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If I had to name the one grammar mistake I see most often in student writing, it’s subject–verb disagreement. “The team are winning” instead of “The team is winning.” “There’s five books” instead of “There are five books.” These errors slip past even careful writers because English subject–verb agreement has several tricky rules that don’t always follow the obvious pattern.
I’ll teach you all nine core rules of subject–verb agreement, show you the exact patterns that confuse learners, walk you through real examples, and give you tools to catch these mistakes before they reach your reader. By the end, you’ll have the confidence to handle even the trickiest singular and plural situations.
Key Takeaways
- Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs — the foundation of all agreement.
- Words between the subject and verb don’t change the number — ignore phrases like “of the eggs” and focus on the core subject.
- Singular indefinite pronouns (each, either, neither, someone, anybody, everyone) always take singular verbs, even if they sound plural.
- Collective nouns (team, committee, audience) can be singular or plural depending on context — if acting as one unit, use singular; if as separate individuals, use plural.
- Compound subjects with “and” are plural; with “or” or “nor,” agree with the nearest subject — the last item in the list determines the verb.
The Core Pattern: Singular = Singular, Plural = Plural
Before learning all the rules, understand the foundation: a singular subject must have a singular verb, and a plural subject must have a plural verb.
Singular examples:
Example 1: The car stays in the garage.
Example 2: The flower smells good.
Plural examples:
Example 1: The cars stay in the garage.
Example 2: The flowers smell good.
Here’s a counterintuitive fact: in English, singular verbs in the present tense often end in -s (stays, smells, loves), while plural verbs do not (stay, smell, love). This is backwards from nouns, which is why it confuses learners. Remember: the -s makes verbs singular, not plural.
Rule 1: A Verb Agrees with Its Subject in Number
Formula: Singular subject + singular verb | Plural subject + plural verb
✗ Incorrect: She walk to school every day.
✓ Correct: She walks to school every day.
Why: “She” is singular, so the verb must be singular (“walks” with the -s).
✗ Incorrect: They walks to school every day.
✓ Correct: They walk to school every day.
Why: “They” is plural, so the verb must be plural (no -s).
Rule 2: Words Between Subject and Verb Don’t Change the Agreement
One of the biggest traps: when there’s a prepositional phrase (or other words) between the subject and verb, learners often agree the verb with the nearest noun instead of the true subject.
✗ Incorrect: One of the eggs are broken.
✓ Correct: One of the eggs is broken.
Why: The subject is “one” (singular), not “eggs.” The phrase “of the eggs” is just extra information. Mentally cross it out: “One is broken.”
More examples:
✗ Incorrect: The list of items have been updated.
✓ Correct: The list of items has been updated.
Why: Subject = “list” (singular); “of items” is descriptive only.
Trick: When you see a prepositional phrase after the subject, cross it out mentally and ask yourself: what’s the real subject?
Rule 3: Singular Indefinite Pronouns Take Singular Verbs
Certain pronouns always take singular verbs, even though they might sound plural or refer to multiple people:
Always singular pronouns: each, either, neither, one, no one, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, anyone, anybody, nobody
Example 1: Each of the students has a locker.
Example 2: Nobody in the group was paying attention.
Example 3: Someone in the class needs help.
These feel like they should be plural because they often refer to multiple people, but grammatically they’re always singular. This is one of the trickiest rules.
Rule 4: Some Pronouns May Be Singular or Plural
A few pronouns (some, any, all, most) can be either singular or plural depending on what noun they refer to:
If the noun is uncountable (singular): Some/Any/All/Most + is
Example: Most of the news is good.
If the noun is countable (plural): Some/Any/All/Most + are
Example: Most of the flowers were yellow.
More examples:
Singular: All of the pizza was gone.
Plural: All of the children were late.
The key is the noun that follows the pronoun. Focus on that, and the agreement becomes clear.
Rule 5: “And” Makes Compound Subjects Plural
When two or more subjects are joined by “and,” treat the result as plural and use a plural verb.
✗ Incorrect: Bob and George is leaving.
✓ Correct: Bob and George are leaving.
Why: Two people joined by “and” = plural subject.
Exception: If the two subjects form a single unit or idea, you can use a singular verb, but this is rare.
Example: “Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite snack.” (One combined idea.)
Rule 6: “Or” and “Nor” — Agree with the Nearest Subject
When subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
✓ Correct: Neither Bob nor George is leaving.
Why: George (singular) is nearest to the verb, so use singular “is.”
✓ Correct: Neither Bob nor his friends are leaving.
Why: Friends (plural) is nearest to the verb, so use plural “are.”
This rule applies equally to “or”:
✓ Correct: Either the teacher or the students are planning the party.
Rule 7: Collective Nouns — Context Determines the Agreement
A collective noun names a group as a whole. Common examples: team, committee, audience, group, class, crew, family, jury, crowd, orchestra.
If the group is acting as one unit (singular context), use a singular verb. If the group members are acting as individuals (plural context), use a plural verb.
Singular (group as one unit): The orchestra is playing a hit song.
(They’re performing together as a unified ensemble.)
Plural (group as individuals): The orchestra were asked to give their musical backgrounds.
(Individual members are reporting separately.)
More examples:
Singular: The team is winning the championship.
