Subject Verb Agreement Rules

BASIC RULE: If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular; If the subject is plural, the verb
must be plural

Mrs. Spence teaches English.

Subject – who/what Verb – what’s going on

* Verbs are TRICKY (they are the opposite of nouns when adding “s”):
1. Jane sees. (singular) 3. The engineer works. (singular)
2. They see. (plural) 4. Engineers work. (plural)

Incorrect Examples: Corrections:

I ARE on the bus. I ___________ on the bus.
Tom and Jane AM on the bus. Tom and Jane ___________ on the bus.

TRICKS TO LOCATING SUBJECTS: Subjects can be tricky because they are not always easily
found. Find the verb, and then ask who/what is doing that. With linking verbs, the subject typically
comes AFTER the linking verb. (HINT: Since prepositional phrases can NEVER be in the subject, cross
them off to help eliminate some of the sentence. You can cross of dependent clauses as well.)
1. On the far side of the ranch ARE the barn and corrals described in the article.
2. Here IS my jacket. Here ARE my shoes.
3. Joey, who is my best friend, IS COMING to the party.

COMMON SINGULAR SUBJECTS: Use a SINGULAR verb after: each, neither, everyone,
everybody, nobody, and someone, along with, in addition to, as well as…
1. Nobody IS here.
2. Everybody HELPS when there is a crisis.
3. Somebody WANTS to speak to you.

USING OR/NOR: If you use EITHER-OR, NEITHER-NOR, look at the subject closest to the verb. If
the subject closest to the verb is singular, use a singular verb; if the subject is plural, use a plural verb.
1. Either Miss Brown or Jane WRITES on the blackboard.
2. Either the teacher or the students WRITE on the blackboard.

Practice Sentences:
1. Mrs. Spence’s class, where I always have fun taking vocabulary quizzes, (is / are) a great place to be.
2. All members of the cast, including Corey, (was / were) assembled over the weekend.
3. Neither the kids nor Mr. Geiger (were / was) attending class that day.
4. Everyone (get / gets) an A if they show up.
5. A bad attitude, along with poor study habits and not doing homework, (is / are) a sure way to fail English.
6. Kyle, who has loved me since the first grade, (email, emails) me almost every day.
7. Under Sam’s bed (was, were) three Rollingstone magazines.
 Name: ____________________________
English 3 CP
Subject Verb Agreement Practice
DIRECTIONS: The following paragraphs are excerpts from Eric Schlosser’s book “Fast Food Nation.” UNDERLINE the subject
of the sentence. Then, identify which of the given verbs allows for correct subject-verb agreement.

Pull open the glass door, feel the rush of cool air, walk in, get on line, (study / studies) the
backlit color photographs above the counter, place your order, hand over a few dollars, watch teenagers
in uniforms pushing various buttons, and moments later (take / takes) hold of a plastic tray full of food
wrapped in colored paper and cardboard. The whole experience of buying fast food has become so
routine, so thoroughly unexceptional and mundane, that it (are / is) now taken for granted, like
brushing your teeth or stopping for a red light. It has become a social custom as American as a small,
rectangular, hand-held, frozen, and reheated apple pie.

This is a book about fast food, the values it (embody / embodies), and the world it has made.
Fast food (has / have) proven to be a revolutionary force in American life; I (am / is) interested in it
both as a commodity and as a metaphor. What people eat (or don't eat) has always been determined by
a complex interplay of social, economic, and technological forces. The early Roman Republic was fed
by its citizen-farmers; the Roman Empire, by its slaves. A nation's diet can be more revealing than its
art or literature. On any given day in the United States about one-quarter of the adult population (visit /
visits) a fast food restaurant. During a relatively brief period of time, the fast food industry has helped
to transform not only the American diet, but also our landscape, economy, workforce, and popular
culture. Fast food and its consequences (are / is) inescapable, regardless of whether you eat it twice a
day, try to avoid it, or have never taken a single bite…

The McDonald's Corporation has become a powerful symbol of America's service economy,
which is now responsible for 90 percent of the country's new jobs. In 1968, McDonald's operated about
one thousand restaurants. Today it has about twenty-eight thousand restaurants worldwide and (open /
opens) almost two thousand new ones each year. An estimated one out of every eight workers in the
United States has at some point been employed by McDonald's. The company annually (hires / hire)
about one million people, more than any other American organization, public or private. McDonald's is
the nation's largest purchaser of beef, pork, and potatoes -- and the second largest purchaser of chicken.
The McDonald's Corporation is the largest owner of retail property in the world. Indeed, the company
(earns / earn) the majority of its profits not from selling food but from collecting rent. McDonald's
(spend / spends) more money on advertising and marketing than any other brand. As a result it has
replaced Coca-Cola as the world's most famous brand. McDonald's operates more playgrounds than
any other private entity in the United States. It is one of the nation's largest
distributors of toys. A survey of American schoolchildren found that 96 percent could
identify Ronald McDonald. The only fictional character with a higher degree of
recognition (were / was) Santa Claus. The impact of McDonald's on the way we live
today is hard to overstate. The Golden Arches (is / are) now more widely recognized
than the Christian cross.
Name: ____________________________
English 3 CP
Subject / Verb Agreement Practice
DIRECTIONS: First, highlight or circle the subject that the verb refers to. Then, decide which form of the verb
listed creates a sentence with subject verb agreement.
HINTS: (1) Cross off any prepositional phrases or clauses (look for separation by commas) to eliminate
Confusing parts of the sentence;
(2) The subject will come AFTER linking verbs;
(3) With either/or and neither/nor phrases uses the CLOSEST to the verb; and
(4) Check the list of common singular pronouns for tricky subjects.

