Subject-Verb Agreement
The verb in a sentence must agree in number with its subject, so singular subjects take singular verbs and plural subjects take plural verbs.
▶ Interact
Play with the controls to see the idea in action.
📘 Learn
The verb in a sentence must agree in number with its subject, so singular subjects take singular verbs and plural subjects take plural verbs.
- The dog barks and the dogs bark
- Collective nouns usually take singular verbs
- Compound subjects joined by and are plural
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Within English, which covers grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, poetry, drama and the skills for clear communication, this topic explains Subject-Verb Agreement. English topics help you read closely and write with purpose, so each one here explains a skill and shows how it works in a model text.
Check that you can explain Subject-Verb Agreement in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement helps you read texts more closely and write with more control, which earns marks in both reading and writing papers.
Subject-Verb Agreement in detail
A verb must agree with its subject in number: singular subjects take singular verbs (The dog barks) and plural subjects take plural verbs (The dogs bark). Problems arise when words come between the subject and verb ("The box of chocolates is on the table") because the verb agrees with "box", not "chocolates".
Compound subjects joined by "and" take plural verbs, while those joined by "or" agree with the nearer subject. Collective nouns such as "team" can be singular or plural, and indefinite pronouns like "everyone" are singular. Checking agreement is an essential part of proofreading.
How the interactive helps you understand Subject-Verb Agreement
Click a step, or use the Previous and Next buttons, to move through the sequence one stage at a time. Auto-play moves on for you.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Subject-Verb Agreement.
Real-life uses and examples
- Use Subject-Verb Agreement to make your own writing more precise and vivid.
- Support a point about Subject-Verb Agreement with a short, accurate quotation.
- Plan an essay paragraph by linking the technique to the reader’s response.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Quoting a long passage instead of picking a short, precise phrase.
- Naming a technique without explaining its effect on the reader.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Subject-Verb Agreement
What is Subject-Verb Agreement?
The verb in a sentence must agree in number with its subject, so singular subjects take singular verbs and plural subjects take plural verbs.
What are the most important points about Subject-Verb Agreement?
The main points are: The dog barks and the dogs bark; Collective nouns usually take singular verbs; Compound subjects joined by and are plural.
Why is Subject-Verb Agreement useful?
Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement helps you read texts more closely and write with more control, which earns marks in both reading and writing papers.
How can I practise Subject-Verb Agreement?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Subject-Verb Agreement?
Related topics in English include Apostrophes, Capital Letters, Homophones and Homonyms.