Subject-verb agreement: finding the subject and choosing the verb

What has to match?

The subject is the person, thing or idea that the sentence says something about. In The bell rings, the bell is the subject. Singular means one; plural means more than one. Person distinguishes I or we, you, and the people or things you talk about with he, she, it or they.

Matching the verb to the subject is called agreement, or concord. It is not simply a spelling rule about adding -s to every singular subject. I and you do not take the he/she/it present form.

• This machine uses less water.
• These machines use less water.

In a noun, -s can mark a plural, as in machines. In a present-simple verb, -s marks the he/she/it form, as in uses. These endings do different jobs. See The present simple for spelling and am, is and are: the verb be in the present for be.

Which verb changes?

In a simple present statement, the main verb shows the difference: the bus stops, the buses stop. In a verb group, check the first verb that carries tense or person. An auxiliary is a helping verb such as be, have or do.

After does or doesn't, the main verb is the base form, without another agreement -s: does she know, not does she knows. I and you use do and don't too.

In the ordinary past simple, most main verbs do not change for person or number: she called, they called. Be is different: I/he/she/it was, you/we/they were. Modal verbs such as can, must and will do not add -s: the light can work, the lights can work. See Auxiliary verbs: be, have and do for the full verb-group system, including forms such as imagined were.

Find the main word, not the nearest noun

A subject can be a long word group. Find its main noun or pronoun before choosing the verb. A phrase beginning with of or with can contain another noun without making that noun the subject of the main clause.

• The colour of the boxes is fading. One colour, despite the plural boxes.
• The boxes with the red lids are downstairs. More than one box.
• One of the printers needs ink. One is the subject's main word.

As well as, together with and along with add information; they do not work like and to join two equal subjects. The extra people do not change a singular main subject into a plural one.

• The guide, together with two visitors, was waiting outside.
• The guide and two visitors were waiting outside. And joins the people into a plural subject.

After be, a description can have a different number from the subject. In My main concern is the missing receipts, concern is singular; receipts belongs to the description after is. Reversing it gives The missing receipts are my main concern. Do not choose the verb by simply looking at the noun after it.

Two subjects: and, or and nor

Two separate people or things joined by and normally take a plural verb. This includes a subject with I: my neighbour and I are, not my neighbour and I am.

• The cook and the driver have arrived.
• My sister and I are sharing a room.

And does not guarantee two separate things. Two descriptions can refer to the same person, or two nouns can name one combined activity. Use the meaning, not the word and on its own.

• The owner and chef is greeting the guests. One person has both roles.
• The owner and the chef are discussing the menu. Here two people are meant.

With each or every before singular subjects joined by and, you normally use a singular verb: Every cup and plate is clean. You are considering the items separately, not making an ordinary plural subject.

In careful writing, two singular subjects joined by or, either... or, or neither... nor take a singular verb. With one singular and one plural part, match the nearer part. This nearest-part rule is for this coordinated pattern, not for every noun next to a verb.

• Either the jacket or the coat is suitable.
• Neither the manager nor the assistants are available.
• Neither the assistants nor the manager is available.

If the result sounds awkward, rewrite it. For example, The manager is unavailable, and so are the assistants avoids a mixed-number subject. Do not turn a formal-writing recommendation into a claim that every speaker follows one pattern in every conversation.

Each, every, everyone and both

Each and every before a countable noun take the singular noun and a singular verb: each room has, every room has. Everyone, everybody, someone, anyone, nobody and similar words also take a singular verb. A later their or they does not change that verb.

• Every visitor needs a badge.
• Everyone has their own locker.

Each of and every one of introduce members of a particular group. The following noun is plural, but the subject's main word still presents one member at a time. Use a singular verb in careful writing.

• Each of the lifts has an alarm.
• Every one of the chairs is numbered.

Cambridge records plural verbs after each of in informal speech. That is a variation to recognise, not a reason to teach each of as an ordinary plural subject. Each one of takes a singular verb in the pattern described here.

Position matters. If each follows a plural subject, the subject stays plural. Compare Each of the guests has a ticket with The guests each have a ticket. Each is not the subject in the second sentence.

Both refers to two people or things together and takes a plural verb, with or without of.

• Both doors open onto the garden.
• Both of us have a key.

Either, neither and none

Either and neither before a singular countable noun take a singular verb: either route works, neither route works. Either of and neither of are followed by a plural noun group or us, you or them. A singular verb is the careful formal-writing choice; plural verbs also occur in informal English.

• Neither of the designs is ready. Careful formal style.
• Neither of the designs are ready. Informal usage; not an absolute error in all English.

These sources measure or teach different things.

None is different from neither: it is not restricted to a choice of two. With an uncountable meaning, use a singular verb. With a plural countable group, singular and plural agreement are both possible. Cambridge describes singular none of as formal and plural as informal; other writing guides also relate the choice to the meaning. Do not mark every plural none of as wrong.

• None of the paint is dry.
• None of the parcels have arrived. Thinking of the separate parcels.
• None of the parcels has arrived. A singular choice, also accepted.

When you want to stress not one in careful writing, Not one of the parcels has arrived makes that meaning explicit. See Both, either and neither: both doors, either of them, neither answer and No, none and none of: nobody, no one, nothing and nowhere for the wider quantifier system.

