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Subject-verb agreement is one of the most fundamental principles of English grammar. At its core, the rule is simple: a singular subject requires a singular verb, while a plural subject requires a plural verb. However, intervening phrases, compound subjects, indefinite pronouns, and collective nouns often confuse even intermediate and advanced writers.
In English, singular present-tense verbs usually end in '-s' or '-es' (for example: she walks, he writes), whereas plural present-tense verbs do not (for example: they walk, they write).
The Core Principle of Subject-Verb Agreement
To ensure subject-verb agreement, you must first identify the true subject of the sentence and determine whether it is singular or plural. The main verb must match the number of that subject regardless of any descriptive words placed between them.
10 Common Subject-Verb Agreement Mistakes
1. Words Between Subject and Verb
Modifiers and prepositional phrases inserted between a subject and its verb do not alter the subject's number.
Correct Example
The list of items is on the desk.
Incorrect Example
The list of items are on the desk.
2. Compound Subjects with 'And'
When two or more subjects are connected by 'and', they almost always require a plural verb.
Example: The manager and the director are attending the conference.
3. Subjects Connected by 'Or' / 'Nor'
When subjects are linked by 'or' or 'nor', the verb must agree with the subject closest to it.
Example: Neither the supervisor nor the employees are responsible for the mistake.
4. Indefinite Pronouns (Everyone, Somebody, Each)
Indefinite pronouns such as everyone, somebody, nobody, each, every, and anyone are grammatically singular.
Correct Example
Everyone is expected to submit their report on time.
Incorrect Example
Everyone are expected to submit their report on time.
5. Collective Nouns (Team, Family, Committee)
Collective nouns refer to a group as a single entity and take singular verbs in standard American English.
Example: The committee meets every Tuesday afternoon.
6. Inverted Sentence Structure (Here / There)
In sentences starting with 'there is' or 'here are', the subject follows the verb.
Example: There are three key factors to consider in this analysis.
7. Nouns That Look Plural But Are Singular
Words like news, mathematics, physics, economics, and ethics are singular despite ending in '-s'.
Example: The news is encouraging for international applicants.
8. Portions and Percentages (Some, All, Most, Half)
With fractional expressions, the verb agrees with the noun following 'of'.
Example: Most of the water is purified. / Most of the students are present.
9. 'The Number of' vs 'A Number of'
'The number of' takes a singular verb, while 'a number of' takes a plural verb.
Example: The number of applications is increasing. A number of students have passed.
10. Distributive Expressions (Each of, One of)
Phrases starting with 'one of' or 'each of' followed by a plural noun require a singular verb.
Example: One of my colleagues is traveling abroad.
Quick-Reference Subject-Verb Agreement Table
| Rule Type | Subject Structure | Verb Form | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Subject | The teacher | Singular | The teacher explains the lesson clearly. |
| Compound (And) | The teacher and student | Plural | The teacher and student review the material. |
| Either / Or | Either the manager or workers | Agrees with closest subject | Either the manager or the workers prepare the venue. |
| Indefinite Pronoun | Each of the proposals | Singular | Each of the proposals requires thorough evaluation. |
| Collective Noun | The team | Singular | The team celebrates its victory. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is subject-verb agreement important in professional writing?
Correct subject-verb agreement ensures clarity, maintains professional credibility, and prevents ambiguity in corporate communications and academic publications.
How can AI grammar checkers help with subject-verb agreement?
AI grammar checkers like My Grammar AI instantly parse complex sentence structures, identify intervening phrases, and highlight subtle subject-verb mismatches before you publish.
Conclusion & Next Steps
Mastering subject-verb agreement rules eliminates one of the most common sources of errors in English writing. For additional grammar rules and practice, check out our guide on [mastering English articles](/blog/mastering-english-articles-a-an-the-the-complete-beginners-guide) or explore our complete [Grammar category](/category/grammar). You can also use [My Grammar AI Grammar Checker](https://mygrammarai.app/category/grammar) to analyze your text in real time.
Sarah Johnson is a senior English language educator with 15 years of experience teaching grammar and academic writing to international students.
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