Subject-Verb Agreement Educational Resources

Subject-verb agreement is a grammar rule that states that the number present in a noun must agree with the number shown in the verb that is being used. Simply put, if a subject is singular, the verb form must also be singular. If a subject is plural, the verb form must also be plural. Give your student extra practice in learning this grammar rule with our worksheets and resources.

The basic principle of subject-verb agreement is that singular subject must take on a singular verb. For example: She eats ice cream. Similarly, a plural subject must take on a plural verb, like so: They eat ice cream.

Below are are just a few guidelines when determining subject-verb agreement. Familiarize your students with some of these, and they can learn more advanced rules as they progress.

• When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a plural verb.
  Example: Jack and his friends are playing outside


• When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or or nor, use a singular verb.
  Example: The son or the daughter is going to pick up the supplies at the store.


• When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearer the verb.
  Example: Jack or his friends like cake.
  His friends or Jack eats a whole slice.


• The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody, someone and no one are singular and require a singular verb.
  Examples: Everyone loves cake.
  Either is correct.


• Nouns such as civics, mathematics, dollars, measles and news require singular verbs.
  Examples: The news is on at 6 p.m.
  Exception: When talking about an amount of money, dollars requires a singular verb, but when referring to the dollars themselves, use a plural verb.
  Examples: Five dollars is the price of admission. Dollars are more valuable than pesos.


• Nouns with two components, such as scissors, tweezers, trousers and shears, require plural verbs.
  Example: Those trousers are too tight.