All, some, most and amounts

With all, some, most, half or a percentage, check what quantity you mean. An uncountable amount takes a singular verb; a plural countable group takes a plural verb. Do not apply the one-of rule to every expression with of.

• Some of the rice is still warm.
• Some of the bowls are still warm.
• Half of the wall needs painting.
• Half of the walls need painting.

The number of refers to a single figure and takes a singular verb. A number of before a plural noun means several and takes a plural verb. The word number alone does not decide both patterns.

• The number of bookings has increased.
• A number of passengers have asked for a refund.

A measurement can be treated as one total, even when it contains a plural noun. If you describe separate items instead, use plural agreement.

• Twenty euros is enough for lunch. One amount.
• The twenty euros were scattered on the floor. Separate coins or notes.
• Four hours is a long wait. One period.

More than one plus a singular noun normally takes a singular verb despite meaning more than one person or thing: More than one customer has complained. This is another reason not to choose the verb from real-world number alone.

Group nouns and regional choices

A collective noun names a group, such as team, family, audience or committee. In British English, it can take a singular verb when you see the group as a unit, or a plural verb when you focus on its members. Keep later pronouns consistent with the chosen meaning.

• The committee has published its decision. One body.
• The committee have returned to their separate offices. Individual members, British usage.

British Council contrasts this choice with singular collective agreement in American English. Test-English describes American collective nouns as more often singular. For a clear cross-variety sentence about individuals, name them: The committee members have returned to their offices. Do not teach team are as a universal error or suggest all group nouns take a plural verb in conversation.

Police is plural in this use: The police are checking the road. To refer to one person, use a police officer is. People meaning more than one person also takes a plural verb: The people upstairs are moving out. A singular-looking group noun and a plural group word are not the same pattern. See Singular and plural nouns: one cup, two cups for more noun forms.

Noun forms that can mislead you

In their uncountable meanings, information, furniture, equipment and advice take singular verbs. A countable expression changes the main word: one piece of equipment is, two pieces of equipment are. Do not say that every noun always has exactly one countability pattern; check the meaning in use.

• The equipment is ready for collection.
• The pieces of equipment are packed separately.

Some nouns end in -s but take a singular verb, including news, maths and physics. Others have plural forms and agreement, including clothes, trousers and scissors. A pair of scissors is singular because pair is the main word; two pairs of scissors are plural.

• The news was encouraging.
• These scissors are too blunt.
• This pair of scissors is new.

Some forms stay the same in the singular and plural, such as series and species. The determiner and the meaning tell you which agreement to use: this series is, both series are. Statistics can mean a subject of study or separate numerical facts: Statistics is on the course; these statistics are out of date.

Names and titles that refer to one work or one entity normally take singular agreement even when their words look plural. A book called Three Rooms is one book. Data and media have variable patterns by meaning and style; follow the dictionary sense and your publication's style rather than assuming every final -a noun is plural. The advanced agreement lesson in the sources explains those choices further.

There, later subjects and clauses

With there is or there are, there introduces the presence of something. In careful writing, choose the verb to match the thing that follows: singular or uncountable with is, plural with are. The same distinction applies to was and were.

• There is some sand in my shoe.
• There are two stones in my shoe.

Cambridge records there's with a plural noun in speech and some informal writing. Use there are in formal writing and exams, but do not label every spoken there's plus plural as impossible English. See There is and there are: saying that something exists for lists and other details.

A subject can also follow the verb in other patterns: Beside the gate stands a sign; Beside the gate stand two signs. Find sign or signs rather than treating the place phrase as the subject.

An -ing group, an infinitive group or a clause can be the subject and normally takes a singular verb when presented as one activity or idea.

• Carrying those boxes takes two people.
• Whether the doors are locked remains unclear. Doors agrees with are inside its own clause; the whole clause is the subject of remains.

A what-clause before be can take singular or plural agreement when a plural description follows: What we need is more shelves; What we need are more shelves. Do not use one of these as a wrong answer without a context that excludes it. See Cleft sentences: it-clauses and what-clauses and -ing clauses: waiting, knowing, causing for those larger patterns.

Agreement inside a relative clause

A relative clause adds information about a noun. When who, which or that is its subject, choose the verb to match the person or thing it refers to. The main clause and the relative clause may need different forms.

• The volunteer who checks the tickets is outside.
• The volunteers who check the tickets are outside.

In She is one of the workers who repair bicycles, who refers to workers, so repair is plural. In She is the only worker who repairs bicycles, who refers to one worker, so repairs is singular. Read the intended link rather than matching every verb to the first name in the sentence. See Defining relative clauses: who, which, that for the full relative-clause reference.

What comes next

The present simple, am, is and are: the verb be in the present and Auxiliary verbs: be, have and do cover verb forms. Countable and uncountable nouns: a bag, some luggage and Singular and plural nouns: one cup, two cups cover noun meanings and number. Every, each, whole and all: every day, each of them, the whole day, Both, either and neither: both doors, either of them, neither answer and No, none and none of: nobody, no one, nothing and nowhere develop quantifiers. There is and there are: saying that something exists, Defining relative clauses: who, which, that, -ing clauses: waiting, knowing, causing and Cleft sentences: it-clauses and what-clauses explain the larger patterns used here.