Subject-Verb Agreement: 10 Essential Rules and 100+ Examples

Introduction

Have you ever read a sentence that just felt “off”, even if you couldn’t immediately point out why? Often, that uncomfortable feeling comes from a clash between the subject and the verb. Grammar is the skeleton of a language. It holds the words together and gives them shape. Among the many rules in English, Subject-Verb Agreement is arguably the most critical foundation for clear communication. 

Whether you are chatting with friends or drafting a business proposal for a multinational client, getting this rule right is the difference between sounding fluent and sounding confused. Subject-Verb Agreement means that the verb in a sentence must match the subject in number (singular or plural) and person. 

In this blog article, we will break down exactly what subjects and objects are, how to ensure the verbs agree in number and person, and learn the important subject-verb agreement rules. Each section includes examples from daily conversations and business English to help you understand the practical usage.

What is a Subject?

Before we can agree on anything, we need to know who is doing the action or talking in a sentence. In English grammar, the subject is the “doer” of the sentence. It is the person, place, thing, or idea that performs the action or that is being described. Without a subject, a sentence is usually incomplete. It usually appears before the verb.

Examples

Here are examples showing the subject (in bold) in action.

• Rohit plays cricket every Sunday.
• The children are playing outside.
• The manager approves the proposal.
• The team is working on the project.
• The company provides health insurance.
• The clients expect quality service.

What is a Verb?

A verb is the part of a sentence that shows action, state, or occurrence. In a sentence, the verb comes after the subject and tells us what the subject does or what happens to the subject. Verbs can express physical actions (run, write), mental actions (think, believe), or states of being (is, seem).

Understanding verbs is important because they give life to a sentence. Verbs change form based on tense and subject. The verb is crucial in subject-verb agreement. It decides the grammatical accuracy, clarity, and tense by matching the subject’s number (singular/plural) and person.  

In the following examples, the bold words are verbs.

Examples:

• She bought a new dress.
• The children are playing outside.
• The manager reviewed the report.
• The company launched a new product.
• The HR team conducts interviews.

What is an Object?

If the subject is the “doer”, the object is the “receiver”. The object is the noun or pronoun (person or thing) that receives the action of the verb. It usually comes after the verb. While Subject-Verb agreement doesn’t depend on the object, knowing the difference is vital so you don’t confuse the two when the sentence gets complicated. Not all sentences need an object.

In the following examples, the bold words are objects.

Examples:

• I bought a new phone.
• She called her friend.
• We watched a movie.
• The team prepared the report.
• He sent the email yesterday.
• They discussed the budget.

To know more about objects, key points, direct and indirect objects, read our blog, Basic Sentence Formation in English.

What is the Subject-Verb Agreement?

Now that we have identified the players, we need to look at the rules of the game. Subject-Verb Agreement simply means that the verb must agree with the subject in number and person. Subject and verb agreement is one of the most important grammar rules in English. Whether you are speaking in daily conversations, writing emails, preparing reports, or appearing for competitive exams, correct agreement between the subject and verb makes your communication clear, professional, and grammatically accurate. 

• If the subject is Singular (one), the verb must be Singular. (Example: She runs.)
• If the subject is Plural (more than one), the verb must be Plural. (Example: They run.)

Let’s now look at the essential rules of subject-verb agreement.

Essential Rules of the Subject-Verb Agreement

Here are the ten important rules to remember in order to maintain the subject-verb agreement correctly in a sentence.

1. Basic Agreement

Singular subjects need singular verbs and plural subjects need plural verbs.

A) Singular Subject: When a sentence begins with a singular subject, we add “-s” or “-es” to the main verb. A singular subject usually takes a singular verb.

Examples:

• The dog runs fast. [‘dog’ is singular (3rd person), therefore we have added ‘-s’ to the main verb (runs).]
• The doll is beautiful. [‘doll’ is singular (3rd person), therefore we have used a singular verb (is).]
• This cake tastes delicious.  
• He goes to the gym.  
• My brother works in an automobile company in Chennai.
• The manager approves the request.
• The department handles compliance matters.
• The proposal looks promising.

B) Plural Subject: For plural subject, we do not add “-s” or“-es” to the main verb. A plural subject usually takes a plural verb.

