Key Principle:

• Singular subjects take singular verbs
• Plural subjects take plural verbs

✅ Correct: The dog runs fast. (singular)

✅ Correct: The dogs run fast. (plural)

Singular Subject + Singular Verb

✅ She walks to school.

✅ The cat sleeps on the couch.

✅ He writes every day.

Plural Subject + Plural Verb

✅ They walk to school.

✅ The cats sleep on the couch.

✅ We write every day.

Singular Nouns:

✅ The book is on the table.

✅ A student studies hard.

❌ The book are on the table.

Plural Nouns:

✅ The books are on the table.

✅ Students study hard.

❌ The books is on the table.

Examples:

✅ Tom and Jerry are friends.

✅ The teacher and the students work together.

✅ Coffee and tea are available.

❌ Tom and Jerry is friends.

✅ The singer and songwriter is performing tonight. (same person)

Examples:

✅ Neither the teacher nor the students are ready.

✅ Neither the students nor the teacher is ready.

✅ Either Sarah or her friends are coming.

✅ Either her friends or Sarah is coming.

❌ Neither the teacher nor the students is ready.

Each, Every, Either, Neither, Anyone, Someone, Everyone, No one, Anybody, Somebody, Everything, Nothing

Examples:

✅ Everyone is invited to the party.

✅ Each student has a textbook.

✅ Neither option seems good.

✅ Somebody knows the answer.

❌ Everyone are invited to the party.

Both, Few, Many, Several, Others

Examples:

✅ Both are correct.

✅ Few students have completed the assignment.

✅ Many people believe in this cause.

✅ Several options exist.

❌ Both is correct.

Some, All, None, Most, Any

The verb depends on the noun in the "of" phrase that follows.

Examples:

✅ Some of the cake is gone. (singular - cake)

✅ Some of the students are absent. (plural - students)

✅ All of the water is contaminated. (singular)

✅ All of the books are sold. (plural)

Singular (acting as one unit):

✅ The team is winning.

✅ The family lives in New York.

✅ The committee meets every Monday.

Plural (members acting individually):

✅ The team are arguing among themselves.

✅ The family have different opinions.

Examples:

✅ The box of chocolates is on the table.

✅ The students in the classroom are studying.

✅ One of the players has been injured.

❌ The box of chocolates are on the table.

❌ One of the players have been injured.

Examples:

✅ Behind the house stands a tall tree. (subject: tree)

✅ In the garden grow beautiful flowers. (subject: flowers)

✅ Rarely does he make mistakes. (subject: he)

❌ Behind the house stand a tall tree.

Examples:

✅ There is a book on the desk. (singular: book)

✅ There are books on the desk. (plural: books)

✅ Here comes the bus. (singular: bus)

✅ Here are your keys. (plural: keys)

❌ There is books on the desk.

❌ Here is your keys.

Examples:

✅ She is one of the students who are graduating. (antecedent: students - plural)

✅ He is the only one who is coming. (antecedent: one - singular)

✅ The book that is on the table is mine. (antecedent: book - singular)

❌ She is one of the students who is graduating.

Examples:

✅ "The Lord of the Rings" is a classic novel.

✅ The United Nations has its headquarters in New York.

✅ "Scissors" is a plural word.

✅ Mathematics is my favorite subject.

❌ The United Nations have its headquarters in New York.

Examples:

✅ Ten dollars is enough for lunch.

✅ Three hours is too long to wait.

✅ Five miles is a long distance to walk.

✅ Two pounds of sugar is needed for the recipe.

❌ Ten dollars are enough for lunch.

Examples:

✅ Half of the cake is gone. (singular: cake)

✅ Half of the students are absent. (plural: students)

✅ Thirty percent of the work is complete. (singular: work)

✅ Thirty percent of the employees are satisfied. (plural: employees)

❌ Half of the cake are gone.

Gerunds:

✅ Swimming is good exercise.

✅ Reading books helps improve vocabulary.

✅ Studying hard pays off.

Infinitives:

✅ To travel is to live.

✅ To succeed requires dedication.

Either/Neither (always singular):

✅ Either answer is acceptable.

✅ Neither candidate has enough experience.

❌ Either answer are acceptable.

Each/Every (always singular):

✅ Each student has a locker.

✅ Every child deserves love.

✅ Each of them is responsible.

❌ Each student have a locker.

None (can be singular or plural):

✅ None of the cake is left. (singular)

✅ None of the students are present. (plural)

Modern usage: Both are acceptable!

Any/Some (depends on context):

✅ Some water is needed. (uncountable)

✅ Some students are late. (countable)

✅ Any information is helpful. (singular)

1. Agreeing with nearest noun instead of subject:

❌ The bag of chips are on the counter.

✅ The bag of chips is on the counter.

2. Confusing singular indefinite pronouns:

❌ Everyone have arrived.

✅ Everyone has arrived.

3. Wrong agreement with collective nouns:

❌ The team are winning. (when acting as one)

✅ The team is winning.

1. The list of items (is/are) on the desk.

Answer: is (subject: list)

2. Either the manager or the employees (has/have) to attend.

Answer: have (nearest: employees)

3. Each of the contestants (was/were) nervous.

Answer: was (subject: each)

4. There (is/are) many reasons to celebrate.

Answer: are (subject: reasons)

1. Identify the Subject First

Cross out prepositional phrases and find the true subject.

2. Watch for Tricky Words

Pay attention to indefinite pronouns and collective nouns.

3. Check Inverted Sentences

Rewrite the sentence in normal order to identify subject-verb relationship.

4. Practice Regularly

The more you practice, the more natural it becomes.

5. Read Aloud

Sometimes your ear catches errors your eyes miss.