Subject Verb Agreement Guide

This guide should be useful in helping you understand how to make a sentences subject and verb agree
with one another. We hope this guide can help clarify any questions you may have on this area, but please
feel free to contact the writing center with any problem that this sheet does not resolve.

Be wary of numbers and subjects Make certain that they both agree
1) When the subject has 2 or more nouns or pronouns make the verb plural.
EX: Sheba and Xena are not friends. [Sheba and Xena are the subjects therefore the verb is plural.].

2) When the subject is singular make the verb singular.

EX: Sheba is not Xenas friend. [Sheba is the singular subject so the verb is also singular.]

3) When 2 or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or or nor use a singular verb.
EX: The apple or the banana is in the tree. [Apple and banana are singular nouns, so the verb is singular.]

4) When there are 2 or more plural nouns or pronouns connected by or or nor use a plural verb.
EX. The apples or the bananas are in the tree. [Apples and Bananas are plural nouns so the verb is plural.]

5) If there are two separate subjects and one is plural while the other is singular then make the verb agree with
the verb that is the closest when you are separating subjects by the word or.
EX. The acrobats or the stunt man will fall at the end of the show. [Stunt man is singular and comes closest to the verb
so the verb is singular.]
EX. The stunt man or the acrobats falls at the end of the show. [Acrobats is plural and comes closest to the verb so the
verb is plural]

6) Even if there are words in between the subject and the verb make certain that the number agrees with the
verb. If the subject is singular the verb is singular. If the subject is plural the verb is plural. The same rules apply.
EX. One of the DVDs is scratched. [DVDs is not the plural subject only one of them is scratched therefore the subject is
singular so the verb is singular.]
EX. Two of the DVDs are scratched. [There are 2 DVDs so the subject is now plural therefore the verb is plural]

7) The word dont (Do not) is usually used with a singular subject. The word doesnt (does not) is usually used
with a plural subject. However, this is not always the case. If the pronoun is a form of I or you then you have to
use dont.
EX. They dont enjoy rainy days. [They is a form of the pronoun you therefore the word used is dont]

Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.
1. Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.

2. Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.

3. The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.
4. Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.
5. George and Tamara (doesn't, don't) want to see that movie.
6. Benito (doesn't, don't) know the answer.
7. One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.
8. The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.

Answers
1. Annie and her brothers are at school.
2. Either my mother or my father is coming to the meeting.
3. The dog or the cats are outside.
4. Either my shoes or your coat is always on the floor.
5. George and Tamara don't want to see that movie.
6. Benito doesn't know the answer.
7. One of my sisters is going on a trip to France.
8. The man with all the birds lives on my street.