Subject-verb agreement

Rule 1. Singular subjects take singular verbs:

• He runs every morning.

• The dog runs quickly,

• The cat is sleeping.

Rule 2. Plural subjects take plural verbs:

• They run every morning.

• The dogs runt quickly.

• The cats are sleeping.

Rule 3. Indefinite pronouns (everyone, someone, each, etc.) typically take singular verbs:

• Everyone loves a good story.

• Each of the students is responsible.

Rule 4. Compound subjects joined by "and" take plural verbs:

• The dog and the cat are playing.

Rule 5. Compound subjects joined by "or" or "nor" take a verb that agrees with the subject closest to it:

• Neither the teacher nor the students understand the assignment.

• Either the boys or the girl is responsible.

Rule 6. Collective nouns (team, group, family, etc.) can take singular or plural verbs depending on whether the group is seen as a single unit or as individuals:

• The team is winning. (seen as a single unit)

• The team are arguing among themselves. (seen as individuals)

Rule 7. Titles of books, movies, and other works, even if plural, take singular verbs:

• "The Lord of the Rings" is a famous book.

Instructions: Choose the correct verb form in each sentence.

Each of the books was/were on the table.

Neither of the students has/have finished the assignment.

The dogs barks/bark loudly at strangers.

A group of birds flies/fly overhead.

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Verb

Choose the correct verb to complete each sentence:

1. Each of the students (is/are) responsible for completing their homework.

2. The cat and the dog (plays/play) in the yard every afternoon.

3. Neither the teacher nor the students (was/were) late for class.

4. Everyone (enjoy/enjoys) the new movie.

5. The team (is/are) celebrating its victory.

6.  The book, along with the pen, (was/were) on the table.

7. Either the manager or the employees (make/makes) the final decision.

Exercise 2: Correct the Errors

Find and correct the subject-verb agreement errors in the following sentences:

1. The flowers in the garden needs water.

2. Every student in the class have finished the test.

3. The group of dancers are performing on stage tonight.

4. Either John or his friends is going to pick you up.

5. The cake and the cookies is delicious.

6. One of the books were missing from the shelf.

7. The news about the event are exciting.

Exercise 3: Complete the Sentences

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in parentheses:

1. Each of the participants __________ (receive) a certificate.

2. The family __________ (travel) to Europe next summer.

3. Neither the dog nor the cats __________ (like) the new food.

4. The committee __________ (meet) every Tuesday.

5. Everybody __________ (have) a good time at the party.

6. Either the teacher or the students __________ (need) to bring the supplies.

7. The list of items __________ (be) on the table.

Exercise 4. Read the sentences and decide which of the two words in parenthesis () is correct

• Everyone in a traditional Japanese family (introduce, introduces) themselves with their surnames.

• Therefore, the family name (is, are) mainly used when calling the person's name.

• Swedish, as well as Japanese names, generally (represent, represents) environments.

• In other cases, such as in the UK, some (is, are) called after their trade, for example Taylor or Smith

• On the other hand, (either, neither) Thomas (or/nor) Jones (is/are) such examples.

• There (is, are) a number of languages that use their own characteristic pronunciation, so beware!

• Anyone with (a/an) Armenian background (know/knows) that there are sounds between k and g, which (don’t/doesn’t) exist in English.

• Perhaps those who (grow/grows) up learning several languages (finds, find) remembering names particularly easy.

Exercise 1:

1. is

2. play

3. were

4. enjoys

5. is

6. was

7. makes

Exercise 2:

1. The flowers in the garden need water.

2. Every student in the class has finished the test.

3. The group of dancers is performing on stage tonight.

4. Either John or his friends are going to pick you up.

5. The cake and the cookies are delicious.

6. One of the books was missing from the shelf.

7. The news about the event is exciting.

Exercise 3:

1. receives

2. is traveling/travels

3. like

4. meets

5. has

6. need

7. is

Exercise 4.

• Everyone in a traditional Japanese family introduces themselves with their surnames.

• Therefore, the family name is mainly used when calling the person's name.

• Swedish, as well as Japanese names, generally represent environments.

• In other cases, such as in the UK, some are called after their trade, for example Taylor or Smith

• On the other hand, neither Thomas nor Jones are such examples.

• There is  a number of languages that use their own characteristic pronunciation, so beware!

• Anyone with an Armenian background knows that there are sounds between k and g, which don’t exist in English.

• Perhaps those who grow up learning several languages find remembering names particularly easy.

Explanations for the advanced exercises

When the subject is separated from the verb:

• I myself, not my family, am responsible for the life-choices I make.

When the subject follows the verb:

• Stacked on the table was a month's worth of smuggled goods from customs.

Indefinite Pronouns:

• Everyone needs someone that cares for them.

• (Some indefinite pronouns require a singular verb: each, either, neither, one, everyone, anyone, everybody, everything, someone, somebody, anybody, anything, nobody, and another.)

Most of the horror movies were scary, but none were truly terrifying.

• (Other indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural: all, any, most, none, some. Check the noun the pronoun stands for to decide whether you need a singular or a plural verb.)