / "nobody"
❌ Everyone are happy.
✅ Everyone is happy.
Mistake 2: Being confused by words between subject and verb
❌ The quality of the apples are poor.
✅ The quality of the apples is poor.
Mistake 3: Treating "news" as plural
❌ The news are not good today.
✅ The news is not good today.
Mistake 4: Wrong verb with "either…or" / "neither…nor"
❌ Neither the teacher nor the students was on time.
✅ Neither the teacher nor the students were on time.
Mistake 5: Forgetting that "each" is always singular
❌ Each of the boys have a pencil.
✅ Each of the boys has a pencil.
Practice Exercises: Subject-Verb Agreement
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb in brackets. Check your answers below.
- The committee ________ (have/has) reached a final decision.
- Neither the boys nor the girl ________ (was/were) at school.
- Mathematics ________ (is/are) my least favourite subject.
- Everyone in the classroom ________ (know/knows) the answer.
- There ________ (is/are) three letters for you on the table.
- The teacher, along with her students, ________ (is/are) going on a field trip.
- Each of the players ________ (has/have) signed the contract.
- "The Three Musketeers" ________ (is/are) a famous novel by Alexandre Dumas.
Answer Key
- has — collective noun acting as one unit
- was — verb agrees with the nearest subject: girl (singular)
- is — subject ending in -ics is singular in meaning
- knows — everyone is always singular
- are — the real subject is three letters (plural)
- is — the main subject is teacher (singular); along with does not change it
- has — each is always singular
- is — a book title is treated as a single unit
From the Teacher
🖊 From the Teacher
In my twenty years of teaching English, the single most repeated error I see from learners at every level is treating everyone and everyone-type words as plural. Students hear the word "every" and think of many people, so they write "Everyone are happy." I always tell my students: think of everyone as meaning "each single person" — and that mental shift fixes the problem almost instantly. The intervening phrase trap is the second most common issue — when a long phrase sits between the subject and the verb, students lose track of the real subject. I recommend underlining the subject first before choosing the verb. Simple habits like these make a big difference in writing accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the difference between concord and subject-verb agreement?
There is no real difference — they refer to the same concept. Concord is the traditional grammatical term used in linguistics, while subject-verb agreement is the more common term used in everyday English teaching. Both describe the rule that a verb must match its subject in number and person.
2. Is "data" singular or plural?
Traditionally, data is the plural of datum and should take a plural verb: The data show a clear trend. However, in modern everyday English — especially in American English — data is often treated as an uncountable singular noun: The data shows a clear trend. In formal academic writing, use the plural form to be safe.
3. Does "none" take a singular or plural verb?
None can take either a singular or plural verb depending on whether it refers to a countable or uncountable noun. When none means "not one," it takes a singular verb: None of the water is clean. When it refers to a group and means "not any," a plural verb is also accepted: None of the students were present.
4. Why does "the number of" take a singular verb but "a number of" takes a plural verb?
This is a classic distinction. The number of refers to a specific count and is treated as a singular subject: The number of students is increasing. A number of means "several" or "many" and is treated as a plural subject: A number of students are absent today. The article (the vs a) completely changes the meaning and the verb form.
5. How do I check for subject-verb agreement errors in my writing?
The best method is to identify the main subject first — cross out any prepositional phrases or interrupting clauses between the subject and verb. Then ask: is the subject singular or plural? Choose your verb accordingly. Reading your sentence aloud also helps — errors in agreement often sound wrong, even if they look acceptable on paper. Using grammar-checking tools as a second check (not a first check) is also a good habit.
Related Grammar Lessons
- Singular and Plural Nouns in English
- Types of Pronouns in English Grammar
- Collective Nouns: Rules and Examples
- Indefinite Pronouns: A Complete Guide
- Helping Verbs (Auxiliary Verbs) in English
- Relative Clauses: Who, Which, and That
- Countable and Uncountable Nouns Explained
About the Author
Dharma Poudel has completed an MA and MEd in English and has been teaching English for 20 years. He specializes in creating simple, clear grammar lessons for ESL/EFL learners at all levels. His mission is to help learners build confidence through structured explanations and interactive practice materials.