Subject-Verb Agreement

In the English language, subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that the verb/verbs in a sentence must match the number and the person/point-of-view of the subject.

Number

Singular and plural verb forms

When the noun in a subject is singular, the verb in the predicate should be singular. When the noun in a subject is plural, the verb in the predicate should be plural.

If you are unsure about the correct form of a verb, it is best to consult a dictionary.

The most common way to make a verb singular is by adding -s to the end.

• Example: The child runs.
• Example: The knight seizes the castle.

When a verb ends in -ss, -x, -ch, -sh, -o, or -z, make it singular by adding -es to the end.

• Example: Annie goes to the bank.
• Example: The professor teaches.
• Example: The evil witch hexes the prince.
• Example: The security officer buzzes me in.

When a verb ends in a vowel and -y, make it singular by adding -s to the end.

• Example: The child plays with a doll.
• Example: The loud truck annoys me.

When a verb ends in a consonant and -y, make it singular by removing the -y and adding -ies to the end.

• Example: The pilot flies around the world.
• Example: The mother worries about her child.

The most common way to make a verb plural is by leaving it unchanged from its base form.

• Example: The children run.
• Example: The professors teach.

Some verbs have irregular singular and plural forms. Memorize such words or refer to a dictionary for assistance.

• Example: To be a college student is a wonderful opportunity.
• Example: Aiden is a college student.
• Example: Pam, Aiden, and Lex are college students.

Collective nouns

Collective nouns are nouns that refer to groups of people, places, things, or ideas. 

• Example: team, band, family, jury
• Example: Americans, The Beatles, Metallica

Context determines whether to treat a collective noun as a plural or singular form. If referring to a collective noun as a single entity, treat the collective noun as singular. If referring to a collective noun as a group of individuals, treat the collective noun as plural.

• Example: My favorite band is The Beatles.
• Example: The Beatles are talented and creative musicians.

Indefinite pronouns

An indefinite pronoun is used to talk about something that is not clearly defined. Some indefinite pronouns are singular and some are plural. There are also indefinite pronouns that may be singular or plural depending on context.

There are too many indefinite pronouns to list in this guide. Here are some common ones:

• One
• All
• None
• Some
• Every
• Few
• Several
• Many
• More
• Most
• Nothing
• Nowhere
• Everywhere
• Either
• Neither

Some indefinite pronouns are singular:

• Example: One can never be too careful these days.
• Example: Nothing is set in stone.

Some indefinite pronouns are plural:

• Example: Few are more dedicated than Jamie.
• Example: Several attend the festival each year.

Some indefinite pronouns may be used in either singular or plural form, depending on context:

• Example: All are accounted for.
• Example: All is well.

Point of view

Point of view refers to whether a personal pronoun is in first person, second person, or third person perspective. Each point of view has its own singular and plural personal pronouns. Likewise, each point of view has its own rules for subject-verb agreement.

Point of view table

	Singular	Plural
First person	I	we
Second person	you	you
Third person	he, she, they, it	they

 

Singular personal pronouns

I

Even though I is a singular pronoun, it should be treated as plural for the purpose of verb forms.

• Example: Charlotte travels to New York often.
• Example: I travel to New York often.

You

You can be used as either a singular or plural pronoun. The singular you should be treated as plural for the purpose of verb forms.

• Example: James travels to New York often.
• Example: You travel to New York often.

She and He

She and he are always singular pronouns. She and he use singular verb forms.

• Example: Charlotte travels to New York often.
• Example: She travels to New York often.

 

• Example: James travels to New York often.
• Example: He travels to New York often.

They

They can be used as either a singular or plural pronoun. The singular they should be treated as plural for the purpose of verb forms.

• Example: Sam travels to New York often.

• Example: They travel to New York often.

It

It is always singular. It uses singular verb forms.

• Example: The circus travels to New York often.
• Example: It travels to New York often.

Plural personal pronouns

Plural personal pronouns (such as we, the plural you, and the plural they) always use plural verb forms.

• Example: James and Charlotte travel to New York often.
• Example: We travel to New York often.

 

• Example: James and Charlotte travel to New York often.
• Example: You travel to New York often.

 

• Example: James and Charlotte travel to New York often.
• Example: They travel to New York often.