Subject-Verb Agreement

The basic rule is that a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural
subject takes a plural verb.

Note: The trick is in knowing whether the subject is singular or plural. The next
trick is recognizing a singular or plural verb.

1. A subject made up of nouns and/or pronouns joined by “and” takes a plural

subject, unless that subject’s intended sense is singular.

She and I study every day for the test.

Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich.

2. When a subject is made up of nouns and/or pronouns joined by “or”, the verb
agrees with the last noun.

Sana or Ayesha studies every day for the test

Ali, Asad, or Ammar is going to get the highest marks.

3. Collective nouns (team, couple, staff, class etc) take either a singular or
plural verb, depending on whether the emphasis is on the individual units or
the group as whole.

The football team is practicing night and day for the Super Bowl.

The staff are working on many projects for the new term.

4. Connectives, phrases such as “combined with”, “coupled with”, “accompanied

by”, “added to”, “along with”, “together with”, and “as well as”, do not change
the number of the subject. These phrases are usually set off with commas.

Hunza, as well as Naltar Valley, is popular for its scenic beauty.

Peanut butter combined with bread and jelly is a tasty snack.

5. Collecting noun phrases (a bunch of, a group of, a set of, etc) take either a
singular or plural verb, depending on whether its emphasis is on individual
units or on the group as whole.

A set of 12 dishes is all we need for the dinner.

A group of students were busy preparing for their exam.

6. “Each” takes a singular verb.

Each student is excited about the result.

7. “None” takes a singular verb if what it refers to is singular and a plural verb
if what it refers to is plural.

None of the books are reproducible without permission.

None of the rice is left on Sana’s plate.

8. With fraction, the word agrees with the whole.

One-fourth of the books are gone.

One-fourth of the sand is white.

9. With money, use a singular verb if the amount is a singular unit. Use a plural
verb if the amount consists of singular units)

Five hundred dollars is invested in the school’s project.

Five hundred dollars are invested in the school’s project.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Select one answer from the choice provided after each sentence. The word you
choose should suit the blank in the sentence.

1. Either the physicians in this hospital or the chief administrator _______ going

to have to make a decision. (is, are)

2. _______ my boss or my sisters in the union going to win this grievance? (is, are)

3. Some of the votes ________ to have been miscounted. (seem, seems)

4. The tornadoes that tear through this county every spring ______ more than

just a nuisance. (is, are)

5. Everyone selected to serve on this jury ______ to be willing to give up a lot of

their time. (have, has)

6. Ayesha, together with her teammates, _______ a formidable opponent on the

basketball court. (present, presents)

7. He seems to forget that there _______ things to be done before he can

graduate, (is, are)

8. There _______ to be some people left in that town after yesterday's flood.

(have, has)

9. Some of the grain ________ to be contaminated. (appear, appears)

10. Three-quarters of the students _______ against the tuition hike (is, are)

11. Three-quarters of the student body _______ against the tuition hike. (is, are)

12. A high percentage of the population _______ voting for the new school. (is,

are)

13. A high percentage of the people _______ voting for the new school. (was,

were)
14. Ahmed is the only one of those students who _______ lived up to the potential

described in the yearbook. (have, has)

15. Ali, as well as Ahmed, and Sarah, _______ to submit a new constitution. (needs,

need)

16. One of my best friends _______ an extra on Seinfeld this week. (is, are)

17. Not only vitamins, but also minerals _______ essential for kids. (is, are)

18. Not only the students but also their representative _______ been called to

the principal's office. (have, has)

19. Not only Sana, but also Sarah _______ to be at the meeting. (has, have)

20. Most of the water _______ gone bad. Six gallons of water _______ still

clean. (have, has - are, is)

21. Each and every student and instructor in this building ________ for new

facility by next year. (hope, hopes)

22. The students and instructors each ________ for a new facility by next year.

(hope, hopes)

23. Rice and beans, my favourite dish, ________ me of my hometown. (remind,

reminds)

24. A large number of voters still ________ along straight-party lines. (vote,

votes)

25. Four years _______ a long time to spend away from your friends and family.

(is, are)

26. Politics _______ everybody’s life. (affect, affects)

27. To an outsider, the economics of this country ________ to be in disarray.

(seem, seems)