6.6 Editing Focus: Subject-Verb Agreement

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Identify subjects and verbs in sentences.
• Distinguish between subjects and verbs that agree and those that do not.

Readers of formal documents such as proposals expect writers to be aware of the conventions of grammar and punctuation. One such convention is subject-verb agreement.

The subject of a sentence names something. The predicate contains the verb, which expresses an action, an occurrence, or a state of being. The subject and verb in a sentence must agree. In standard English, “agreement“ means that a singular subject must have a singular verb (The underlinebusend underline double underlineleavesend double underline in five minutes) and a plural subject must have a plural verb (The underlinebusesend underline double underlineleaveend double underline in five minutes). However, some English dialects omit the -s ending for singular verbs or use a singular verb with a plural subject: The underlinemanend underline double underlineaskend double underline for help. Property underlinetaxesend underline double underlinewas raisedend double underline last year.

Subject-verb agreement gets tricky in several sentence constructions, which are described below. To check for subject-verb agreement in your writing, proofread your final draft by finding each subject and verb. Then use the following questions to test whether the subject and verb agree. For more on subject-verb agreement, see Verbs.

Is the subject compound? Two or more subjects joined by and take a plural verb in most sentences:

underlineBasketball and wrestlingend underline double underlineareend double underline my favorite sports.

However, when the parts of the subject form a single idea or unit, the verb is singular:

underlineRed beans and riceend underline double underlineisend double underline my favorite meal.

underlineTen dollarsend underline double underlineisend double underline enough money for lunch.

When compound subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the word closest to it:

Either your uncles or your underlinemotherend underline double underlineremembersend double underline your grandmother’s gumbo recipe.

Either your mother or your underlineunclesend underline double underlinerememberend double underline your grandmother’s gumbo recipe.

Do other words come between the subject and verb? The verb must agree with the subject even when words and phrases come between them:

The underlinepriceend underline of these shoes at all stores double underlineisend double underline unbelievable.

A underlinesuitcaseend underline containing sweaters, coats, and jackets double underlinewasend double underline found in the street.

Does the verb come before the subject? The subject and verb must agree even when the verb comes before the subject:

double underlineAreend double underline underlineDaniela and Julianaend underline waiting at the restaurant?

There double underlinewereend double underline three underlinedogsend underline in the yard, all barking at the same time.

In my pocket double underlineareend double underline a underlinewallet and two pensend underline.

Is the subject an indefinite pronoun, such as everyone? Indefinite pronouns do not refer to specific people or things. Most indefinite pronouns take a singular verb, but not all.

The indefinite pronouns that take a singular verb include anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, somebody, someone, and something.

underlineEveryoneend underline on the team double underlinepracticesend double underline all season.

underlineNeitherend underline of the wide receivers double underlinefeelsend double underline ready for the season to end.

These indefinite pronouns take a plural verb: both, few, many, others, and several.

underlineSeveralend underline of the athletes on the team double underlinecomeend double underline from the same high school.

underlineBothend underline wide receivers double underlinehaveend double underline excellent stats.

A few indefinite pronouns take a singular or plural verb depending on whether the word they refer to is singular or plural. These include all, any, enough, more, most, none, and some. With these pronouns, use a singular or plural verb that fits the context of your sentence.

underlineAllend underline of these students double underlinetakeend double underline at least one class in science or math. (plural)

underlineMostend underline of his work double underlineisend double underline original. (singular)

Is the subject a collective noun? Collective nouns, such as audience, band, class, crowd, family, group, or team, can take a singular or a plural verb depending on the context. When group members act individually, use a plural verb. Writers often add the word members for clarity. When the group acts as a single unit, which is the most common construction, use a singular verb:

The underlinebandend underline double underlinerehearsesend double underline every Thursday.

The union (members) still disagree on the contract terms.

Practice Subject-Verb Agreement

Select the correct verb to complete each sentence.

1. Under the table ________ his slippers and socks. (is, are)
2. The choir usually ________ in the auditorium. (meets, meet)
3. Some of the actors ________ two roles. (performs, perform)
4. Some of this song ________ familiar. (sounds, sound)
5. Either my brother or my sisters ________ the keys to the truck. (has, have)
6. ________ Whitney and her friend need a ride to the station? (does, do)
7. The situation concerning the reports and their authors ________ under investigation. (is, are)
8. Fifteen dollars and 40 cents ________ the amount of change she received. (is, are)