Today we’ll be talking about subject-verb agreement, so when to use a singular form of the verb and when to use a plural one. We’ll have a look at a couple of examples you can come across from time to time. Sometimes either form is fine. So, let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Subject-Verb Agreement In General
As far as subject-verb agreement is concerned, the general rule is that singular subjects are followed by verbs in singular and plural subjects are followed by verbs in plural. For example:
car (singular) vs cars (plural)
Here the noun and the verb agree.
My car is very fast. (car is singular)
My cars are very fast. (cars is plural)
Subject-Verb Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns
Subject-verb agreement is not only characteristic of noun subjects. Also indefinite pronouns agree, so we use verbs in singular after singular indefinite pronouns like something, anything, someone, anyone, somebody, anybody, everything, everyone, everybody, nothing, nobody, no one, one, either, neither or each:
Someone is waiting for you.
Similarly, we use verbs in plural after plural indefinite pronouns like many, few, both, several:
Both were very nice, but I had to choose one.
Some indefinite pronouns are followed by either singular or plural verb forms, depending on whether they accompany count or noncount nouns. Here belong: some, any, most, all:
Some of the workers were dirty. (workers is a count noun)
Some of the water was dirty. (water is a noncount noun)
Subject-Verb Agreement with Compound Subjects
Now let’s have a look at subject-verb agreement works with compound subjects. These are subjects that consist of multiple nouns or noun phrases linked by a conjunction. If the conjunction is and, the verb is in plural. If the conjunction is or or nor, the verb is in either singular or plural. In the latter case there’s agreement between the verb and the number of the noun or noun phrase that is closer to the verb. Here are some examples:
A cat and a dog were following me. (the conjunction and)
A cat or a dog was following me. (the conjunction or and a dog is in singular)
Neither a cat nor a dog was following me. (the conjunction nor and a dog is in singular)
A cat or some dogs were following me. (the conjunction or and some dogs is in plural)
Some cats or a dog was following me. (the conjunction or and a dog is in plural)
A phrase between the noun phrase and the verb
If there’s a phrase between the noun phrase and the verb that gives us some additional information about the subject, but actually is not part of it, be it in singular or plural, the verb agrees with the main noun phrase:
A cat, as well as some dogs, was following me. (a cat is in singular)
The team, including the new players, is rather weak. (the team is in singular)
All of the buildings, including the school, were destroyed by the tornado. (all of the buildings is in plural)
Subject-Verb Agreement with Collective Nouns
Collective nouns usually require a verb in singular, especially in American English:
My family has always supported me.
In British English, though, the verb may be in plural if what we mean is the particular members of the group:
My family have always supported me.
Subject-Verb Agreement with Single Entities in Plural Form
Titles of books or movies, as well as the names of countries and organizations that are in plural but denote a single entity require the verb to be in singular:
The Grapes of Wrath is an interesting book. (title)
The United States of America is a beautiful country. (country)
Also some nouns that have a plural form are actually singular because they denote a single entity. Here belong nouns like news, some diseases like mumps or measles and some sciences like physics or mathematics:
The news was rather terrifying.
Mumps is usually a childhood illness.
Physics has always been my favorite subject.
Subject-Verb Agreement with Quantities
When talking about quantities, there are a couple of possibilities. Have a look:
one of …
In this case the verb is in singular.
One of the doors was open.
one of these/those …
In this case the verb is in plural. In the following example we imply that there are more students that also do their homework.
She’s one of those students who always do their homework.
the only one of …
In this case, on the other hand, the verb is in singular.
He’s the only one of them who likes music.
more than one …
In this case the verb is normally in singular, as is the following noun.
More than one person is going to win.
the number of …
Here the following verb is in singular.
The number of teachers has doubled.
many a …
This construction is not very common in everyday language, but if it is, then the following noun and verb are always in singular:
Many a soldier was killed in the battle.
Quantities with Units
If the quantities are accompanied by a unit, the verb is usually in singular. These may be units of length or weight or currencies:
Fifty kilometers is too much for me to walk.
Ten dollars is not enough.
Some Special Cases
Now, we the general rules covered, let’s have a look at some particular nouns. They may be followed by a verb in singular, in plural or either:
police
This noun requires the verb to be in plural.
Police are searching the building for the dangerous gangster.
whereabouts – the location of someone or something
This noun may be followed by a verb in singular or plural:
The criminal is somewhere in Texas, but his exact whereabouts are / is unknown.
politics – the activities and policies of a government
In this meaning the noun may be followed by a verb in singular or plural:
Politics has / have always been her passion.
politics – political beliefs
In this meaning the noun requires the verb to be in plural:
Your politics seem to be extremely conservative.
means – a way of doing something
In this meaning the noun is followed by a verb in singular:
I’m pretty sure the best means of getting to the airport is public transportation.
means – the money you have, wealth
In this meaning the verb is in plural:
My means are not even enough to pay for the books I need for my study.
electorate – the people who can vote in an election
The verb that follows this noun is usually in singular:
Her electorate is expected to vote in the election.
data – facts or information used usually to calculate, analyze, or plan something
This noun may take a verb in singular or plural:
I don’t think this data is / are accurate.
You usually use it in plural only in formal or technical writing.
I hope you will now have no problems deciding whether to choose a singular or a plural form of the verb. At least in most cases.