Subject Verb Agreement — English Grammar Rules, Examples & Practice (Free)
Learn Subject Verb Agreement in English grammar with simple rules, clear examples, common mistakes and free practice questions for students.
TL;DR: Learn Subject Verb Agreement in English grammar with simple rules, clear examples, common mistakes and free practice questions for students.
Written & reviewed by the Syllab.in Academic Team (CBSE/NCERT subject experts) · Updated
The subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number and person. A singular subject needs a singular verb, and a plural subject needs a plural verb.
Subject-Verb Agreement — The Rules
- Singular subjects take singular verbs (She runs, The cat sleeps, He is happy)
- Plural subjects take plural verbs (They run, The cats sleep, We are happy)
- Collective nouns can be singular or plural depending on context (The team is/are playing)
- Words between subject and verb do not change agreement: "The boy with two dogs runs" (runs, not run)
- Indefinite pronouns: some are singular (anyone, someone, everybody), others are plural (both, few, several)
Examples
- Singular: "He works hard every day."
- Plural: "They work hard every day."
- Collective: "The committee is meeting tomorrow." (one unit) vs "The committee are divided on this issue." (individual members)
- Interrupted: "The news from various sources is confusing." (news = singular, not sources)
- Indefinite: "Everyone has their own opinion." (everyone = singular but can use "their")
Common Mistakes
These are the errors that cost marks most often. Each line gives the mistake and the correction.
- Subject-verb mismatch: "The students is studying" — use "are" with plural
- Incorrect plural verb form: "The cat have eaten" — use "has", not "have"
- Confusing singular with intervening phrases: "The book on the shelves are interesting" — "book" is singular, so "is"
Practice Questions
Attempt each one before reading the answer beneath it — checking first teaches nothing.
Choose the correct verb: "Either the principal or the teachers (is/are) responsible."
are — when "or" connects subjects, use plural verb
Correct: "The team have won the championship." (British or American perspective?)
Both can be correct! British English often uses plural "have"; American English uses singular "has".
Fill the blank: "Physics (is/are) my favorite subject."
is — Physics is singular (one subject), despite sounding plural
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the rule when "and" connects subjects?
Use plural verb: "The boy and girl are friends." Exception: If they form one unit ("fish and chips is a meal"), use singular.
How do I handle subjects like "each", "every", "neither"?
These are singular: "Each student has a textbook." "Neither option is perfect." "Every dog needs water."
What about agreement with "data" and "criteria"?
"Data" and "criteria" are plural (from "datum" and "criterion"), so use plural verbs: "The data are clear." "These criteria are important."
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