Subject-Verb Agreement

Avoiding Errors In Subject Verb Agreement

Subjects and verbs must agree in number. Singular subjects take singular verbs in present tense:

• One boy walks to school.

Plural subjects take plural verbs:

• Two boys walk to school.

Many words that appear to be plural are singular. Names of corporations, organizations, or works of art are singular:

• United Technologies is a growth company.
• Thelma and Louise is my favorite movie.

Amounts of time and money are singular:

• Two hundred dollars is too much to pay for a blouse.
• Fourteen hours is not enough time.

When two singular items are joined by or, the verb is singular:

• Either the teacher OR the parent is taking charge.

When two plural items are joined by or, the verb is plural:

• Either the teachers OR the parents are taking charge.

When there are a singular and plural subject, the verb agrees with the nearest subject:

• The package or the letters are insured.
• The letters or the package is insured.

Make sure to identify the key word of the subject, especially in phrases:

• One of my friends is coming.
• The cost of computer supplies is rising.

Both One and cost are singular.

NOTE: Whether subjects are singular or plural can affect meaning:

• Crime and violence is threatening our children.

  (Indicates "crime and violence" as one topic)

• Crime and violence are threatening our children.

  (Indicates that "crime" and "violence" are separate problems)