Subject and Verb Agreement

The subject and verb must agree in number: both must be singular, or both must be plural. Problems occur in the present tense because one must add an -s or -es at the end of the verb when the subjects or the entity performing the action is a singular third person: he, she, it, or words for which these pronouns could substitute.
Where is my subject?

Most likely, your verb will agree with the first noun to the left of the verb:

1- The Supreme Court judge decides the appropriate penalty.
Subject: judge Verb: decides

2- The committee members were satisfied with the resolution.
Subject: members Verb: were

Occasionally, a sentence has the subject after the verb instead of before it. This strategy is often used for poetic effect.

1- Over the ripples glides a small canoe.
Subject: a small canoe Verb: glides

2- There was a well-known writer at the meeting.
Subject: a well-known writer Verb: was


You will not find the subject in a modifying phrase (MP), a phrase that starts with a preposition, a gerund, or a relative pronoun and that modifies the meaning of the noun or subject under discussion.

1- The group of students is going on a field trip.
Subject: the group MP: of students Verb: is

2- The survey covering seven colleges reveals a growth in enrollment.
Subject: the survey MP: covering seven colleges Verb: reveals

3- The speaker whom you saw at the lecture is one of the state senators from Minnesota.
Subject: the speaker MP: whom you saw at the lecture Verb: is

If subjects are joined by and, they are considered plural.


If subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the closer subject.





The relative pronouns (who, whom, which, and that)
are either singular or plural, depending on the words they refer to.





Indefinite pronouns (someone, somebody, each, either one, everyone, or anyone) are considered singular and need singular verbs although they convey plural meaning.





A few nouns can be either plural or singular, depending on
whether they mean a group or separate individuals.
These words are rarely used as plurals in modern writing.





A few subjects look plural but are really singular or vice versa.