Subject-Verb Agreement Introduction

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Feeling like grammar is never straightforward? Subject-verb agreement is here to cut you some slack. (Enjoy the sweet simplicity while it lasts.)

Here's the hard and fast rule:

Subjects must agree with their verbs in number.

Simple, right? Singular nouns take singular verbs. Plural nouns take plural verbs.

Period.

Now, just like any other grammar concern, subject-verb agreement isn't without its tips, tricks, and caveats. And so, it is with great fanfare that we present what we're calling Special Topics in Subject-Verb Agreement, starring (drumroll, please):

  • The "One –S" Rule
  • Compound subjects that use and
  • Compound subjects that use or/nor
  • I and You
  • Measurements
  • Here and There
  • None

Grab your popcorn, Shmooper, and sit back, relax (okay, don't relax too much), and learn more about subject-verb agreement.

Quiz Yourself on Subject-Verb Agreement

1/5

Which of the following sentences are grammatically incorrect?

I. My dad thinks that the police conspires against him, but my mom says he's just been watching too many heist movies.

II. The cattle was grazing peacefully in the pasture at the time, but none of them seemed to notice the 6.2 earthquake that hit.

III. Though people often grow impatient when waiting in long lines, I take the time to relax and meditate on the beauty of life.

(A) I
(B) I and II
(C) III
(D) All of them

Can you spot the error in this sentence?


The group of tourists to Yellowstone National Park were getting out of the bus to take pictures of Old Faithful when a new geyser erupted, sending rocks flying everywhere and wounding several.


(A) were
(B) Old Faithful
(C) erupted
(D) several

You just turned in the first draft of your creative writing assignment. Your teacher says he has a problem with this sentence: "The couple often sleep in different rooms since the woman snores louder than a hibernating bear." He believes your verb should be in its singular form, sleeps. How do you respond?

(A) You are totally right, sir. I don't know how I missed that subject-verb disagreement in my thorough editing process.
(B) Actually, collective nouns are usually treated as plural, so I don't see the problem here.
(C) Just as it takes two to tango, it takes two to make a couple. Therefore, the verb should be plural.
(D) Did you not happen to notice that they are acting individually? That's why I made it plural.

How would you correct the grammatical error in these sentences?


Everyone agree that my mother makes the best lasagna in all of western Iowa. That's why she's won our state fair's award for Best Pasta Dish ten years in a row.


(A) Change "everyone" to "all"
(B) Change "agree" to "agrees"
(C) Change "fair's" to "fairs'"
(D) Either A or B

Fill in the blank:


You might be surprised to learn that macaroni and cheese ___________ invented by that versatile statesman and Renaissance man Thomas Jefferson.


(A) were
(B) was
(C) had been
(D) Both A and B

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