# Subject Verb Agreement: Rules, Examples, and Practice

Written by [Priya Anand](https://blurwrite.com/authors/priya-anand), Editor for second-language writers. Published 2026-09-29. Updated on 2026-10-04.

> **Short answer:** Subject-verb agreement means matching a verb to its subject in person and number: “The writer checks,” but “The writers check.” Find the subject, decide whether it's singular or plural, then choose the verb. Ignore extra phrases between the subject and verb.

To check subject-verb agreement, find the subject before choosing a verb. Work through the rules and practice below, then apply the checklist to your draft.

## Subject Verb Agreement Rules: Start With the Subject

A verb agrees with its subject, not whichever noun happens to be closest. Write “The writer checks the draft” but “The writers check the draft.” Use these steps before changing a verb.

George Mason University's Writing Center explains that present-tense he, she, and it forms take -s. Be and have use different forms: “I am,” “you are,” “she is,” and “she has.” Most ordinary past-tense verbs stay unchanged: “She checked” and “They checked.”

If you're [writing in a second language](/use-cases/non-native-writers), I'd practice the same sentence with different subjects. Change “she checks” to “they check,” then try the pattern with be and have.

1. Find the subject: Ask who or what performs the action or has the stated condition.
2. Identify person and number: Distinguish I, you, and he/she/it, then decide whether the subject is singular or plural.
3. Choose the matching verb: Check the verb carrying tense. In “She is writing,” check is, not writing.

Common agreement forms

| Verb type | Singular example | Plural example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Present action | She checks | They check |
| Present be | She is | They are |
| Past be | She was | They were |
| Have | She has | They have |

## Check Compound Subjects Joined by And, Or, and Nor

Distinct subjects joined by and take a plural verb, as Purdue OWL explains. Write “The editor and the writer agree” when you mean two people. If one person holds both roles, write “The editor and writer agrees.”

Meaning also matters when and joins parts of one unit. George Mason gives the single-unit exception: “Macaroni and cheese is my favorite dish” names one dish, so is fits.

With or and nor, match the verb to the nearer subject. Compare “Either the editor or the writers check” with “Neither the writers nor the editor checks.” If a mixed-number sentence sounds awkward, rewrite it: “Either the editor is responsible or the writers are responsible.”

Meaning determines compound-subject agreement

| Subject pattern | Example |
| --- | --- |
| One person, two roles | The editor and writer agrees. |
| Two people | The editor and the writer agree. |
| One dish | Macaroni and cheese is good. |
| Or, nearer plural | Either she or they agree. |
| Nor, nearer singular | Neither they nor she agrees. |

## Choose Agreement for Collective Nouns

In American English, use a singular verb when a collective noun names a group acting as one unit. “The committee decides today” treats the committee as a single body. Purdue OWL presents collective nouns with singular agreement.

British usage also allows plural agreement with group nouns, according to Cambridge's grammar guidance. Don't change “The team are ready” solely because team looks singular if you're editing British English.

When separate members matter, name them directly. “The family members have different schedules” makes the plural subject clear.

Collective nouns in context

| Meaning or usage | Example |
| --- | --- |
| American group-as-unit | The team is ready. |
| British plural usage | The team are ready. |
| Explicit individuals | The members are ready. |

## Ignore Intervening Words and Check Indefinite Pronouns

Extra words can make a singular subject look plural. Purdue OWL tells you to ignore intervening phrases when choosing the verb. Its rule also covers expressions such as with, together with, and including.

Standalone either and neither take singular verbs. Paired either/or and neither/nor follow the nearer-subject rule instead. In there is and there are sentences, there isn't the subject; find the noun that follows.

- Bracket intervening phrases: “The list [of changes] is ready.” List controls is, not changes.
- Keep along with separate: “The editor, along with the writers, is ready.” Editor remains the subject.
- Use singular verbs with each, everyone, either, and neither: “Each of the writers has a draft.”
- Check each and every before compound subjects: “Every chair and table is clean.” Each item is considered individually.
- Use plural verbs with both, few, many, and several: “Several have drafts.”
- Check what all, some, most, and none refer to: “Some of the work is ready,” but “Some of the drafts are ready.”
- Look after the verb in there constructions: “There is a draft,” but “There are drafts.”

Indefinite pronouns and agreement

| Subject pattern | Agreement | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Each, everyone, neither | Singular | Each has a draft. |
| Both, few, several | Plural | Several have drafts. |
| Some with uncountable noun | Singular | Some of the work is ready. |
| Some with plural noun | Plural | Some of the drafts are ready. |

## Subject-Verb Agreement Exceptions: Amounts, Titles, and Clauses

A number of means several and takes a plural verb: “A number of students are ready.” The number of refers to the count itself: “The number of students is rising.” Check the article before choosing the verb.

