Rules on Subject –Verb Agreement

1. A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb.

Example:
A bird fies.
Birds fly.

2. The expression the number takes a singular verb; the expression a number takes a plural verb.
Example:
The number of absentees is big.
A number of students are absent.

3. There is followed by a singular noun; there are is followed by a plural noun.

Example:
There is a God that sees all.
There are practices that are difficult to change.

4. Intervening words like together with, in addition to, as well as, including and similar constructions
following the subject do not affect the number of the subject.

Example:
Mrs. Corbes together with her three children has left for Zamboanga.
The package, in addition to two pieces of baggage, is missing.

5. The following indefinite pronouns are singular: each either, neither, one, everybody, no one, anyone,
anybody, someone, somebody.

Example:
Everyone looks happy.

6. The words a few, many, both, several take plural verb.

Example:
Several men are in the office.

7. When the words some, any, none and all are followed by a phrase, the verb agrees with the
phrase.

Example:
Some of the pencils are sharp.

8. Nouns plural in form but singular in meaning such as physics, economics, mathematics, measles, civics,
news take a singular verb.

Example:
Mathematics is an exact Science.

9. Compound Subjects:

a. A compound subject connected by and generally takes a plural verb.

Example:
My classmate and my neighbor come to see me often.

b. Compound subject that are closely related or that refer to the same person or thing take a singular verb.

Example:
Dinuguan and puto makes a delightful snack.

c. A compound subject involving the use of each or every takes a singular verb.

Example:
Each boy and girls has a sash.

d. Compound subjects joined by either – or and neither – nor take a singular verbs depending upon the
nearer subject.

Example:
Either the glasses or the table cloth is hers.