Subject-Verb Agreement

Basic Rule

Singular subjects need singular verbs.

Plural subjects need plural verbs.

These create problems:

An amount of money, space of time, or unit of measurement takes singular verbs even when the form is plural

These create problems:

Fractions are singular or plural depending on the “of” phrase

These create problems:

Adjectives used as nouns are considered to be plural, and they need plural verbs

A compound subject involving the use of “each” and “every” requires the s-form of the verb.

Nouns that express abstract ideas take the s-form of the verb.

These create problems:

Nouns that express abstract ideas take the s-form of the verb

These create problems:Pronouns such as everyone and

everybody seem plural, but they are always singular — so they need a singular verb.

1. Everyone who worked on the science project is a winner.

2. Someone has to answer the phone.

These create problems:

• Verbs that accompany pronouns such as all and some will be determined by whether the pronoun is referring to something that is COUNTABLE or not.1. Some of the workers on the building have left for the day.

You could count the workers.

These create problems:

• Verbs that accompany pronouns such as all and some will be determined by whether the pronoun is referring to something that is COUNTABLE or not.1. Some of the salt was spilled on the floor.

Salt is considered one lump item.

Let’s Try These!

Directions: If the subject and verb are in agreement click "correct." If they are not, click the word that is the correct answer.

Ready?

Bill am going to the store.

a) correctb) isc) wasd)weree) does

Oh No!The subject and verb are

not in agreement.

Click HERE to Click HERE to try again.try again.

CORRECT!The subject and verb are

in agreement.

Click HERE to HERE to move forward. forward.

The teachers are going to the movie.

a) correctb)amc) isd)doese) was

Oh No!The subject and verb are

not in agreement.

Click HERE to Click HERE to try again.try again.

CORRECT!The subject and verb are

in agreement.

Click HERE to HERE to move move forward..

This are going to be the easiest quiz of all time.

a) correctb) isc) amd)wase) were

Oh No!The subject and verb are

not in agreement.

Click HERE to Click HERE to try again.try again.

CORRECT!The subject and verb are

in agreement.

Click HERE to Click HERE to move forward..

Everyone at the movie is taking a dollar.

a) correctb)werec) amd)aree) when

Oh No!The subject and verb are

not in agreement.

Click HERE to Click HERE to try again. again.

CORRECT!The subject and verb are

in agreement.

Click HERE to Click HERE to move forward..

This is a fun book to read.

a) correctb)wasc) wered)ame) does

Oh No!The subject and verb are

not in agreement.

Click HERE to Click HERE to try again.try again.

CORRECT!The subject and verb are

in agreement.

Click HERE to Click HERE to move move forward..

Everyone are going to the circus.

a) correctb) werec) wasd) ise) does

Oh No!The subject and verb are

not in agreement.

Click HERE to HERE to try again.try again.

CORRECT!The subject and verb are

in agreement.

Click HERE to Click HERE to move move forward..

Each of the students are worried about the test.

a) correctb) hasc) isd)ame) does

Oh No!The subject and verb are

not in agreement.

Click HERE to Click HERE to try again.try again.

CORRECT!The subject and verb are

in agreement.

Click HERE to Click HERE to move forward.move forward.

The last book we read, as well as the five in the library, was fiction.

a) correctb) isc) amd)weree) does

Oh No!The subject and verb are

not in agreement.

Click HERE to Click HERE to try again.try again.

CORRECT!The subject and verb are

in agreement.

Click HERE to Click HERE to move forward.move forward.

Try these online verb games

Cats GameSubject-Verb Quiz 1Subject-Verb Quiz 2Subject-Verb Quiz 3Subject-Verb Quiz 4Subject-Verb AgreementQuiz Show