Subject-Verb Agreement: 12 Essential Rules

Usually take a plural verb, unless they refer to a single idea or meal.

✓ Bread and butter is his favorite breakfast. (Single idea)
✓ Ravi and Amit are studying together. (Two people)

The verb agrees with the nearest subject after or / nor.

✓ Neither the teacher nor the students were late.
✓ Either the students or the teacher is responsible.

The verb always agrees with the first subject, ignoring the parenthetical phrase.

✓ The captain, along with his sailors, was rescued.
✓ Gold, as well as silver, has risen in price.

Always take a singular verb, even when followed by a plural noun phrase.

✓ Each of the candidates has arrived.
✓ Everyone in the room is listening.

A number of means "many" (plural verb); The number of refers to a single count (singular verb).

✓ A number of students are absent today.
✓ The number of applicants is increasing.

Take a singular verb when acting as one unit, and a plural verb when members act individually.

✓ The jury has reached its verdict.
✓ The jury are divided in their opinions.

Nouns ending in -s that represent a single subject or field take a singular verb.

✓ No news is good news.
✓ Mathematics requires daily practice.

When treated as a single total quantity or sum, use a singular verb.

✓ Ten kilometers is a long distance to walk.
✓ Five thousand rupees was spent on books.

Uncountable nouns never take plural -s and always use a singular verb.

✓ All the furniture was polished.
✓ Her advice is always helpful.

Take a plural verb alone, but a singular verb when preceded by "a pair of".

✓ My spectacles are on the desk.
✓ A pair of spectacles is on the desk.

Many takes a plural noun and plural verb; Many a takes a singular noun and singular verb.

✓ Many students have passed.
✓ Many a student has passed.

For unreal wishes or hypothetical conditions, use were regardless of singular subject.

✓ If I were a bird, I would fly.
✓ She talks as if she were the boss.