Subject-verb agreement: Simple rules

Subject-verb agreement means your subject and verb work together correctly. A singular subject takes a singular verb. A plural subject takes a plural verb. That is the core rule, and most grammar questions come back to it. Once you know how to spot the real subject, many common mistakes become easy to fix.

What Subject-Verb Agreement Means

Agreement is about matching form. In the present simple, singular third-person subjects such as he, she, and it usually take verbs ending in -s. Plural subjects usually do not.

This sounds small, but it affects clarity, tone, and accuracy. A sentence with the wrong verb often feels off at once, even if the reader cannot explain why.

The Main Rule: Singular With Singular, Plural With Plural

Start here. Keep it plain:

• Singular subject + singular verb
• Plural subject + plural verb

One detail often confuses learners: in the present simple, the singular verb often looks “longer” because it adds -s. So he runs is singular, while they run is plural.

How To Find the Real Subject

Many mistakes happen because the writer matches the verb with the nearest noun instead of the real subject. That is where trouble starts.

Look at this sentence:

The noun closest to the verb is letters, which is plural. Still, the subject is box, so the correct verb is was.

Another example:

Here, the subject is results, so the plural verb show is correct.

Simple Rules You Can Apply Right Away

1) Ignore Words Between the Subject and the Verb

Prepositional phrases often sit between the subject and the verb. They add detail, but they do not change the agreement.

• The bag of oranges is heavy.
• The bags of oranges are heavy.
• The owner of the houses lives abroad.

2) Two Subjects Joined by “And” Usually Take a Plural Verb

When two subjects are connected by and, use a plural verb in most cases.

• Tom and Anna are ready.
• Coffee and toast make a simple breakfast.

But when the two words refer to one idea, a singular verb may be right:

• Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich.
• Slow and steady wins the race. (treated as one idea)

3) With “Or” and “Nor,” the Verb Agrees With the Closer Subject

This is one of the rules people mix up most often. When subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb usually matches the subject nearest to it.

• Either the teacher or the students are presenting.
• Either the students or the teacher is presenting.
• Neither the manager nor the assistants were available.

4) Collective Nouns Usually Take a Singular Verb in Standard American English

Words like team, group, family, and class are singular when the group is treated as one unit.

• The team is ready.
• The family lives nearby.

In some varieties of English, especially British usage, collective nouns can take a plural verb when the people in the group are seen as individuals. If you want a safe, simple rule for standard American usage, treat them as singular unless your style guide says otherwise.

5) Indefinite Pronouns Usually Take Singular Verbs

Words like everyone, someone, each, everybody, and nobody are usually singular.

• Everyone has a ticket.
• Each of the students was prepared.
• Somebody knows the answer.

This can feel odd because these words refer to many people, but grammatically they are treated as singular.

6) “There Is” and “There Are” Depend on What Comes After

In sentences that begin with there, the verb agrees with the noun that follows.

• There is a problem.
• There are two problems.
• There was a message on the phone.
• There were several messages on the phone.

7) Amounts of Time, Money, and Distance Often Take Singular Verbs

When a phrase refers to one amount or one unit, use a singular verb.

• Ten dollars is enough.
• Three years seems like a long time.
• Five miles is not far by car.

But when the individual items matter more than the total amount, a plural verb may appear. Context matters here.

8) Titles, Subjects, and Names Often Take Singular Verbs

Even if a title looks plural, it may still take a singular verb because it names one book, one film, one course, or one subject.

• Mathematics is my favorite subject.
• The Chronicles of Narnia is on the shelf.
• The news was surprising.

Words That Commonly Cause Confusion

Why “A Number Of” and “The Number Of” Are Different

This pair causes a lot of trouble because the phrases look almost the same, but the grammar is different.

The real subject in the second pattern is number, not books. That is why the verb is singular.

Singular Or Plural? Check the Meaning, Not Just the Last Word

Some agreement questions are not about memorizing a rule. They are about understanding what the sentence means.

Fractions, Percentages, and Quantities

These often depend on the noun after of.

• Half of the cake is gone.
• Half of the cookies are gone.
• Fifty percent of the work is finished.
• Fifty percent of the students are finished.

None

None can be singular or plural. The choice depends on what comes next and what you mean.

• None of the advice was helpful.
• None of the answers were correct.

Common Subject-Verb Agreement Mistakes In Everyday Writing

With Long Noun Phrases

Long phrases hide the subject. Writers begin with a singular noun, then get distracted by a plural noun later in the sentence.

• Wrong: The color of the curtains match the rug.
• Right: The color of the curtains matches the rug.

With Compound Subjects

• Wrong: My brother and sister is here.
• Right: My brother and sister are here.

With Indefinite Pronouns

• Wrong: Everyone know the answer.
• Right: Everyone knows the answer.

With “There” Sentences

• Wrong: There is many reasons to wait.
• Right: There are many reasons to wait.

Examples That Show Why the Verb Is Right or Wrong

A Short Editing Checklist

1. Find the main subject.
2. Ignore extra phrases between the subject and the verb.
3. Check whether the subject is singular or plural.
4. Watch for special patterns like and, or, there is/are, and each/every/everyone.
5. Read the sentence aloud. A mismatch often sounds awkward right away.

Practice Sentences With Answers

When you keep your eye on the real subject, subject-verb agreement stops feeling tricky. Most errors come from distance, extra words, or confusing patterns—not from the basic rule itself.