Subject and verb agreement

Basic Rule

The basic rule states that a singular subject takes a singular verb while a plural subject takes a plural verb. The trick is in knowing whether the subject is singular or plural. The next trick is recognizing a singular or plural verb.

Rule 1

Two singular subjects connected by or or nor require a singular verb.

Rule 2

Two singular subjects connected by either/or or neither/nor require a singular verb as in

Rule 3

When one of your two subjects is I, put it second and follow it with the singular verb am.

Rule 4

When a singular subject is connected by or or nor to a plural subject, put the plural subject last and use a plural verb.

Rule 5

When a singular and plural subject are connected by either/or or neither/nor, put the plural subject last and use a plural verb.

Rule 6

As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are connected by and.

Rule 7

Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by words such as along with, as well as, besides, or not. Ignore these expressions when determining whether to use a singular or plural verb.

Rule 8

The pronouns each, everyone, every one, everybody, anyone, anybody, someone, and somebody are singular and require singular verbs. Do not be misled by what follows of.

Rule 9

With words that indicate portions - percent, fraction, part, majority, some, all, none, remainder, etc. - look at the noun in your of phrase (object of the preposition) to determine whether to use a singular or plural verb. If the object of the preposition is singular, use a singular verb. If the object of the preposition is plural, use a plural verb. NOTE: Apparently, the SAT testing service considers none as a singular word only.

Rule 10

When either and neither are subjects, they always take singular verbs.

Rule 11

The words here and there are never subjects because they are not nouns. In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject follows the verb.

Rule 12

Use a singular verb with sums of money or periods of time.

Rule 13

Sometimes the pronoun who, that, or which is the subject of the verb in the middle of the sentence. The pronouns who, that, and which become singular or plural according to the noun directly in front of them. So if that noun is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb.

Rule 14

Collective nouns such as team and staff may be either singular or plural depending on their use in the sentence.

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