Making Subjects and Verbs Agree

1. When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a plural verb.

She and her friends are at the concert.

2. When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or or nor, use a singular verb.

The book or the pen is in the drawer.

3. When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearer (closer) to the verb.

The boy or his friends run to school every day.
His friends and the boy runs to school every day.

4. Do not be misled by a phrase that comes between the subject and the verb. The verb agrees with the subject, not with a noun or pronoun in the phrase.

One of the boxes is open.
The people who listen to that music are all fans of country music.
The team captain, as well as his players, is anxious about the upcoming game.
The book, including all the chapters in the first section, is very informative.
The woman with all the dogs walks to the park every Sunday.

5. The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody, someone and no one are singular and require a singular verb.

Each of these sandwiches is very tasty.
Each one of the students in Mr. Jefferson’s class is going to participate in the school play.
Either dress shirt goes well with Ivan’s blue suit.
Neither one of the movies was of interest to the group.
Everyone in Mr. Jefferson’s class is expected to attend rehearsal after school.
Everybody knows Ms. Gonzalez is an excellent professor.
Anybody who wishes to attend can sign up today.
Anyone who participates in the play will receive a certificate of merit.
Nobody knows how many people will attend the conference.
Somebody is knocking on the door. Let him in.
Someone has the cast list for tonight’s performance

6. Nouns such as, mathematics, dollars, and news require singular verbs.

Mathematics was always Roberta’s favorite subject.
The news is on at six.

NOTE: The word dollars is a special case. Talking about an amount of money requires a singular verb. When referring to the dollars themselves, a plural verb is needed.

Fifty dollars is a lot of money.
American dollars instead of euros are often used in Spain.

7. Nouns such as scissors and trousers require plural verbs.

These scissors are very useful in art class.
Those straight-leg trousers are made of wool.

8. In sentences beginning with “There is” or “There are,” the subject follows the verb. Since “there” is not the subject, the verb agrees with what follows.

There are many questions still unanswered about why the climate is changing.
There is a question of ownership now that the company has moved to California.

9. Collective nouns are words that imply more than one person but that are considered singular and take a singular verb, such as group, team, faculty, committee, class, family and crew.

A group of concerned citizens is meeting with the governor next Thursday.
The team meets every day in the gym.
The faculty has a plan to introduce cursive writing back into the curriculum.
The committee decides how to proceed with the agenda.
Every Thursday, the class is scheduled for biology lab.
The Martini family has a number of members in the teaching profession.
The crew of the fishing boat is preparing to leave the dock as soon as it stops raining.

10. Expressions such as with, together with, including, or accompanied by do not change the number of the subject. If the subject is singular, the verb is too.

Peter, with his friend Joshua, is going to study in France this semester.
Bela, together with the students in her class, is going to participate in the dance festival.
The antique desk, including everything in the drawers, was sold for a large sum of money.
The dean, accompanied by his three assistants, is attending a conference in Europe. 

In general, subjects and verbs must agree in number. This means that a singular subject must have a singular verb, and a plural subject must have a plural verb.

When the subject of a sentence is two or more nouns or pronouns (either singular or plural) connected by and, use a plural verb.

The table and chairs look like they need to be repaired.
Jamie and her friends drive to work every Friday. 

When the subject of a sentence is two or more singular nouns or pronouns connected by or or nor, use a singular verb.

Shoshanah and Beth will make their presentation next class.
Neither blue nor green is my favorite color.

The verb should agree with the noun that is closer to the verb when the subject has both a singular noun or pronoun and a plural noun or pronoun connected by or or nor.

The kitchen or the bathrooms need to be cleaned.
The bathrooms and the kitchen needs to be cleaned.

In sentences that begin with there are or there is, pay attention to what follows there are or there is. This element is what determines whether you use are or is. If the subject is plural, use are; if the subject is singular, use is.

There are two cookies left in the cookie jar.
There is one chance to make a first impression.