English & Language Usage · Conventions of standard English
Subject-Verb Agreement
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Match verbs to their subjects, including phrases that can distract from the subject.
Read the explanations, try the quick checks, then take the lesson quiz to see what to review next.
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Subject-Verb Agreement - English Grammar — watch on YouTube ↗
Find the Controlling Word
Agreement follows the grammatical subject, not the nearest noun: The box of old files belongs upstairs. Subjects joined by and are normally plural. With either...or and neither...nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject in standard edited English. Each, either, neither, everyone, and nobody are singular; both, few, many, and several are plural. In there is/are, there is not the subject: There are three reasons.
Pronouns also agree with clear antecedents. Singular they is standard when gender is unknown, irrelevant, or nonbinary: Each applicant should submit their portfolio. Worked example: The list of requested materials are online is incorrect because the head list is singular; use is.
Why This Matters: Use language structure and context to choose clear, accurate sentences in academic and everyday writing.
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