Plural: The team are discussing their individual strategies.
In American English, singular is more common. In British English, plural is more accepted. Choose based on your context and audience.
Rule 8: Time, Money, and Measurement — Usually Singular
Expressions of time, money, weight, and distance are usually singular when the amount is considered as one unit.
Example 1: Five dollars is too much to ask.
Example 2: Ten days is not nearly enough time.
Example 3: Three miles is a long walk.
However, in plural contexts (when emphasizing individual items), you can use a plural verb:
Plural: There were thirty minutes to countdown.
The singular version is more standard, so default to that unless context clearly calls for plural.
Rule 9: Nouns That Look Plural But Are Singular
Some nouns have a plural form but singular meaning. These always take singular verbs:
Common examples: mathematics, physics, statistics, economics, news, mumps, measles, gymnastics, civics, phonics
✗ Incorrect: Mathematics are an easy subject.
✓ Correct: Mathematics is an easy subject.
Why: Despite the -s ending, mathematics is one discipline, not multiple things.
More examples:
✓ Correct: The news is depressing.
✓ Correct: Physics is taught by Prof. Baldwin.
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Mistake 1: “There is/There are” confusion
In sentences starting with “there,” the real subject comes after the verb. Agree with that subject.
✗ Incorrect: There is five books on the shelf.
✓ Correct: There are five books on the shelf.
Why: The subject is “books” (plural), so use “are.”
✗ Incorrect: There are a cat in the yard.
✓ Correct: There is a cat in the yard.
Why: The subject is “cat” (singular), so use “is.”
Mistake 2: “Everyone/Everybody” — Singular!
✗ Incorrect: Everyone have their own opinion.
✓ Correct: Everyone has their own opinion.
Why: “Everyone” is singular, even though it refers to multiple people. Use singular “has.”
Mistake 3: Ignoring prepositional phrases
✗ Incorrect: The team of experienced players are ready.
✓ Correct: The team of experienced players is ready.
Why: Focus on “team” (singular), not “players.” The phrase “of experienced players” is descriptive.
Sample Dialogue
Teacher: Chen, in your essay you wrote “The list of items have been updated.” Is that correct?
Chen: Hmm, let me think… there are items in the list, so…
Teacher: I get the logic, but focus on the subject. What’s the subject of that sentence?
Chen: Oh! The subject is “list,” not “items.”
Teacher: Exactly. So what should the verb be?
Chen: Singular — “The list has been updated.”
Teacher: Perfect. The phrase “of items” is extra information. Always find the core subject first.
Practice Quiz
Quick Quiz
Choose the correct verb form:
- Each of the students ________ a smartphone. (has / have)
- There ________ several mistakes in the report. (is / are)
- The team ________ determined to win the championship. (is / are)
- Either the teacher or the students ________ planning the event. (is / are)
- The news ________ always depressing. (is / are)
Answers: 1. has · 2. are · 3. is · 4. are · 5. is
Quick Reference Table
| Scenario | Verb Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular subject | Singular verb (-s) | She walks to school. |
| Plural subject | Plural verb (no -s) | They walk to school. |
| Each, either, neither, someone, anyone, etc. | Always singular | Each student has a locker. |
| Some, any, all, most + countable noun | Plural verb | Most of the apples are red. |
| Some, any, all, most + uncountable noun | Singular verb | Most of the milk is gone. |
| Subject 1 and Subject 2 | Plural verb | Tom and Jane are friends. |
| Subject 1 or Subject 2 | Agrees with nearest subject | Either John or they are going. |
| Collective noun (acting as one unit) | Singular verb | The team is winning. |
| Collective noun (acting as individuals) | Plural verb | The team are discussing strategies. |
Related Articles
- ↑ Master Pillar: English Grammar
- Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement — Beyond Verbs
- Indefinite Pronouns — Singular and Plural
- ↑ Back to pillar: English Sentence Structure (Pillar)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is subject-verb agreement and why does it matter?
Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that a subject and its verb must match in number (singular or plural). It matters because incorrect agreement sounds wrong to native speakers and marks writing as amateur in formal contexts. It’s one of the most common grammar errors in student writing.
Why do singular verbs end in -s when plural nouns end in -s?
This is a quirk of English grammar that trips up many learners. In the present tense, singular verbs take the -s (he walks), while plural nouns take the -s (three cats). It’s the opposite of what you’d expect, but it’s a fixed pattern in English that you must memorize.
Do words between the subject and verb affect agreement?
No. Words between the subject and verb (prepositional phrases, descriptive clauses, etc.) do not affect the agreement. The verb must agree with the core subject, not with any nearby nouns. For example: “The list of items has been updated” — agree with “list,” not “items.”
Why do collective nouns sometimes take singular and sometimes plural verbs?
Collective nouns can be treated as singular (the group as one unit) or plural (the group members as individuals). Use singular when the group acts together: “The team is winning.” Use plural when members act separately: “The team are disagreeing about strategy.” Context determines which is appropriate.
Is “everyone has” or “everyone have” correct?
The correct form is “everyone has.” Despite referring to multiple people, “everyone” is grammatically singular and always takes a singular verb. This applies to all singular indefinite pronouns like each, neither, nobody, somebody, and anyone.
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