Question 1

What is subject-verb agreement?

Accepted Answer

Subject-verb agreement means the verb must match its subject in number. A singular subject takes a singular verb: "The dog runs" (one dog = runs). A plural subject takes a plural verb: "The dogs run" (multiple dogs = run). In present simple, singular verbs add -s (he walks, she eats, it works) while plural verbs do not (they walk, we eat, you work). Errors happen most often when words come between the subject and verb.

Question 2

What happens when words come between the subject and verb?

Accepted Answer

Words between the subject and verb (intervening phrases) do not change the agreement. The verb must match the actual subject, not the nearest noun. Examples: "The list of items IS long" (subject = list, singular). "The students in the class ARE working" (subject = students, plural). Common trap phrases: "along with", "as well as", "together with", "including" — these do not make a singular subject plural: "The teacher, along with her students, IS leaving" (subject = teacher).

Question 3

Are collective nouns singular or plural?

Accepted Answer

Collective nouns (team, family, government, class, audience) can be singular or plural depending on meaning. Use singular when the group acts as one unit: "The team is winning" (one team, together). Use plural when individual members act separately: "The team are arguing about the strategy" (members disagree). In American English, collective nouns usually take singular verbs. In British English, both are acceptable depending on context.

Question 4

How do I use "there is" and "there are" correctly?

Accepted Answer

With "there is/there are", the verb agrees with the noun that follows it (the real subject). "There is a book on the table" (one book = singular). "There are three books on the table" (three books = plural). Common mistake: "There is many problems" should be "There are many problems." For lists, match the first noun: "There is a pen and two notebooks" (first item = singular). In informal speech, "there's" is often used with plurals, but this is technically incorrect in formal writing.

Question 5

Do indefinite pronouns take singular or plural verbs?

Accepted Answer

Most indefinite pronouns are singular: everyone, everybody, everything, someone, somebody, something, anyone, anybody, anything, no one, nobody, nothing, each, every, either, neither. Examples: "Everyone IS here" (not "are"). "Neither of the answers IS correct." A few are always plural: both, few, many, several — "Both ARE correct." Some change based on the noun they refer to: all, some, most, none — "Some of the water IS clean" (uncountable = singular). "Some of the students ARE absent" (countable = plural).

Question 6

How does subject-verb agreement work with compound subjects?

Accepted Answer

Compound subjects joined by "and" are usually plural: "Tom and Jerry ARE friends." Exception: when "and" joins items that form a single concept: "Bread and butter IS my favourite breakfast" (one combination). With "or" and "nor", the verb matches the nearest subject: "Neither the teacher nor the students WERE ready" (students = plural, nearest). "Neither the students nor the teacher WAS ready" (teacher = singular, nearest). With "either...or", the same rule applies.

Subject	Verb Form	Example
I / You / We / They	work	They work every day.
He / She / It	works	She works every day.

Subject-Verb Agreement Exercises - 320 Free Practice Questions with Answers

Subject-Verb Agreement Exercises

Practise fixing agreement mistakes

All 16 Exercises

Basic Singular & Plural (Easy)

Basic Singular & Plural (Medium)

Basic Singular & Plural (Hard)

Phrases Between Subject & Verb (Easy)

Phrases Between Subject & Verb (Medium)

Phrases Between Subject & Verb (Hard)

There Is / There Are

Collective Nouns

Indefinite Pronouns

Compound Subjects

Questions & Negatives

Tricky Nouns

Mixed Practice (Easy)

Mixed Practice (Intermediate)

Mixed Practice (Advanced)

Error Correction

What is Subject-Verb Agreement in English?

Singular Subject

Plural Subject

He / She / It

They / We / You

The Third Person Singular Rule

What are the Tricky Subject-Verb Agreement Cases?

Phrases Between Subject and Verb

Collective Nouns

Indefinite Pronouns

Either/Or and Neither/Nor Rules

Which Special Nouns Cause Subject-Verb Agreement Mistakes?

Look Plural, Act Singular

Always Plural

"A Number Of" vs "The Number Of"

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & References

Speaking Practice: Subject-Verb Agreement

Tips for Subject-Verb Agreement Discussion Practice

Download Resources

Subject-Verb Agreement Infographics (3 Charts)

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