Matching subjects and verbs

Simple subjects

A singular subject (I, he, she, it, Bill, car...) takes a singular verb (is, goes, shines), whereas a plural subject (We, they, friends... ) takes a plural verb.

The subjects in these simple examples are easy to identify and are clearly either singular or plural:

The cat was curled up in front of the fire.
His speciality is meat dishes such as steak and casseroles.
We were tired and went to bed early.
Five friends go to the woods for a spot of rest and relaxation.

Spot the subject (Compound subjects)

A compound subject can be composed of nouns, pronouns, a noun phrase, or a clause.

If you’re not sure whether to use a singular or a plural verb, think carefully about what the subject of a sentence or clause actually is.

The following two cases may be a little more thought-provoking:

? Limitless quantities of easy-drinking wine was served to wash the meal down. ?
? More than one in five Britons is now classed as obese. ?

If you thought the above sentences were incorrect, you were right.
In the first example, it’s easy to make mistakes when the subject is quite long and the noun nearest to the verb is a singular or uncountable one (such as wine).
Here, the overall subject is a plural phrase (limitless quantities of easy-drinking wine) and therefore the verb should be the plural form were rather than the singular was:

✓ Limitless quantities of easy-drinking wine were served to wash the meal down.

As for the second sentence, phrases such as more than one in five / ten etc. can cause problems because people may think the subject is singular.
In fact, the subject is plural (Britons, not one Briton) so you should use the plural verb are:

✓ More than one in five Britons are now classed as obese.

However, if you use the phrase more than one with a singular noun, then the verb should also be singular, even though the underlying meaning is plural:

More than one bathroom in the home is definitely an asset.

More than one subject

What should you do if the subject of a sentence or clause is two or more people or things, linked by the coordinating conjunctions or or and?

1. And

When two singular subjects are joined by and, the verb should almost always be in the plural:

Bill and Karen were introduced by a mutual friend.
Mutuality and respect are part of our tradition.

The main exception to this rule is when the subject is a specific phrase that’s treated as a single idea or entity – this means that it should take a singular verb:

✓ Fish and chips is a British institution.
✓ Joanna’s rum and coke was equal parts rum and coke.

2. Or

When one of the subjects linked by or is singular and the other plural, the verb normally agrees with the one that’s nearest to it.
2.1. Nearest subject is plural – plural verb:

✓ It’s pleasant when my family or my friends dream about what we’d do if one of us won the lottery.

2.2. Nearest subject is singular – singular verb:

✓ It’s up to them to have children when they feel ready, not when their parents or anyone else tells them to.
✓ A dog or another small mammal is not just for Christmas, it is for life.

Separated subject

Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by such words as along with, as well as, besides, not, etc. These words and phrases are not part of the subject. Ignore them and use a singular verb when the subject is singular.

The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her shaking.

Example

Is there more than one subject in the following examples?

? Whisky, along with rare birds, is one of the magnets drawing visitors to this island.
? My brother Sam, as well as my sister Holly, are very good tennis players.

No, both of these sentences have a single subject (whisky and my brother Sam respectively). This means that the first sentence is correct (the singular subject has a singular verb) but the second one should be reworded:

? My brother Sam, as well as my sister Holly, is a very good tennis player.

This rule should also be followed with similar parenthetical words and phrases, such as accompanied by, including, or together with.
The easiest way to get the agreement right is to imagine the sentence without the extra phrase, or to think of the phrase as being in brackets:

✓ My brother Sam is a very good tennis player.
✓ My brother Sam (as well as my sister Holly) is a very good tennis player.

There is / There are, Here is / Here are, where is/where are

In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject follows the verb.

There are four hurdles to jump.
There is a high hurdle to jump.
Where are my keys?
Here are the keys.

The contractions here’s, there’s, and where’s actually contain a shortened form of the singular verbs is or has.
The word there's, a contraction of there is, leads to bad habits in informal sentences like There's a lot of people here today, because it's easier to say "there's" than "there are." Take care never to use there's with a plural subject.

Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as a unit.

Examples:

Three miles is too far to walk.
Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.

BUT

Ten dollars (i.e., dollar bills) were scattered on the floor.

Some / all / alot / a majority / a number / + of

If the noun after of is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb.

A lot of the pie has disappeared.
A lot of the pies have disappeared.
A third of the city is unemployed.
A third of the people are unemployed.
All of the pie is gone.
All of the pies are gone.
Some of the pie is missing.
Some of the pies are missing.

NOTE:

With the number of _______, use a singular verb.

The number of volunteers grows each year.

Either/neither

The main meaning of either is ‘one or the other of two people or things’. Similarly, neither means ‘not one nor the other of two people or things’. When neither and either function as determiners and appear without of, you should always use a singular noun and verb:

Neither kid seems that bothered by it all.
There is little evidence that either parent has addressed these issues.

The expressions neither of and either of are followed by a plural noun or pronoun. In formal and written English, the correct verb form should be singular:

I think either of them is qualified to be president.
Neither of her ex-husbands was remotely attractive.

The use of a plural verb in such cases is regarded as more informal, but most grammar guides advise that it’s acceptable to do so if you want to emphasize the fact that the whole statement is plural:

Neither of his parents drink or smoke.
Do either of these machines work?

In the constructions either. . . or and neither. . . nor, you can use either singular or plural subjects, which should be matched to singular or plural verbs, respectively:

It’s one of the best songs that either he or anyone else has composed.
Neither the politicians nor their advisers are able to determine these outcomes.

Sometimes there’s a mix of singular and plural subjects in these expressions – what verb should you use?

Either his drawings or the map is [?] are [?] inaccurate.
Neither she nor her managers was [?]were [?] aware of what was happening.

Some guides advise that you should follow the rule given above for or when it occurs in the same situation. So if the singular subject is second, use a singular verb, but if the plural subject is second, use a plural verb:

✓ Either his drawings or the map is inaccurate.
✓ Neither she nor her managers were aware of what was happening.

However, other authorities recommend that a plural verb can sound more natural in both cases, even if it’s preceded by a singular noun:

Either his drawings or the map are inaccurate.

Note:

If you’re not sure, why not rephrase the sentence so that the plural subject is nearest to the plural verb?

Either the map or his drawings are inaccurate.

Or you could do a more radical recasting of the sentence, adding a singular verb:

Either his drawings are inaccurate, or the map is.

Notes

1. We always use plural verb for the subject created by "The + Adj".

The rich are not always happy.

2. A. With one of those ________ who, use a plural verb.

Hannah is one of those people who like to read comic books. (Others besides Hannah like to read comic books. Therefore, the plural verb is the correct form to use.)

With the only one of those ________who, use a singular verb. Only one meaning that no one else, therefore, the singular verb is the correct for to use.

Hannah is the only one of those people who likes to read comic books.

3. With every ______ , each ____, use a singular verb.

Every child in the world deserves affection.
Almost every car pollutes the atmosphere.
Each child receives a present.
Each of them is a different colour.