Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is making your subjects and verbs match.• A singular subject requires a singular verb.

Example: My roommate attends class on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

• A plural subject requires a plural verb.

Example: My roommates attend class on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Simple Subjects

The simple subject is the subject without any extra descriptions, such as those found in prepositional phrases.

The verb should agree with the simple subject.

Singular Simple Subjects

A singular simple subject requires a singular verb.

Example: Ashley, as well as her roommates, attends class on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Plural Simple Subjects

A plural simple subject requires a plural verb.

Example: Ashley’s roommates, along with Ashley, attend extra tutorials.

Plural Compound Subjects

Compound subjects (subjects joined by and) are always plural and, therefore, require a plural verb.

Example: Ashley and her roommates attend class on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Subjects Joined by or or nor

The verb should agree with the closest subject when subjects are joined by or or nor.

Singular Subjects Joined by or or norIf the closest subject is singular, use a singular verb.

Example: Neither Ashley’s roommates nor Ashley attends class on Fridays.

Plural Subjects Joined by or or norIf the closest subject is plural, use a plural verb.

Example: Neither Ashley nor her roommates attend class on Fridays.

Singular Indefinite Pronoun Subjects

An indefinite pronoun subject such as one/body/thing, each, either/neither, and much is singular and requires a singular verb.

Example: Everyone is required to take the final exam.

Singular Indefinite Pronoun Subjects

An indefinite pronoun subject such as some, all, any, more, most, none, or a fraction may be singular or plural depending on the object. It is singular and requires a singular verb if the object is singular.

Example: Some of the exam is multiple choice. (Because exam is singular, Some is singular.)

Plural Indefinite Pronoun Subjects

An indefinite pronoun subject such as some, all, any, more, most, none, or a fraction may be singular or plural depending on the object. It is plural and requires a plural verb if the object is plural.

Example: Some of the questions are from the study guide. (Because questions is plural, Some is plural.)

Plural Indefinite Pronoun Subjects

An indefinite pronoun subject such as both, few, many, and several is plural and requires a plural verb.

Example: Both are required to take the final exam.

Collective Noun Subjects

A collective noun is a group of members, such as class and team.

Singular Collective Noun Subjects

A collective noun subject requires a singular verb if the collective noun is acting as one group.

Example: The team practices in the gym on Thursdays. (The team is practicing as a group in the same gym.)

Plural Collective Noun Subjects

A collective noun subject requires a plural verb if the collective noun is acting as many individuals.

Example: The basketball team have their signature moves. (Individual members of the team are perfecting their unique moves.)

It’s Your Turn!

I, in addition to my roommate, (am/is) taking English at 8:00 in the morning; my friends, together with my mother, (is/are) going to give me a wake-up call the first day of class.

Which are the correct verbs?

It’s Your Turn!

I, in addition to my roommate, am taking English at 8:00 in the morning; my friends, together with my mother, are going to give me a wake-up call the first day of class.

It’s Your Turn!

My roommate and I (plan/plans) to take all of our classes together next semester.

Which is the correct verb?

It’s Your Turn!

My roommate and I plan to take all of our classes together next semester.

It’s Your Turn!

Either my friends or my roommate (is/are) walking with me to class.

Which is the correct verb?

It’s Your Turn!

Either my friends or my roommate is walking with me to class.

It’s Your Turn!

Everybody (need/needs) to take general education classes before major classes.

Which is the correct verb?

It’s Your Turn!

Everybody needs to take general education classes before major classes.

It’s Your Turn!

The class (meet/meets) in the same classroom every day.

Which is the correct verb?

It’s Your Turn!

The class meets in the same classroom every day.

Don’t forget: print the handout that goes with this presentation!

Please complete a survey on this tutorial.

For more information about subject-verb agreement or for help with other writing concerns, come to TSU’s Writing Center.

Visit room 300 in the Learning Resources Center or call 615.963.5102 to make an appointment.