General English

Subject–Verb Agreement

Subject–Verb Agreement means that the verb form must match the grammatical number of the subject. The supplied English notes present a series of exam-oriented cases that are especially useful for error correction.

1. Start by finding the subject

The subject is the person or thing the sentence is about. The verb describes the action or state. A singular subject generally takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb in the patterns covered by the notes.

2. Two subjects joined by “and”

Two separate subjects joined by and normally take a plural verb.
When two nouns joined by and express one idea or one combined item, the source notes allow a singular verb.
Article choice can also change whether two nouns are treated as one person or two people: the secretary and treasurer versus the secretary and the treasurer.

3. With / along with / together with

When connectors such as with, along with, together with, associated with, as well as, accompanied by join an additional noun, the verb agrees with the first subject.

Example

The students along with the teacher have arrived.

The first subject “students” controls the plural verb.

4. Or / nor and paired connectors

With or, nor, either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also, the source notes state that the verb agrees with the second subject.

Examples

Neither the teachers nor the Principal is responsible. / Either the Principal or the teachers are responsible.

The verb follows the second subject.

5. A number of / the number of

Pattern	Verb	Meaning
A number of + plural noun	Plural	Several/many
The number of + plural noun	Singular	The total/count itself

6. One of

The source notes state that one of is followed by a singular verb because the head subject is “one”.

Example

One of my friends lives abroad.

“Friends” is inside the phrase; “one” is the subject.

7. Uncountable and -s ending nouns

The source notes repeat several uncountable nouns and words ending in -s that still take singular verbs: furniture, luggage, equipment, stationery, information, knowledge, mathematics, physics, economics, politics, ethics, news.

8. Many a / many an

The notes state that many a and many an are followed by a singular noun and singular verb.

Example

Many a student has joined the programme.

Although the meaning is plural, the construction is grammatically singular in the source rule.

9. Collective nouns

The source notes allow a collective noun to take a singular or plural verb depending on whether the group is viewed as one unit or as separate individuals performing separate actions.

One unit

The committee agrees on the quality of the article.

The committee is treated as one unit.

Separate actions

The committee participate in various activities.

The note treats the members as acting separately.

Study note: This lesson is an expanded teaching version of the supplied resource topic. Examples and explanations are written for learning and exam preparation; the brief source notes are not reproduced verbatim.