Examples:

• The dogs run fast. [‘dogs’ is plural, therefore we have NOT added ‘-s’ to the verb (run).]
• The dolls are beautiful. [‘dolls’ is plural, therefore we have used a plural verb (are).]
• The teams are collaborating effectively.
• The results indicate improvement.
• The girls are playing volleyball.
• The students are talking to the lecturer.
• Local buses run regularly to and from the campus.
• The company’s profits were 5 percent lower than last year.

2. Compound Subjects

A) Two or more subjects joined by “and” usually take a plural verb.

Examples:

• Ram and Shyam are friends.  
• My friend and I have lived here for five years.
• Rohan and Seema are playing chess.
• The company and its partners are expanding operations.
• Focus and dedication are key to success.  
• Pallavi and Priyanka are going to the gym.
• Tea and coffee are available in the kitchen.
• My brother and sister live in Hyderabad.
• The manager and the supervisor have approved the proposal.
• Sales and marketing work closely together.
• The CEO and the CFO were present at the meeting.

B) If they refer to one person, idea, concept, thing, etc., use a singular verb.  

Examples:

• Bread and butter is my favorite breakfast. (One common dish)
• Rice and curry is served at lunch. (One meal combination)
• Peanut butter and jelly is a popular sandwich filling. (One food combination)
• Slow and steady wins the race. (One combined idea)
• Time and tide waits for no man. (Proverbial expression)
• The writer and director is arriving today. (One person with two roles)
• The founder and chairman is speaking today. (Same person)
• Law and order is essential for a peaceful society. (One concept)

C) When two subjects are joined by “or”, the verb agrees with the subject closest to the verb (proximity rule). The verb follows the number (singular or plural) of the nearest subject.

Examples:

• Tea or coffee is fine for me.
• The manager or the employees are responsible.
• The employees or the manager is responsible.
• Either the CEO or the directors have to decide.  

D) Intervening phrases: Phrases between the subject and verb (for example, along with, as well as, accompanied by) do not change the number of the first subject. The verb agrees with the first subject. These phrases add extra information. They do not make the subject plural.

Examples:

• My brother, as well as my friends, is coming today.
• The teacher, as well as the students, was excited.
• Priya, as well as her cousin, has arrived.
• The managers, as well as the team members, were informed.
• The CEO, as well as the board members, has approved the plan.
• My father, along with my uncles, is visiting us.
• The children, along with their friends, were playing outside.
• Rohan, along with his classmates, has completed the project.
• The manager, along with the HR team, is conducting interviews.
• The director, along with the executives, was present at the conference.
• The report accompanied by charts is presented at the seminar.

3. Indefinite Pronouns

A) Some indefinite pronouns like anybody, anyone, everybody, everyone, somebody, someone, nobody, no one, whoever, whomsoever can cause confusion because they seem to be referring to a group of people or things. We tend to use third person plural verbs, but remember that they take third person singular verbs. The pronoun “both” takes a plural verb.    

Examples:

• Everyone has a notebook.  
• Everyone has completed the task.
• Everybody knows the answer.
• Everyone has a ticket.  
• Everyone is responsible for meeting the deadlines.
• Both these books are mine.
• Both the women were French.
• Both my children are studying in the same school.   

B) Some indefinite pronouns like one, each, every, either, neither, other use qualifying information that can make subject-verb agreement confusing. When we come across such tricky pronouns, use a singular verb. ‘Neither of’ and ‘either of’ are followed by a singular verb.

• One of our students have gone to Germany. (Incorrect)
• One of our students has gone to Germany. (Correct)

In this sentence, the auxiliary verb (has, have) should be conjugated with the indefinite pronoun ‘one’ (singular) instead of ‘students’ (plural). ‘One’ is the subject of the sentence, while ‘of our students’ is an adjectival prepositional phrase that describes it. Let’s look at some more examples.

Examples:

• Every state elects its own Chief Minister.
• Each item is carefully checked.
• Each employee receives a bonus.
• Every child was given a gift.
• One of my friends is coming.
• One of the managers has resigned.
• Each of the students has a book.
• Each of the candidates was interviewed.
• Each of the students has submitted homework.
• Each employee has signed the form.
• Neither answer is correct.  
• Neither candidate was selected for the position.
• Neither of my parents speaks English.
• Neither of them is ready.

