Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule #1: Singular nouns (without s) take singular verbs (with s)

 Ex. The bee buzzes every night.

Rule #2: Plural nouns (with s) take plural verbs (without s)

 Ex. The bees buzz every night.

Rule #3: The nouns “I” and “you” always take a plural verb

 Ex. I eat a lot.

You are beautiful.

Rule #4: Compound subjects or subjects joined by “and” take a plural verb

 Ex. My father and my brother visit me every year.

The percentage of employees who called in sick and the number of employees who left their jobs within
2 years are reflective of the level of job satisfaction.

Rule #5: The conjunction “or” does not conjoin like “and.” When you use “or”, the verb takes the number of the closest
subject.

 Ex. Your father or his sisters are going to take care of Anna.
Your sisters or your father is going to take care of Anna.

Rule #6: When the subject words are joined by (“either – or”; “neither – nor”; “or not only – but”) the verb agrees with
the subject closest to it.

 Ex. Either her friend or her mother has the money.

Neither her uncle nor her aunts have the money.

Rule #7: The indefinite pronouns (“no one”; “anyone”; “everyone”; “someone”; “anybody”; “everybody”; “somebody”
and “nobody” are always singular. They take singular verbs.

 Ex. No one is above the law.

Everyone was happy.

Rule #8: When word groups or modifiers separate the subject and the verb. Locate the subject word to determine
whether to use a singular or plural verb.

 Ex. The flowers in the pot on the balcony need watering.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Rule #9: Phrases starting with following words are normally not part of the subject: “along with”; “together with”;
accompanied by”; “in addition to”; “as well as”; “except”; “with”; “no less than.”

 Ex. Hannah, together with her friends, goes to a party every weekend.
Nicole and Germalyn, together with their father, go to church every weekend.

Rule #10: Modifiers between the subject and the verb does not affect the number of the subject.

 Ex. Cherry, who is a mother of twelve, is currently suffering constipation.

Rule #11: Some nouns (collective nouns) can be used as singular or plural depending on the context and usage.

 Ex. Nicole’s family plans to go on a vacation this summer.

The staff have gone their separate ways after the meeting.

Rule #12: Nouns that cannot be counted takes singular verbs.

 Ex. Too much love was addictive.

Power is the root of all evils.

Rule #13: Words with “s” at the end are sometimes considered singular.

 Ex. Mathematics is a very difficult subject.

The news about Lloyd Cadena’s death is mournful.

Rule #14: Fractional expressions “half of”; “part of”; “portion of” may take singular or plural verbs depending on the
context.

 Ex. Half of the audience are asleep because of Sir Mingo.

A portion of his wealth was donated to cancer patients.

Rule #15: In inverted sentences especially those that use here and there, the subject follows the verb.

 Ex. Here are the towels.

A good snack is a salad.