RULES IN SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

1. The verb must agree with the subject in person and in number . This is the
cornerstone rule that forms the background of the concept. In these examples the
subject is underlined and the verb is in italics

The dog growls when he is angry. The dogs growl when they are angry.

2. The pronoun you whether singular or plural always takes a plural verb.

You are my best friend. You are my friends.

3. Nouns used as subject which end in s but are singular in meaning take singular
verbs.

Economics is an important subject in school.

4. When two subjects are joined by either…or, neither…nor, the verb agrees with the
subject nearer it.

Either I or they are available.

Neither the members nor Myra is responsible.

Either the bears or the lion has escaped from the zoo. 

Neither the lion nor the bears have escaped from the zoo.

Jessica or Christian is to blame for the accident.

5. When one subject is used affirmatively and the other negatively, the verb agrees
with the subject which is used in the affirmative.

They, not I, are to be blamed.

6. Nouns such as class, group, team, jury , etc. take a singular or plural verb
depending on the meaning it denotes.

Our class works hard for the program. (As a group)

Our class do not sing very well. (As individuals)

The herd is stampeding.
7. Intervening expressions like: together with, along with, with, as well as, have no
effect whatsoever on the number of the verb. The verb takes the number of the subject
only.

The student regent, along with the other officers, signs the petition.

8.When two subjects joined by “and “ express a single thought , a singular verb is
used; that is when they are closely related that they are usually taken as one.

Spaghetti and cheese is my favourite merienda.

Red beans and rice is my mom's favorite dish

9. When two subjects are joined by and express more than one thought, a plural verb
is used.

The cow and the pig are jumping over the moon.

10. Indefinite pronouns like: each, everybody,everything, everyone, any,,anyone,

anybody,anything,someone,somebody,something,no one,nobody,nothing,either,
neither, another and others, take singular form of the verb.

Everybody wants to be loved.

11. * Except for the pronouns "few," "many," "several," "both," "all," and "some" that
always take the plural form.

Few were left alive after the flood.

12.Some indefinite pronouns like: some, any , none, most, all, can either take singular
or plural verb depending on their meaning.

Some of the books were destroyed ( Number)

Some of the medicine was spoiled.( Quantity)

All of the chicken is gone.

All of the chickens are gone.

13. Words like none and enough can either take singular or plural depending on the
meaning they express.
 None of the ships was destroyed. ( not one)

None of the ballots were missing. ( no ballots)

14. Nouns denoting an amount of money, a unit of measurement, or space of time,

require singular verb.

A million pesos is a lot of money.

Thirty six inches is equal to one yard.

15. When adjectives are used as nouns in the sentence, they require plural verbs.

The rich have the most in life.

The young are the hope of the nation.

16. When the subject is a title, name of a book, a quotation or a group of words
expressing a single thought, the singular form of the verb is used.

“ War and Peace: was written by Leo Tolstoy.

“All Mine to Give” is a very touching story of a family.

17. When fractions are used as subject, the verb form can either be singular or plural
depending on the number of the “of phrase”

One third of the mango was spoiled.

One third of the mangoes were spoiled.

18. Some examples for arithmetical expressions:

Two and nine are eleven.

Two plus nine is eleven.

19. When gerunds are used as the subject of a sentence, they take the singular form of
the verb; but, when they are linked by "and," they take the plural form.

Standing in the water was a bad idea. Swimming in the ocean and playing

drums are my hobbies.