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Subject-Verb Agreement

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A2 (Elementary)Writing

Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement means the verb must match its subject: a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. Getting this right makes your writing sound correct and clear. This lesson covers the rules and the tricky cases.

Subject-verb agreement means the verb must match its subject: a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. Getting this right makes your writing sound correct and clear. This lesson covers the rules and the tricky cases.

1. The basic rule

Subject Verb Example
singular (one) + s / is / was The book is new. She reads.
plural (more than one) plain / are / were The books are new. They read.

2. Two subjects joined by “and” = plural

  • Aisha and Omar are students.
  • Tea and coffee are popular.

3. Watch out: words between subject and verb

A phrase can come between the subject and verb. Ignore it — match the verb to the real subject.

Sentence Real subject
The box of books is heavy. box (singular) → is
The students in my class are friendly. students (plural) → are
These are always singularWords like everyone, everybody, someone, nobody, each, every take a singular verb: “Everyone is here.” “Each student has a book.” Also uncountable nouns (water, money, information) are singular: “The information is useful.”

4. “There is” vs “there are”

Match the verb to the noun that follows: There is a book. / There are two books.

Tutor tip for Arabic speakersThe trap that catches most learners is a phrase between the subject and verb: “The box of books are heavy” sounds right because “books” is near the verb — but the subject is box (singular), so it must be “is heavy.” Find the true subject first, then choose the verb. Cover the middle phrase with your finger to check.

Examples from EduCareer

  • Aisha and Omar are in the same class.
  • Each of the students has a book.
  • The list of names is on the desk.
Common mistakes

The students is happy.  →  The students are happy.

The box of books are heavy.  →  The box of books is heavy.

Everyone are here.  →  Everyone is here.

There is two books.  →  There are two books.

Check your understanding

Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.

1.A singular subject takes a:
Singular subject \u2192 singular verb.
2.Choose the correct verb: "The students ___ happy."
students (plural) \u2192 are.
3."Aisha and Omar ___ students."
Two subjects with "and" = plural \u2192 are.
4."The box of books ___ heavy."
The subject is "box" (singular) \u2192 is.
5."Everyone ___ here."
"Everyone" is always singular \u2192 is.
6."There ___ two books on the desk."
two books (plural) \u2192 there are.
7."There ___ a pen in my bag."
a pen (singular) \u2192 there is.
8."Each student ___ a book."
"Each" is singular \u2192 has.
9."The information ___ useful."
"Information" is uncountable \u2192 singular \u2192 is.
10.Which sentence is correct?
Subject = students (plural) \u2192 are.
11."She ___ every morning."
she \u2192 studies.
12."They ___ football."
they \u2192 play (plain).
13.Which is correct?
"Everybody" is singular \u2192 is.
14."The list of names ___ on the desk."
Subject = list (singular) \u2192 is.
15."Tea and coffee ___ popular."
Two things with "and" \u2192 are.
16.Find the true subject: "The teacher with her students ___ arriving."
Subject = teacher (singular) \u2192 is.
17.Which is correct?
friend + I = plural \u2192 are.
18."Nobody ___ the answer."
"Nobody" is singular \u2192 knows.
19.Fix: "The books is on the table."
books (plural) \u2192 are.
20.Which sentence is fully correct?
"Each" is singular \u2192 has.

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