An amount treated as one total takes a singular verb. Purdue OWL distinguishes an amount of money from individual dollars: “Five dollars is enough,” but “The dollars are on the table.” The same single-total principle applies to measurements such as “Ten minutes is enough.”

An -s ending doesn't always mean plural. Purdue OWL lists news and mathematics among nouns requiring singular verbs. Write “The news is encouraging” and “Mathematics is challenging.”

A title naming one work takes a singular verb, even when its wording looks plural. For a book titled Study Skills, write “Study Skills is on the reading list.” You're referring to one book, not several skills.

In a who or that clause, match the verb to the noun the pronoun refers to. “She is one of the students who study here” uses study because who refers to students. Compare “She is the only student who studies here,” where who refers to student.

Patterns that need an extra check

| Subject pattern | Matching form |
| --- | --- |
| A number of students | are ready |
| The number of students | is rising |
| An amount of money | Five dollars is enough. |
| A singular -s noun | The news is encouraging. |
| A title | Study Skills is useful. |
| Plural noun before who | students who study |

## Subject-Verb Agreement Examples: Edit a Paragraph Step by Step

Before: “The list of revisions are ready. The editor and the reviewer checks the draft. Either the editor or the reviewers approves the changes. Everyone have a copy.”

After: “The list of revisions is ready. The editor and the reviewer check the draft. Either the editor or the reviewers approve the changes. Everyone has a copy.”

Only the verb forms changed. The revised paragraph keeps the same subjects and meaning.

Check your edited paragraph with Blurwrite's [free grammar checker](/grammar-checker). It checks grammar, spelling, punctuation, style, and typography, and offers fixes to apply or ignore. Compare each suggested verb with the subject you've identified.

1. List is singular: Change are to is. Of revisions adds information without changing the subject.
2. The editor and the reviewer names two people: Change checks to check.
3. Reviewers is nearer the verb after or: Change approves to approve.
4. Everyone is singular: Change have to has.

## A Subject Verb Agreement Worksheet for Practice

For these subject-verb agreement exercises, write down the subject before filling each blank. Then add a short reason for your choice. The answers are in the next section, not beside the blanks.

You can also use this worksheet for a short subject-verb agreement lesson. Begin with “The writer checks” and “The writers check,” then move to the sentences below. Ask the learner to explain which subject controls each verb.

For a subject-verb agreement PDF, use your browser's print command and select its PDF-saving option. Check the preview and keep the answer key separate from the practice page.

1. The list of changes ___ ready. Choose is or are.
2. The editor and writer ___ the wording. Choose checks or check. This subject names one person with both roles.
3. The editor and the writer ___ the wording. Choose checks or check. These are two people.
4. Neither the editor nor the reviewers ___ the change. Choose approves or approve.
5. The committee ___ as one unit. Choose votes or vote. Use American English.
6. Each of the writers ___ a draft. Choose has or have.
7. There ___ several drafts on the desk. Choose is or are.
8. Five dollars ___ enough. Choose is or are.
9. The news ___ encouraging. Choose is or are.
10. A number of students ___ ready. Choose is or are.

## Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz Answers and Editing Checklist

Compare your choices with these answers after completing the worksheet. If you missed one, identify the subject again before reviewing the rule. A correct explanation helps you apply the same pattern to your own sentences.

1. Is: “The list of changes is ready.” The singular subject is list.
2. Checks: “The editor and writer checks the wording.” One person holds both roles.
3. Check: “The editor and the writer check the wording.” Two people form a plural subject.
4. Approve: “Neither the editor nor the reviewers approve the change.” Reviewers is nearer the verb.
5. Votes: “The committee votes as one unit.” The group acts as a single body.
6. Has: “Each of the writers has a draft.” Each is singular.
7. Are: “There are several drafts on the desk.” Drafts is the plural subject.
8. Is: “Five dollars is enough.” The money is treated as one amount.
9. Is: “The news is encouraging.” News is singular despite its -s ending.
10. Are: “A number of students are ready.” A number of means several.

- Find the true subject of each clause.
- Identify the subject's person and number.
- Check the verb form, especially be and have.
- Decide whether an and subject names separate people or one person or unit.
- Match or/nor verbs to the nearer subject.
- Ignore intervening phrases when choosing agreement.
- Check indefinite pronouns, including each and every.
- Find the following subject in there is/there are constructions.
- Check collectives, amounts, titles, and plural-looking singular nouns.
- Match verbs in who/that clauses to the noun those words refer to.

- [This article on the site](https://blurwrite.com/blog/subject-verb-agreement-rules)