Subject-Verb Agreement

The basic rule

A verb must agree with its subject in number (singular or plural) and person. A singular subject takes a singular verb (The bridge stands), a plural subject a plural verb (The bridges stand).

Most errors come from finding the wrong subject. The real subject is often separated from the verb by a phrase, a clause or an inversion. Always ask: "Who or what does the action?" — and ignore words in between.

Rule 1 — Two subjects joined by and

1. Plural verb: Ravi and Mohan are friends.
2. Singular verb when and joins two names of one person/thing or a single idea: Bread and butter is his usual breakfast. The poet and philosopher was honoured. Slow and steady wins the race.
3. Each / every / no before the subjects → singular verb: Every boy and every girl was present. No man and no woman is exempt.
4. If two nouns joined by and are preceded by many a, each, every, use a singular verb.

Rule 2 — Subjects joined by or, nor, either ... or, neither ... nor, not only ... but also

The verb agrees with the subject nearest to it:

• Neither the manager nor the workers were present.
• Neither the workers nor the manager was present.
• Either you or he is to go.
• Not only the engineers but also the supervisor has resigned.

Tip: put the plural subject closest to the verb so the sentence reads smoothly.

Rule 3 — As well as, along with, together with, with, in addition to, besides, accompanied by, no less than, rather than, except

These do not make the subject plural. The verb agrees with the first subject:

• The teacher, along with his students, is on the tour.
• The Chairman, as well as the members, has signed.
• The workers, together with the supervisor, were paid. Here the first subject is plural, so the verb is plural: the verb follows the main (first) subject, whatever its number.

Rule 4 — Each, every, either, neither, one, everyone, everybody, anyone, someone, nobody, no one, another

These are singular and take a singular verb and a singular pronoun:

• Each of the students has his own book.
• Neither of the answers is correct.
• Everyone in the class was present.
• One of my friends is an engineer.

Note: Neither/either of two; none may take a plural verb (see below).

Rule 5 — None

None means "not one" (singular) or "not any" (plural). Both are accepted; use a singular verb when you mean "not one" (None of the answers is correct) and a plural verb when a plural noun clearly follows (None of the students were late is common). In exams, the safest answer is singular unless the sentence obviously wants a plural.

Rule 6 — Collective nouns

Committee, team, jury, class, family, crew, audience, army, staff, government, public.

• Singular verb when the group acts as one unit: The committee has decided.
• Plural verb when the members act individually: The committee were divided in their opinions.
• Some collective nouns are always plural: police, cattle, people, gentry, clergy — The police are investigating.