Subject and Verb Agreement

The verb must always agree with its subject in person and number.

1) A singular subject requires a verb with s/-es form

A plural subject requires the base or regular form of the verb
The pronouns I, you, we and they always require the regular form of the
verb.
Practice

Write the verb with s or es.

Base form of the Verb
cook
dance
write
sing
sleep
jump
talk
ride
speak
love

Verb with s/ -es

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

Practice

Encircle the subject of the sentence and identify if it is plural or singular. Underline
the
correct form of the verb.
1) He ( whistle , whistles ) loudly.
2) The little girls ( is , are ) playing dolls.
3) We ( like, likes ) to watch movies.
4) The dog ( bark, barks ) when there is a stranger.
5) The nuns ( pray , prays ) inside the church.
6) My daughter ( study , studies ) her lessons regularly.
7) Elizabeths cousins ( visit , visits ) her every summer.
8) I ( eat, eats ) a lot of fruits and vegetables.
9) They ( sing, sings ) patriotic songs during the program.
10) You ( is, are ) very handsome today!

2) Use does and doesnt with singular subjects

Use do and dont with plural subjects and pronouns I, we , you and they.
Always use the forms you are and you were regardless of whether you is
singular or plural.
Practice

Underline the correct form of the verb.

1. ( Do , Does ) you like Physics ?

2. She ( doesnt, dont ) know you ?
3. You ( doesnt , dont ) understand what Im saying .
4. They ( doesnt , dont ) want to pay taxes.
5. The children ( doesnt, dont ) like to eat vegetables.
6. ( Do, Does ) Carina works in the office ?
7. ( Do , Does ) Mona wakes up early in the morning ?
8. Carmi and Judy ( doesnt , dont ) go to school.
9. I ( doesnt, dont ) play any kind of instrument.
10. We ( doesnt, dont ) love to play billiards.

3) Compound subjects connected by and require the regular or base form of

the verb
If the subjects connected by and refer to the same person or thing or
express a single idea, use the s/ -es form of the verb
Practice
Underline the correct form of the verb.
1. Luis and Tony ( joins, join ) us in our practice every day.
2. My friend and classmate ( calls , call ) me every day.
3. My friend and my classmate ( helps , help ) me in cleaning our room.
4. Melanie and Mary ( walks , walk ) from their house to their school.
5. Father and mother ( loves , love ) their children.
6. My mother and bestfriend ( takes , take ) care of me.
7. Mang Ben and Mang Lito ( catches , catch ) fish.
8.The teacher and the principal ( listens , listen ) to the speaker of the program.
9. My brother and idol ( helps , help ) me in my assignment.
10. My teacher and coach ( teaches , teach ) me diligently.
4. Two or more singular subjects connected by and but preceded by each, every , many
or
no require the s / -es form of the verb and the verb is , was and has.
Examples: Each doctor and nurse cares for the sick.
Each of the participants performs their best.
No parent wants to see their children ill.

5. When two or more subjects are connected by or or nor, the verb agrees with the
subject
nearest it.
Example:

Neither Tina nor the boys are joining the boat trip.
Either Daddy or our driver fetches us from school.

6. Some nouns are plural in form but singular in meaning and require the s / -es form of
the
verb and the be verbs such as is, was and has.
Example:

measles, news, mumps, civics, politics, molasses, ethics, physics , athletics ,

aeronautics , economics , calisthenics , aerobics , mathematics and
intramurals
Example:

Civics teaches the duties of citizenship.

The news is somewhat depressing.

7. Other nouns are used only in the plural form and require the regular form of the verb
and
the be-verbs such as are , were and have.
Example:

These tweezers belong to me.

Her jeans are tight.

8. The distributive pronouns each, every , either , neither and the words they modify are
always singular and make use of the s / -es form of the verb and the be-verbs is ,
was and
has.
The indefinite pronouns anyone, no one, anybody , nobody , everybody , everyone ,
someone and somebody are always singular and make use of the s / -es form of the
verb
and the be-verbs is , was and has.
Plural indefinites like many , several , few , both , some and all make use of the
regular
form of the verb and the be-verbs are , were and have.
Example:

Nobody likes to go to market.

Each of the boys orders for a hamburger.
Many signify their intention to join the trip.

9. A collective noun uses the s / -es form of the verb and the be-verbs is , was and has if
the
idea expressed by the subject is thought of as a unit. It uses the regular form of the
verb
and the be-verbs are , were and have if the idea expressed by the subject denotes
separate individuals.
Example:

The orchestra plays for the audience nightly.

The orchestra are bringing their instruments home.

10. When the sentence begins with there , the verb must agree with the subject that
follows.
Example:

There go my pupils with the principal.

There is one poem I would like to recite.

11. A phrase or a parenthetical expression between the subject and the verb does not
change when they denote a part of many.

Example:

These boxes of candies are all yours.

My cousins , as well as his friends , watch our show.

12. Nouns indicating amounts or fractions are singular when they denote a unit ; they are
plural when they denote a part of many.
Example:

Ten pesos is all I need.

One-third is good enough.
One-half of the oranges were stolen.

13. The expression the number takes a singular verb ; the expression a number takes
the
regular or base form.
Example:

A number of pupils are joining us tomorrow.

The number of participants does not indicate a large attendance.

Practice
Underline the correct form of the verb in each sentence.
1. You ( hear, hears , heard ) the ringing of the bell every morning.
2. My sister ( enjoy , enjoys , enjoying ) reading fable and fairy tales.
3. The hands of the clock ( move , moves , moved ) rapidly.
4.I ( doesnt , dont , didnt ) want to help that conceited guy.
5. I ( doesnt , dont , didnt ) agree with your idea.
6. Every book and magazine ( has , have , had ) been clearly marked.
7. Every shrub and tree ( show , shows , showing ) signs of summer.
8. There ( lie , lies , lain ) my pencil on top of my table.
9. Neither her hat nor her shoes ( match , matches , matched ) her dress.
10. Either you or he ( is , are , were ) to assist in the ceremonies.
11. Our class ( recite , recites , recited ) the Patriotic Pledge every morning.
12. No one ( appear , appears , appeared ) interested in the subject.
13. These tweezers ( belong , belongs , belonged ) to the beautician.
14. Athletics ( develop , develops , developed ) good physique.
15. English, Math and history ( is , are , were ) my favorite subjects.
16. Father ( doesnt , dont , didnt ) know anything about your plan.
17. Puerto Princesa City and Boracay ( has , had , have ) scenic and clean beaches.
18. Every boy and girl ( was , were , are ) given a bag of candies after the program.
19. The jury ( has , have , had ) reached a verdict.
20. Mathematics ( appeal , appeals , appealed ) more to boys.

21. Those scissors ( cut , cuts , cutting ) cloth well.

22. Someone ( want , wants , wanting ) to talk to you.
23. Joseph , together with his friends , ( study , studies , studied ) well before every
exam.
24. Either the maid or the grandchildren ( served , served , serve ) Grandmother her
snacks
every day.
25. Every chair and table ( has , have , had ) been repaired.