Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

Why This Matters

Subject-verb agreement isn't just a grammar technicality—it's the backbone of clear, professional writing. On AP English exams, you'll encounter agreement questions in multiple-choice editing sections, and faulty agreement in your essays signals to readers that you've lost control of your sentence structure. More importantly, understanding why subjects and verbs must match helps you navigate complex sentences where the subject isn't obvious, intervening phrases create confusion, or unusual noun forms trick you into choosing the wrong verb.

The rules here fall into predictable patterns: proximity rules, collective noun logic, and deceptive noun forms. Once you recognize which pattern applies, even the trickiest sentences become manageable. Don't just memorize "singular takes singular"—know which situations create agreement traps and how to identify the true subject in any sentence. That's what separates a student who guesses from one who knows.

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Basic Number Agreement

The foundation of all subject-verb agreement is simple: match singular with singular, plural with plural. Master this, and you've solved half of all agreement questions.

Singular vs. Plural Subjects

• Singular subjects require singular verbs—one person, place, thing, or idea takes the singular verb form (runs, is, has)
• Plural subjects require plural verbs—more than one takes the plural form (run, are, have)
• The "-s" paradox: singular verbs typically end in "-s" while plural nouns end in "-s"—don't let this confuse you

Compound Subjects with "And"

• Two subjects joined by "and" almost always take a plural verb—they function as a combined unit
• Exception for single concepts: when two nouns form one idea ("peanut butter and jelly is my favorite"), use singular
• Test it by substitution: if you can replace the compound with "they," use a plural verb

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Proximity and Conjunction Rules

When subjects are joined by "or," "nor," or similar conjunctions, the verb agrees with the nearest subject. This is the proximity principle, and it catches many students off guard.

Subjects Joined by "Or" or "Nor"

• The verb matches the subject closest to it—proximity determines agreement, not the first subject mentioned
• Strategic sentence structure: place the plural subject nearest the verb for smoother-sounding sentences
• Common patterns: either/or, neither/nor, not only/but also all follow this rule

Intervening Phrases and Clauses

• Phrases between subject and verb don't change agreement—ignore them when identifying the true subject
• Common traps: along with, together with, as well as, in addition to are prepositional phrases, not conjunctions
• The subject stays singular: "The book, along with the pens, is on the table"—only "book" is the subject

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Collective Nouns and Group Words

Collective nouns name groups but can function as singular or plural depending on whether the group acts as one unit or as individuals. Context is everything here.

Collective Noun Agreement

• Singular when acting as a unit—"The team wins every game" treats the team as one entity
• Plural when emphasizing individuals—"The team are arguing among themselves" highlights separate members
• American vs. British English: American English strongly prefers singular; British English uses plural more freely

"Each," "Every," and "Many A"

• Always singular, no exceptions—these words emphasize individual items within a group
• "Each" as subject vs. modifier: "Each has a book" (subject) vs. "They each have books" (modifier)
• "Many a" sounds plural but isn't—"Many a student has failed this test" uses singular agreement

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Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns refer to non-specific people or things, and their agreement rules are more predictable than they first appear. Most are singular, some are plural, and a few depend on context.

Singular Indefinite Pronouns

• Everyone, someone, anyone, no one, nobody, everybody—all take singular verbs despite feeling plural
• Each, either, neither—singular when used as pronouns ("Neither is correct")
• Memory trick: if it ends in "-one," "-body," or "-thing," it's singular

Context-Dependent Pronouns

• Some, all, none, most, any—agreement depends on what they refer to
• Check the prepositional phrase: "Some of the cake is gone" (singular) vs. "Some of the cookies are gone" (plural)
• "None" controversy: traditionally singular ("none is"), but plural is widely accepted when referring to countable items

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Tricky Noun Forms

Some nouns look plural but are singular, while others look singular but are plural. These are pure memorization traps—know them before test day.

Singular Nouns Ending in "-S"

• Academic subjects: mathematics, physics, economics, statistics (when referring to the field) take singular verbs
• News and diseases: news, measles, mumps are singular despite the "-s" ending
• Test it: "The news is surprising"—you can't say "a new," so it's not truly plural

Amounts, Time, and Distance

• Quantities as single units take singular verbs—"Five dollars is too much" refers to one amount
• Time periods: "Three hours is a long wait" treats the duration as one block
• Distances: "Ten miles is a reasonable commute"—the distance functions as a single measurement

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Expletive Constructions

Sentences beginning with "there" or "here" invert normal word order, hiding the true subject after the verb. Find the real subject before choosing your verb.

"There Is" vs. "There Are"

• The subject follows the verb—"There is a book" (book = singular) vs. "There are books" (books = plural)
• Compound subjects: "There are a pen and a notebook on the desk"—the compound subject requires plural
• Informal speech exception: "There's" often appears before plurals in casual speech, but formal writing requires "There are"

Inverted Sentence Structures

• Questions invert subject and verb—"Is the answer correct?" (answer = singular subject)
• Sentences beginning with prepositional phrases—"On the table sit three books" (books = subject)
• Strategy: mentally rearrange the sentence to standard order, then choose the verb

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Quick Reference Table

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Self-Check Questions

1. Which two rules both involve ignoring words that appear between the subject and verb: the proximity rule or the intervening phrase rule? How do they differ in application?

2. If a sentence reads "Neither the students nor the teacher _____ prepared," which verb form is correct and why?

3. Compare and contrast how "team" and "everyone" function—both refer to multiple people, so why do they follow different agreement patterns?

4. A multiple-choice question offers: "The statistics from the study (is/are) compelling." How do you determine which verb is correct?

5. An FRQ asks you to explain why "Five hundred dollars is a reasonable price" uses a singular verb while "Five hundred pennies are scattered on the floor" uses plural. What's your answer?