Subject-Verb Agreement
- Rule Title
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Category
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Rule Explanation
The verb must agree with its subject in number and person.
Key Rules
- Singular subject → singular verb (He runs).
- Plural subject → plural verb (They run).
- Compound subjects joined by and → plural verb.
- Subjects joined by or/nor → verb agrees with the nearer subject.
- Collective nouns (team, committee) → singular verb in most cases.
- Indefinite pronouns (everyone, nobody, each) → singular verb.
- 'The number of' → singular verb; 'A number of' → plural verb.
- Correct Example
- Each of the students has a book.
- Neither the teacher nor the students were present.
- The committee has decided.
- Incorrect Example
Everyone have finished.(everyone = singular)A number of students was absent.(a number of = plural)