1.

Subjects and verbs must

agree in number.
*Singular subject takes singular verb.
*Plural subject takes plural verb.

• Examples:
1. The cow eats in the grassland.

2. The ducks swim in the pond.

2. Don’t get confused by the
words that come between the
subject and verb.

The detective, who was called to the

case, is very good.
 3. Prepositional phrases
between the subject and verb
usually do not affect the
agreement.
The biker in this race is very competitive.

The bikers in this race are very competitive.

 4. If a sentence starts with
“there” or “ here”, the subject
will always be placed after the
verb.

There is a meeting today.

Here are the results from this past

month.
5. Subjects can come after the
verb in questions.
• Does Betty always play with dolls?

• How are the stick breads today?

6. If two subjects are joined by
“and”, they typically require a
plural verb.

• The puppy and the lady are friends.

7. If two subjects are separated
by “and” refer to the same
thing, the verb is singular.

• Spaghetti and meatballs is my

favorite pasta dish.
 8. If both subjects are singular
and connected by or, nor,
neither/nor, either/or and not
only/but also, the verb is singular.

• Sally or Betty has stolen the

scarecrow.

• Not only the guitar player but also

the drummer was soaked with
sweat.
 9. If both subjects are plural and
connected by the words or, nor,
neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but
also, the verb is plural.

• Cookies or brownies are nice treats

for your teacher.
 10. If one subject is singular and one
plural and are connected by the words
or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not
only/but also, use the subject that is
nearest to the verb.
• Either my sisters or my mother has
sent me a present.

• Not only Bob but also his friends

want some hamburgers for supper.
 11. Units of measurement
usually use a singular verb.
• Six gallons of paint was used on the
house.

• Five dollars is too much for a cup of

coffee.
 12. Collective nouns usually take a
singular verb. It takes a plural verb
when the speaker is thinking of
the individual members of the
group.
The class was ready for the test.

The team were talking over some

new plays.
13. Titles of books, movies,
novels, etc. are treated as
singular.
• Holes was one of my favorite books.
I want to see the movie.

• Romeo and Juliet is a tragic story.

14. Two infinitives separated by
and take a plural verb.
• To run and to read are my two favorite
hobbies.
 15. Gerunds alone take a
singular verb. Gerunds linked
by and take a plural verb.
• Dancing is not something
everyone can do as well as I
can.
• Writing and speaking are major
forms on how language is
expressed.
16. If the words each, every or no
come before the subject, the
verb is singular.

• Each boy and girl has to take the test.

• Every frog and toad turns into a prince.

• No paper and pen is required.

 17. Most indefinite pronouns
take singular verbs.
-one -body -thing
someone somebody something
anyone anybody anything
no one nobody nothing
everyone everybody everything

* Everybody is happy.
* No one has much time.
* Nothing was going to help.
 18. Both, few, many, others,
and several take a plural verb.
• Several need to finish the race.

• A few have the right answer.

19. When the subject is all, any, more,
most, none, or some, this is the ONLY
time you must look at the object of the
prepositional phrase to determine
whether it is singular or plural.

• All of the chickens have laid eggs.

• Some of the milk is spilled.

20. Singular verbs are used for
nouns, plural in form but
singular in meaning.

Measles is an infectious
disease that anyone can
acquire.
21. Plural verbs are used for
nouns, plural in form and in
meaning.

Scissors are very important in

the various arts and crafts.
22. The expression “the number”
takes a singular verb while the
expression “a number” takes a
plural verb.

The number of errors is surprising.

A number of errors are surprising.
 23. The verb of the relative clause
agrees with the antecedent of the
relative pronoun. In case of a subject
introduced by only one of the verb of
the relative clause, the verb agrees
with the subject “one”.

One of the students who are summoned

by the dean is my classmate.
 24. Adjectives when
used as subjects take a
plural verb.

The needy are to be helped.

 Instructions:
Pick out the subject in
every sentence and
identify the correct form
of verb that should be
used. Answer directly.
1). The scissors in this classroom (is,
are) nowhere to be found.
2). The dog, who is chewing on my jeans,
(is, are) very adorable.
3). The faculty (implement, implements)
a new school policy.
4). There (is, are) a problem with the
balance sheet.
5). Here (is, are) the documents you
requested.
6). Red beans and rice (is, are) my sister’s
favorite dish.
7). No smoking or drinking (is, are)
allowed.
8). Annie and her brothers (is, are) at
school.
9). The man with all the birds (live, lives)
on my street.
10). Neither the lion nor the bears (has,
have) escaped from the zoo.
11). Four quarts of oil (was, were)
required to get the car running.
12). Most of the stock (has, have)
been sold.
13). The Burbs (is, are) a movie
starring Tom Hanks.
14). Everybody (want, wants) to be
loved.
15). Few (was, were) left alive after
the flood.
16). My friend and roommate (is, are)
going for a vacation.
17). The decorations of the room,
including all the paintings on
the walls, (is, are) pleasing.
18). News (is, are) travelling faster
than ever before.
19). Some of the books (seem, seems)
old.
20). Something (is, are) wrong with
him these days.
1). The scissors in this classroom (is,
are) nowhere to be found.
2). The dog, who is chewing on my jeans,
(is, are) very adorable.
3). The faculty (implement, implements)
a new school policy.
4). There (is, are) a problem with the
balance sheet.
5). Here (is, are) the documents you
requested.
6). Red beans and rice (is, are) my sister’s
favorite dish.
7). No smoking or drinking (is, are)
allowed.
8). Annie and her brothers (is, are) at
school.
9). The man with all the birds (live, lives)
on my street.
10). Neither the lion nor the bears (has,
have) escaped from the zoo.
11). Four quarts of oil (was, were)
required to get the car running.
12). Most of the stock (has, have)
been sold.
13). The Burbs (is, are) a movie
starring Tom Hanks.
14). Everybody (want, wants) to be
loved.
15). Few (was, were) left alive after
the flood.
16). My friend and roommate (is, are)
going for a vacation.
17). The decorations of the room,
including all the paintings on
the walls, (is, are) pleasing.
18). News (is, are) travelling faster
than ever before.
19). Some of the books (seem, seems)
old.
20). Something (is, are) wrong with
him these days.