This document discusses subject-verb agreement rules in English grammar. It explains that the subject of a sentence determines whether the verb is singular or plural. It provides 17 rules for determining agreement, such as whether compound subjects joined by "and" or "or" require a singular or plural verb. It then provides 23 examples for the reader to choose the correct verb form based on the subject. The document serves as a guide for non-native English speakers to properly select verb forms according to subject-verb agreement principles.

1. SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT
Dini Haiti Zulfany, M.Pd
Which one is the correct sentence?
1. One of my sisters are going on a
trip to United States.
2. One of my sisters is going on a trip
to United States.

2. What is Subject?
Subject is the person/people/thing(s) that do
the activity.
I, you, they, we, she, he, it, my dad and my
mom, Linda, Sussi, Linda and Sussi, the bank,
the flight schedule, etc.

3. What is VERB?
Verb is a word used to describe an action, state, or
occurrence, and forming the main part of the
predicate of a sentence.
Kinds of VERB
ACTION VERBS
LINKING VERBS
HELPING VERBS

4. ACTION VERB
• Also known as MAIN VERB.
• Action verbs are words that express action
(give, eat, walk, etc.) or possession (have,
own, etc.).
• Action verbs can be either transitive (with
object) or intransitive (without object).
Example:
1. Laurissa raises her hand. (kkt)
2. Abdus gave Becky the pencil. (kkt)
3. Laurissa rises slowly from her seat. (kki)
4. He was pontificating about art and history. (kki)

5. LINKING VERBS
A linking verb connects the subject of a
sentence to a noun or adjective that
renames or describes the subject.
To Be: is, am, are, was, were
Example:
Lisa is in love with Jason.
We were there!
I am happy 
Verb: seem, appear, become, grow,
remain, get, prove, turn, look,
sound, smell, taste, feel.
Example:
She looks pale.
I feel happy
That sounds great!
Your cook smells good.

6. HELPING VERBS
Helping verbs are used before action
or linking verbs to convey additional
information regarding aspects of
possibility (can, could, etc.) or time
(was, did, has, etc.)
MODALS always function as
Helping Verbs.
MODALS: can, could, may,
might, shall, will, ought to,
should, would.
Examples:
1. Tejo is (helping verb) going (main verb) to Florida.
2. The trip might (helping verb) be (main verb) dangerous.
3. Tanya could learn to fly helicopters. (Could helps the main
verb, learn.)
4. Janine will drive to Idaho tomorrow. (Will helps the main
verb, drive.)

7. MAIN RULE OF
“Subject Verb Agreement”
Only the subject
affects the verb!

8. RULE 1
Subjects and verbs must agree in number.
This is the cornerstone rule that forms the
background of the concept.
Examples:
The dog growls when it is angry.
The dogs growl when they are angry.

9. RULE 2
Don’t get confused by the words that come
between the subject and verb; they
do not affect agreement.
Examples:
The dog, which is chewing on my jeans, is usually
very good.

10. RULE 3
Prepositional phrases between the subject
and verb usually do not affect
agreement.
Examples:
The colors of the rainbow are beautiful.

11. RULE 4
When sentences start with “there” or
“here,” the subject will always be placed
after the verb, so care needs to be taken to
identify it correctly.
Examples:
There is a problem with the balance sheet. Here
are the papers you requested.

12. RULE 5
If two subjects are joined by and, they
typically require a plural verb form.
Examples:
The cow and the pig are jumping over the moon.

13. RULE 6
The verb is singular if the two subjects
separated by and refer to the same
person or thing.
Examples:
Red beans and rice is my mom's favorite dish.

14. RULE 7
If one of the words each, every, or no
comes before the subject, the verb is
singular.
Examples:
No smoking or drinking is allowed.
Every man and woman is required to check in.

15. RULE 8
If the subjects are both singular and are
connected by the words or, nor,
neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but
also the verb is singular.
Examples:
Jessica or Christian is to blame for the accident.

