Subject-Verb agreement
B1 IntermediateSubject-verb agreement ensures that the number of the subject matches the number of the verb. This guide covers standard rules and tricky cases like collective nouns and uncountable nouns.
The Basic Rule
In English, the subject and the verb must agree in number. A singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb. This is most visible in the third-person singular present simple, where the verb takes an -s or -es ending.
Standard Patterns
Subject (singular/plural) + Verb (singular/plural)
Agreement depends on whether the subject is considered a single unit or multiple individuals.
Tricky Nouns
In British English, collective nouns like team or government often take a plural verb if we think of the individual members. In American English, they almost always take a singular verb.
| Noun Type | Verb Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Uncountable (news, furniture) | Singular | The news is good. |
| Collective (team, staff) | Singular or Plural | The team is/are playing. |
| Plural-only (scissors, pants) | Plural | These scissors are sharp. |
Examples in Context
Common Mistakes
The information were very helpful.
The information was very helpful.
Information is uncountable and always takes a singular verb.
Everyone have finished their homework.
Everyone has finished their homework.
Indefinite pronouns like everyone, someone, and nobody are grammatically singular.
Practice
The furniture in the showroom ___ (look) beautiful.
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looks
Answer:looks
Why:Furniture is an uncountable noun, so it requires the third-person singular verb form.
The police ___ (be) waiting outside the building.
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are
Answer:are
Why:The word 'police' is a plural noun and always takes a plural verb.
Neither of the candidates ___ (have) enough experience.
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has
Answer:has
Why:When using 'neither of', the subject is grammatically singular, requiring 'has'.