Learn the rules for matching subjects with correct verb forms. Perfect for Class 6-12 students. Master subject-verb agreement with clear rules and examples.
1. What is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-verb agreement means the verb must match (agree with) its subject in number (singular/plural).
| Subject | Verb | Example | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Singular verb (+s/es) | The boy plays cricket. | He/She/It → verb + s |
| Plural | Plural verb (no -s) | The boys play cricket. | They/We/You → base verb |
| I/You | Plural verb (no -s) | I play cricket. You play cricket. |
I/You → always base verb |
| Basic Rule: Singular subject → Singular verb | Plural subject → Plural verb | |||
2. Basic Rules of Agreement
| Rule | Example (Correct) | Example (Wrong) | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular subjects | The dog barks loudly. | The dog bark loudly. | Add -s/-es to verb |
| Plural subjects | The dogs bark loudly. | The dogs barks loudly. | No -s/-es on verb |
| Two subjects with "and" | Rohan and Priya are friends. | Rohan and Priya is friends. | And = plural verb |
| Compound subjects with "or/nor" | Either Rohan or his friends are coming. | Either Rohan or his friends is coming. | Verb agrees with nearer subject |
| Collective nouns | The team is playing well. The team are arguing. |
The team are playing well. (if acting as one) | As unit → singular, As individuals → plural |
3. Tricky Subjects & Special Cases
| Subject Type | Verb Form | Examples | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Each/Every/Everyone | Singular | Each student has a book. Everyone is here. |
Refers to individuals one by one |
| None/Some/All/Most | Depends on noun after | Some water is spilt. (uncountable) Some books are missing. (countable) |
Look at the object of the preposition |
| There/Here | Agrees with real subject | There is a book on the table. There are books on the table. |
Verb agrees with noun after "there/here" |
| Mathematics/News | Singular | Mathematics is my favorite subject. The news is good today. |
Words ending in -ics or "news" = singular |
| Pair/Trousers/Scissors | Plural | My trousers are too long. The scissors are sharp. |
Two parts = plural verb |
4. Intervening Phrases (Don't Be Fooled!)
Words between subject and verb don't affect agreement. Find the REAL subject.
| Sentence | Real Subject | Verb | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| The box of chocolates is empty. | box (singular) | is | Ignore "of chocolates" |
| The boys in the class are smart. | boys (plural) | are | Ignore "in the class" |
| One of my friends is a doctor. | one (singular) | is | "One" is subject, not "friends" |
| The teacher along with her students is coming. | teacher (singular) | is | "Along with" doesn't make compound |
| Neither the players nor the coach is happy. | coach (nearer subject) | is | With "or/nor", verb agrees with nearer subject |
5. Quantifiers and Their Agreement
| Quantifier | With Countable Nouns | With Uncountable Nouns | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| a lot of/lots of | A lot of books are here. | A lot of water is wasted. | Agrees with noun after |
| some/any | Some students are absent. | Some sugar is needed. | Depends on noun type |
| none of | None of the students are late. None of the students is late. |
None of the information is correct. | Both singular/plural accepted with countable |
| the number of | The number of students is large. | The number of water is (never used) | "The number" = singular |
| a number of | A number of students are waiting. | A number of water is (never used) | "A number of" = plural |
6. Quick Practice (5 Questions)
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Wrong ❌ | Right ✅ | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| He don't like apples. | He doesn't like apples. | He (singular) → doesn't |
| The list of items are long. | The list of items is long. | Subject = "list" (singular) |
| Either he or she are wrong. | Either he or she is wrong. | With "or", verb agrees with nearer subject |
| Everybody have their books. | Everybody has his/her book. | Everybody = singular |
| Ten rupees are too much. | Ten rupees is too much. | Amount of money = singular |
| The news are good. | The news is good. | News = always singular |
🎯 Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz
Find the error in each sentence:
1. Every student in the classes have completed their homework.
Error: have → has (Every student = singular)
2. The group of dancers are performing tonight.
Error: are → is (group as unit = singular)
3. There is many reasons to study hard.
Error: is → are (reasons = plural)
Select blank areas to see corrections
8. Memory Aids & Tips
The "He/She/It" Test:
Replace subject with "he/she/it" → needs -s/-es on verb
Replace subject with "they/we/you" → no -s/-es on verb
Example: The boy plays. (He plays) vs The boys play. (They play)
Find the Real Subject:
1. Cross out prepositional phrases (of, with, in, etc.)
2. Ignore words between subject and verb
3. Find the main noun before the verb
Example: The box (of chocolates) is empty.
Always Singular:
Each, every, either, neither, anyone, everyone, someone, nobody, everybody
Always Plural:
Both, few, many, several, trousers, scissors, glasses
Exam Tip:
1. Identify the REAL subject (ignore phrases between)
2. Check if subject is singular or plural
3. Remember special cases (news, mathematics, etc.)
4. With "or/nor", verb agrees with nearer subject
5. Collective nouns = singular if acting as one unit
📝 Practice Subject-Verb Agreement
Test with our 30-question worksheet!
Download Agreement WorksheetIncludes answer key • All rules • Tricky cases • Printable PDF
