Subject-Verb Agreement Study

Present Tense Subject-Verb Agreement

  • Present Tense Verb Conjugation Rules:

    • Singular Subject: The verb usually takes an -s or -es suffix.

    • He plays

    • She goes

    • The cat runs

    • Plural Subject: The verb uses the base form without an -s or -es suffix.

    • They play

    • We go

    • The cats run

  • The Inverse S-Pattern:

    • Although an -s suffix indicates a plural form on nouns, an -s suffix on present-tense verbs indicates a singular third-person subject.

    • Comparison:

    • Singular noun + singular verb: The girl sings. (Singular subject + verb with -s)

    • Plural noun + plural verb: The girls sing. (Plural subject with -s + base form verb)

Rule 1: AND

  • When two or more subjects are connected by the conjunction and, they form a plural subject.

  • A plural subject created by and requires a plural verb (base form in the present tense).

  • Examples & Analysis:

    • Sara and her sister are studying together.

    • Subject: Sara and her sister (Two people connected by and form a plural subject).

    • Verb: Plural verb are.

    • My brother and I go to school by bus.

    • Subject: My brother and I (Two people connected by and = plural subject).

    • Verb: Plural base form verb go.

    • The cat and the dog sleep in the garden.

    • Subject: The cat and the dog (Two animals connected by and = plural subject).

    • Verb: Plural base form verb sleep (not sleeps).

    • The coach and the players work very hard.

    • Subject: The coach and the players (More than one subject joined by and = plural subject).

    • Verb: Plural base form verb work.

    • My mother and father work in the same school.

    • Subject: My mother and father (Two people joined by and = plural subject).

    • Verb: Plural verb work.

Rule 2: OR

  • When two singular subjects are connected by or, the verb remains singular because the sentence refers to one person or thing at a time.

  • Proximity Rule with OR: If subjects connected by or differ in number (one plural and one singular), the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

  • Examples & Analysis:

    • The teacher or the principal is speaking to the parents.

    • Subject 1: The teacher (singular)

    • Subject 2: The principal (singular)

    • Analysis: Connected by or, meaning one person is speaking.

    • Verb: Singular verb is.

    • A pen or a pencil is needed for the activity.

    • Subject: A pen (singular) or a pencil (singular).

    • Verb: Singular verb is.

    • The books or the notebook is on the desk.

    • Subject 1: Books (plural)

    • Subject 2: The notebook (singular)

    • Analysis: The subject closest to the verb is the notebook, which is singular.

    • Verb: Singular verb is.

Rule 3: Indefinite Pronouns

  • Indefinite pronouns such as everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, nobody, and anyone are grammatically singular.

  • Although these terms may sound plural in meaning (referring to multiple individuals), they take singular verbs.

  • Standard Singular Constructions:

    • someone has

    • somebody has

    • everyone has

    • nobody has

    • anyone has

  • Examples & Analysis:

    • Everyone enjoys the school celebration.

    • Subject: Everyone (grammatically singular).

    • Verb: Singular present-tense verb enjoys.

    • Incorrect Form: Everyone enjoy the celebration.

    • Someone has left a notebook on the table.

    • Subject: Someone (grammatically singular).

    • Verb: Singular verb has.

    • Incorrect Form: Someone have left a notebook.

    • Nobody knows the answer.

    • Subject: Nobody (grammatically singular).

    • Verb: Singular verb knows.

    • Incorrect Form: Nobody know the answer.

Rule 4: Either…or / Neither…nor

  • When subjects are joined by either…or or neither…nor, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it (the Proximity Rule).

  • Two Singular Subjects:

    • Either Ahmed or Ali has the key.

    • Subject 1: Ahmed (singular)

    • Subject 2: Ali (singular)

    • Verb: Singular verb has.

  • Mixed Subjects (Singular and Plural Proximity Analysis):

    • Neither the students nor the teacher was ready.

    • First Subject: The students (plural)

    • Second Subject: The teacher (singular)

    • Closest Subject to Verb: The teacher (singular)

    • Verb: Singular verb was (not were).

    • Neither the teacher nor the students were ready.

    • First Subject: The teacher (singular)

    • Second Subject: The students (plural)

    • Closest Subject to Verb: The students (plural)

    • Verb: Plural verb were.

    • Neither the teacher nor the students are absent today.

    • First Subject: Teacher (singular)

    • Second Subject: Students (plural)

    • Closest Subject to Verb: Students (plural)

    • Verb: Plural verb are.

    • Neither the students nor the teacher is absent.

    • First Subject: Students (plural)

    • Second Subject: Teacher (singular)

    • Closest Subject to Verb: Teacher (singular)

    • Verb: Singular verb is.

    • Either the students or the teacher is responsible for the project.

    • First Subject: Students (plural)

    • Second Subject: Teacher (singular)

    • Closest Subject to Verb: Teacher (singular)

    • Verb: Singular verb is.

