Subject-verb agreement
Subject-verb agreement is the grammar rule that a verb must match its subject in number and person. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs. For example, "she runs" (singular) versus "they run" (plural). Getting this match right is essential for grammatically correct sentences.
Types of subject-verb agreement
Basic singular/plural agreement
The core rule where a singular subject pairs with a singular verb form and a plural subject pairs with a plural verb form.
e.g. The dog barks., The dogs bark.
Agreement with compound subjects
Two or more subjects joined by 'and' usually take a plural verb, while subjects joined by 'or'/'nor' agree with the nearer subject.
e.g. Tom and Jerry are friends., Neither the teacher nor the students were ready.
Agreement with collective nouns
Nouns referring to a group (team, family, government) usually take a singular verb when treated as one unit, but can take a plural verb when members act individually.
e.g. The team is winning., The family are arguing among themselves.
Agreement with indefinite pronouns
Words like everyone, someone, each and nobody are grammatically singular and require singular verbs, even though they may suggest many people.
e.g. Everyone is here., Each of the students has a book.
Agreement with tricky quantifiers and phrases
Expressions such as 'a number of', 'the number of', and phrases separating subject and verb with prepositional clauses can confuse agreement choices.
e.g. A number of issues remain unresolved., The number of issues is growing., The box of chocolates was delicious.
Rules to remember
- A singular subject takes a singular verb (adds -s/-es in the present simple); a plural subject takes the base form: 'He works' vs 'They work'.
- Ignore words or phrases between the subject and verb; the verb must agree with the true subject, not the nearest noun: 'The box of tools is on the shelf.'
- With 'or', 'nor', 'either...or' and 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the subject closest to it: 'Neither the manager nor the staff were informed.'
- Indefinite pronouns such as everyone, everybody, each, either, neither, someone and nobody are treated as singular: 'Everybody knows the answer.'
- Collective nouns take a singular verb when the group acts as one unit and a plural verb when members act separately: 'The committee has decided' vs 'The committee have different opinions.'
Examples in sentences
| Example | How it works |
|---|---|
| My sister lives in Toronto. | Singular subject 'sister' takes the singular verb 'lives'. |
| My parents live in Toronto. | Plural subject 'parents' takes the plural verb 'live'. |
| The list of requirements is long. | The verb agrees with the singular subject 'list', not the plural noun 'requirements'. |
| Either the manager or the employees are responsible. | With 'either...or', the verb agrees with the nearer subject, 'employees'. |
| Each of the answers was correct. | 'Each' is singular, so it takes the singular verb 'was'. |
| The government has announced new policies. | Collective noun 'government' treated as a single unit takes a singular verb. |
| There are several reasons for this trend. | In 'there is/are' sentences, the verb agrees with the noun that follows it, here the plural 'reasons'. |
Common mistakes
Incorrect: The number of applicants are increasing.
Correct: The number of applicants is increasing.
Incorrect: Each of the students have submitted their essay.
Correct: Each of the students has submitted their essay.
Incorrect: The results of the survey shows a clear trend.
Correct: The results of the survey show a clear trend.
Why this matters for IELTS
Consistent subject-verb agreement is a key marker examiners check under Grammatical Range and Accuracy in IELTS Writing and Speaking. Frequent mismatches, especially with tricky structures like collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, or subjects separated from their verb by long phrases, signal a lack of control and can cap your score at band 6 or lower. Practising these patterns helps you produce accurate complex sentences confidently, supporting a higher band for accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
What is subject verb agreement?
It is the grammatical rule requiring a verb to match its subject in number, so singular subjects use singular verb forms and plural subjects use plural verb forms.
Does 'everyone' take a singular or plural verb?
'Everyone' is grammatically singular, so it takes a singular verb, as in 'Everyone is invited', even though it refers to multiple people.
How do you handle agreement when words come between the subject and verb?
Ignore the intervening phrase and match the verb to the true subject, for example 'The box of chocolates is on the table', where 'box' is the subject, not 'chocolates'.
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