16. RULE 9
The only time when the object of the preposition decides
plural or singular verb forms is when noun and pronoun
subjects like some, half, none, more, all, etc. are followed
by a prepositional phrase. In these sentences, the object
of the preposition determines the form of the verb.
Examples:
All of the chicken is gone.
All of the chickens are gone.

17. RULE 10
The singular verb form is usually used for
units of measurement or time.
Examples:
Four liters of oil was required to get the
motorcycle running.

18. RULE 11
If the subjects are both plural and are
connected by the words or, nor,
neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but
also, the verb is plural.
Examples:
Dogs and cats are both available at the pound.

19. RULE 12
If one subject is singular and one plural and the
words are connected by the words or, nor,
neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also, you
use the verb form of the subject that is nearest the
verb.
Examples:
1. Either the bears or the lion has escaped from the zoo.
2. Neither the lion nor the bears have escaped from the
zoo.

20. RULE 13
Indefinite pronouns (everything, anything,
everyone, someone, somebody, nothing,
etc) typically take singular verbs.
Examples:
Everybody wants to be loved.
Everything is gonna be alright.

21. RULE 14
Except for the pronouns (few, many,
several, both, all, some) that always take
the plural form.
Examples:
Few were left alive after the flood.
Several students understand the material.

22. RULE 15
If two infinitives are separated by and they
take the plural form of the verb.
Examples:
To walk and to chew gum require great skill.

23. RULE 16
When gerunds are used as the subject of a
sentence, they take the singular verb
form of the verb; but, when they are linked
by and, they take the plural form.
Examples:
1. Standing in the water was a bad idea.
2. Swimming in the ocean and playing drums
are my hobbies.

24. RULE 17
Collective nouns like family, committee,
herd, senate, class, crowd, etc. usually take
a singular verb form.
Examples:
1. The herd is stampeding.
2. Cooper family always attends the annual
party.

25. RULE 18
Titles of books, movies, novels, etc. are
treated as singular and take a singular
verb.
Examples:
1. The Burbs is a movie starring Tom Hanks.
2. Harry Potter has reached Top 3 Best Seller
books.

26. Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.
1. Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.
2. Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.
3. The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.
4. Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.
5. George and Tamara (doesn't, don't) want to see that movie.
6. Benito (doesn't, don't) know the answer.
7. One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.
8. The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.
9. The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours
to watch.
10. The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win.
11. Either answer (is, are) acceptable.
12. Every one of those books (is, are) fiction.
13. Nobody (know, knows) the trouble I've seen.
14. (Is, Are) the news on at five or six?
15. Mathematics (is, are) John's favorite subject, while Civics (is, are)
Andrea's favorite subject.

27. 16. Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie these days.
17. (Is, Are) the tweezers in this drawer?
18. Your pants (is, are) at the cleaner's.
19. There (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag. Now
there (is, are) only one left!
20. The committee (debates, debate) these questions
carefully.
21. The committee (leads, lead) very different lives in
private.
22. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, (greets,
greet) the press cordially.
23. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, (is, are) in this
case.

28. Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.
1. Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.
2. Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.
3. The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.
4. Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.
5. George and Tamara (doesn't, don't) want to see that movie.
6. Benito (doesn't, don't) know the answer.
7. One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.
8. The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.
9. The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours
to watch.
10. The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win.
11. Either answer (is, are) acceptable.
12. Every one of those books (is, are) fiction.
13. Nobody (know, knows) the trouble I've seen.
14. (Is, Are) the news on at five or six?
15. Mathematics (is, are) John's favorite subject, while Civics (is, are)
Andrea's favorite subject.

29. 16. Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie these days.
17. (Is, Are) the tweezers in this drawer?
18. Your pants (is, are) at the cleaner's.
19. There (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag. Now
there (is, are) only one left!
20. The committee (debates, debate) these questions
carefully.
21. The committee (leads, lead) very different lives in
private.
22. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, (greets,
greet) the press cordially.
23. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, (is, are) in this
case.