1.

subjects and verbs must agree in numbers, that is singular subject agree with singular verb and
plural subject agrees with plural verb
Example A. High levels of pollution cause damage to the respiratory tract.
Example B. High level of pollution causes damage to the respiratory tract.
2. Prepositional phrases between the subject and the verb usually do not affect the agreement.
Example A. The biker in this race is very competitive
Example B. the bikers in this race are very competitive.
3. If a sentence start with here or there the subject will always be placed after the verb.
Example A. there is a meeting today
Example B. Here are the results from the past five months
4. Subjects can come after verbs in questions.
Example A. does Betty always play with sand?
Example B. how are the people of Damascus doing?
5. If two subjects are joined by and, they typically require a plural verb.
Example the boy and the girl are friends.
6. If two subjects are separated by and, and they refer to the same thing the verb is singular.
Example the teacher and doctor is travelling to Tamale today.
7. If both subjects are singular and connected by nor, or ,neither/nor ,either/or, and not only/but,
also the verb is singular
Example A. Kaka or Kwame has stolen the money.
Example B. Not only the footballer but also the drummer was soaked with sweat.
8. If both the subjects are plural and are connected by the words, or, nor, neither/nor, either/or
and not only/but the verb is plural.
Example cookies or brownies are my favorite.
Example B. Neither the boys nor the girls are staying behind.
9. If one subject is singular and the other plural are connected by the word neither/nor, either/or,
and not only/ but use the subject that is nearest to the verb
Example A. either my sisters or mom has sent me a gift.
Example B. not only Bob but also the Smiths want some fruits.
10. A singular Units of measurements usually uses verb.
Example six gallons of paint was used on the house.
11. Collective nouns usually take a singular verb.
Example. The class was ready for the test.
12. Title of movies, novels, books etc. are treated single.
Example holes was one of my favorite books.
13. Two infinitives separated by and take a plural verb.
Example to run and to read are my two favorite free time activities
14. Gerunds alone takes a singular verb. Gerunds linked by and takes a plural verb.
Example A. Dancing is not something everyone can do.
15. If the word each, every, or no come before the subject the verb is singular.
Example A. Each and every boy must take the test.
Example B. no paper and pen is required.
16. Most indefinite pronouns such as one, someone, anyone, no one etc. take a singular verbs.
Examples A. No one here has a pen.
17. Both, few, many, others and several other takes a plural verb.
Example A. Several need to finish the race.
Example B. A few have the right answer.
18. When the subject is all, any, more, most, none or some this is the only time you must look at the
object of the prepositional phrase to determine whether it’s singular or plural.
Example A. all of the chickens have laid egg.
Example B. some of the milk has spilled.
19. Only the subject affect the verb.
20. Words that comes between the subject and the verb does not affect the verb.
Example. The detective who was called to the case is very good.