Sentence Structure
Subject-Verb Agreement
Quick Summary
Subject-verb agreement means singular subjects take singular verbs and plural subjects take plural verbs. Tricky cases include compound subjects with "and/or," collective nouns, and indefinite pronouns like "everyone."
Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental rule of English grammar. The basic idea is that a singular subject must have a singular verb, and a plural subject must have a plural verb.
Basic Rule
The dog barks. (Singular subject 'dog', singular verb 'barks')The dogs bark. (Plural subject 'dogs', plural verb 'bark')
Tricky Cases
- Compound subjects with 'and': Usually take a plural verb.
The cat and the dog are friends. - Subjects with 'or'/'nor': The verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
Either my brothers or my sister is coming. - Collective nouns (team, family, group): Can be singular or plural, depending on whether they act as a single unit or as individuals.
The team is winning. / The team are arguing among themselves. - Indefinite pronouns (each, everyone, nobody): These are usually singular.
Everyone is here.
Related Topics
- Passive Voice, Agreement becomes trickier in passive constructions.
- Sentence Fragments, Missing verbs lead to both fragments and agreement errors.
- Simple & Complex Sentences, Understand clauses where agreement rules apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is subject-verb agreement?
Subject-verb agreement is the grammar rule that the verb in a sentence must match the subject in number. A singular subject takes a singular verb ("she runs"), and a plural subject takes a plural verb ("they run").
Is "everyone" singular or plural?
"Everyone" is grammatically singular, so it takes a singular verb: "Everyone is here," not "Everyone are here." The same applies to "everybody," "someone," "nobody," and "each."
Test Your Knowledge
Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz
Question 1 of 3
Choose the correct verb: "The dog ___ every morning."