Subject-Verb Agreement: Rules and Examples

Subject-verb agreement means the verb matches its subject in number. Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs. The rule itself is simple, but most mistakes come from a few tricky subjects that hide the real subject.

Key takeaways

• A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb.
• In the present simple, add -s to the verb for he, she, or it.
• Two subjects joined by and take a plural verb.
• Ignore any words between the subject and the verb, and match the real subject.
• There is and there are follow the noun that comes after them.

How to use subject-verb agreement

The basics

1. A singular subject takes a singular verb. In the present simple, add -s for he, she, or it.

• ✓ She works at a bank.
• ✗ She work at a bank.

2. A plural subject takes a plural verb, with no -s.

• ✓ They work at a bank.
• ✗ They works at a bank.

Tricky subjects

3. Two subjects joined by and take a plural verb.

• ✓ Tom and Sara are here.
• ✗ Tom and Sara is here.

4. Ignore the words between the subject and the verb, and match the real subject.

• ✓ The box of chocolates is on the table.
• ✗ The box of chocolates are on the table.

5. Indefinite pronouns like everyone, each, and somebody take a singular verb.

• ✓ Everyone is ready.
• ✗ Everyone are ready.

6. There is and there are match the noun that follows.

• ✓ There are three books on the desk.
• ✗ There is three books on the desk.

Test yourself

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