What Is Subject

What is subject-verb agreement?
Subject-verb agreement, also called “subject-verb concord,” refers to

matching the subject and verb of a sentence in tense, aspect, and mood
(abbreviated as TAM), which translates to number, person, and gender.
English doesn’t use grammatical gender (except for pronouns), and only
the verb be changes based on whether it’s first, second, or third person.
That means most English subject-verb agreement is about quantity: if the
subject is singular, the verb must be singular; if the subject is plural, the
verb must be plural.
Even this can get confusing, though, because talking in the first-person
singular (“I climb the fence”) uses the same verb format as talking in the
first-person plural (“We climb the fence”). Aside from the verb be, subject-
verb agreement in English adapts verbs to the third-
person singular (“It climbs the fence”).
Usage and subject-verb agreement examples
Basically, most subjects except third-person singular use the standard

form of a verb in the present tense.
The dogs roll in the mud.
I need to catch my breath.
You look like a celebrity!

However, if the subject is third-person singular, you must use the singular
form of the verb when speaking in the present tense. Most of the time, this
means adding an -s to the end of the verb.
The dog rolls in the mud.
She needs to catch her breath.
He looks like a celebrity!
If the verb ends in -x, –ss, –sh, –ch, –tch, or –zz, you add –es to the end to
match the third-person singular.
My snake hisses to say “I love you.”
She only matches with creeps in online dating.
If the verb ends in a consonant + y, remove the y and add –ies to match
the third-person singular.
Atlas carries the world on his shoulders.
The new drone flies higher than the old one.
However, with words that end in a vowel + y, follow the normal format and
add only –s to make the third-person singular.
My roommate stays in his bedroom from morning to night.
With the exception of the verb be, these guidelines apply to irregular
verbs as well as regular verbs.
Our father eats with the ferocity of a tiger.

So why does the verb be have so many exceptions? The most common
verb in English, be doesn’t just represent a general state of existence; it’s
also an auxiliary verb necessary for the continuous tenses.
In English, be is the only verb that changes based on the person. If you’re
using the verb be, alone or as part of a continuous tense, the subject-verb
agreement rules require that you match both the number and the person.
Here’s a quick reminder of how to conjugate be in the singular and plural of
each person:
Singular Plural
First person (I) am (we) are
Second person (you) are (you) are
Third person (he/she/it) is (they) are
Considering how frequently be is used in English, it’s best to memorize this

chart so you can apply the proper subject-verb agreement instinctively.
You are always welcome in our home.
I am running a marathon tomorrow.
It is raining even though it is sunny.
If the subject-verb agreement rules seem complicated, there is some good

news: the simple past and simple future don’t change based on the
number or person of the subject. Both singular and plural subjects use
the same form for those tenses.
They will be here tomorrow.
He will be here tomorrow.
The potatoes grew overnight!

The potato grew overnight!
The only exception is, again, the verb be, which changes
between was and were based on the subject in the simple past tense.
I was young once.
We were young once.
On the other hand, the perfect tenses change their auxiliary verb
depending on the number of the subject. Singular subjects use has, and
plural subjects use have.
They have not seen the movie yet, so no spoilers.
She has not seen the movie yet, so no spoilers.
That covers the basics for subject-verb agreement in English. Still, there
are some particularly difficult areas and more precise rules for special
situations, which we explain below.
Advanced subject-verb agreement rules
Here’s a list of some additional subject-verb agreement rules to clear up

the more problematic areas. If you’re still confused, review the subject-verb
agreement examples to see how they work.
1 When using the negative form in the present tense, only the
verb do needs to match the subject.
She does not like reading before bed.
She likes reading before bed.

2 Likewise, in questions that involve the word do, only do needs to match
the subject.
Do you know where the train station is?
Does anyone know where the train station is?
3 If the subject consists of multiple nouns joined by the conjunction and,

treat the subject as plural and use the plural form of the verb.
Lucas and Maxine are in love!
Only Lucas is in love.
However, some common phrases that form a single unit can act as
singular.
This bed and breakfast is delightful!
4 If the subject consists of multiple singular nouns joined by or, treat the
subject as singular.
Penne or rigatoni works fine for the recipe.
However, if the subject consists of multiple plural nouns joined by or, treat
the subject as plural.
Cats or dogs make good friends.
If there’s a combination of singular and plural nouns joined by or, the verb
follows the number of the final one listed.
The teacher or the students have to inform the principal.
The students or the teacher has to inform the principal.

