Subject Verb Agreement

1. Rules on SV Agreement

2. The verb should agree with the subject in number and in person.
A singular subject requires a singular verb; a plural subject
requires a plural verb.
• Example: She writes poems about love.
• They do not know how to write one.
A subject in the first person requires a verb appropriate for it.
• Example: I write poems, too!
• Do you write poems?

3. The verb should agree with the subject, not
the other way around.
Thus, the form of the verb will depend on
whether the subject is singular or plural, or it
is in first person, second person or third
person.
Example: Because of the pandemic, students
studies on their own; they are given lessons
to read and activities to do at home.

4. Mass nouns denote something that cannot be
counted (e.g. a substance or quality); usually
a noun that lacks a plural in ordinary usage
and is not used with the indefinite article
(sugar, butter, intelligence, potential, oil)
• Example:
The advice is ignored by Kim.

5. Collective nouns are words for single things that are
made up of more than one person, animal, place,
thing, or idea.
Common Collective Nouns
Herd– A group of herbivore animals
Pack– A group of canine animals such as wolves
or dogs; also used to describe playing cards and
packages containing multiple objects
Flock– A group of birds; also used to discuss
small hooved animals such as sheep or goats
Swarm– A group of insects
Shoal– A group of fish

6. Gang
Mob
Staff
Crew
Choir
Orchestra
Panel
Troupe
Bunch
Heap
Set
Stack

7. A collective noun usually takes a singular
verb.
• Examples:
The jury is going to announce its decision.
A team in basketball tries to stop its opponent
from making a score.

8. However, when members of a collective noun act
individually, that collective noun is plural and must be
paired with plural pronouns and plural verbs.
• Example:
After eight hours sitting in the stuffy courtroom, the
jury stretch, look at their watches, and head to their
cars for the commute home.
After taking the test, the class proceed to their
respective classes.

9. Proper nouns, even if in the plural form, are
generally treated a singular. This rule applies
to titles of books, plays, stories, musical
compositions and other creative works, as
well as names of countries.
Example: Great Expectations is one of
Dickens’s works.

10. Nouns plural in form but singular in meaning
require a singular verb.
• Example: Mathematics is a challenging subject.
• Similar nouns
News
Acoustics
Mathematics
Mumps
Politics
Tonsillitis
Civics
Tuberculosis
Aeronautics

11. Nouns plural in form and in meaning demand a
plural verb.
Example: The scissors are on top of Gilda’s
table.
Similar nouns
boxers
jeans
belongings
clothes
goggles
headphones
Scissors
trousers