SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
Agreement is a basic rule of grammar. Subjects and verbs must agree in person and
number. The rules below will help you avoid subject-verb agreement errors.
1. In the present tense, third person, use verbs ending in –s with singular subjects.
singular plural
1st person I walk we walk
2nd person you walk you walk
3rd person he/she/it walks they walk
I require attention. (1st person, singular, no –s is needed.)
A dog requires attention. (3rd person singular, an –s is needed.)
Dogs require attention. (–s indicates a plural subject, but the verb does not need an –s.)
2. The verb must agree with its simple subject even though modifying phrases or clauses come between
the simple subject and its verb.
WRONG: The recommendation of two policemen, a judge, and three lawyers were accepted.
CORRECT: The recommendation of two policemen, a judge, and three lawyers was accepted.
3. Words such as “including,” “together with,” and “as well as” introduce modifying elements
that are generally set off by commas. Since these elements are not part of the subject, they do
not influence the choice of singular or plural verbs—ignore them!
WRONG: The delinquent, as well as his mom and dad, were in the detention hall.
CORRECT: The delinquent, as well as his mom and dad, was in the detention hall.
4. When two nouns are connected by some form of the verb to be, the first noun is the
grammatical subject, and the verb agrees with it.
N N
WRONG: The first [thing] we noticed were the [shoes].
CORRECT: The first [thing] we noticed was the [shoes].
CORRECT: The shoes were the first thing we noticed.
5. If the verb precedes the subject, determine the subject and make the verb agree with it.
WRONG: Above a cluster of convents rise the Cathedral of St. John.
CORRECT: Above a cluster of convents rises the Cathedral of St. John.
6. In sentences beginning with here is/are or there is/are, look for the subject after the verb.
WRONG: There is a hundred jokes in this comedy.
CORRECT: There are a hundred jokes in this comedy.
7. Subjects connected by and are generally plural.
WRONG: San Marcos and San Antonio is in Texas.
CORRECT: San Marcos and San Antonio are in Texas.