5 If there is more than one active verb, as with compound predicates, all
the verbs must agree with the subject.
After work, I go shopping, pick up the kids, cook dinner, and

then relax for the night.
6 Mass nouns, otherwise known as “uncountable nouns” or “noncount

nouns,” act as singular subjects.
Love makes the world go around.
7 Collective nouns can be either singular or plural, depending on whether

they act together or separately.
[Together, singular] The team goes to practice at 4:00.
[Separately, plural] The team go to their own homes after practice.
8 Verbs used in alternative forms, such as gerunds, infinitives,

or participles, do not need to follow subject-verb agreement. However, the
main verbs of the sentence still do.
The coach makes running mandatory.
The coaches make running mandatory.
9 Unless you’re using an appositive or other descriptive phrase, do not put

a comma between subjects and verbs.
The holiday is becoming a total disaster.
The holiday, which I was looking forward to, is becoming a total disaster.
10 The words each and every count as singular when they’re used as the
subject, even if they’re followed by multiple nouns.
Each window and door needs to be sealed.
Every doctor, nurse, and technician gets free training here.
11 Likewise, these words always act as singular subjects, even when they
describe more than one thing:
 anybody
 anyone
 either
 everybody
 everyone
 neither
 no one
 nobody
 somebody
 someone
Everybody loves using correct grammar!
Either blue or green works for the wallpaper color.
12 If additional phrases come between the subject and the verb, the verb
must still agree with the subject. These sentences can be tricky, so be
careful.
A group consisting of Professor Lidenbrock, the Icelandic guide Hans

Bjelke, and the professor’s nephew Axel departs for the volcano.
Be particularly careful of subjects that use the phrase “one of . . . ” The
word one is singular, even when followed by plural nouns.
One of the world’s leading scientists still has trouble speaking in public.
13 In the active vs. passive voice debate, the verb in the passive voice still
follows whatever word acts as the subject.
They pay the electric bill online.
The electric bill is paid by them online.
14 When choosing between “there is . . . ” and “there are . . . ,” the verb

should match the number of the noun that follows it. The same goes for
sentences beginning with “here . . . ”
There is a new map in the DLC.
There are new maps in the DLC.
15 Similarly, words that indicate a portion, including percentages, use the

number of the noun they describe. This noun is typically the object of the
phrase “of . . . ”
All of the book is ruined!
All of the books are ruined!
Some of the film is funny.
Some of the films are funny.
Fifty percent of the house is made of wood.
Fifty percent of the houses are made of wood.

16 When referring to distances, periods of time, or amounts of money—
taken as a whole—use the singular form of the verb.
Twenty dollars is too much for IMAX!
17 Be careful of nouns that exist only in the plural form; they sometimes act
as singular.
The news has been depressing lately.
Politics is getting too combative.
However, some of these nouns act as plural.
The scissors do not work.
If a plural noun is preceded by the word pair, treat the subject as singular
because pair is singular.
The pair of scissors does not work.

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What is subject-verb agreement?

Subject-verb agreement, also called “subject-verb concord,” refers to

Usage and subject-verb agreement examples

Basically, most subjects except third-person singular use the standard

The dogs roll in the mud.

I need to catch my breath.

You look like a celebrity!

The dog rolls in the mud.

She needs to catch her breath.

He looks like a celebrity!

My snake hisses to say “I love you.”

She only matches with creeps in online dating.

Atlas carries the world on his shoulders.

The new drone flies higher than the old one.

My roommate stays in his bedroom from morning to night.

Our father eats with the ferocity of a tiger.

Considering how frequently be is used in English, it’s best to memorize this

You are always welcome in our home.

I am running a marathon tomorrow.

It is raining even though it is sunny.

If the subject-verb agreement rules seem complicated, there is some good

They will be here tomorrow.

He will be here tomorrow.

The potatoes grew overnight!

I was young once.

We were young once.

They have not seen the movie yet, so no spoilers.

She has not seen the movie yet, so no spoilers.

Advanced subject-verb agreement rules

Here’s a list of some additional subject-verb agreement rules to clear up

She does not like reading before bed.

She likes reading before bed.

Do you know where the train station is?

Does anyone know where the train station is?

3 If the subject consists of multiple nouns joined by the conjunction and,

Lucas and Maxine are in love!

Only Lucas is in love.

This bed and breakfast is delightful!

Penne or rigatoni works fine for the recipe.

Cats or dogs make good friends.

The teacher or the students have to inform the principal.

The students or the teacher has to inform the principal.

After work, I go shopping, pick up the kids, cook dinner, and

6 Mass nouns, otherwise known as “uncountable nouns” or “noncount

Love makes the world go around.

7 Collective nouns can be either singular or plural, depending on whether

[Together, singular] The team goes to practice at 4:00.

[Separately, plural] The team go to their own homes after practice.

8 Verbs used in alternative forms, such as gerunds, infinitives,

The coach makes running mandatory.

The coaches make running mandatory.

9 Unless you’re using an appositive or other descriptive phrase, do not put

The holiday is becoming a total disaster.

Every doctor, nurse, and technician gets free training here.

Everybody loves using correct grammar!

Either blue or green works for the wallpaper color.

A group consisting of Professor Lidenbrock, the Icelandic guide Hans

They pay the electric bill online.

The electric bill is paid by them online.