4. Uncountable Nouns

A) Singular form: Some nouns exist in singular form and always take a singular verb.  They may refer to a group, a field of study, an idea, or an uncountable concept. Common examples are information, advice, furniture, luggage, equipment, machinery, knowledge, traffic, etc. But, we can use expressions like ‘a piece of advice’, ‘a piece of equipment’, ‘a grain of rice’, etc.

Examples:

• The information is accurate.
• Her advice was very helpful.
• The furniture is made of teak wood.
• All the equipment is ready for installation.
• Information is available on the website.
• Advice is useful in this situation.
• Furniture is expensive here.
• Luggage is placed near the entrance.  

B) Emotions and qualities: Some nouns refer to emotions, qualities, states, ideas, or concepts and are treated as singular. Common examples are honesty, happiness, progress, education, intelligence, courage, etc.

Examples:

• Honesty is the best policy.
• Education is essential for growth.
• Progress is slow but steady.
• Her intelligence is impressive.

C) Academic subjects and fields of study: Some names of subjects end in “-ics” but are treated as singular when referring to a field of study. Common examples are mathematics, physics, economics, politics, statistics, etc.  

Examples:

• Mathematics is my favorite subject.
• Economics is an important discipline in business studies.
• Physics is difficult for some students.
• Statistics is useful for data analysis. (singular – when referring to the subject)
• The statistics are shocking. (plural – when referring to numerical data)
• Statistics show that more people are able to ride a bicycle. (plural)

D) Names of diseases, games, books, news, and movies: Some of these nouns end in “-s” but are grammatically considered as singular. Examples are measles, diabetes, politics, billiards, etc.

Examples:

• Measles is a contagious disease.
• Diabetes is a chronic health condition.
• Billiards is a cue sport played on a table.
• The news is surprising today.
• Politics is a sensitive topic.
• The Arabian Nights is a famous collection of folk tales compiled in Arabic.
• True Lies is an action-comedy film directed by James Cameron.

5. Nouns That Exist in Plural Form

The nouns like annals, bellows, binoculars, pincers, tongs, scissors, spectacles, proceedings, trousers, pantaloons, pliers, premises, and wages are treated as plural nouns in English. Therefore, they take plural verbs (are, were, have, etc.). These nouns usually refer to tools with two joined parts (scissors, pliers, tongs, pincers), clothing items with two leg pieces (trousers, pantaloons), and optical devices with two lenses (binoculars, spectacles). Even though they refer to one object, they are grammatically plural.

Examples: 

• The scissors are sharp.
• The pincers are kept in the toolbox.
• The trousers are expensive.
• Binoculars are useful for birdwatching.
• The premises are secured.
• The bellows are used to blow air into the fire.
• The premises are under CCTV surveillance.
• The workers’ wages have increased this year.
• The proceedings were conducted professionally.

6. Collective Nouns

Collective nouns usually take a singular verb if acting as a unit. If the subject is a collective noun, such as family, council, team, board, committee, jury, crew, mob, etc., then use a singular verb.  

Examples: 

• The team wins the match. (‘Team’ is treated as one unit here)
• The council has elected its President.
• The committee has decided to close the facility.
• The mob was preparing to storm the government building.   
• The jury has reached a decision.
• The family enjoys dinner at a nearby restaurant.
• The committee consists of six members.
• The board meets every month.
• The team is working diligently to complete the project by this Friday.

7. Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative Conjunctions or Paired Conjunctions are sets of conjunctions that are always used together. Some of the most common correlative conjunctions are “either … or”, “neither … nor”, ” not only … but also”, “just as … so”, “whether … or” and “not … but”.

When correlative conjunctions are used, consider the noun or pronoun nearer to the verb, and use a singular verb or a plural verb accordingly. The verb agrees with the noun nearest to the verb. If the noun nearer to the verb is singular, then use a singular verb. If the noun nearer to the verb is plural, then use a plural verb.

Examples: 

• Neither Divya nor her friends are coming. (Verb agrees with ‘friends’)  
• Neither Christopher nor his friend was hurt.
• Neither they nor I was there at that time.
• Either the student or her parents have attended the event.
• Either they or she has mistaken the date.
• Neither the manager nor the employees are ready for the meeting.
• Neither the teachers nor the principal is available today.
• Neither my friends nor I am responsible for this error.
• Either the CEO or the directors are attending the conference.
• Either the students or the teacher is presenting today.
• Not only the manager but also the staff was present.
• Not only the teachers but also the principal is available.
• Not only the CEO but also the directors are attending.

