Subject-Verb Agreement: Making the Verb Match
Which form of the verb goes with which subject — including the tricky cases where the subject is not the word sitting next to the verb.
The basic rule is simple. The marks are lost on the cases where the subject is harder to find than it looks.
The basic rule
Singular subject → singular verb. Plural subject → plural verb.
- The dog barks. / The dogs bark.
- She has a car. / They have a car.
Note the oddity: in the present simple, it is the singular that takes the -s, the opposite of nouns.
Trap 1: words between the subject and the verb
The verb agrees with the subject, not with whatever noun happens to be nearest.
The box of chocolates is on the table. (the box is, not the chocolates) The results of the survey were surprising. (the results were)
Mentally delete the phrase between: The box … is. That is the agreement.
Trap 2: uncountable nouns that look plural
News, information, advice, furniture, luggage, money, research are singular in English.
❌ The news are bad. ✅ The news is bad.
❌ These informations are useful. ✅ This information is useful.
Trap 3: each, every, everyone
All singular, however many people are involved.
- Everyone is here. (not are)
- Each of the students has a folder.
Trap 4: there is / there are
The verb agrees with what comes after it.
- There is a problem. / There are problems.
- With a list, it follows the first item: There is a table and four chairs.
Trap 5: and vs or
- A and B → plural: Tom and Sara are coming.
- A or B → agrees with the nearer one: Either the manager or the assistants are coming.
Test yourself
The quiz below is built almost entirely from the traps.