Rules on subject verb agreement

1. RULES OF SUBJECT
VERB AGREEMENT
Can’t we all just get
along?

2. 1. SUBJECTS
AND VERBS
MUST AGREE
IN NUMBER.

3. •Cow= singular,
eats= singular
•Ducks= plural,
quack= plural

4. •The players
(run, runs)
fast.

5. •The players
(run, runs)
fast.

6. •She (is, are)
my beautiful
mother.

7. •She (is, are)
my beautiful
mother.

8. •The boys
(jump, jumps)
so high.

9. •The boys
(jump, jumps)
so high.

10. Laziness (is,
are) the sibling
of starvation.

11. Laziness (is,
are) the sibling
of starvation.

12. 2. DON’T GET
CONFUSED BY THE
WORDS THAT
COME BETWEEN
THE SUBJECT AND
VERB.

13. •The detective
who was
called (is, are)
my father.

14. •The detective
who was
called (is, are)
my father.

15. The players
who won the
game (is, are)
my classmates.

16. The players
who won the
game (is, are)
my classmates.

17. The students
who are laughing
aloud (is, are)
from SHS.

18. The students
who are laughing
aloud (is, are)
from SHS.

19. Those who act
tough (is, are)
really coward.

20. Those who act
tough (is, are)
really coward.

21. 3. PREPOSITIONAL
PHRASES BETWEEN
THE SUBJECT AND
VERB USUALLY DO
NOT AFFECT THE
AGREEMENT.

22. The biker in
this race (is,
are) very
competitive.

23. The biker in
this race (is,
are) very
competitive.

24. The bikers in
this race (is,
are) very
competitive.

25. The bikers in
this race (is,
are) very
competitive.

26. One of the
eggs (is, are)
broken.

27. One of the
eggs (is, are)
broken.

28. The fruits in
the basket (is,
are) fresh.

29. The fruits in
the basket (is,
are) fresh.

30. 4. IF A SENTENCE
STARTS WITH
“THERE” OR “ HERE”,
THE SUBJECT WILL
ALWAYS BE PLACED
AFTER THE VERB.

31. There (is,
are) a
meeting

32. There (is,
are) a
meeting

33. •There (is,
are) fairies in
the mountain.

34. •There (is,
are) fairies
in the

35. •Here (is, are)
the results
from this past
month.

36. •Here (is, are)
the results
from this past
month.

37. There (is, are)
man who loves
us for who we
are.

38. There (is, are)
man who loves
us for who we
are.

39. 5. SUBJECTS
CAN COME
AFTER THE VERB
IN QUESTIONS.

40. (DOES,
DO)
BETTY
ALWAYS

41. (DOES,
DO)
BETTY
ALWAYS

42. •How (is, are)
the Bosco
sticks today?

43. •How (is, are)
the Bosco
sticks today?

44. (Does, Do) a
fairy live in the
mountain?

45. (Does, Do) a
fairy live in the
mountain?

46. (Does, Do)
monsters live in
the mountain?

47. (Does, Do)
monsters live in
the mountain?

48. 6. IF TWO
SUBJECTS ARE
JOINED BY “AND”,
THEY TYPICALLY
REQUIRE A PLURAL
VERB.

49. •The puppy
and the lady
(is, are)
friends.

50. •The puppy
and the lady
(is, are)
friends.

51. Anna and
Nika (is, are)
my sisters.

52. Anna and
Nika (is, are)
my sisters.

53. Maria and the
people (live,
lives) happily
together.

54. Maria and the
people (live,
lives) happily
together.

55. 7. THE VERB IS
SINGULAR IF THE
TWO SUBJECTS ARE
JOINED BY AND BUT
THEY REFER TO THE
SAME PERSON, PLACE
OR THING.

56. Pork and beans
(is, are) my
mom’s favorite
dish.

57. Pork and beans
(is, are) my
mom’s favorite
dish.

58. Spaghetti and
meatballs (is,
are) my favorite
pasta dish.

59. Spaghetti and
meatballs (is,
are) my favorite
pasta dish.

60. My friend and
confidant (is,
are) loyal.

61. My friend and
confidant (is,
are) loyal.

62. 8. IF THE WORDS
EACH, EVERY OR NO
COME BEFORE THE
SUBJECT, THE
VERB IS SINGULAR.

63. Each boy and
girl (has,have)
to take the
test.

64. Each boy and
girl (has, have)
to take the
test.

65. Every frog and
toad (turn,
turns) into a
prince.

66. Every frog and
toad turns
into a prince.

67. No paper
and pen
(is, are)
required.

68. No paper
and pen
(is, are)
required.

69. 9. IF TWO SUBJECTS
ARE JOINED BY: OR,
NOR, NEITHER/NOR,
EITHER/OR AND NOT
ONLY/BUT ALSO, THE
VERB AGREES TO THE
NEAREST SUBJECT.

70. Sally or Bubba
(has,have)
stolen the
scarecrow.

71. Sally or Bubba
(has, have)
stolen the
scarecrow.

72. Not only the
guitar player but
also the drummers
(was, were)
soaked with sweat.

73. Not only the
guitar player but
also the drummers
(was, were)
soaked with sweat.

74. Either my sisters
or my mom (has,
have) sent me a
present.

75. Either my sisters
or my mom (has,
have) sent me a
present.

76. Not only Bob but
also the Smiths
(want, wants)
some hamburgers
for supper.

77. Not only Bob but
also the Smiths
(want, wants)
some hamburgers
for supper.

78. 10. UNITS OF
MEASUREMENT
USUALLY USE A
SINGULAR
VERB.

79. Six gallons of
paint (was,
were) used on
the house.

80. Six gallons of
paint (was,
were) used on
the house.

81. Five dollars (is,
are) too much
for a cup of
coffee.

82. Five dollars (is,
are) too much
for a cup of
coffee.

83. 11. FRACTIONS MAY
TAKE SINGULAR OR
PLURAL VERBS
DEPENDING ON THE
“OF PHRASE”.

84. Two-thirds
of the farm
(is, are)

85. Two-thirds
of the farm
(is, are)

86. One-half of
the coconuts
(is, are) to be
sold.

87. One-half of
the coconuts
(is, are) to be
sold.

88. Half of the
chicken (is,
are) eaten.

89. Half of the
chicken (is,
are) eaten.

90. 12. Nouns such as
civics, measles,
mathematics, and
news require
singular verbs.

91. The news about
the three kings (is,
are) sadly
received by the
people.

92. The news about
the three kings (is,
are) sadly
received by the
people.

93. Mathematics
(is, are) my
favorite
subject.

94. Mathematics
(is, are) my
favorite
subject.

95. 13. MOST
INDEFINITE
PRONOUNS TAKE
SINGULAR
VERBS.

96. one body thing
someone somebody something
anyone anybody anything
No one nobody nothing
everyone everybody everything

97. Little One * Everybody is happy.
Another Neither * No one has a dime.
Much Either * Nothing was going to
help.
Each

98. 14. BOTH,
FEW, MANY,
AND SEVERAL
TAKE A PLURAL
VERB.

99. Several need
to finish the
race.

100. A few have
the right
answer.

101. 15. COLLECTIVE
NOUNS
USUALLY TAKE
A SINGULAR
VERB.

102. The class was
ready for the
test.

103. The herd is
stampeding.

104. 13. TITLES OF
BOOKS, MOVIES,
NOVELS, ETC. ARE
TREATED AS
SINGULAR.

105. Holes was one
of my favorite
books. I want to
see the movie.

106. 17. FINAL RULE-
REMEMBER, ONLY
THE SUBJECT
AFFECTS THE
VERB!