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Subject-Verb Agreement

is a grammatical principle in English (and in many other languages) that dictates that the verb in a sentence must agree in number with the subject. In other words, the form of the verb changes depending on whether the subject is singular or plural.


Here are the basic rules:



1. Singular subjects
Singular subjects require singular verbs.

Example:
“The cat is sleeping."
(The singular subject "cat" is paired with the singular verb " is sleeping.")

2. Plural subjects
Plural subjects require plural verbs.

Example:
"The cats are sleeping."
(The plural subject "cats" is paired with the plural verb "are sleeping.")

3. Compound subjects
When two or more subjects are joined by "and," the verb is usually plural.

Example:
"Tom and Jerry are friends."
(The compound subject "Tom and Jerry" is paired with the plural verb "are friends.")

4. Singular subjects connected by "or," "nor," "either...or," or "neither...nor"
The verb agrees with the subject closer to it.

Example:
"Neither the cat nor the dog is outside."
(The singular subject "dog" is closer to the verb, so the singular verb "is" is used.)

5. Indefinite pronouns
Some indefinite pronouns (e.g., "everyone," "someone," "anyone") are singular and require singular verbs, while others (e.g., "both," "many," "several") are plural and require plural verbs.

Example:
"Everyone is here."
(Singular subject "everyone" is paired with the singular verb "is.")

"Many are coming to the party."
(Plural subject "many" is paired with the plural verb "are.")

Maintaining subject-verb agreement is crucial for clarity and grammatical correctness in writing and speaking.