Subject-verb agreement is one of the most tested grammar topics in school, job applications, and the Civil Service Exam. This guide explains the 10 key rules with examples, the most common mistakes, and a 50-question quiz. New to grammar? Start with English Grammar Basics: Complete Beginner’s Guide with Examples and Quiz.
Want to test yourself first? Jump to the 50-question quiz.
What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-verb agreement means that the verb must match the subject in number. A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.
- Correct: She works every day. (“She” is singular, so the verb takes -s.)
- Incorrect: ~~She work every day.~~ (A singular subject needs “works”.)
- Correct: They work every day. (“They” is plural, so the verb stays in its base form.)
Why Subject-Verb Agreement Matters
- Academic writing: essays, reports, and exams are marked down for agreement errors.
- Professional communication: emails, resumes, and application letters look more credible when the grammar is correct.
- Civil Service Examination: grammar questions, including subject-verb agreement, frequently appear in the verbal ability section.
Rule 1: Singular Subjects Take Singular Verbs
- The student studies every night.
- My brother drives to work.
Practice: Which is correct? (a) The teacher walk to school. (b) The teacher walks to school. Answer: (b). “Teacher” is singular.
Rule 2: Plural Subjects Take Plural Verbs
- The students study every night.
- My brothers drive to work.
Practice: Which is correct? (a) The cars is new. (b) The cars are new. Answer: (b). “Cars” is plural.
Rule 3: Subjects Joined by “And”
Two subjects joined by and are usually plural.
- John and Mary are friends.
- The manager and the employee work together.
Common error: ~~John and Mary is friends.~~ The two names make a plural subject, so use “are”.
Rule 4: Subjects Joined by “Or” or “Nor”
Use the nearest-subject rule: the verb agrees with the subject closer to it.
- Either the teachers or the principal is attending.
- Either the principal or the teachers are attending.
Rule 5: Indefinite Pronouns
Everyone, someone, nobody, each, anybody, and everybody are singular. Both, few, many, and several are plural.
- Everyone is welcome.
- Someone has called.
- Nobody knows the answer.
Common mistake: ~~Everyone are welcome.~~ “Everyone” means each person as one unit, so it takes “is”.
Rule 6: Collective Nouns
Collective nouns (team, committee, family, class) name a group. When the group acts as one unit, use a singular verb.
- The team is winning.
- The committee meets every month.
Rule 7: Titles, Books, Movies, and Organizations
Titles and names of countries or organizations are singular, even if they look plural.
- The Lord of the Rings is a famous novel.
- The Philippines is an archipelago.
Rule 8: Measurements, Time, and Money
An amount of time, money, or distance is treated as one single idea, so it takes a singular verb.
- Ten dollars is enough.
- Five years is a long time.
Rule 9: Fractions and Percentages
The verb depends on the noun that follows “of”.
- Half of the cake is gone. (cake = singular)
- Half of the students are absent. (students = plural)
Rule 10: There Is / There Are
In “there is/are” sentences, the real subject comes after the verb.
- There is a book on the table.
- There are books on the table.
Most Common Subject-Verb Agreement Mistakes
| Mistake | Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ignoring singular pronouns | ~~Everyone are excited.~~ | Everyone is excited. |
| 2. Confusing collective nouns | ~~The team are winning.~~ | The team is winning. |
| 3. Long sentences | ~~The list of items are on the desk.~~ | The list of items is on the desk. |
| 4. Wrong “there is/are” | ~~There is two chairs.~~ | There are two chairs. |
| 5. Compound subjects | ~~The pen and the notebook is mine.~~ | The pen and the notebook are mine. |
Mistake #3 tip: find the real subject. In “The list of items ___ on the desk,” the subject is list, not items. Ignore phrases like “of items” when choosing the verb.
Quick Subject-Verb Agreement Checklist
Before submitting your writing:
- ✅ Find the subject
- ✅ Identify singular or plural
- ✅ Match the verb
- ✅ Ignore distracting phrases
- ✅ Review indefinite pronouns
Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz (50 Questions)
Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz (50 Questions)
Test yourself with 50 questions: 20 easy, 20 intermediate, and 10 advanced. After you submit, you will see the explanation for every answer. Results: 45–50 Expert · 35–44 Advanced · 25–34 Intermediate · 0–24 Beginner.
[QUIZ BLOCK GOES HERE: replace this line with a Custom HTML block containing sva-quiz-block.html]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is subject-verb agreement?
It is the grammar rule that a verb must match its subject in number: singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.
Why is subject-verb agreement important?
It makes your writing clear and professional in essays, emails, resumes, and exams.
What are the most common subject-verb agreement mistakes?
Using a plural verb with singular pronouns like “everyone,” confusing collective nouns, choosing the verb based on a nearby noun instead of the real subject, and misusing “there is/are.”
How do I identify the subject of a sentence?
Ask “who or what is doing the action?” and ignore phrases between the subject and the verb, such as “of the items” or “along with her assistants.”
Is subject-verb agreement included in Civil Service Exams?
Yes. Grammar questions, including subject-verb agreement, frequently appear in the verbal ability section.
How can I improve subject-verb agreement?
Find the subject first, decide if it is singular or plural, then match the verb. Practice with exercises and quizzes regularly, and review your mistakes.