SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Subjects and verbs must "agree" in person (first, second, third) and number (singular, plural).   Except for the "be" verb, agreement is confined to present tense verbs.

The present tense -s is used on the verb if the subject is third-person singular:

                he rides

                she rides

                it rides

                Louise rides

For subjects that are not third-person singular, there is no ending on the verb:

                I ride

                we ride

                you ride

                they ride

                the players ride

Avoid problems with subject-verb agreement by being aware of the contexts that follow.

Some words such as each, every, everyone, neither, and everybody are singular and take singular verbs (watch for prepositional phrases).

1. Every one of those girls (sings, sing) soprano in the school choir.   
2. Each of the sports (is, are) needed for a well-rounded program.
3. Everyone (like, likes) to see a football game.
4. Neither of those (taste, tastes) very good to me.

Two nouns joined by AND take a plural verb.

1. In the house, the boy and the men (talk, talks) about movies.
2. When I am sick, my brother and my father (stay, stays) with me.
3. The dog with the fluffy tail and the cat with the white spots (eat, eats) a lot of food.
4. Singing and dancing (is, are) not allowed in my church.

If a sentence starts with THERE, look elsewhere for the subject.

1. There (is, are) many rooms in the building.
2. There (were, was) a dog book on the shelf.
3. When I drove downtown, there (were, was) a beautiful parade.
4. Although it was a cold day, there (were, was) no snowflakes.

If there is an appositive in the sentence, the verb agrees with the word it modifies, not the appositive.

1. The scissors, only one pair, (is, are) already dull.
2. Mash, one of the best television shows, (portray, portrays) life in the army.
3. My sister, not my brothers, (read, reads) too much at night.

With either/or or neither/nor, the verb is determined by the word closest to it.

1. Either the woman or the children (are, is) going to perform on stage.
2. Either the children or the woman (are, is) selling tickets.
3. Neither the cat with the big ears nor the kittens (is, are) going to the vet.
4. Neither the kittens nor the cat with the big ears (is, are) going to the vet.

Many times the subject is NOT next to the verb.

1. The short story, along with novels, (is, are) taught in English class.   
2. The beautiful airplane which is in the heavens (is, are) flying above the clouds. 
3. The girl who drives two different cars (sits, sit) next to me in class

*For Practice:   See Exercises L through O.