Subject-Verb Agreement

How do you determine subject-verb agreement? The subject determines whether its verb is singular or plural.

Each of the following is singular:

• Each
• Every
• Everyone
• Everybody
• Any
• Anyone
• Anybody
• Some
• Someone
• Somebody
• None
• No one
• Nobody
• Either
• Neither

Plural verbs follow compound subjects, as follows:

1. Computers and tele-phones are necessary at school.
2. Doctors and nurses work at the hospital.

Compound subjects joined by or rather than and agree with the subject closest to the verb, as follows:

1. Gold or diamonds are increasing in value.
2. Diamonds or gold is increasing in value.

The following are singular collective nouns:

• Public
• Mob
• Navy
• Group
• Flock
• Crowd
• Gang
• Faculty
• Family
• Chorus
• Audience
• Community
• Government
• Jury
• Staff

Plural verbs follow plural collective nouns, as follows:

1. World governments are leading toward political democracy.
2. Communities join together to help those in need.

English Tips

Subject-Verb Agreement to Outside the Box Writing Tips