Rule 5: Collective Nouns

  • Collective nouns refer to a group of individuals (e.g., family, committee, team).

  • When the group is considered as one single unit acting together, it takes a singular verb.

  • Examples & Analysis:

    • The family lives in Abu Dhabi.

    • Subject: Family (collective noun treated as a single unit).

    • Verb: Singular verb lives.

    • The committee meets every Monday.

    • Subject: Committee (collective noun treated as one group).

    • Verb: Singular verb meets.

    • The team practises every afternoon.

    • Subject: Team (collective noun treated as one unit).

    • Verb: Singular verb practises.

    • Spelling Note: practises (with an s) is the British English spelling when used as a verb. In American English, practices (with a c) is used.

Itemized Practice Sentence Explanations

  • 1. The boy plays football every evening.

    • Answer: plays

    • Correct Sentence: The boy plays football.

    • Incorrect Sentence: The boy play football.

    • Explanation: Subject is the boy (one person = singular). Singular subjects require singular verbs.

  • 2. Sara and her sister are studying together.

    • Answer: are

    • Explanation: Subject is Sara and her sister (two people joined by and = plural). Plural subjects require plural verb are.

  • 3. Everyone enjoys the school celebration.

    • Answer: enjoys

    • Correct Sentence: Everyone enjoys the celebration.

    • Incorrect Sentence: Everyone enjoy the celebration.

    • Explanation: Subject is everyone. Grammatically singular, requiring singular present-tense form enjoys.

  • 4. The teacher or the principal is speaking to the parents.

    • Answer: is

    • Explanation: Subject 1 (teacher, singular) and Subject 2 (principal, singular) are joined by or. Two singular subjects joined by or equal one person operating as a singular subject, requiring singular verb is.

  • 5. Neither the students nor the teacher was ready.

    • Answer: was

    • Explanation: Sentence uses neither…nor. First subject is the students (plural); second subject is the teacher (singular). The verb agrees with the closest subject (the teacher), so singular verb was is correct.

  • 6. The family lives in Abu Dhabi.

    • Answer: lives

    • Explanation: Subject is family (collective noun). Considered as a single unit, taking singular verb lives.

  • 7. My brother and I go to school by bus.

    • Answer: go

    • Explanation: Subject is my brother and I (two people joined by and = plural subject). Requires plural base verb go.

  • 8. The cat and the dog sleep in the garden.

    • Answer: sleep

    • Explanation: Subject is the cat and the dog (two animals joined by and = plural subject). Plural subjects take base form sleep rather than sleeps.

  • 9. Someone has left a notebook on the table.

    • Answer: has

    • Correct Sentence: Someone has left a notebook.

    • Incorrect Sentence: Someone have left a notebook.

    • Explanation: Subject is someone (indefinite pronoun = grammatically singular). Singular form of have is has.

  • 10. Either Ahmed or Ali has the key.

    • Answer: has

    • Explanation: Subjects are Ahmed (singular) and Ali (singular) joined by either…or. Both subjects are singular, so verb is singular has.

  • 11. Neither the teacher nor the students are absent today.

    • Answer: are

    • Explanation: Uses neither…nor. Teacher is singular and students is plural. The subject closest to the verb is students (plural), so plural verb are is used.

  • 12. The committee meets every Monday.

    • Answer: meets

    • Explanation: Subject is committee (collective noun treated as one group). Requires singular verb meets.

  • 13. A pen or a pencil is needed for the activity.

    • Answer: is

    • Explanation: A pen (singular) and a pencil (singular) are connected by or. Singular verb is is required.

  • 14. The girls sing beautifully.

    • Answer: sing

    • Correct Sentence: The girls sing beautifully.

    • Incorrect Sentence: The girls sings beautifully.

    • Explanation: Subject is the girls (plural). Plural subjects take the base form sing.

  • 15. Nobody knows the answer.

    • Answer: knows

    • Correct Sentence: Nobody knows the answer.

    • Incorrect Sentence: Nobody know the answer.

    • Explanation: Subject is nobody (grammatically singular indefinite pronoun), requiring singular verb knows.

  • 16. The coach and the players work very hard.

    • Answer: work

    • Explanation: Subject is the coach and the players (multiple subjects joined by and = plural subject). Plural subjects take base verb work.

  • 17. Either the students or the teacher is responsible for the project.

    • Answer: is

    • Explanation: Uses either…or. Students is plural and teacher is singular. Subject closest to the verb is teacher (singular), so singular verb is is used.

  • 18. The team practises every afternoon.

    • Answer: practises

    • Explanation: Subject is team (collective noun treated as one unit). Requires singular verb practises.

  • 19. The books or the notebook is on the desk.

    • Answer: is

    • Explanation: Uses or. Books is plural and notebook is singular. The subject closest to the verb is the notebook (singular), so singular verb is is required.

  • 20. My mother and father work in the same school.

    • Answer: work

    • Explanation: Subject is my mother and father (two people joined by and = plural subject). Requires plural verb work.