Subject-Verb

Agreement
Subject - the person,
place, or thing that is
performing the action of
the sentence
- represents what or
whom the sentence is
about.
Verb - the action or state
of being in a sentence
- can be expressed in
different tenses,
depending on when the
action is being
Subject-verb agreement
refers to the
grammatical concept
that the subject of a
sentence must align with
the main verb of that
same sentence.
Rules for Subject-
Verb Agreement
1. Singular subjects
require singular verbs.
Example:
1. She writes every day
2. The train runs from
Phoenix to El Paso
3. Kent is using his phone.
2. Plural subjects require
plural verbs
Example:
1. The students write every day
2. The trains run from Phoenix
to El Paso
3. Teachers are using their
phones.
3. Compound subjects
with the word “and”
require plural verbs.
Example:
1. Pizza and cauliflower taste
great together.
2. The dogs and cats fight all the
time.
3. Renz and Nicole work together
for their output.
4. Compound subjects with
the word “or” or “nor” can
take either a singular verb
or a plural verb.
Note:
 If the number of the subject
closest to the verb is singular,
use a singular verb.
Example:
Either Jeff or Jane knows the
answer.
Note:
 If the number of the subject
closest to the verb is plural, use
a plural verb
Example:
Either Jeff or his sisters know
the answer.
Example:
1. The chairperson or the CEO
approves the proposal before
proceeding.
2. Neither the professor nor his
assistants know the answer.
5. Collective nouns can
be singular or plural.
 Collective nouns like “team,”
“company,” “city,” “state,”
“government,” “committee,” and
“store” are singular nouns and
thus take singular verbs.
Example:
The government implements a
law against drugs.
 Collective nouns like “team
members,” “company leaders,”
and “city officials” are plural
and thus take plural verbs.
Example:
Team members of Golden State
Warriors celebrate their
victory.
6. Indefinite pronouns are
singular and take
singular verbs.
“anything,” “anywhere,” “anybody,”
“anyone,” “each,” “each one,”
“either,” “neither,” “everyone,”
“everybody,” “nobody,”
“somebody,” “someone,” and “no
Example:
1. Nobody likes swimming
anymore.
2. Each of the participants was
willing to be recorded
3. No one was available to meet
with me at the preferred times.
7. A pair is a singular
noun and takes a
singular verb.
Example:
1. That old pair of jeans has
treated me well.
2. This pair of slippers is
mine.
3. The pair of scissors was
already rusty.
8. Plural-form subjects
are often singular
when presented as a
title.
Example:
1. Physics is an essential
subject
2. Mathematics was my
hardest subject in high
school.
3. Politics has many issues.
9. Gerunds often
function as singular
nouns, and they take
singular verbs.
Example:
1. Swimming was the sport that
taught me how to win.
2. Apologizing to me is not
enough this time.
3. Dancing is not something
everyone can do as well as I
can!
10. The phrase “one of
the [plural noun]
who/that” requires a
singular verb.
Although the phrase will
contain a plural noun, it
should receive a singular
verb to agree with the noun
phrase “one of the [plural
noun],”
Example:
1. Mr. Lee is one of the teachers
who coaches sports after school.
2. One of the dogs is wagging its
tail.
3. One of the members is not
helping in the output.
ACTIVITY
 INSTRUCTION:
Choose the correct form
of the verb that agrees
with the subject. Write
your answer in a 1/4
sheet of paper.
1. Annie and her brothers
(is, are) at school.

2. Either my mother or my
father (is, are) coming to
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. A pair of scissors (was, were)

used in cutting the ribbons.
9. Either answer (is, are)
acceptable.

10. Nobody (know, knows) the

trouble I’ve seen.
11. Mathematics (is, are) John’s
favorite subject, while Civics (is
are) Andrea’s favorite subject.

12. Your pair of pants (is, are) at

the cleaner’s.
13. The committee (debates,
debate) these questions
carefully.

14. The committee members

(leads, lead) very different lives
in private.
15. One of the judges (has, have)
decided to end the program.

16. Climbing (was, were) the first

thing he did .
17. The faculty members (agree,
agrees) about the meeting.

18. These pair of slippers (are,

is) a gift from my mother.
19. My brother or my parents
(attend, attends) the
thanksgiving celebration.

20. No one (fail, fails) the EAPP

exam.