# Subject-verb agreement

Canonical: https://duckyhelper.com/learn/grammar/subject-verb-agreement/
Updated: 2026-10-01

A verb must match its subject in number: a singular subject takes a singular verb (the dog barks), and a plural subject takes a plural verb (the dogs bark). Find the real subject by ignoring phrases in between, like of the books. Subjects joined by and are usually plural. With or or nor, match the nearer subject. Each, every, everyone and nobody are singular.

## The basic rule

In the present tense, singular verbs usually end in *s* (*she runs*, *it is*, *he has*) and plural verbs usually do not (*they run*, *they are*, *they have*). That is the opposite of nouns, where *s* usually means plural. So *the dog barks* (one) and *the dogs bark* (many).

## The tricky cases

| Case | Wrong | Right | Why |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A phrase between subject and verb | *The box of old photos are in the attic.* | *The box of old photos is in the attic.* | The subject is *box*. *Of old photos* is just describing it. |
| Two subjects joined by *and* | *My brother and my cousin plays soccer.* | *My brother and my cousin play soccer.* | Two people together are plural. |
| *Or* / *nor*: match the nearer subject | *Neither the coach nor the players was happy.* | *Neither the coach nor the players were happy.* | *Players* is nearer to the verb, and it is plural. |
| *Each*, *every*, *everyone*, *nobody* | *Everyone in both classes need a pencil.* | *Everyone in both classes needs a pencil.* | These words are singular, even with a plural noun nearby. |
| *There is* / *there are* | *There is three reasons to start early.* | *There are three reasons to start early.* | The subject comes after the verb: *reasons*, plural. |
| Phrases like *as well as*, *along with* | *The teacher, along with her students, are going.* | *The teacher, along with her students, is going.* | These phrases do not make the subject plural. The subject is still *teacher*. |

> **Note: Group nouns**
>
> In US English, words for a group, like *team*, *class* and *family*, usually take a singular verb when the group acts as one: *The team is ready.* British English often uses a plural verb (*the team are*). Follow US usage in US school writing.

## Worked examples

**Example 1: cross out the middle**

Problem: *The list of names on the board (is / are) long.*

1. Cross out the phrases: *of names*, *on the board*.
2. What is left: *The list ___ long.* *List* is singular.

Answer: *The list of names on the board is long.*

**Example 2: flip a there sentence**

Problem: *There (is / are) a dog and two cats in the yard.*

1. Flip it: *A dog and two cats (is / are) in the yard.*
2. Two subjects joined by *and* make a plural subject.

Answer: *There are a dog and two cats in the yard.*

**Example 3: or with mixed subjects**

Problem: *Either the students or the teacher (has / have) the key.*

1. With *either...or*, match the verb to the nearer subject.
2. The nearer subject is *the teacher*, singular.
3. Tip: putting the plural subject second often sounds smoother: *Either the teacher or the students have the key.*

Answer: *Either the students or the teacher has the key.*

## Common mistakes and fixes

| Mistake | Fix |
| --- | --- |
| Matching the verb to the nearest noun | Cross out *of*, *in*, *with* and *that* phrases, then match the subject. |
| Treating *each* or *everyone* as plural | Remember: *each one*, *every one*. They are singular. |
| Missing a subject that comes after the verb | In *there is/are* and questions, flip the sentence to find the subject. |
| Thinking *along with* makes the subject plural | Only *and* joins subjects. *Along with*, *as well as* and *including* do not. |

## Practice

**Five agreement questions**

1. *The box of old photographs ___ in the attic.*
   A. have been
   B. are
   C. were
   D. is

   Answer: is. The subject is *box*, singular. *Of old photographs* is a phrase in between. *Are*, *were* and *have been* are plural.

2. *Neither the coach nor the players ___ happy with the call.*
   A. was
   B. is
   C. were
   D. has been

   Answer: were. With *neither...nor*, the verb matches the nearer subject, *players*, which is plural. *Was*, *is* and *has been* are all singular.

3. *There ___ three reasons to start the project early.*
   A. is
   B. has been
   C. was
   D. are

   Answer: are. The subject comes after the verb: *three reasons*, plural. *Are* is the only plural choice.

4. *Everyone in the two classes ___ a permission slip.*
   A. need
   B. needs
   C. are needing
   D. have needed

   Answer: needs. *Everyone* is singular, so it takes the singular *needs*. *In the two classes* does not change that. The other choices are plural forms.

5. *My brother and my cousin ___ on the same soccer team.*
   A. plays
   B. play
   C. is playing
   D. has played

   Answer: play. Two subjects joined by *and* are plural, so the verb is *play*. The other choices are singular.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is everyone singular or plural?

Singular for the verb: *Everyone is here.* The same goes for *everybody*, *someone*, *nobody*, *each* and *anyone*. Words like *both*, *few*, *many* and *several* are plural. *Some*, *all*, *most* and *none* depend on the noun they refer to: *Some of the cake is gone*, *Some of the cookies are gone*.

### Do amounts take a singular verb?

Usually, when you mean the amount as one sum: *Ten dollars is too much for a sandwich.* *Three hours is a long time.* If you mean the separate units, use plural: *Ten dollar bills were on the table.*

### Is subject-verb agreement on the SAT?

Yes. College Board lists subject-verb agreement as part of the Form, Structure, and Sense skill. The harder questions put a long phrase between the subject and the verb. See [SAT Form, Structure, and Sense](https://duckyhelper.com/learn/sat-reading-writing/form-structure-and-sense/).

## Sources

- [Purdue OWL, Subject/Verb Agreement](https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/subject_verb_agreement.html), accessed 2026-10-01
- [College Board, Assessment Framework for the Digital SAT Suite, version 3.01 (August 2024)](https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/assessment-framework-for-digital-sat-suite.pdf), accessed 2026-10-01

## Related

- [Pronoun-antecedent agreement](https://duckyhelper.com/learn/grammar/pronoun-antecedent-agreement/)
- [Verb tense](https://duckyhelper.com/learn/grammar/verb-tense/)
- [SAT grammar: Form, Structure, and Sense](https://duckyhelper.com/learn/sat-reading-writing/form-structure-and-sense/)
- [Grammar study guides](https://duckyhelper.com/learn/grammar/)

## Try asking Ducky

- "Highlight every subject and verb in my paragraph and ask me if they match."
- "Is it there is or there are in this sentence? Help me flip it."
- "Give me five tricky agreement sentences with long phrases in the middle."

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