8. Time, Amount, and Distance

When measurements of time, money, distance, weight, or quantity are expressed as a single total amount or single unit, we treat it as one unit. Therefore, it takes a singular verb, even though the noun looks plural (years, rupees, dollars, kilometers, etc.). When they refer to individual items separately, use a plural verb. Decide the verb form based on the context.

Examples:

• Ten thousand rupees is not enough to buy that laptop.
• Twenty kilometers is too far for us to walk.
• Three hours is sufficient to complete this examination.
• Fifty kilograms is the maximum weight allowed on this flight.
• Five years is a long time to wait for a promotion.
• Two weeks is enough for the team to finish the project.
• In total, twenty rupees are on the table. (Refers to individual notes/coins)
• Four days were marked as holidays in this month. (Refers to four separate days)

9. Sentences Beginning with Specific Words/Phrases

A) Sentences Beginning with “Here” and “There”: When a sentence begins with “Here” or “There”, the verb agrees with the real subject that comes after the verb and not with “here” or “there”. In English, “here” is not the subject of the sentence. It is an introductory word (an adverb). The real subject comes after the verb, so the verb must agree with that subject. If the subject is singular, use a singular verb. If the subject is plural, use a plural verb. Identify the real subject first before choosing the verb.

Examples:

• Here is the report you requested.
• Here are the documents you asked for.
• Here comes the bus.
• Here come the students who won the competition.
• Here is your pen, and here are your keys.
• There is a problem with my phone.
• There is an interesting movie on TV.
• There are two guests at the door.
• There are three pending orders.
• There are two pens and a book on the table.
• There were multiple issues in the system.
• There were many people at the event.

B) Sentences Beginning with “A number of” and “The number of”: “A number of” takes a plural verb, while “The number of” takes a singular verb. Although both expressions look similar, their meanings are different. “A number of” means “several or many” whereas “The number of” means the “total count”.

Examples:

• A number of employees are working remotely this week.
• A number of applicants were rejected after the interview.
• A number of students are absent today.
• The number of employees is increasing every year.
• The number of mistakes in this report is alarming.
• The number of vehicles on the road has doubled.

C) Sentences Beginning with “Much”, “More”, and “Many”: These words are quantifiers, and the verb depends on whether they refer to countable or uncountable nouns.

Examples:

• Many students are participating.
• Much time is needed.
• More books are required.
• More information is needed.
• Many students are preparing for the examination.
• Many opportunities have been lost due to poor planning.
• Much effort is required to complete this project.
• More employees are joining the company this month.
• More patience is needed to solve this problem.

10. Modal Auxiliary Verbs

When using the modal auxiliary verbs (can, could, will, would, shall, should, might, must, and ought to), you need not worry about using the singular or plural verb. Modal auxiliary verbs do not change their form according to the subject. The main verb that follows a modal is always in the base form. When we use modal auxiliary verbs, the modal remains the same for all subjects, and the verb after the modal stays in its base form.

Examples:

• This phone can capture professional-grade pictures. (‘phone’ is singular)
• Most phones can do that now. (‘phones’ is plural)
• The prime minister will arrive in Japan next week.
• The other ministers will arrive shortly after that.
• She can solve the problem quickly.
• They could finish the project before the deadline.
• The manager will approve the proposal tomorrow.
• I would help you if I had more time.
• The students should submit their assignments on time.
• He might join the meeting later.

If you want to know how the subject-verb agreement changes in different verb patterns, please read our blog on Verb Patterns in English.

Conclusion

Subject-verb agreement is the key point that holds your sentences together. While the basic rules are simple, the nuances of English grammar can make it tricky. Understanding the role of the subject and object helps in forming grammatically correct sentences. Correct subject-verb agreement improves clarity, confidence, and professionalism in both daily communication and business writing.

By paying attention to prepositional phrases, mastering indefinite pronouns, and understanding collective nouns, you can elevate your English from “good enough” to professional and polished. Whether you are writing a text message or a business contract, the subject-verb agreement rules ensure your message is received exactly as you intended. 

Mastering this rule is especially important for business communication, academic writing, professional emails, competitive exams, interviews, etc. Regular practice with real-life examples will help you avoid common mistakes in subject-verb agreement and improve your grammar skills significantly.

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