1. The credit for making Justin Bieber internationally famous as a pop singer and songwriter belong to both
Scooter Braun who discovered him and L.A. Reid who offered him a recording contract.

2. The relationship between the two teams have not improved since the brawl.

3. After the crime rate increased in the small college town, a new organization of homeowners and college
students were formed to hopefully thwart the criminals.

4. The purpose of difficult high school classes are to prepare students for college level material.

5. The action movie, which was produced by the famous brothers, were surprisingly dull and forgettable.

6. The number of yellow cards given during the World Cup to players demonstrate increased aggression.

7. Absent from the lists were any mention of the benevolent brothers who donated millions of dollars.

8. The most celebrated of all the heavy weight champions are Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.

9. Only recently has the beneficial effects of acai and quinoa become known in the United States.

10. On the website is the contact information and history of the company.

11. Neither of the girls were able to fall asleep on the night of the Presidential election.
 12. Each of the questions have a distinct solution.

SAT FORMATTED QUESTIONS

The following sentences test your ability to recognize grammar and usage errors. Each sentence contains either a single error or no
error at all. No sentence contains more than one error. The error, if there is one, is underlined and lettered. If the sentence contains
an error, select the one underlined part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence is correct, select choice E.
In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English.

1. Although there are billions of dollars at 5. During the season finale of Pretty Little Liars, there was
A A
stake, there is complicated issues yet to be intriguing questions raised about the whereabouts of
B C B C
resolved between the two parties. No error many of the characters associated with the victim.
D E D
No error
E

2. The indulgent parents gave either a Ferrari or 6. To the shock of the audience, absent from the
A A
Lamborghini to each of their five children; however acceptance speech made by the Nobel Prize winner
B B
everyone was not happy with their gift. No error were any mention of family and friends. No error
C D E C D E

3. The relationship between the novel’s 7. Mastery of a myriad of shot making skills are
A
author and editor are truly complicated required in order to successfully compete in
A B C
because they each imagine the final product the British Open, which is known for unforgiving
B C D
slightly differently. No error weather conditions. No error
D E E

4. The comments made by Richard Johnson, the 8. A picture of the Parkland High School football team,
A A
former editor of Page Six of the New York Post, composed of players on both the defense and offense,
B B C
has sparked much debate in Manhattan. No error were given to each team member. No error
C D E D E
 Name: ____________________________
English 3 APPL

Subject Verb Agreement Practice

DIRECTIONS: First, highlight or circle the subject that the verb refers to. Then, decide which form of the verb
listed creates a sentence with subject verb agreement.
HINTS: (1) Cross off any prepositional phrases or clauses (look for separation by commas) to eliminate
Confusing parts of the sentence;
(2) The subject will come AFTER linking verbs;
(3) With either/or and neither/nor phrases uses the closest to the verb; and
(4) Check the list of common singular pronouns for tricky subjects.

1. The credit for making Justin Bieber internationally famous ( belongs / belong ) to both Scooter Braun who
discovered him and L.A. Reid who offered him a recording contract.

2. The relationship between the two teams ( has / have ) not improved since the brawl.

3. After the crime rate increased in the small college town, a new organization of homeowners and college
students ( was / were ) formed to hopefully thwart the criminals.

4. The purpose of difficult high school classes ( is / are ) to prepare students for college level material.

5. The action movie, which was produced by the famous brothers, ( was / were ) surprisingly dull and
forgettable.

6. The number of yellow cards given during the World Cup ( demonstrates / demonstrate ) increased
aggression.

7. Absent from the lists ( was / were ) any mention of the benevolent brothers who donated millions.

8. The most celebrated of all the heavy weight champions ( is / are ) Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.

9. Only recently ( has / have ) the beneficial effects of acai and quinoa become known in the United States.

10. On the website ( is / are ) the contact information and history of the company.

11. Neither of the girls ( was / were ) able to fall asleep on the night of the Presidential election.

12. Each of the questions ( has / have ) a distinct solution.

13. The comments made by Richard Johnson, the former editor of Page Six of the NY Post, ( has / have )
sparked much debate in Manhattan.
14. A picture of the PHS football team, composed of players on defense and offense, ( was / were ) given to
each team member.

Identify whether the sentence if correct or not.

1. One of Jake’s old fillings need to be replaced.
2. In the back of the closet is some old paperback novels you might like to have.
3. Every one of the students seems ready for a vacation.
4. Cory’s Chevy with the blue tinted windows need washing.
5. Neither the football team nor the coach was happy to see the season end.
6. One of Greg’s six children (run, runs) five miles every day.
7. Despite an intensive campaign to encourage recycling, there (are / is) many Americans who have not
accepted that as a way of life.